Ozito Cement Mixer

In spite of some initial concerns with the cement mixer groaning, after mixing a total of around 3 cubic metres of concrete, I'm pretty happy with in. It does a full bag mix and it is also great for mixing soil.

I found that during my driveway laying, the cement mixer was almost always going. After it finished mixing, I'd dump the concrete into the wheel barrow and start up another mix. I would only start placing the concrete once the next mix was going. I think it would be a bit tedious to use a smaller mixer.

Certainly mixing the cement yourself, you don't need any helpers. Possibly one person full time on the mixer to guarentee 100% utilisation may be worth it for a big job.

I'd use it to put in a small slab for a small home workshop - say 2 x 3 metres but that is probably about it. It is great for DIY paths.

By the end of half a day's mixing, I really needed to blast it with a pressure cleaner to clean out the bowl.

Controversial Jacaranda Tree

The controversial Jacaranda tree

Mum at Manly

Queencliff Freshwater Tunnel

If you ever visit Manly, on the far side of the beach, there is an ancient tunnel to explore.

It is a secret passage between Manly (Queenscliff) and Freshwater beaches. It is easy to get to from the Manly side, but it is a real adventure to make it all the way to Freshwater beach.

Suitable for my mum, Louka and anyone really. The warning sign is just about falling rocks.

The tunnel entrance...

The reward, it is this tunnel, it is suprisingly long and opens up to a sun filled ledge - unfortunately there are no seats.

Finished Driveway

A picture of the finished driveway. One of the tracks is 30cm shorter - thanks to the burst pipe. It is all seeded and ready to grow. Also the moved hose. In a much better position.

DIY Potting Mix

Potting mix is expensive, so why not mix your own.

I bought yet another cubic metre of compost from the recycling centre $35. They used a massive front end loader to load it. It took them 4 "bucket loads" to fill my ute tray simply because the bucket was twice the width of my tray and they didn't want to spill anything.

Anyway, with my trusty cement mixer, I sure made quick work mixing the compost, sand and a bit of ammonia sulfate. It mixed very quickly and very well - a minute per wheel barrow load.

I found that you can no longer get ammonia nitrate nor potasium nitrate (thanks to alkada and a paranoid government).

I lowered the blocks just so there is a level pathway beside the driveway

Forming up fro the concrete around the stormwater pits...

The finish product, complete with native violets

Leaf Tailed Gecko Poetry

Our friendly leaf tailed gecko is pictured here. On my spade. Rescued from a pit trap. A few hours later, it disappeared. End.

Burst Water Pipe

I managed to put a star picket through the water main - unfortunately not my side of the meter. I got some plumbers out and they installed a dodgy clamp that was really only meant for gal pipes. It still dribbled a little bit.

A week later after the concrete set and being one not to miss a DIY opportunity, I made a pipe crusher out of some timber and M12 bolts. It did kind of work - ie reduce the flow a bit more.

When the plumber arrived 10 minutes later at 7am to freeze and properly repair the pipe, he undid the meter and we bent the pipe over and further reduced the flow - still trickling. So it was 5 pound hammer time bashing the pipe sealing it even more.

In addition to fixing the pipe, I got him to install a couple of gas heater outlets.



Neat pipe crushing job...



No so neat pipe bent over and bashed job. You can also see the star picket damage...

New improved temp controlled fridge

After working out I can use the MTC-3000 for a temperature controller for both cooling and heating, I fitted it as an upgrade to my beer brewing fridge.

In my previous blog entry a converted a whole pile of giberious into a fancy state diagram just to really understand how it works.

The MTC-3000 (which I bought cheap off the net) is really only designed for a industrial fridge. However, it does support a frost free mode (ie auto defrost). I hooked up the defrost to the power point - which in turn powers the mortein 10Watt bug killer which I use as a heater. The fridge is set to turn on at 22 degrees and turn off at 20. The heater (defrost) is set to 18 degrees (or lower). But because it is a defrost controller it I've configured it to turn it on for 30 minutes on a hour cycle while the temp is below 18 degrees.


You can see I actually ripped out the fridge's thermostat. I'm not too sure how much I would be able to sell my modified fridge on the net for. The power point is in a bad position - I'll move it tomorrow.

MTC-3000 state diagram

Here is a state diagram for the MTC-3000 controller...

I want to use it to control my beer fridge and the user doco is a bit hard to understand so I thought I would create a state diagram.

Temperature Controlled Cupboard

Here is the temperature controlled cupboard for Liz's sourdough starters....It kicks in at 25degreesC and turns off at 22.