DanD

Great pictures Lew! If you want to attract more deer and give them something beneficial to their health; put out a mineral salt lick. http://www.tscstores.com/2KG-TRACE-MINERAL-SALT-LICK-P8755.aspx#.WG9zzlUrKM8 It supposedly helps with mussel and bone growth and it satisfies their want for salt. Dan.

Thank you sir! 5:20am and this got me to crack my first smile of the day. Dan.

It is what it is; all that's left is to attach a tether strap. From the tip of the blade to the handle is approx 5'. A thick coat of tremcld is a half assed welder's best friend. LOL . Dan. PS: Art you've been watching to many Arabian Nights movies. LOL Very nice knives guys.

That\s no highjack. I'd proud to show off such a nice knife myself! Dan.

You beat me to it Sinker. LOL https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.soow-copper-electrical-cord---123-black-75m.1000823792.html Dan.

Thanks for the explanation on metal treating; all I knew was, I wanted the metal harder then it was and I seem to have done it? I did do a few steps before dunking it in the oil; as in heating and quenching, heating to a golden colour and letting it sit too cool on it own; but I didn't think anyone would be interested in hearing all of it. LOL Like I said in my other post; the same file I used to shape the blade, now barely scratches it; beginners luck? Dan.

I did and thought I had it hidden away pretty good; but the midnight scrappers must have wanted it more then me?. If it's not nailed or chained down, its gone the first night, if left outside; the second night if whatever was, along with the chain securing it. LOL Dan.

Not sure what this plate steel was from; but after I tempered it, the same file I used to shape it, barely scratches it now? Was that because the tee was so big or was your head in the wrong place at the wrong time? LOL 5' long sounds good to me; I can always change the length, if its not comfortable for me to use. Dan.

Shop slowed down this afternoon and decided to do some clean up. Well that lasted until I found a scrap piece of 3/8" plate steel. Hum I have a place for you and started cutting out the blade for a spud. It's 8" long overall and 2" wide; the four teeth are 1/2" wide each. I ground and filed the teeth to approx 30°. I then tempered this mild steel by heating the blade until bright red and then dousing it into motor oil, until it cooled to handle. Then I sandblasted it to remove the slag from the oil. Tonight when I get home, I'll heat treat it in the oven; to take away its brittleness. Next will be to weld the 7/8" diameter steel pipe to it, give it a final sharpening and a coat of paint. The question I have, what length should I make the handle/pipe; for ease of use? Also is a tee handle with a tether strap OK? Dan.

Sound good; but with my luck, I'd be wearing winch cable as a necklace; after the cable blew through the ice between the holes. LOL Dan.

Ski-doo 500 touring (fan cooled) with a studded track. It pulled the hut with three guys inside it last year and the machine seemed to handle it quite well. I'm also adding a couple more pieces of equipment; 3000lb electric winch and a collapsible grappling hook. Get stuck, drill hole, put grappling hook into hole, connect to winch and pull (hopefully pull) hut out. Sounds good in theory. LOL Dan.

Got the old axle & suspension off and the new attached to the frame of the hut. I didn't get a pic of the hut lowered but measuring through one of the holes to the floor of the shop there's approx 6 1/2". It'll also be much easier loading and unloading the snowmobile, with the frame on the ground. Weld up the bracketing for the fenders, a coat of paint and I should be good to go; when there's ice. LOL When I hear there's "safe" ice on Nipissing I may head there for a weekend? Dan.

I agree that the brake up grade will help any tow vehicle; but if the trailer can push past the vehicle's stopping abilities; it doesn't matter what you've got for up grades. Example; you're foot is into the brake peddle hard enough to cause wheel lock up and you're sliding; the brake system has done its job; but there not enough vehicle to overcome the push of the trailer. Plus this Rav likely has ABS, which will not allow locking of the wheels; so you're going through that intersection whether you like to or not. Trailer brakes will handle the trailer and allow the tow vehicle's brake to do their own job. Believe me I know this from experience. 1/2 ton pick up truck on the trailer; my 1500 Avalanche towing the trailer, no trailer brake controller on the Avalanche. A traffic light turned unexpectedly on me and all I could hear was the ABS going nuts trying to stop the wheels from locking. I gave up trying to stop halfway through the intersection and got back on the throttle. I pulled over and had to clean out my shorts; no idea how I made it through without hitting anyone. Dan.

I depends on whether the axle on your trail can accommodate the brake backing plates, whether you go surge or electric and disc or drum set up? If you go electric, which is going to be drum brake; even if you have to change the axle (Likely will) the cost would likely be under a grand or close too; if you have someone do it for you. If you can do the install; Princess Auto has a 3500lb axle (72") complete with a drum brake set up, on sale for $330.00. A controller for around a $100.00, a bit of wiring and you're set. Dan.

I haven't towed with a rav; but I do work on them and I think the thing would pull your trailer OK; but it will be working to do it. My concern would be stopping. that's where I suggest that you have brakes installed on the trailer. I would also suggest surge brakes over electric; due to the design of the electric needing clean, smooth drum surface for the electro magnet to adhere too during braking. Electricity, magnets, bare steel and water adds up to corrosion. Surge brake is a bit more costly on installation; but less maintenance and servicing required. If you've ever had a loaded trailer push you through an intersection; you'll know the importance of trailer brakes. Dan.

No I can't take all the credit. This is my take on systems; that I've seen on line. Dan.

Yeah there's hitch pins that go through the shackles and the eye's of the springs. In the pic things don't look lined up; but that's because I've left most mounting points loose until I get the frame welded to the trailer. The winch straps will be left connected for road travel; kind of like a safety latch, if a hitch pin would ever decide to come out ot break? Same as the fenders, they'll go on after the frame is attached; making sure there is wall clearance. Dan.

Had some time the last couple of weekends and got to work on the drop down frame for the fish hut. This is with the wheels in the down position for travelling on the road. This is with the frame half way down or depending on how you want to look at it the wheels half way up? The next two are with the frame all the way down onto the floor. Hoping to get the new frame under the fish hut next weekend? Dan.

I'm not sure if the stove cement would hold for to long; not unless you drilled pockets around the crack to give that cement something to grab onto. I think the expansion and contraction of the metal will likely just spit the stuff off? For the hell of it I called the Elmira Stove works here in London. Told him the model number and he thinks from memory (that stove hasn't been made for a number off years?) that the back wall of the fire box is steel? If so, I would have it welded and if you knew someone with a 110 Mig welder; it could be done right on site. Yes a 220 mig would be better; but with a bit of prep work (Grinding) on the crack a 100 would be able to seal it up Dan.

It's funny you say that; I have an 04 Intrepid in my shop right now. Other then the dirt on it; it's a clean rust free car, with 120 K on it. So far, after all the years working on this one, there hasn't been any real issues with the car? I don't know why though; they weren't the best of cars; but this customer has let me do all of the required maintenance that the manufacturer has suggested. As for driving them in "deep" snow; yeah they were toboggans; Instead of a spare tire they should have came with a wintch. LOL Dan.

^^^ LOL^^^ Dan.

I just came across this; too bad the little buggers have gone into hibernation. LOL Dan.

I do. Their under my coveralls and I also hold my pinky finger out while I choke down a beer. LOL Dan.

LOL guys about the hut. Thanks You guys never head of Lox & Bagal? I make it all the time at home. It's done more or less the same way you would dry brine a salmon filet for smoking; but you don't heat smoke the meat. After the fillet has been in the brine for as little a 2 hours or up too 24; you wash the brine off in cold water and pat it dry. Then you slice the meat as thin as you possibly can. Coat a bagal with cream cheese and then load it up with the slices of salmon. I've also cold smoked the fillets after the brine; cold smoking doesn't cook the meat or change the tender flesh; but gives it that perfect smoke taste. Dan.

Beacon cheese burgers with my homemade burger patties, is what usually happens for lunch; but we've brought out everything from hot dogs too steaks for the BBQ. We've had guys from other huts come around, just to see what smells so good. One time half way through Qing a bunch of burgers, a CO pulls up on his sled. He was being very official, while checking out our licenses and or catch; but he kept eyeing the burgers. When he was done and starting to put his helmet back on; we asked if he'd like a burger. It was funny the about face in personality, as he polished off a couple of burgers. LOL Then there's the indoor cooking station, where the home-fries or whatever sides that we bring out. We don't go hungry; for snacks we have kielbasa, deer pepperettes and enough different cheeses too plug-up an elephant. LOL A fresh or relatively fresh pot of coffee, always on the go; with a bottle of Baileys, tucked in the corner. Dan.