What non automotive projects and repairs are you doing?

Post by **BlackBart** » 24 Apr 2026, 19:56

WAT?? That is some high level math, buddy, do you have a permit for that?

Post by **volvolugnut** » 29 Apr 2026, 07:50

A new final drive belt fixed the clutch action on my John Deere 214 mower. Back to mowing bamboo and making lots of dust.
volvolugnut

Post by **matthew1** » 29 Apr 2026, 09:48

volvolugnut wrote: 29 Apr 2026, 07:50 A new final drive belt fixed the clutch action on my John Deere 214 mower. Back to mowing bamboo and making lots of dust.
volvolugnut

Bamboo? In Seattle it's pretty and grows well, but people who don't want sewer/water line problems plant it in sunk metal tubs... or else. When I was there I loved the look of it in the several front yards I knew about, but never had the cojones to plant it in my yard.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 29 Apr 2026, 18:31

Many years ago a neighbor planted some bamboo on the edge of our property. The bamboo spread to my side and I did not keep it contained as it grew into wooded areas. Many years later, it is now a huge mess. I am cutting it down and keeping it mowed or weed trimmed. This is a multiyear project to clear all the bamboo.
DO NOT EVER PLANT BAMBOO!
volvolugnut

Post by **BlackBart** » 30 Apr 2026, 11:27

We had a Seattle neighbor who put in this very cool Asian black bamboo. It was beautiful, thick black stalks with bright green leaves.
But...it was a bit scary. It was in a narrow space between our little houses, I'd leave for work and there were a couple of new shoots popping up. When I came home, they were 6" out of the ground. 12" the next day - I think you could watch them grow if you just sat there.

My wife the gardener told him, "Be careful, this stuff will take over before you know it. You need deep sheet metal to contain it." He said it'll be fine.

It was right above his sewer line. It was very healthy. Luckily we had a concrete bulkhead retaining wall on our side of the line. It eventually filled his little side yard and started wrapping around his house. He finally got 3 buddies with axes, shovels, power tools, and they spent a 3-day weekend chopping that stuff out.

Post by **matthew1** » 30 Apr 2026, 11:43

volvolugnut wrote: 29 Apr 2026, 18:31 Many years ago a neighbor planted some bamboo on the edge of our property. The bamboo spread to my side and I did not keep it contained as it grew into wooded areas. Many years later, it is now a huge mess. I am cutting it down and keeping it mowed or weed trimmed. This is a multiyear project to clear all the bamboo.
DO NOT EVER PLANT BAMBOO!
volvolugnut

Would you consider using vinegar? I would be fascinated to hear if it works on bamboo. I started using it last summer to kill weeds, and it's the 357 Magnum of this job, and it's eco-friendly. Use grapes to kill bamboo?

It absolutely vaporizes weeds... the closest thing I've seen to pressing a Delete Plant key. I need to use it on a junk tree growing in the backyard of my Denver house soon before that thing gets too tall. It'll be the biggest test yet.

I got the vinegar idea from my sister. She uses it with great success where the whole region explodes with summer vegetation every year (Minneapolis), loves it.

https://amzn.to/4n21hWh or https://amzn.to/4uj6CuX 1 gal
https://amzn.to/4uFrXiz sprayer

BlackBart wrote: 30 Apr 2026, 11:27 My wife the gardener told him, "Be careful, this stuff will take over before you know it. You need deep sheet metal to contain it." He said it'll be fine.

I couldn't do it, didn't want to roll the dice even with underground tubs. I saw too many 70s films where the pathogen escapes the lab.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 30 Apr 2026, 18:16

When I cut it at the ground, the next spring it sends up the big shoots. They can be an inch or more diameter at the ground. They can grow a foot or more taller every day. But they are soft at that stage and you can just break them over. This is the time I try to mow them. If they get hardened, then it takes something else to cut the stalk.
I have found mowing for three years will kill the roots. But I have to keep the new growth small all summer.
The hardest parts is some rough areas where I have to weedeat because the ground is too rough for the mower.
volvolugnut

Post by **abscate** » 01 May 2026, 03:38

There is a great tool for yanking it and it comes ftom Canada too, Land of nice things.

Free shipping if you can recite the National Anthem

https://www.extractigator.com/

Post by **volvolugnut** » 01 May 2026, 07:50

Extractigator. Big, heavy tool. It looks too much like real work. But I expect it does a good job.

On the vinegar suggestion: I may try this. BUT, I have an area at least 50 by 100 feet with bamboo 10 to 15 feet tall and other trees growing there as well. I expect I would have to spray all the bamboo foliage for it to kill the bamboo. And then I would still need to remove the dead stalks. If it worked like Roundup i tried, then the bamboo would still grow back from the roots.
I also do not want a scorched earth area. I want grass to grow back in this area after I clear the bamboo.
Also, vinegar would have some cost and then labor to spray with back pack sprayer.
I may be doing the least cost, least effort plan.
volvolugnut

Post by **xHeart** » 22 May 2026, 08:29

Setting up to work with Red Oak, goal includes upgrading window casing, trim, stool and apron. Two years after worksite style 10" table saw, added a 9" bandsaw by Bauer from HFT to help with stool making. Loving my seasonal carpentry.

After three seasons of struggle, this season all our six Sarah Bernhardt Peonies have return to full blossom -- the peony bulbs needed clean up with a 12" space around for it breath back to glory. Keep the mulch away from the bulbs.