It’s kind of overcast to be doing this, but I do need clean stuff and anyway a little rain-soaking if it happens will just wash out some of the hard water residue so I went ahead and filled the clotheslines this morning.
I had this fantasy that using the new agitator would be easier than a toilet plunger. That fantasy has been put to rest: With its larger size and the fact that it’s clearly superior as an agitator to the plunger, because nothing’s free, it’s more work. But better agitation means more dirt’s finding its way out of the clothes (or at least the water’s getting dirtier, which must be good.) So I’d have to say it’s a superior tool. But it is more of a workout. Also it has a disturbing tendency to unscrew itself, which makes me fear for the longevity of the plastic parts.
This is the first overcast morning we’ve had in a long time, which of course turns my paranoid thoughts to the welfare of my nearly new batteries.
In April, in anticipation of days like this, I mounted a smaller additional solar panel in a configuration more likely to take advantage of summer sun. My main panels are angled to take most efficient advantage of winter sun, that being the season of weakest sun overall. The third panel has already given me better performance on cloudy days, and it’s still working well. Green/yellow charge indicators at 8 am is not bad even when the sky is clear. Of course I wasn’t up all night with the ‘pooter on, but still…
Just under 13 volts is a nice sight this early on an overcast morning.
“it has a disturbing tendency to unscrew itself”
Loc-tite maybe? Seems I recall you have some. 😉
“Also it has a disturbing tendency to unscrew itself, which makes me fear for the…”
Loctite? Glue?
For that, I’d drill a small pilot hole and use a screw.
Sorry ’bout that. I’ve not experienced the handle unscrewing thing, but I don’t use the original handle. I found an all wood 3-piece paint roller extension to replace it with because I wanted to keep all the wash-type stuff in one bucket for storage and transport when camping. I suspect the wood swells when it’s wet, preventing the unscrewing. I can send some epoxy if you want to try that.
No, no. There’s nothing to apologize for. The threads on this pole are metal, which is generally considered superior but doesn’t swell. I think the rattling around when it unscrews itself enough to be loose is probably bad for the plastic parts so I’m going to glue them together but I’ve got plenty of adhesive right here.
No complaint, I was just reporting on the phenomenon.
For that application, I suggest RTV. It likes moisture and has such wonderful properties of expansion and contraction. As you know, that’s what holds hinges on glass such as tailgates.
Maybe you could scrounge the parts to build one of these: http://mentalfloss.com/sites/default/files/styles/insert_main_wide_image/public/screen_shot_2014-01-16_at_9.24.36_pm.png