Monday, January 23, 2012

Newest Team Member Komatsu PC27 Mini X

In December and January I became obsessed with a hunt for the newest team member a Mini Excavator. I spent hours and more hours - late nights and even later nights. Looking, reading, understanding what these little machines are all about. The last stone job I realized just how much I needed to add a digging machine to the family. 

Today I picked up and brought home a great used Komatsu PC27. Next up I'll be adding a thumb to help pick up rocks, steps, and boulders. 




Welcome to your new Home Komatsu PC 27. Coming soon a blog post : Buying a Mini Excavator.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Meow Wall


Billy posing with wall. I think he's waiting for some thing tasty to pop out. 

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Tool - Knee Pad / Kneeler Board

Man my knee's hurt! Well you can't put a price on youth. But you'll pay the price as you grow wiser for not protecting your body. My solutions are the kneeler board and the AWP gel hinging knee pads.


My buddy Dale from NC told me about these and how much he loved them because they work! I've tried just about every thing. Some times it's just as easy to avoid them all together. I've had the ones that snap or velcro or any thing else you can think of. They all fall down. (not like weeble's)  Frustrating!

Kneeler Board in between batter frames on ground. 

For years I have simply been using a kneeler board ($17.00). This has been great but like any thing it has its down sides. Don't they all?

The AWP Gel knee pads have a hinging system along with neoprene fabric and Velcro. The reason they stay on your leg is they actually strapped above to your thigh. By doing so this keeps them from falling down and one having to pull them up every 5 minutes. They have a gel on the back side making it comfortable long term for your knee caps. With other knee pads which use foam they will break down in time. The biggest complaint I have is don't let your pants bunch up behind your knee. If you do you will feel like you have sun burn on the back side of your leg. You have to be sure to set them up and pull all the wrinkles out of your pants.  Your legs thank you later. 

Both the kneeler and hinging knee pads have a place at the job site.  I like to use both for different things. Like when I build a foundation. I normally kneel in one spot at a time so the kneeler board does the trick. But when I start building and moving around then have to shape some stones, look for stones - I may be wearing the Knee Pads. 

Kneeler Board
Pro's - your knees don't sweat, you can move around easily since its not attached to you, affordable, make a great seat on top of a 5 gallon bucket for lunch breaks.

Con's - easy to trip over or get in the way when working, must pick up and move to next spot your working, not great when jumping around from spot to spot. Bulky

Knee Pads
 Pro's - Easy to take on and off, comfortable, go where you go,

Con's - get hot wearing, if your pants bunch up behind them you will have marks on your leg which-HURT,  no fun when a stone falls inside between the pad and your knee. Pricey!- but cheaper then a knee replacement.

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The one improvement I would suggest on the Knee pads would be to make the inside a little stronger material. Within a few days the back side material was showing distress where the gel goes. I can't say I was happy about that since I had only had them for less then a week on the job site.

AWP Gel knee pads Gel Pro Grip Knee Pad 1L-22387-V2 I picked up a pair at Lowes for $50

What do you like and use? Please give your feedback on the comments.

2/2014 Update: Thank you to Alfred I've taken the time to order up some Snicker 3312 Trousers from UK. I'll be writing a few blogs to chat about these new pants as soon as I get them. Stay posted for a Blog to come. Thank you Alfred!!! From Active Workwear since they sell on Ebay and ship world wide. They made it extremely easy to pay with PayPal. Thank you Mike for helping me out. 





Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Video - Benefits of Dry Laid Stone / Dry Stack Stone PRO's verses the con's of Mortar


By Zach Goebelt www.OutDoorInstallation.com , Selling Dry Laid Stone by Zach Goebelt, Stow, OH 330.338.4733

The opinions or comments not necessary those of Rockin Walls or Mark Jurus