Chris's Marion 91 Steam Shovel

[zeeprogrammer]

I have seen the wrench used by plumbers (here in Central USA) to tighten drain fittings, and sold as such, also called Spud Wrenches. A quick web search turns up a few. I am curious how the terms originated.

Irish potatoes. AKA spuds. The tool used to dig them up.

I enjoy googling the origins of words and terms.

The spud wrench is not how you adjust the potatos?!

No. I use a masticator to adjust my potatoes. 

If you're using a spud wrench to adjust potatoes, I'd be interested in a video. 

[crueby]

I have seen the wrench used by plumbers (here in Central USA) to tighten drain fittings, and sold as such, also called Spud Wrenches. A quick web search turns up a few. I am curious how the terms originated.

Irish potatoes. AKA spuds. The tool used to dig them up.

I enjoy googling the origins of words and terms.

The spud wrench is not how you adjust the potatos?!

No. I use a masticator to adjust my potatoes. 

If you're using a spud wrench to adjust potatoes, I'd be interested in a video. 

Guess it could mash them well...   

[Dan Rowe]

Here is the best history of a spud wrench I found:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=663588653750798&id=125860680856934&refsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&_rdr

If you check wiki it says in the UK a spud wrench is a podging spanner or a podger,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrench

I think a spud wrench would be much better at planting spuds then harvisting them.

Dan

[ddmckee54]

Might be a little messy, but you could always mash the spuds with the spud wrench.  You could always pretend you're Gallagher.

Don

[Tennessee Whiskey]

I think this link will show what Dan and I would refer to as a “spud wrench” . An image of a crossed set of these have always symbolized the iron workers craft. I worked with one crew that had “spud wrench throwing” contests and all their cookouts. Much like knife or hatchet throwing; and some of those old boys were quite accurate.

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/01844216

Cletus

[zeeprogrammer]

Someone should come up with a software tool (won't be me) that graphs a forum thread and its various tangents, forks, and branches.
It could make interesting wall art. 

[crueby]

Someone should come up with a software tool (won't be me) that graphs a forum thread and its various tangents, forks, and branches.
It could make interesting wall art. 

The tool will be named after you, why not write it too?   

The side trips are what keep things fun and interesting. Kind of things that drove our bosses (more) nuts, but that was fun for us! 

[crueby]

Oh, and as for the model progress, am currently cutting down and trimming bar stock for the rear cross beam...

[crueby]

The strips for the rear beams are cut and trimmed to size, also got the holes drilled for some temporary screws to hold them together for silver soldering. Still need to tap the holes, and can get them soldered up. After soldering, will cut the openings in the centers of the webs. The wide one in the middle gets a large anchor block for the backstay to the A-frame, so that one has two small openings at the sides rather than one large one all the way across. Tapping the holes will take a little longer, trying not to stress the right wrist too much, healing up from some tendonitis in the thumb (the elves are all off at a beer fest somewhere, or they could do it for me  ).

[zeeprogrammer]

All I did today was drill a hole and machine a nut. 

However!! That was to fix a garden tool for T and the reward is priceless (along with a, and I quote, "Cool!".).
(Mainly...she's beginning to realize my shop has benefits for her too.  )

[crueby]

All I did today was drill a hole and machine a nut. 

However!! That was to fix a garden tool for T and the reward is priceless (along with a, and I quote, "Cool!".).
(Mainly...she's beginning to realize my shop has benefits for her too.  )

Yup - same effect when your friends find out you have a truck big enough to move their stuff!   

[ShopShoe]

"Yup - same effect when your friends find out you have a truck big enough to move their stuff!"

Seen on a bumper sticker: "Yes, this is my truck. NO, I will not help you move."

--

Thank you for the explanation(s) of the names for spuds and spud wrenches above. It was quite a fork and diversion.

ShopShoe

[crueby]

The holes in the center webs are all tapped, and the parts assembled for silver soldering:The 'V' lines are light shadows - had not noticed that when I took the pics...

[Craig DeShong]

Still following along with interest Chris 

The work on this project seems endless 

[crueby]

Still following along with interest Chris 

The work on this project seems endless 

Thanks Craig, there is still a long way to go on this one, which is a lot of fun. Things are paused today, head cold got me fuzzy enough to not want to break out the torch! Improving quick, hope this isn't one that holds on and on.