Hi Dale You brought a very good point up about the barrow coping over when I put a bag of cement into it.
It did just that and i will keep my eye out so to speak for a four wheel barrow. Ray From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dale Leavens Sent: Monday, 3 August 2009 12:42 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] Patio project update. Skinned shins seem to be a fact of my life. A couple of years ago I bought a four wheeled wheelbarrow on sale half price otherwise I never would have bought it. There is usually a reason why things go on half price at Canadian Tire and the reason in this case I believe were the front pneumatic tires. Tubeless but not nearly tough enough. Eventually I solved the flat tire problem when I found suitably sized tubes. The rear wheels are casters which can be locked. this makes driving interesting since it is the rear wheels which steer. There aren't handles in the traditional sense of wheelbarrow handles but a bar which comes up, across and back down rather more like a handle for a shopping cart. There are a couple of things I like about this barrow, for lifting sand up my steps I can raise the rear wheels and then holding the barrow move around to the front and lift and roll it back then scoot around to the rear and raise the back wheels and so on until I get up the five steps. I like that I can throw big shovels full of sand or what ever into the barrow without fear of it over balancing and for things like mixing up cement. I like that I can position it easily without having to raise and lower the rear. It can be a little easier to accurately dump a load. It has been nice for parts of my patio project, that last bit of leveling I can throw a shovel or trowel full of sand here and there where I need it and push the barrow out of the way as I crawl about on hands and knees without having to get up and heave it into a suitable place. I also like my big heavy old industrial grade barrow. It is getting pretty old and warn now but it is good in tight places and provided I keep the wheel well inflated it moves well over soft ground compared with the four wheeled barrow. I do often tend to haul either barrow backward walking backward depending on the route and a variety of other things and I tend to do it with either barrow. I often also do it when moving people about in wheelchairs at the hospital for reasons of patient safety. You might like to consider a four wheeled barrow though, The wife might be able to push it too, moving twice the material in the same time. ----- Original Message ----- From: Ray Boyce To: [email protected] <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2009 5:04 PM Subject: RE: [BlindHandyMan] Patio project update. Hi Betsy and Jewel Yes I place myself between the handles and walk forwards reverse gripping and pulling the barrow especially when I am close to the garage doors. So I do not dint the roller dors, but I have an industrial barrow which is large and if I have it full of cement or soil then pushing it around forwards is a lot easier than reverse walking especially walking up the yard which has a slope. We are in the middle of developing a new garden and cemented in rocks for a end wall yesterday so I had to mix some cement in the barrow for this job. As the cement had to be just right for forming up mounds between the rocks I put on a pair of sturdy rubber gloves and mix the cement by hand so I can judge the consistency of the mix. I need to replace some fence rails along one side of the yard that I have not done yet so after developing this garden I do not later have to worry about walking over the wife's plants. I do not know about you but I seem to hit my shins a lot and take skin off them, so the wife has made me a pair of shin pads which are held on by Velcro. The first she says is get those shin pads on, so I do not have to be the first aid lady again. She is only little but there is a lot of fire in that little person, and I had better do what she says or else. Thanks for the suggestions ladies. Ray From: [email protected] <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:[email protected] <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> ] On Behalf Of Betsy Whitney Sent: Sunday, 2 August 2009 3:24 PM To: [email protected] <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> Subject: RE: [BlindHandyMan] Patio project update. Aloha Ray, I was just curious if you had considered moving bakward while using the wheelbarrel? When I have to move things like that, I move backward and then I can check behind myself with my feet to avoid plants and such. I generally plan some things with which I do not want or need husband/Mr. Marvelous to participate, when he is away or napping. We have very different ideas about how things should be accomplished, and if I do it myself, I don't have to go back and clean up his back trail. Just a thought, Betsy At 07:04 PM 8/1/2009, you wrote: > > >Hi Dale > >Does your wife help you for this is a major project with it seems more hard >work ahead. > >Keep us informed as you go for I am interested in what you have under taken >here. > >If I am doing anything out in the yard my wife works alongside me telling me >what I am doing wrong. > >If I am pushing a Wheel Barrow she tells me in what direction it should be >going so I do not knock over her plants, or run over the dog. > >It is amazing what we as blind people can achieve when we set our minds on a >project. > >Ray > >From: ><mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com>[email protected] <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> > [mailto:[email protected] <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> ] >On Behalf Of Dale Leavens >Sent: Sunday, 2 August 2009 9:03 AM >To: <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com>[email protected] <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:blindhandyman%40yahoogroups.com> >Subject: [BlindHandyMan] Patio project update. > >On Tuesday a truck should be arriving with several hundred retaining wall >blocks of two types and a load of retaining edging and spikes for the patio. >I have about three quarters of it laid but have to take a small diversion to >break up a small set of stairs I had poured 18 years ago when I first scaped >the yard. The steps have subsided quite a bit in one corner and in doing so >pulled away from the cement block forming some of the wall of the well. >These are three steps which descent to a landing before a turn to descend >the rest of the way to a basement door entry. It is a shame to have to >destroy the steps really, I did a rather good job, they are formed inside a >sort of box. Clever though the design was, it is a lot of cement to bust up. >I rented a big bosch electric jack hammer for the week-end, hopefully it >won't kill me, so far I have removed the bottom step and about a third of >the second step which is solid to the bottom. I think I'll quit for ton >ight. > >I believe I'll line the well again but this time with retaining wall stones >to include risers for the steps. I will fill behind with sharp sand and >compact it firmly then cap with caps stones and probably stick them down >with some heavy construction adhesive.That way, if they fail again all I >need do is dig 'em up and lay them again. > >That hammer gets mighty heavy for a little chap after four or five hours I >can tell you. > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
