Countryside Discovery

I really expected to be chasing down this repair job from vendor to vendor trying to track down the right outfit for the job. I got lucky and scored first try.  I knew that I was ill equipped tool wise and vague on metallurgy. My Sheet Block, built back in the day, sheet blockwas non-replaceable.  The fixture was warped; bent by the powerful loading of the jib sheet when a pivot pin partially backed out.  A massive bench vice or a hammer, or a heating torch or all of the above would be needed. Finding a metal fabricator with a Google search led me, not to an enterprise in a business park, but a guy named Johnny at a leanto shed in a rural setting on a dirt road.  He went right to work (how rare is that? but halfway through the job I realized that my credit card would be of no use out here and I began to search pockets to see if they had Cash!).

hammer persuasion

Johnny persuaded the heavy piece back into shape and the pin was straightened with several strategic blows and aligned.

Next, Silver Solder was applied to hold the pin in place. If this proves an area of weakness, I may peen the housing bracket or secure the pin with a set screw. Turns out that the entire mass of metal is cast Brass with a Copper plated finish. This explains the malleability and the  blue green oxidation. Old school. I don’t think they make ’em like this any more.

I mentally noted a placard sign affixed to the wall that proclaimed the shop rate at $65/hr. with a minimum job amount of 30. I had all of 26 dollars in 3 Fives and the rest Ones. Uh oh…  I asked what I owed. A delayed response gave pause and I interjected that I had only 26 bucks on me. Johnny said I’ll take 25 of those.

https://youtu.be/zZKvTingf1Y

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