Eric Lotze Log

Basics

• This Page goes over User:Eric 's dev work for OSE
• Also has a sort of "captains log" of their work / daily thoughts
• Not always consistent, so double check their Contributions Page for more specifics on projects/edits
• Hours Logger has been locking me out for the last few days. The error code/message is below. I tried logging out then back in (also added OSE to a list of "sites that can use cookies" in the google chrome settings)

"Forbidden (403) CSRF verification failed. Request aborted. You are seeing this message because this site requires a CSRF cookie when submitting forms. This cookie is required for security reasons, to ensure that your browser is not being hijacked by third parties. If you have configured your browser to disable cookies, please re-enable them, at least for this site, or for 'same-origin' requests." 

Hours

(The hour thing is broken, as the bit in the "Basics" section states)

Eric Log

8/19/2025

• Finished up cleaning a Dissolved Air Floatation unit today and writing down my thoughts:
  • Up until the end i was ALMOST going to compliment it for Design for Cleaning being ALMOST there
  • Was using a Chicago Hose to liquify/break up chunks of the Oil / Grit slop in the bottom of this thing
  • It DID have a 3 Inch Camlock fitting at the bottom of each of the two hoppers so that was FAR easier than hauling a hose up the stairs/onto the sort of permanent Scaffolding around the funnel shaped DAF unit
    • Sidenote, bit to be desired in terms of OSHA compliance (Toe Rails, flush with the wall, etc) but we made it work
  • Towards the end though not being able to turn the Augers (which turns out haven’t been used in ages and the motor is broken…) made pushing that LAST bit of slop out of the flights in the augers a real pain
  • All in all though it wasn’t too bad. Was either Aluminum or Stainless Steel so it cleaned up real well and all the slop fell off for the most part, even with just a Chicago hose
    • Although some nooks and such retained a bit of gunk, although they supposedly didn’t need it to be spotless etc
      • For OSE Operations though, drain+clean to a near-spotless level every so often is HIGHLY recommended, prevents buildup+makes the job easier
    • Also some central manifold area or something had valves (clogged with debris) and no drail valve/fittings etc so bit of a mess of hauling the hose + it getting clogged due to suction loss on that long run etc
      • A newer coworker mentioned some sort of attachment called a “Fluidizer” / “Liquidizer”, used Bleed Air and/or water to keep stuff flowing
    • Worth looking into, i was pondering something similar
    • Had that same issue with me pushing through the job then crashing at the end (Energy Reserves all shot due to drinking Water but no Gatorade etc, if the company ain’t gonna get it i gotta

7/31/2025

Background/Thoughts

• Good day doing stuff around the shop
• Had me thinking continuous improvement type thoughts
• Having a Days Since Last Work Incident Counter type deal but for “Days Since _Truck Number_ Was Last Washed” or using that for tracking various Preventative Maintenance tasks would be of use too
  • Could also integrate this into a Kanban Board type deal too
• It had some privacy concerns to consider (ESPECIALLY when not done in a work environment but at home/in an Intentional Community type deal (ie don’t want to accidentally create a no-privacy Environment of Control
  • BUT i want to make something like a Kanban Board (or even make it a Map on the Wall of the local area etc, or at least frequent locations
  • You have little markers for people employed there or at LEAST vehicles etc so you can see who is where without having to ask around

7/29/2025

Background

• Last night went down a MAJOR rabbit hole in terms of diesel stuff
• Also finally got around to watching something on the original (military) Babington Burner / Airtronics Burner + checked in with the company’s page (seems like they still are active in the military/humanitarian sphere, with things like Ration Heaters / Field Kitchens that comply with the Single Fuel Standard etc
• Also looked a bit into Burn Barrels / Burn Pits particularly in the concept of “Disaster/Expeditionary Waste Management”
  • ie if not Cancer Fumes generating burn pits, what?
• Found an Off The Shelf Electric fan boosted burn barrel
  • Also adjacent was the concept of Incinerating Toilets
  • TLDR though is i have some link spam on all that to put somewhere

7/28/2025

Background

• Just got done squeegeeing out Hydro Test water from the bottom of some giant (supposedly new?) AST
  • It had the cable suspension ceiling rather than Low/High Legs so was roomy+nothing to dodge/get tangled on
  • OTHER THAN THAT THOUGH 😮‍💨
  • Was humid as hell in there and pretty damn toasty
  • Also NOT designed for cleaning (was NOT Center Sump or even an inverted cone with annular sumps
    • Was a bunch of uneven plates, not really level, didn’t DRAIN into any of the sumps so was just chasing puddles all over the damn place oof
    • Also i am unsure how much pushing water around helps vs letting the vac hose do it’s job
      • If an area has dried up it helps 100%, but otherwise it was just pushing the tock up the hill/working to be busy rather than efficiently
    • Even if not motorized/attached to heavy equipment, having something like the [[Super Sopper]{ or even a Mop+Wringer Bucket with a vac hose in it may have worked better
• Tired Venting aside though more learning by seeing there+MAY have some time to burn later today via edits and whatnot

Work

• Adding more to OMEx
• May start writing up on Diesel Injection Tech
  • Saw some paper on VERY high injection pressures, wanted to compare that vs current state of things vs low tech mechanical plunger etc

7/22/2025

Background

• Currently waiting out thunder+lightning at the end of an LES Job
• Sidenote while it still involves too much climbing over piping, and we don’t have enough ports/manways etc (ie 100% not Design for Cleaning ) this one tank isn’t AS bad
  • Still smells like old rancid Used Cooking Oil ..:since that’s what was in the tank…but cleaning up okay
  • Also since Oil-Water separation is ‘’’what LES does’’’ we can dispose of PCW etc onsite, and have infinite water (due to no disposal Costs]] concerns unlike most jobs (hence much more squeegeeing + pressure washing)
  • Basically just using a Firehose / “Chicago Hose” to loosen up the solids+push all the slop into the Vac Hose
  • Vac Truck Clogging/Breaking down was a limiting factor as per usual so making sure the hose is getting some air, as well as doing a proper Pre-Trip Inspection is worth it’s weight in good as always
• Also i REALLY gotta get OSE Apprenticeship and/or job applications in
  • Probably will need to burn my other week off and/or make a weekend or two more than two days so i can have a few days to crash+recharge, then Properly productive days (that one week i took recently got a ton of stuff done)
  • Even if i don’t go to the apprenticeship, i want to go to thay “initial meet up / check in” type day thing if possible
  • Also i saw marcin posted a walkaround (albeit with messed up audio!) so that was nice to see done
• ANYWHO
• ✨Time for some DME Link Spam✨

6/24/2025

• Currently on an ( Atmospheric Storage Tank ) Tank Cleaning Job
  • Drove in, did Site Safety Orientation and all that + checked into the hotel + bought food for the week yesterday
  • Today we set up all out gear and are now in the Hurry Up and Wait phase
    • (Although i’m paid by the hour so i’m not complaining!)
  • It’s about a 45 Foot Diameter Denatured Ethanol Tank
  • Had to run a PILE of hose to basically go across the whole damn tank farm to get water for our Pressure Washer hence me putting that note down in Design for Cleaning lol
  • As with most tank farms they write in the side of the tanks
    • What’s in It
    • NFPA Fire Diamond
    • What Tank Coatings are Used etc
    • Neat stuff but they had a tank of “generic gasoline additive - mmc 092ca” then a SEPARATE TANK of “ Chevron Techron “ so that settles the question of if gas is TRULY different
      • Although still researching Fuel Additives to see if there is that much difference between the blendstocks/Dosing Rates etc
      • BUT one of the arguments cited is “it all comes from the same place” etc, but it seems the Tanker Truck Loading Rack is where the blending equipment is, not at the Gas Station itself
        • So almost like a Soda Fountain
        • Notwithstanding most gas stations having a Diesel Tank, Regular Gas Tank, Premium Gas Tank, and SOMETIMES an Ethanol Free Tank
          • The “mid grade gasoline” is just like a chocolate-vanilla swirl cone, it’s a mix of the regular and premium
• Also family came in over the weekend so between full house, and hanging out with the little babies/watching them etc not much work got done (unless you count Lego Duplo construction…)
• Anywho that’s what all i’ve been doing/thinking
• Assuming work doesn’t go long today (Jynxing it, but HOPEFULLY if the Airgapping / LOTO people, and the Mobile Vapor Recovery Unit take too long we will just push Tank Entry to tomorrow as we are on the books till Friday if i remember correctly
  • There is a non-zero chance of pushing till 1700 est ish though so here’s to hoping
• My laptop post-ssd install is all confused as to if to use the ssd or the hdd (with windows and all that on it) for booting so DESPITE EVERYTHING WORKING AND BEING DETECTED it’s trying to do windows auto repair and all sorts of nonsense
• Assuming i make it i’ll be using a hacked together setup of my Steam Deck , a USB C Adapter , and a webcam and whatnot. Going to put it in Linux Desktop mode and go (hopefully!)
• I’ll keep y’all posted though!

6/18/2025

• On Vacation from Work This Week
• Mainly for hanging out with some family sweeping through town
• Although also cleaning up the house/my room pre-that
• Also trying to get things done due to being busy with work (Fixing Up My Car, Relaxing etc)
• Also will try and get some OSE Work and MAYBE some job applications in
• As per usual though trying to do a TON of things at once so may not do all of them
• Burnout from my current job was getting pretty bad, that combined with physical labor of some of the jobs (Shoveling Sludge Wearing a Tyvek in Florida Heat etc) did not make for a creative coordinated me lol
• Had a few days to relax though so my brain is back in the mood for doing stuff
• Started some today, currently catching up on Perin (YouTube Channel) ‘s Videos, then i’ll try and get caught up with User: Marcin ‘s videos
• Also currently printing Candle Molds to make DIy/OS Replacement Candles for my UCO Candle Lantern
  • Next up is probably the Open Source Fixed Angle Blade Sharpener although i will probably make the wiki page on that first

Log Part

Page List

• List of Pages User: Marcin Style
  • Legitimacy
  • EPCOTification
  • Company Towns
  • Raising Interest in the Fellowship
  • Eric’s Post Meeting Comments

Summary

• Woke up, had breakfast, got some 3d prints going, got caffeine in my system+tried out Rebuild Inc. (Video Game) (by the same people behind “Plauge Inc” and “Rebel Inc” games
• Then watched
  • Adam Something had a think piece on Maglev Trains
    • I think the issue is moreso Proprietary Designs being useless once the Gadget-Bagn company goes defunct, rather than still being maintainable+upgradable IF THEY WERE OPEN SOURCE
    • Also Critical Minerals use in the rails instead of…Steel and Rocks (or Concrete for Ballastless Track and things like wires for Rail Electrification etc but you get my gist
• This Fascinating Video on a New Neutrino Detector
  • Good overall video aesthetic too so take note on that (Short of the Sponsorships 😡)
  • Sidenote i thought it would be detecting them from Cosmic Rays etc…but no they are shooting a particle beam THROUGH THE EARTH, then measuring in in another town inside a former Underground Gold Mine
    • Sidenote person they interviewed seemed like a MAJOR expert in Mining etc, seems they were using Drill and Blast mining, then Rock Bolts , mesh, and Shotcrete
      • The limitations of the Headframe (Mining) in terms of getting equipment INTO the actual mine itself (said they disassembled just about everything except the tires, as those couldn’t be cut/folded up!) was especially interesting
      • Also sounded like whoever was the power that be basically sold everything for parts pre-them acquirring it so it wasn’t AS straightforward as one would think
      • Also interesting consideration of Landmark Value / Historical Value of the old Headframe being a driving part of design, nice from a Community Involvement / justice perspective
  • ANYWHO
  • Then watched the latest video by Perun (YouTube Channel) on Hardened Aircraft Shelters and related Defense Economics (Field of Study) topics, especially after Ukraine’s “Operation Spider Web” (Cheap FPV Drones/Loitering Munitions taking out Strategic Bombers (albeit ancient soviet / “russian” ones, but still)
  • Then watched the latest video by Patrick Kelly (YouTube Channel) on the History of the Pharmaceutical Industry and in particular Insulin. This one was on the rise of Biotechnology firms and was HEAVILY based (as they pointed out) on the 2011 Book Genentech: The Beginnings of Biotech (Book)
  • Went from there to catching up on The Thought Emporium (YouTube Channel) ‘s Videos (in particular the Genetic Engineering]] ones, although also a neat one on a type of Slime Mold and it’s interesting pathfinding and other behaviors
  • Watched a video by Just Have a Think (YouTube Channel) on Spent Lithium Ion Battery Recycling via a novel method. Supposedly neutral solution used, and otherwise effective
    • As per the USCSB on scaling risks, my spidey senses were tingling when the self powering via a Primary Cell like effect to “speed up the reaction” was mentioned, Reactivity Risks !!!🚨, but if that isn’t the case that may be a VERY promising method and i will try and document it (as well as the high TRL companies mentioned in there, on wiki on a Battery Recycling page
  • Then Watched Zack Freedman ‘s video tour of the Rock Mountain RepRap Fair
    • All sorts of cool tech+projects mentioned which i will hopefully document on-wiki
• Along with periodic print starts and misc things that was most of the day
• Just now started catching up on User:Marcin ‘s Recent Videos, re Eric’s Post Meeting Comments
• Gonna go check my 3D Printer, should be the last of the UCO Candle Lantern 3D Printed Molds for Candlemaking (originally was going to make 3, issues with printing too many of a mirrored side lead to it now being 5 molds total
  • • Sidenote How to Mirror a Part in a Slicer is a page i can make real quick to save others the time looking it up/getting frustrated if they are anything like me
      • While i am grateful for the free desifn, not following the best protocol for posting files to a sharing site, only one half (had to mirror myself), not too much settings or material info etc
• All in all though checking all that then it’s off to bed for me
• Rinse and Repeat for the most part tomorrow short of some chores etc

5/8/2025

Update on what all has been going on

• Thought it was going to be get back Friday from the trip, then decon gear and go home but some stuff went down
• Was some surprise stuff over the weekend which probably could have been a 2hr Job but due to some surprise (at least to us, unsure if the customer was trying to see how far they could push it) it was a Fuel Dock not a “ Maintenance Dock “
  • I don’t know if this is akin to “no loitering” or something where they want more people (and thus money) flowing through that dock but that was all really odd
  • Anywho that two hour job turned into waiting then driving to a whole other dock and all that jazz
• Monday was a Tank Cleaning
  • Main focus was the Steam Based Tank Heater Coils (basically just piping) in the Waste Cooking oil tank they needed to get cleaned up pre-inspecting/working on them
  • Wasn’t TOO bad, but a bit too “fast and loose” for Confined Space Work (at least to all the Refinery/Fuel Farm type jobs that are all high protocol, almost obnoxiously safe)
  • Deconning gear from that took up about half of Tuesday, not too much else going on
    • Granted as with the Landfill Job, that smell is really hard to get out of stuff, further research in that needed
  • Passenger right now on the way to another Tank Cleaning Job, although i may swap in like i did friday mid all those Passive Exoskeleton edits
• It was largely due to people rushing the deconning process of the Pressure Washer Hose (which having a Hose Washer in front of/inline with the Hose Reel would be nice for) but the Caustic Degreaser etched/messed with the Aluminum a bit
  • Granted it may not even have been properly Anodized , but yeah that’s a thing to be on the lookout for (although from an Engineering Controls perspective if you don’t use nasty fuels like Heavy Fuel Oil , Don’t let your tanks/lines get too nasty in terms of Sludge/Coke Buildup due to proper design and frequent maintainance, Caustic Degreaser may not even be needed really

Plan

• I may start writing out a script for an Eric Lotze OSE Apprenticeship Application
  • I also intended to do it this Monday on paper, but i MAY be able to do it on mobile in the car now, but apply for some Time Off for the initial meetup/seeing how people mesh aspect of things
• Plotting how i would head out there and pricing and whatnot too is another aspect
  • Flying is probably more expensive (also a good bit more Carbon Intensive, although with me not being in some Private Jet, and averaging it out per seat, and the alternative being personal ICE car, that isn’t too big of a concern for me , although i do see that side of it, Electrified (High Speed) Rail sadly ain’t an option yet
• Driving could let me bring my tools and some stuff like that
  • Hotels get pricey, and can probably do it in one go, but again need to just plan all that out
  • Estimate Gas Used too
  • I’ll plug it into google maps and see but how long the drive would be and all that would be a bit to plan as well
• It’s 3x 1hr Videos but i could catch up on what User: Marcin has been posting on YouTube

4/29/2025

• On day 2 of an Out of Town Tank Cleaning
• Learning some interesting bits:
  • API used to specify 10 Year Empty+Clean+Inspect Intervals for Atmospheric Storage Tanks
    • Industry wined, so if i remember correctly it is now determined by the estimated lifetime of the floor coating?
    • Either way some places tried to push to a 20 year interval, this tank was about 13 Years since it was last opened up and had about 2in of sludge or so
      • Although SUPPOSEDLY some of this was a Drag Reducing Agent added to the pipeline
  • Also supposedly most tanks don’t have more than 2-3 Manways. Having 4 makes it WAY nicer (faster ventilation, some daylight, etc) so good Design for Servicing type thing to note
  • Also this one is a conical center sump which is nice (albeit not as nice as a small jet fuel tank i did, that site had it right (Concrete Berms, none of this gravel/dirt+MAYBE A geomembrame type nonsense
• Staying in a hotel, not going to do it now but i do have some thoughts on “what makes a good hotel” (not in a luxury way, but like all the little annoyances to avoid/neat systems to make cleaning easier for staff etc) but i’ll have to write all that down at another time
• Anywho heading back Friday so most wiki work and ESPECIALLY the video application are delayed until this weekend
  • Did get some edits done sitting in the passenger seat on the way up on Oscilloscope stuff

4/24/2025

• I logged into the discord on my phone during lunch break today (also end of the day waiting for a phonecall about a Company Gas Card that’s been acting up
  • Haven’t scrolled through the backlog yet, and granted this was just on OSE’s Discord, not SciHub, Opulo , Rokenbok , or the various 3d printing ones
• Looks like I’ll probably have to break my “no caffeine on the weekends to keep my tolerance low” rule and get some energy drinks for this weekend, as Saturday is probably THE day to get everything all sorted out+made in terms of application for the OSE Apprenticeship and all that
• Did a bunch of pressure washing of concrete containment pads today, the paint is really chipping into microplastic hell, i was looking into alternatives for Epoxy Concrete Flooring (Thinking something Boiled Linseed Oil or other Drying Oil adjacent
  • That or Hydrophobic Concrete / a Bitumen topcoat of sorts
  • Also i think i mentioned it before but the Tipjet Style Floor Pressure Washer Attachments are GREAT, the one at work has two handles so controls almost like a floor polisher and is just great (only want would be for it to be a bit more aggressive, perhaps different nozzles, and POTENTIALLY have one with suction to remove excess water; the pooling up reduces efficiency and needed the crew of us to also squeegee that out of the way
  • Having those Garden Hose Y Splitters on the end of hoses + a shutoff Ball Valve on each end to allow stopping flow without Kinking the hose to do so (thus damaging the hose) or allowing quick high flow for filling buckets/rinsing things WITHOUT removing the nozzle/hose would probably be nice for efficiency as well
  • Also the cheap husky plug nozzle sprayers are getting annoying; the apex above the metal adjustment screw keeps on snapping, Buy Cheap Buy Twice (third tome i’ve grabbed an identical replacement from the cabinet in recent memory, albeit split between in front of warehouse and behind warehouse hoses)
    • Either more Skookum plastic/usage of it, or All Metal Sprayer would be worth the investment imo
  • More research on Pressure Washer Quick Connect Fittings that don’t suck/how to reduce that is another point of interest
• I jump started the shop’s Propane Forklift the other day so felt a bit proud of all that lol
  • A Jump Starter + Battery Charger Cart is definitely nice to have
    • Granted ours (i’ll grab the model number later) is old/cobweb covered so needs some love, also not the BEST
      • Main issue is no Outlets near the row where the Forklifts are parked (pretty far from the Side by Sides too
      • Looking into NEC Electrical Code for Warehouses and other similar buildings has me intrigued on this too, if i remember correctly in houses/offices and whatnot you have to have outlets every x amoutnof feet but the math works out so you never really NEED an extension cord for a vacuum or whatever (granted my janky setups end up using them but i’m sure to buy maximum gauge for the extension cord/power strip, no electrical fires please!)
      • Other issue that is more apparent with the ones we keep in the Spill Response Trailers etc that are basically just a Sealed Lead Acid Battery is where if you hook a lower voltage battery to a higher voltage system to jump start it (such as hooking a 12v Jump Starter to a big rig truck) in theory it turns it into an electrolyser and you get a fire/explosion or at LEAST a ton of hydrogen gas/bubbling acid electrolyte
      • The wall outlet only ones don’t really have this issue, main thing was duty cycle was limited by the Ampacity of the wire/circuit really
      • Supercapacitor Based Portable Jump Starters are neat and there are COTS models going for 100-200 USD if i remember correctly so those are interesting (especially in terms of Disimilar Redundancy , using a Lead Acid battery to save a lead acid battery is a bad idea to me for this reason (although to be fair the sealed ones are a bit more reliable, and they make Li-Ion based units as well)
• It came up over dinner (something along the lines of “oh what did you get that new webcam for?” ) so i mentioned the OSE Apprenticeship to my parents. Granted my brain was SHOT after work that day (and i also didn’t have my whole Elevator Pitch type deal all set up but yeah
  • They were pretty supportive, albeit a bit concerned/had some reservations
    • ’’’GRANTED TO BE CLEAR’’’ i’m a grown adult and can do my own thing, but also i still have some value for their input and also don’t want to have them think i’m joining a cult/running off and joining the circus etc
  • Main concern was past bad press about having to pay OSE to work for OSE?
    • I’m thinking this is echoes from the post ted talk shitton of funds real fast while y’all were still figuring out how to operate at scale etc, but either way does show some messaging gap / need for some PR type stuff (GRANTED don’t want to go all ultra-corperate hr type creepy, and also can run into the “we’re not a cult” kind of trap)
  • I think one thing to remedy this would be a proper OSE Apprenticeship Contract with info like expected work, pay, benefits and all that all laid out proper
    • Granted OSE Apprenticeship Expectations or whatever is nearly there but i just mean some proper legal “sign here” form kind of deal
  • I’m rambling but had some thoughts from work from the past few days, wanted to keep you posted on what i did, and what i’m planning on doing.
• Thanks for reading this far, and just heads up i MAY try and send an email or some talk page edits your way User: Marcin

4/21/2025

• Got just about all the weekend to-do’s done…short of thr Apprenticeship Application
• Works a but slow today, and i did have an emergency response this past weekend so i might head out early and pick up a better webcam on the way back
  • My Laptop’s built in one MIGHT work but i want to do this proper
  • I don’t know if i’ll go all out and attempt Chroma Keying or just clear some space/be up against the wall for a good neutral background but yeah
• I have a tank cleaning i’m on in a week or two, but after that (especially if i put in for vacation or put in my two weeks…) i am good to just a pack my bags type deal so yeah
• I might pickup some more of those Rolling Portable Toolboxes , Dewalt Tough System 2.0 might be the way to go for bulk storage/moving stuff around (while being a step up from Cardboard Boxes (Cockroach Food Risk+Water/Rotting) or Rubbermaid Bins (A bit flimsy, especially with heavier items inside)
  • For actual tools and stuff though Milwaukee Packout and/or Klein Modbox is the way to go for on the go toolboxes (at least until a better Open Source options is developed :3
• Also didn’t test the Oven on Propane or Wood+Charcoal Yet (Just Ethanol Gel Sterno, and Diethylene Glycol Chafing Fuel )
• Also need to email naturejab and my engines too
• Just wanted to keep y’all posted and reiterate that despite a hectic weekend i got stuff done and intend to complete the apprenticeship application soon!

4/18/2025

• To Do:
  • Test Propane Distribution Tree with
    • Gas Mantle Lantern (+ “Burn In” a new mantle, old one didn’t burn in right
    • Used Propane Stove i got a new regulator for
  • Test Green Brand Mini-Propane Tank Refill + Blowtorch Combo
  • Make old “Visqueen” Pallet Wrap Tubes into Cat Scratching Posts with Sisal Rope from Home Depot
    • (also MAYBE dumbbell shape with platforms on each side via Threaded Rod
    • Getting Metal Cutting Blades for my Reciprocating Saw is probably also a good thing to add to that list
  • Make Page on Nature Jab (Youtube Channel) + their Microwave Pyrolysis Work
    • Also figure out a “good, better, best” way for them to test out Gasoline + Diesel specs so those are available
    • Also maybe Flare Stack design + Blowdown Drums for the Pressure Relief Valve
  • Document Thermoacoustic Sterling Engines + That youtube channel making one for diy/os MicroCHP via a Biogas External Combustion Engine Type Setup
    • Also adjacent to this Free Piston Linear Generators
• ’’’Video+Application for the New Program’’’
  • Watched that video+read through the form while in a “hurry up and waitl type stage at work; were waiting for a tugboat for an Over the Water Transfer of Slop Tank + Bilge Water stuff via Vac Truck

4/16/2025

• So in weeding out old/broken stuff at work i acquired a decent looking Stick Welder
  • Looks like 220 so i’ll have to hunt the garage for one of those outlets
  • Also while stick is kind of a “dirty” process, to was one i did decent at in school and is versitile
  • Also the minor apostrophe of i’ll need to buy rods, MAYBE buy/make a Welding Rod Oven , maybe make a Arc Flash Curtain Hanger out of IMC or EMT and other associated expenses
• Does make me tempted to make a Cone Tiki Kiln or some sort of SLIGHTLY more advanced Batch Pyrolysis Kiln
• Or MAYBE a quadricycle
• Granted materials cost + my cutting ability is probably limited to Abrasive Disc Cutting and MAYBE propane torch cutting or plasma cutting if i got either of those (also would probably start pissing people off turning my place into an industrial zone lol)
• Also just growing real tired of some aspects of my job so looking into alternatives (granted depending on how these tariffs go down may not be the best time for that)
  • Granted past my 1 Year mark and going so OKAY from a resume perspective and on good terms overall it’s just a whole rant for another time
  • Also if my boss is reading this…don’t worry opsec is clear :3
• Ember Oven Test + Propane Stove Test + Mantle Lantern Test SHOULD Be this Friday so I’ll keep y’all posted on that
• I’ll probably shoot an email Marcin’s way (also i should catch up on the discord sometime, it’s been too long!), but I’d figure i’d update you all on some of this stuff here

3/13/2025

• On the way back from work yesterday, i went to Best Buy and got 2 NVME SSDs
  • A Full Size one that has 4tb (for my laptop)
  • A short one that has 1tb for ny Steam Deck
• Pricey, so that is never fun, and the risk of them being bricked by ESD etc always has me spooked when building pc’s etc so i did get the warranty (which is probably lowkey a scam, but eh)
• This does mean though that assuming no suprisw work trips this weekend, i should be able to download ALL the games/simulator software completely on BOTH devices and be good to go on that
• Probably ordering that TV Cart thing and maybe a Thunderbolt 3 Dock soon too, although those are more “nice to haves” than “will not run withouts”
• I might burn some per diem funny money on some fun stuff too recently (basically little gizmos lol)
• In terms of IMPORTANT stuff besides personal savings, i need to get Open Source Taxes together, really want to donate to some of the core dev groups+some charities but i need to do the math and make a spreadsheet etc
• In particular i was lucky enough to catch NatureJab (YouTube Channel) ‘s livestream of Julian testing his Microwave Pyrolysis Reactor operating in continuous mode for the first time!
  • Also maybe a world first, at least in terms of DIY/OS work and what is documented online in english langage
  • So i REALLY want to throw some coin his way as it is my dream bio-petrochemistrybtype work but he’s actually getting it done, and hardware ain’t cheap!

2/24/2025

• First off, i seem to accidentally have deleted some stuff in one of these recent edits so I’ll need to add fixing that to my to do list
  • Also probably archiving all non-2025 stuff to make the page run better+be more navigable
• ANYWHO
  • Most recent pig cleaning was hell, was i kid you not about a 1in or so thick layer of goey sludge on the non-smart tool ones and they used like a whole damn roll of visqueen (plastic sheeting, brand name is related to Viscose if i remember correctly so interesting bit there) to wrap each one so that was BAD
  • New Rule: Noone can say anything pro-Natural Gas (Infrastructure) without first having to go through that gauntlet
  • (Granted problematic aspects of his whole deal aside) I couldn’t seem to find a Dirty Jobs episode on it, idk if it’s due to the secure site nature (I don’t share too much and rarely have photos due to infosec and all that) but yeah
  • Also the the 80-20 Rule or whatever it was is real, the initial sludge removal vs getting to no visible condensate/tar stains or no VOC (or NERM Radioactivity Ratings…need to read up on that…) take VERY different amounts of work
    • Also removable brushes and/or Electromagnetic or Demagnetizaboe Iron Nitride Magnets in pigs would be great, and i clameth prior art on this if someone ends up doing that :)
• Also did my first (proper, ie not something “boring” like a Frac Tank on company property) Confined Space Entry so that was neat
  • Granted it was basically…just squeegees and pressure washing…cramped in a atmospheric storage tank that for whatever reason has it’s “high leg” position at less than proper height (short of child laborers or abnormally short people I don’t see how anyone could see that design as fine, granted could be worse!, some cleanings had to be done in “low leg” due to it being an emergency/the mechanism failing!)
  • Also the full face supplied air respirator we use have a mode (activated with a red lever switch) that is SORT OF like a PAPR so breathing wasn’t too bad; i have yet to experience the fun of cartridges (although at least with that no cords to tangle, and no Escape Pack Respirator to snag on things like the manway when climbing in/out etc
• UPDATE ASIDE THOUGH, more ose-work relevant happenings/thoughts:
• In my experience I actually love the crappy “cheap clear safety glasses” (literally the cheapest no-name brand option at home depot) since they are so light, clear, and have no frame that they kind of blend in (if jot dirty/too scratched up) and i can forget I’m wearing them yet be safe
• For some ‘’minor’’ situations where that is not my goal i have recently treated myself to some nicer ones (trying Milwaukee brand for now)
  • For the pig cleanings with the Hot Water Pressure Washer (Plus the plastic containment trailer shower curtain esque walls + the thermal mass of the smart tool or metal brush pigs especially + ‘’maybe’’ some of the oils having a fog machine type effect etc) glasses fogging up can be a pretty major issue. While having a fan blow down the row may help a little (have yet to try this), i got a proper pair of Anti-Fog clear glasses
    • Bonus aspect is they are ‘’supposedly’’ more scratch resistant, and have a removable gasket which is nice for splatter
    • Much more of a PITA to clean, are concerning if they get crunched/lost, and don’t “dissapear” in my vision due to the rigid frame (which does admittedly add better impact resistance if i remember correctly)
    • I also don’t know if using Soap or ESPECIALLY Degreaser to clean them will mess with the effect
    • So far only used that Palmolive clear soap (my go to “mild soap”) and “mansize degreaser” (weird af brand name, but gentle enough they let us use it on the smart tool even, the “wildfire degreaser” is WAY better but will lowkey burn your skin off instantly, mansize only will dry your hands out a little and MAYBE do something akin to a ‘’chemical peel’’ (no actual stuff falling off but like outer skin layer seems newer/fingerprint reader gets annoyed) lol
• Spent ‘’’all of today really’’’ decontaminating my PPE, some gear, and washing trucks
  • In a better work environment this could probably be good “turn then brain off, a podcast on, and work” type labor but micromanaging+other odd bits made it quite stressful and overall not great
  • Also the aforementioned soap/degreaser+just a squeeze cone/jet nozzle on a garden hose does NOT a fast deconning make so it was a bit of “using the wrong tool for the job” and being expected for it to clean up fast.
  • So thoughts on decontamination+ppe/tool cleaning:
    • Always decon on site if possible; the Contamination Reduction Zone is NOT a myth invented by the safety snob
      • I am personally team this, but between long af days/nonsense from that, and others being in a rush to get home some jobs this doesn’t always work out
    • A Proper Wash Bay with Tools+Degreaser and MAYBE a dedicated pressure washer etc would be very nice
      • ALSO Dish Washer as a Parts Washer needs to be investigated, as well as the vapor blasting bit i was looking into, and the Continuous Solvent Distillation+Filtration wash setup I was thinking over
      • Ultrasonic cleaners may be a good option too
    • When degreasing a Hard Hat , the stickers inside come off eventually, are there replacements available as from a compliance snob perspective i can see those not being there being an issue, that or maybe just grab a photo or scan and keep that on record (as well as PPE Inspection Protocols + Logging (akin to Hose Logs )
  • Thoughts on Vehicle Cleaning/Design
    • The trucks had a ton of mud on them from a recent middle of nowhere conpressor station pig cleaning so the rinsing alone did a number
      • Makes me think a drive through rinse bay, or just habit of that alone would be good (especially in areas with Road Salt Corrosion issues etc)
    • ALSO with that some of the wheel well cover things were one large molded piece, the other had two sections with a seam; seams=hidden dirt=bad time, the larger piece/mold IS WORTH IT
    • Also making sure everything has a nice smooth cover and all connections are rated to be pressure washed (maybe even hot water pressure washed, whatever that ISO standard/ stagnag is) is a good MVP item imo
    • and again less critical than cleaning small stuff but having a proper wash bay would be nice
      • Less critical with road legal vehicles as existing commercial car washes could be used
      • Grit Recovery and Oil/Grease recovery from those is interesting from a Product Ecology + Pollution Reduction standpoint (adding similar things for parking lots as well, the sheer oil runoff from a Walmart parkinglot etc is wild, trap than and use it!)
  • Pyromania…errrr fuels and biopetrochemistry stuff:
    • Haven’t had a good bonfire in a while
      • Tempted to do Paintcan Pyrolysis Kiln or a Woodgas/Syngas Kiln akin to NighthawkinFlight’s design and mess around with that stuff
      • Particularly can Wood/Syngas run a Gas Mantle Lantern
    • Also upgrading the current Solostove style rdf workflow to one that traps any fly ash/smoke has been on my mind (would also allow for burning plastic instead of landfilling that
      • Using pipe and an old Air Mattress Inflator i could make a design akin to that german wood chip boiler that uses the fuel to filter the exhaust and forced air to overcome smothering issues
      • Main issue is that there is no easy solution for a knife gate for the ash
    • Also still need to try my Vintage Kerosene Blowtorch i got, i could MAYBE splurge for a Kerosene Heater
    • Also may get some ‘’’Propane and Propane Accessories’’’ ; got an old hand me down two burner coleman propane stove, may get a large tank, and a “tree” for it, some hoses, MAYBE a mantle lantern (although in the LED age they are a bit inefficient and not worth it), and also a Refillable 1lb Propane Tank type thing, maybe a propane heater too but those are quite pricey for something i would rarely of ever use
  • Simulator Stuff
    • I kind of put the cart in front of the horse, need more storage space for the games/software so ordering new ssd(s) is in order
    • Arranging it all also ties into overall room organization/maybe campervan type box truck stuff (or just the boring but money incinerating local apartment option) i may get a tv cart type deal that and/or a standing desk i can strap stuff to
    • Granted all of that has a pricetag and big time executive functioning planning energy attatched so that project is getting stretched out
  • Blade Stuff
    • I have two Milwaukee fastback knifes which have been great
    • The razor one is fine as long as i have access to more blades (i got a plastic thing Milwaukee makes that also doubles as a blade bank, although transfer to a proper metal one for recycling/disposal is a must imo)
    • My main issue is the fixed blade one, better for cutting plastic pallet wrap etc , BUT i need to get a good Blade Sharpening Workflow
    • Pull Through Sharpers can kind of work but are frowned upon (with good reason) in the nerd/snob scene
      • There is some 20-40usd tool on Amazon that is sort of a multi sided wetstonw/diamond thing (i ALMOST got the diamond thing at home depot but supposedly that is better, more sides+a hone)
      • Work doesn’t have the right kit for it, but Benchtop Sharpening amd Dremel-Attatchment Sharpening, especially of garden tools is another bit to cover on-wiki of/when i get around to that
    • Some good mostly 3d printed jigs for guided wetstone sharpening too so making one of those is probably in order too
• ALL IN ALL THOUGH, was just a day with lots of thinking and i wanted to get it out of my brain and on-wiki
• (also as per usual moar links to add, all sorts of cool DME/OMEX stuff, engine stuff, Charcoal Upgrading Stuff, and i did look into hoses+protocol i was discussing over at Marine Fuels
• I’ll try and keep you posted, and hang in there y’all, rough times to be reading the news or worse yet living it

2/13/2025

• Sitting in a work truck parked in the middle of nowhere waiting to clean a pig (Pipeline Pigging not the animal!) but due to weather and ’’’efficient subcontracting’’’ kind of just burning time
• Documented a VERY cool example of not JUST a working DME engine, but one using that and Methanol for a RCCI engine
  • Methanol is a bit less than ideal, ALTHOUGH good synergy with Syngas and DME Production