#Using A Paint Sprayer

[rorbison]

There is only one crime worthy of punishment. And it's tacking on your weather stripping so there's metal tacks clogging up the kerf when you need to replace the weather strip. Now I have to buy an oscillator.

[mossybee-exe]

Solaprunk Worldbuilding 1 - Eco-Cities

I've been working on worldbuilding a solarpunk setting for a slice of life story I'm writing and thought I'd share some of my ideas to maybe inspire other people!

In this world there is no government, no rules, no pressures or bad people. Just society working together after a global crash. A second chance to do things right this time.

(Mind the spelling mistakes)

Although far and few in between, big cities and towns still exist in this universe. However, they've all worked hard to keep it as eco-friendly as possible and still choose to live alongside and work with nature rather than fight it.

Trash and recyclingcans can now be found almost everywhere, giving no one an excuse to litter. Community composters are also a thing.

Skyscrapers, now skeletons of the old world, are draped in thick ivy vine walls, native flowering vines, moss panels, and vertical hydroponics that wrap around the metal and glass bones. These help regulate temperature, absorb CO2, and create habitats fors birds and insects.

Former office buildings and shopping centers like malls have been repurposed into shared living spaces, community markets, workshops, and event areas. Floors have open walls and breeze tunnels to reduce reliance on cooling systems. Those can be shut during colder months.

In taller districts, tree houses extend from reclaimed buildings, blending organically with planted rooftop forests. Rope bridges and wind-activated elevators made if recycled parts help people travel between vertical spaces.

Cities are completely walkable and don't require transportation. Streets are narrow and shaded with plant canopies. Most paved areas are soft permeable cobblestone or moss-tile paths that allow rain to soak through instead of pooling or flooding.

Painted murals double as maps - bold, hand-painted designs show landmarks, walking trails, tram routes, and local art projects. Updated regularly by volunteers.

Giant sculpted trees or mushrooms function ad rainwater collectors, solar lanterns, or even mist sprayers during hot days. Children often climb on them or gather nearby to play. They can also provide shade.

Metal "bike trees" hold dozens if free-to-use bikes, all maintained by volunteers. Bikes come in all colors and sizes, some decorated with flowers or art to reflect the community's personality.

Solar Trams glide quietly on narrow tracks. They're sleek but not flashy, designed with recycled metals and glass. Inside, seats are made from reclaimed wood, each with a small solar lamp or charging port. Solar Buses work in a similar fashion.

Public Plazas now have eco-escalators that are powered by pedaling like on a bike.

Interactive screens at intersections and stops show local events, weather and climate, community votes or messages, and tutorial videos on composting, repair, herbal medicine, or art-making. Digital marketing and advertisements are no more.

Most people carry small, solar-powered devices that have replaced phones called "Data Stones" - slate-like digital notebooks that sync to the city's mesh network. People use them for Journaling, mapping, music, or community messaging, but never for mindless scrolling. Digital use is intentional, not addictive.

The internet exists, but it's localized. Instead of one global net, each town or city has a mesh intranet. Communities upload and share stories, tech guides, magazines, songs, and documentaries- all accessible for free.

At every city node is a "Commons Booth"-a repurposed phone booth now used for small trades, gifts, or lost-and-found. You might find a hand-knit hat, seeds, poems in a bottle, hand-bound journals, or a small bag if dried herbs for tea.

Public parks host weekly workshops: mushroom log inoculation, fixing Guardianers, upcycling old tech, dyeing fabrics with natural materials, and crafting musical instruments from trash.

Fireflies are protected and welcomed into urban life with dedicated "nightlight gardens"- small glowing sanctuaries that bloom under moonlight (usually a mix of regular and bioluminescent plants). People sit quietly here, reading or singing. Festivals are celebrated not with fireworks, but light dances, candlelit parades, or bioluminescent art. It's also a romantic place for a date.

Children and adults alike use "Learning Loops"- open-air circles of benches and tree stumps near gardens and community spaces where mentors teach based on skills, not age. There's no formal school system. Learning is woven into life.

On a certain day each month, citizens volunteer to teach something for free-sailing knots, solar repair, compost chemistry, storytelling, mediation, bird language. The city slows down that day. It's treated like a holiday.

In addition to tire-posted Little Libraries (where people can take a book and leave one in it's place), entire alleys have been converted into "Book Gardens"- free libraries under pergolas or vines, surrounded by reading hammocks and native wildflowers.

Local businesses and shops are still a thing, but are not kept up by money. Money has no use in this world anymore. Businesses upkeep it themselves and will happily trade their wares for something in return. For example, a bakery can trade a cake for something in return like a jar of jam or something else. It's like that everywhere.

Citizens enjoy solar-charged cooking stoves, clean water from centralized purification systems, access to upcycled tech, 3D-printed tools, and digital artist hubs.

Markets overflow with herbs, handmade instruments, mushroom leathers, fermented goods, and hand-bound books from across the region. Some city dwellers specialize in creating high-tech eco-dafe goods to trade with the countryside.

Most people live in co-housing clusters or share entire floors of old skyscrapers converted into lush indoor gardens and social spaces. They might not know everyone, but each block has caretakers and community gatherings.

They're alive with creativity and innovation. Mural projects, street musicians using windows instruments powered by movement, and holographic poetry displays powered by pedals or solar generators.

With more people comes more variety in skills. It's common to find classes in herbalism, robotics, or solar carpentry happening daily in public courtyards.

The ideas are free to use for whatever you want or use for inspiration! All I ask is that you CREDIT ME! And feel free to send me an ask on more details to this lovely world :)

[moonfeatherquill]

Make a pamphlet

Tons of people are realizing that you can make books at home, a fact that totally floored me two years ago when I found out about it. Is that you? You should make a pamphlet!

Sometimes, people show up to the bookbinding community and ask something like, “I would like to bind a 100,000-word fan fiction into an heirloom object/gift. Where do I start?” You should start by making a pamphlet.

I think some of them don’t like hearing that, and I think I understand why. They are not approaching bookbinding as a hobby to learn and explore; they want a DIY project that will result in An Object. But this isn’t like when I painted my shutters, and all I needed was a paint sprayer, some fasteners, a chisel, and YouTube to get me going. For most folks, it’s more like if you wanted to design and build a shed from scratch, and you’d never held a saw. Why not draw up and make a little firewood shelter out of cheap lumber first?

Why not make a pamphlet?

Now, if you are coming from a strong crafter background, and especially if you already do a lot of papercraft or chipboard box-making, you can admittedly skip the pamphlet phase. But should you?

Pamphlets are cheap! Quick! Fun! Pamphlets and other simple bindings let you play with tools, materials, and techniques without expending excessive time or precious materials. You probably have everything you need already. Bookbinding is a craft with dozens of best practices and rules of thumb and recommended materials, and each one is negotiable. If you truly understand the importance of a given recommendation or standard, you can decide how much it’s worth to you and your projects. If you’re a novice crafter, you’ll quickly figure out if this fussy paper-bending nonsense is enjoyable for you at all–without buying a bunch of tools you may not use again. If you’re experienced, you’ll have a quick win, get to play with new kinds of paper, and see how different materials work together.

And you can explore how to decorate books! 

So please, if you’re even curious about bookbinding, make a pamphlet.

I’ll even tell you how. With pictures!

[some1s-sista]

Saturdaying’

My back keeps catching (but it hasn’t gone out yet) but I’ve still been doing inn-work and housework!

Right now I’m taking a little cocktail break before I start my Nana’s Scalloped Potatoes w/ Ham recipe for dinner. (Takes a while to cook)

James dragged out the commercial paint sprayer and finished the Smokehouse! Yay! I can’t wait to use it on the barn!

Anywho, it’s a French Martini in a mixed drink format. Vodka, pineapple juice and chambord over ice! Yum!

But is it cocktail?

[mtgc858]

A concept I'm thinking of for some look outside type characters is fire theme ones and you gotta use a water sprayer to draing their damage low like with the paint thinner.

So maybe like in one of the rooms of either the basement or the first floor, it's all scorched, like a fire broke out and you hear a fire alarm contently going off in the areas. It being a apartment with many enemies that are based on fire, burning and ruin.

Probably will make concept ideas but if you guys have any ideas just let me know ^^

[ravennaortiz]

Elf in Templo

Summary: Bonus content from A Mayans Christmas 2023 Day 29: Elf. Requested by @darqchilddaydreamz Word Count ~2300

Bishop is being terrorized by what he believes to be a demon.

The first time Bishop saw the devil was in the early morning hours as it sat a top his bike. Bishop had been awoken by something and saw lights out front. Grabbing his gun he had walked through his darkened house until he could peer through the window of his porch. There he sat illuminated by a bright light before everything went dark and when the light came back he was gone.

Bishop figured he had put back one to many Inferno Whiskys at the club with the boys and that his mind was playing tricks on him. The next morning though he had found a small note taped to the handle bars of his bike. "I saw you peeking. Very Naughty". Bishop pondered the note before setting off for the clubhouse figuring it was just neighborhood kids up to mischief.

The next couple of days he caught glimpses of the devil and heard his eerie giggles and loud thumping foot steps. Always tempting him to follow into the darkness at the clubhouse when he was shutting it up or taunting him to come out of his house late at night. Bishop wondered what he had done to bring on this creature of what he presumed was death. Notes kept appearing either typed or written in paint occasionally drawn in white powder on tables and floors. They were innocent enough but Bishop could see them for the thinly veiled threats they were. Logic could not prevail because none of his men saw or heard the devil or any of the messages.

One day the little psycho had lit the whole bar top on fire and not a single man batted an eye as the flames spread and the pyromaniac demon darted off into the back storage room. The only commentary had been from Angel and Gilly after Bishop had emptied the fire extinguisher.

Bishop wasn't sleeping well and was hyper alert at all times. His home had become a battleground as well. He would go to use the sink and the sprayer would be taped, salt and sugar were switched around. Windows opened and doors closed on their own and little foot prints and sprinkles littered the floors and counters. Nowhere it seemed was safe. Bishop recalled trying to use the bathroom at the clubhouse and finding the seat to have been lined with popper fireworks

Eight days after the siege began the devil tried to take one of his men but Bishop had prevailed. It was a day like any other. Templo was in session and coming to a close when Bishop heard it. The eerie childlike giggle of his adversary. His men were all still discussing matters and did not seem to hear anything amiss. Looking around he spotted the devil descending from the ceiling with a large butcher knife in his tiny gloved hands over Gilly. With cat like reflexes Bishop launched himself across the table causing the room to erupt into chaos. Drinks, men and bullets went flying as Bishop shouted he has a knife get down as he started shooting. After several minutes of adrenaline pumping chaos Bishop started laughing manically as he picked up the bullet ridden devil off the table as his men stared wide eyed from where they had taken care of. "I told you all he was real!" shouted Bishop as he dangled the creature before discarding the body in the trash and leaving the room.

Later that night

"We should probably stop right?" inquired EZ as he sipped his beer as he sat across from his brother Angel at Gillys house. "I mean.... like someone could have been hurt or killed today" he added as the other two men remained silent. "I say we double down. Resurrect the little motherfucker" stated Angel as he grinned. He was having to much fun with this weird Christmas elf to stop now when it was getting good. "I agree with Angel" replied Gilly as he chuckled. "Besides I got like ten more of these guys" he added as EZ shook his head. "We should warn his wife" stated EZ knowing she would be back from her business trip tomorrow night. "Nah. I wanna see if and what he tells her since she is a witch an all" replied Angel. "You just love to play with fire" laughed Gilly. "It only burns for a bit" replied Angel. "

Next Morning

Bishop woke up feeling elated that he had fought the devil and won. How many men could say that he thought to himself as he whistled while getting dressed. He was also ecstatic to have you back home and to tell you about his battle. You had been gone for a couple weeks and he missed you dearly. Bishop had just stepped outside his door when he saw the note in dripping crimson on his porch. "You can't kill me Bishop".

*****

By the end of the day Bishop had been sprayed with water, had his bike breakdown, had his coffee cup explode, flour and honey dumped on him and been locked in the bathroom for hours after the door knob had fallen off and when he tried to climb out the window he found it covered in bike grease and a laughing face was taped to the window. All done by the demon he presumed as he had heard the laughter and caught glimpses of him. When you texted him you were back he all but ran the four miles to the house in the hopes you would be able to help him.

***

You had just stepped out of the shower when the bathroom door flung open. Shrieking you yanked a towel off the rack. Unfortunately you pulled to hard and the whole thing toppled to the floor with a clang. Seeing your husband standing their with a shock on his face you huffed. "Bishop, what the hell is wrong with you. I had no idea you were on your way" you complained as you crossed your arms and waited for a reply.

"I think I'm haunted" stated Bishop before bending down to pick up the towel rack, your nudity not even registering with him. "Little demon has been following me for days. Though I killed him but he has rose from the ashes like a phoenix" he continued as you just stared at him unable to figure out what he was saying. "I don't know what to say" you stated as you moved out of the bathroom and into your bedroom. "I need you to help me exorcise it" stated Bishop as he followed you.

"What does it look like?" you asked as you started to apply lotion and put on your pj's. "Red and white suit with a hat. Brown hair, big soul sucking eyes, pointed shoes" listed Bishop as he sat down rubbing his face with his hands. "He writes to me" he added as you nodded. I see" you replied as you grabbed your phone off the dresser and sent a group text to the usual suspects.

****

you: bish thinks a demon is following him. Wants me to exorcise it.

Angel: Lol

EZ: Easy target

Gilly: Elf in the Templo is sketchy. I don't recommend you interfere.

You: I knew this had to be the three of you lol

You: I leave for a couple weeks and all hell breaks loose. What was the end game?

Gilly: Honestly the Reyes brothers are bad influences

EZ: Says the man who has a stash of weird elfs

Angel: We were just gonna leave a note saying he left.

****

"You think I'm nuts" stated Bishop as he looked at you solemnly as you texted. He thought of all people in his life that you would believe him. "No, I think maybe someone is playing a trick on you. This demon you describe sounds like this thing called Elf on the Shelf. Its used around the holiday season for kids. I think mostly to make them behave" you replied as you moved to sit next to him and cupped his cheek giving him a kiss. "Is this the demon" you asked showing him a photo on your phone. Bishops eyes widened in recognition.

"Hmm" replied Bishop as he considered your words. Maybe you had a point he thought to himself. This type of childish behavior would not be above the so called men in his club. They were always pranking each other and horsing around. A few weeks ago Bishop had mentioned he was unprankable and had made a rule he was not to be messed with as he would not participate.

"Where are you going?" you called as Bishop stood and made his way to the door. "To catch some devilish elfs" he replied with a mischievous grin and laugh as he disappeared into the dark hallway. You sighed heavily before sending one last text. "Guess I'll be spending my first night home alone" you muttered.

You: You all should not have poked the bear.

****

"Do you think she told?" asked EZ as he read the message while Gilly and Angel played a round of pool. "Nah" answered Angel as he shook his head. "She probably just told him something logical like its an elf not a demon" replied Gilly as he took his shot before looking over at EZ. "We just gottta be careful now. Bishop will retaliate" he added confidently as Angel nodded. "You think so?" inquired EZ skeptically. "Oh yeah, he is not a man who will let this slide especially after the bathroom incident and the gun battle in templo" replied Angel as he gave his brother a pointed look. "I was just trying to be creative" muttered EZ as he looked away with a grin.

2 Days Later

"You all need to chill with this elf shit" stated Coco as he slammed himself into the empty chair next to Gilly. "Bishop is loco. Just lassoed me outside and patted me down muttering about diablo. Not to mention how he kidnapped Creeper the other day practically waterboarding him trying to get a confession" he explained as he looked around the table at Angel and EZ as they laughed. "Coco may be right" stated Gilly as he drew the others attention to Bishop as he walked through the clubhouse door whistling and carrying a large cross before going into Templo.

There was silence followed by loud bangs. " Can one of you bring me some stakes, saw and a hammer" called Bishop from Templo. "I got ya" called Guero as he walked by the open door glancing in before walking over to where the other guys sat. "Yall know he is wearing the body of that elf he shot the other day as a necklace right?" inquired Guero before continuing on his errand to gather items for Bishop.

A few hours later

"Bishop wants everyone in Templo immediately" called Hank as he walked into the clubhouse quickly. "Everything okay?" asked Angel as everyone headed to the door. "Don't know he was chanting and shit" replied Hank his face full of worry. Angel and Gilly exchanged looks as they made there way in to the room. "The fuck" mumbled EZ as everyone stood in shock at the sight before them. Bishop was standing on the table in just a santa hat, wearing a bullet ridden elf around his neck and what could only be called a speedo as he smoked a cigar. "I'd say take a seat but as you can all see we have guest tonight" chuckled Bishop as he used his arm to draw attention to the chairs that had the staked heads of elves in them.

"Bishop" started Hank concern for his Presidente all over his face. "Shhhhh. I am Krampus now for the demon elves have spoken. I am to be the new ruler" whispered Bishop as he crouched on the table his eyes wild. "The hell is a Krampus?" asked Coco as he shoved to the front of the group putting his hands on the table. "The punisher of misbehaving fools" snapped Bishop as he lunged at Coco grabbing him by the shirt and shaking him. "Hey" called Angel as he yanked his arm back after Bishop bit him for trying to get Coco away.

"Kneel before me" snarled Bishop as he shoved Coco away baring his teeth at everyone. "I'm going to call his wife" mumbled EZ as he started to grab the door. If anyone could help them reel Bishop in it would be her. "Kneel" shouted Bishop as he launched himself off the table onto EZ's back knocking him down. "The fuck is happening" muttered Angel to Gilly as the others worked to restrain Bishop who was failing and trying to bite. "I think we pushed him to far" replied Gilly as he looked at his friend.

The power going out brought silence to Templo for a few minutes. "It is time" stated Bishop as a dim red light came from the ceiling and the sound of wind began as well as eerie giggles. "The door is locked" called Coco his voice full of panic as the light got brighter and the wind louder. "Time for my elf army to claim their true vessels" stated Bishop as he appeared in front of Angel with a knife before grabbing Hank and slicing his throat. "No" yelled Angel as he grabbed at Bishop. "These were just pranks" screamed Gilly as he grabbed Hanks' body as it fell drenching him in warm liquid. "Krampus knows no pranks just resurrection" laughed Bishop as he stabbed Angel with the knife. "No" screamed EZ as Angel mumbled something but didn't fall down. "Lights Coarzon" yelled Bishop after a few minutes of confused silence interrupted by laughter from Hank, Coco and Guero.

"Boy the looks on your faces" chuckled Hank as the lights came back on. "What" stated Gilly as Angel and EZ just looked around bewildered. "I told you boys I was off limits. let this be a lesson" stated Bishop as he shrugged before walking out of Templo laughing.

[exitrowiron]

Before

During

After

The concrete patio is nearly 3 years old and although it is difficult to see in the before pictures, the portions which are always shaded had developed a very light shade of green and the waterproofing had worn off the exposed portions.

I got some advice from our home builder and started by masking everything and then using a citrus stripper and power washer to prepare the concrete.

The sealer required multiple applications to get consistent coverage and absorption (and it still isn't perfect). I applied the sealer with a garden pressure tank sprayer, then worked it into the concrete with a stiff push broom.

It probably took 16 hours to complete. Unfortunately the masking tape removed some paint from one of the columns so that will be my next job. That's irritating because it shouldn't happen to 3 year old paint. I'm guessing they didn't prime it correctly.

[joezworld]

Christmas Story

Later that day

Bear rolled into the works in an ugly mood. The stationmaster had not been kind or brief (what else is new - everyone on that Branch hates him), and he hadn’t been so much “sent away” as he had been “ordered to leave… now”.

There had been a pick-up goods bound for the mainland waiting at the big station, and he’d managed to talk his way onto it. It was one of the rare trains headed by a diesel from the other railway - a gray class 37 who seemed like the stern and silent sort - and Bear had enjoyed a complete lack of conversation all the way to Crovan’s Gate.  

The workmen had known about his arrival, and met him in the yards. “Hullo Bear!” The diesel foreman said. “Have you decided what paint you’d like? Obviously we can just do a quick touch-up right now, but for later?”

Bear had thought about this intently during the ride to the works. “I don’t care - just not green.”

“Not green?” The man looked confused. “But I thought you were going to want to be painted in western colours now that City of-”

“Absolutely not.” Bear interjected. “No Western anything. Understand me? I want nothing to do with any of them.”

More confusion. “But, I thought that-”

“Things have changed.” Bear was clipping his syllables again. This time it was understandable as anger. “Do you have Rail Blue? Or anything from British Rail?”

“Really? You want-”

“It doesn’t matter what I want.” Bear snapped. “What about that 37 who brought me here? He was gray.” 

“You want… Railfreight triple gray?”

“Is that what it’s called? Do that.”

“I- I mean, we can, but-”

“But what?” Bear narrowed his eyes. 

“But we don’t have enough gray.” The man spluttered under the intense glare. “We thought you’d like the green, so we ordered-”

“Well then what can you do?”

There was some more hemming and hawing and hand wringing, before the men pulled him into the paint booth without telling him what they were doing. He wasn’t in the mood to ask any questions, and so when they began pouring black paint into the tank of a paint sprayer, he just let it happen. 

“Do you want us to mask out the plates?” one of the men asked, pointing to the Great Western style name and number plates on his cab sides. 

“No.” He said curtly. ���Take them off. Just paint something on when you’re done.”

“Okay… do you want us to see if He-”

“No!” He barked. “Not now. Not like this. Just paint it and get it over with.”

The men looked at each other warily, but shrugged and continued. They were going to strip this off after the holidays anyway, so it didn’t really matter. 

Did it?

-

The Big Station, That Night

“I can’t believe he would say that,” Gordon confided in Edward. 

“It certainly doesn’t sound like him, but Duck was almost inconsolable. It took Truro and Oliver quite some time to calm him down.” Edward’s expression was guarded, as though he knew that he didn’t have all the facts, and didn’t like it.

“Whatever occurred, it had to happen so close to Christmas, didn’t it?” Gordon murmured. “Some time of peace and joy. Puh!” 

“Maybe it was that horrid music they’re playing in the station? Drove him mad?” Edward suggested, trying to bring some levity in. 

Gordon rolled his eyes. He could just hear the awful sound of arrhythmic synthesized jingle bells if he listened hard enough. “That could drive any engine mad, but hasn’t Bear been trapped in Duck’s little backwater shed for the last week? What with that horrible set of accidents?”

“Don’t call it that,” Edward rolled his eyes. “It makes me feel like my shed is some ramshackle hut in the wilderness.”

Gordon wisely did not comment, and the two blue engines sat quietly for a moment. 

“Truro’s due in a few minutes,” Edward offered up. “I hear he’s trying to prove he can pull the express.”

“By taking your stopping train?” Gordon scoffed. “Next you’ll tell me he’s learning to fly, so he can challenge Concorde.”

Another pause. “You know, BoCo has very little to say about City of Truro, and none of it is good.”

A distant signal dropped on the huge semaphore array above the station throat. A moment later, a whistle could be heard from under the station canopy - probably Truro, setting off with his Arlesburgh-Suddery stopper train. 

“I know,” Gordon said quietly, thinking deeply. “The same can be said for Delta.”

“Is there some truth to it, then? Truro and diesels are like, well, oil and water?”

“I certainly hope not.” Gordon murmured, watching as Truro appeared from underneath the station canopy in a cloud of billowing steam. A picture of vanity that could make James jealous, his brass was polished to a shine visible from a considerable distance away, and his paint was a deep pool of silky green. In the lights of the station and the yard, he lit up as though a perpetual spotlight was upon him. “He’s yet to prove himself in any way. It would be a shame if we lost a useful worker in exchange for a show pony.”

A diverging home signal dropped, above the distant. There was a train bound for the docks profiled to cross Truro’s path. The Westerner came to a dignified halt, his smoke rising in a perfect column into the cold dark sky as he waited. 

“Maybe he could prove himself if you stopped annoying him every time you spoke to him,” Edward whispered. 

“Rubbish,” Gordon returned the volley. “I was much worse to you and Henry, and look at how well you both turned out.”

“Gordon, you were a pompous twit, not an instructor.”

“Yes, but think about it,” Gordon continued, unphased. “He’s older than either of us, and yet I can bring him into a rage with comments that you wouldn’t even register.” He paused, as a set of marker lights began to shine through the tunnel leading into the station throat. “If he were here now, he’d be screaming something about honor and dignity just from that Concorde remark.”

Edward mulled it over for a moment. In the distance, a somewhat familiar engine beat began to filter through the tunnel. “Oh dear...”

“Indeed…” Gordon watched Truro intently as Bear’s engine note got nearer. 

The oncoming train rolled out of the tunnel doing all of twenty miles an hour. Bear and his train of oil tankers rocked from side to side as they negotiated the many switches leading to the docks. 

“Oh…”

“...”

Gordon and Edward were both rendered momentarily speechless. 

It had been mentioned in passing that Bear had gone to the works for a new coat of paint, and goodness gracious was it a new coat of paint. 

Bear had been green for many years, but not anymore. Now, he was black from his frame to his roof. It was a shockingly dark matte black at that, making the few colors on him stand out with vibrant clarity: 

There was a single light blue stripe running down his body about three feet above his frames, a half-height yellow warning panel that didn’t quite cover all of his face, and white British Rail logos behind his cab. Tall white letters that read NORTH WESTERN were located between the cab doors and the double arrow logos, and all numbers were painted on in white stencils. It looked like the livery of that new “sectorization” thing they were doing in Scotland, but without the cream band that had made Donald and Douglas inexplicably furious when they saw it. 

It wasn’t applied well, either - even from far away, there were visible drips of black streaking into the blue. In some spots, the Great Western Green could still be seen, and there was a partly visible BR cycling lion logo half-covered by the blue stripe. The numbers were done with stencils and a spray can, it seemed like - there was copious overspray around the big 35 102 painted on each cab side.

As he neared Truro, his scowl deepend, and his engine began skipping and missing quite badly. The train slowed down even further, almost to a crawl, before his engine roared back to normal as he was almost level with Truro. 

With an earsplitting growl, his engine went to full power, and the train began to pick up speed. In the process, a massive cloud of sooty black exhaust belched out Bear’s exhaust. Thick and roiling, it stuck close to Bear’s roof, rolling over both Bear and Truro like a fog bank. 

When it finally cleared, Truro was black from buffer to footplate. His eyes and teeth were thrown into stark contrast - the only white spots against a sea of dirty black. 

He took one long blink, his face becoming a temporary sea of black rage, before snapping his eyes open. “YOU HORRID CREATURE!” he screamed, his whistle sounding like an air raid siren. 

“Takes one to know one!” was the only response as Bear rumbled down the line to the docks. 

For a moment, there was a perfect, shocked, complete silence over the yard. Edward and Gordon stared in disbelief at what had just happened. Truro was clearly so upset that he couldn’t speak. 

“BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Across the yard, James hadn’t seen Bear at all, and only witnessed Truro being enveloped by a cloud of clag. He laughed so hard that his safety valves lifted, and he vanished into a cloud of steam, still cackling madly. 

Edward and Gordon, startled out of their shocked state, looked at Truro, looked at where Bear had been, and then looked at each other. 

“What has he done?” Gordon whispered. 

[jules-has-notes]

Kidnap the Sandy Claws — VoicePlay music video

Even though the world at large and their own lineup were both still in a bit of turmoil in the fall of 2020, VoicePlay couldn't let spooky season go by without another visit to Halloweentown. In keeping in their theme of abducting their friends, they jumped backward in the movie's storyline from their video the previous year to embody the planning process from the trio of mischievous minions. How did Santa end up in Oogie Boogie's lair? Take a listen as Lock, Shock, and Barrel consider plenty of fun options.

Details:

title: Kidnap the Sandy Claws (feat. Rachel Potter)

original performers: Paul Reubens as Lock, Catherine O'Hara as Shock, and Danny Elfman as Barrel in The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

written by: Danny Elfman

arranged by: Layne Stein

release date: 30 October 2020

My favorite bits:

the delightfully bouncy "instrumental" opening

the rhythm section starting with unobtrusive upright bass and steam engine percussion sounds before things really ramp up

Rachel's earnest tone reminding the boys that ♫ "Jack said we should work together." ♫

J.None, Rachel, and Geoff's quiet bell chords behind Eli's lead

♫ "Throw him in a box!" ♫ 👐 ♫ "Woo!" ♫

everyone cringing away from the foreground Oogie Boogie even as they provide eerie legato vocalizations for his snack

J.None using the bath sprayer as both the cannon in the lyrics and a pretend telephone handset to be answered

those crunchy harmonies and syncopation on ♫ "Sandy Claws will be no more" ♫

Geoff's wildly high descending subharmonic line under ♫ "You're so stupid…" ♫

the fullness of the sound on the final ♫ "I'd get out of town" ♫

the bathtub trio's innocent posturing for ♫ "We're his little henchmen…" ♫

pouty Eli still doing his part in the harmonies

that lush descending monophony of all five of them for ♫ "Upon there'll be a note to read." ♫

the sparse, echo-y percussion Layne puts under ♫ "Now in the box…" ♫

J's enthusiastic demonstration of ♫ "beat him with a stick" ♫

the delicate stacatto on the final ♫ "throw away the key" ♫

Layne laughing so gregariously he almost falls off his stool

extra kudos to everyone for not just speaking but singing in those silly, scratchy character voices

Trivia:

This is the fourth video in their annual Nightmare Before Christmas series, and the last one to date. (Though Geoff did record "Jack's Lament" for his solo channel a few years later.)

Like their other video for this spooky season, "Superstition", it was filmed at 1010 West. They had previously used it for their videos of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "The Bones".

In the behind-the-scenes video, as they were lugging the heavy claw-foot tub into the venue, the guys mused that Pentatonix probably don't have to move their own set dressing. 🫤 🛁

The spook-tastic cover art was drawn by their longtime collaborator Leon King.

Eli and J.None are reprising their roles as Lock and Barrel from "Oogie Boogie's Song" the year before, but everyone else is playing someone new. Rachel has stepped in as witchy Shock, previously portrayed by Earl. Since only the three minions appear in the movie scene, Layne and Geoff have taken on the roles of Dr. Finkelstein and Mr. Hyde.

For the second time in as many months, Geoff is not wearing his rings due to the extent of the makeup on his hands.

Geoff is no stranger to being painted green. He spent the better part of a decade doing so for the role of Frankenstein's monster in the Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue show at Universal Studios, often alongside Kathy as The Bride, Tony Wakim as Dracula, and many other folks who have since become VoicePlay and PattyCake collaborators. At least this time he didn't have to dance around in four-inch platform shoes.

The Oogie Boogie who appears in the foreground was played by Tony in a costume that PattyCake had made for an upcoming episode of their Villains Lair series. Geoff also wore it three years later in VoicePlay's "Jingle Bell Rock" video.

The replica Lock, Shock, and Barrel masks appeared as set dressing in the background for "In the Hall of the Mountain King", which Layne also arranged.

[goodmeeting]

because of how arcane kind of operates, i have nina using a lot of the bottle inspiration from that victorian era -> bottles you have at home, bottles that are like brooches or necklaces (so little paintings can even be put into the fronts of the bottles, etc), and a lot of heavy, thick glass with lots of metalworking to encase the bottle itself from shattering. they're generally more lovely to look at tbh, with more unique shapes, and yes, she does use the ones with the big fancy sprayers.

[lastimeexteriors-omaha]

Can Residential Metal Roofing Be Painted in Custom Colors?

Metal roofing has become a popular choice for homeowners due to its durability, energy efficiency, and modern aesthetic. But what if you want to give your home a unique, personalized touch? Can residential metal roofing be painted in custom colors? The short answer is yes! Painting your metal roof allows you to customize its appearance while enhancing its performance.

This article will guide you through the benefits, considerations, and steps to successfully paint your metal roof in custom colors, ensuring a long-lasting, professional finish.

Why Paint a Residential Metal Roof?

There are several reasons why homeowners in Omaha and beyond choose to paint their metal roofs:

Aesthetic Appeal: Custom colors allow you to match your roof with your home's exterior design, landscaping, or even your neighborhood's aesthetic. A unique color can make your home stand out or blend seamlessly with its surroundings.

Enhanced Protection: High-quality roof paint can protect the metal from rust, corrosion, and UV damage, significantly extending its lifespan.

Energy Efficiency: Certain paint colors and finishes, such as reflective or light-colored coatings, can help reduce heat absorption, keeping your home cooler in the summer and lowering energy costs.

Choosing the Right Paint for Metal Roofing

Not all paints are suitable for metal surfaces, especially those exposed to the elements. Here’s what you need to know:

Paint Type:

Acrylic Latex Paint: Ideal for painting over existing paint or bare metal. It provides excellent adhesion and durability.

Oil-Based Alkyd Paint: Works well with a galvanized metal primer and is highly resistant to weathering.

Durability: Opt for paint specifically designed for metal roofing to ensure it withstands Omaha’s fluctuating weather conditions, from hot summers to icy winters.

Reflective Coatings: Consider paints with reflective properties if you want to improve your roof's energy efficiency. These coatings are designed to minimize heat absorption and keep your home cooler.

Color Selection: Choose colors that complement your home's style. Neutral tones like gray and beige are timeless, while bold shades like red or blue can add a dramatic flair.

How to Prepare Your Metal Roof for Painting

Proper preparation is the foundation for a successful and long-lasting paint job. Follow these steps before painting:

1. Cleaning the Surface

Use a power washer or scrub brush with a mild detergent to remove dirt, debris, and grease.

Ensure the surface is completely dry before moving on to the next step.

2. Removing Rust and Old Paint

Use a wire brush or sanding tool to remove rust and peeling paint.

For severe rust, apply a rust remover or metal prep solution to prevent further damage.

3. Priming the Roof

Apply a high-quality metal primer to improve paint adhesion and add a protective layer against rust and corrosion. Ensure the primer is compatible with your chosen paint type.

Step-by-Step Guide to Painting Your Metal Roof

Now that your roof is prepped, it’s time to paint. Follow these steps for a professional finish:

1. Choose the Right Tools

Use a paint sprayer for even coverage, especially on large roofs.

A roller with a long handle or a high-quality brush works well for smaller areas or touch-ups.

2. Apply Thin Layers

Avoid thick coats, which can lead to drips and uneven drying. Apply multiple thin layers, allowing each coat to dry completely before applying the next.

3. Monitor Weather Conditions

Choose a day with mild, dry weather to prevent paint from drying too quickly or unevenly. Avoid painting during rain or extreme heat.

4. Finish and Inspect

Once the final coat is dry, inspect the roof for any missed spots or imperfections. Touch up as needed.

Benefits of Painting a Metal Roof in Omaha

Omaha’s climate presents unique challenges for homeowners. Painting your metal roof can help address these challenges while enhancing your home's overall performance:

Weather Resistance: Custom paint protects against Omaha's seasonal extremes, including summer heat and winter snow.

Curb Appeal: A freshly painted roof can instantly boost your home's resale value and attractiveness.

Eco-Friendly Options: Reflective coatings reduce your carbon footprint by lowering your home's cooling needs.

Maintenance Tips for Painted Metal Roofs

To keep your painted roof looking its best and performing well over the years, follow these maintenance tips:

Regular Cleaning: Clean your roof every six months using a gentle detergent and a soft brush to remove dirt and debris.

Inspect for Damage: Check for peeling paint, rust, or other signs of wear and tear. Address issues promptly to prevent further damage.

Repaint as Needed: Depending on the paint quality and environmental factors, plan to repaint your roof every 10–15 years.

Can you do it yourself, or should you hire a professional?

While painting a metal roof can be a DIY project, it requires careful preparation, the right tools, and a lot of patience. Hiring a professional ensures:

Even streak-free coverage

Proper handling of difficult-to-reach areas

Use of high-quality materials for long-lasting results

If you’re confident in your skills and have the necessary tools, you can tackle the project yourself. However, for Omaha homeowners looking for guaranteed results, consulting a professional is often the best choice.

Conclusion

Painting your residential metal roof in custom colors is a fantastic way to personalize your home, enhance its durability, and improve energy efficiency. With the right preparation, tools, and paint, you can achieve a stunning, long-lasting finish that transforms your home's appearance and performance.

If you're ready to take the next step in customizing your metal roof, consider consulting a local roofing expert or paint specialist to guide you through the process. Transform your roof today and enjoy the benefits for years to come!

[dapppaintingdrywall]

Wood Painting Services Near Me: Transforming Your Wooden Surfaces

When it comes to maintaining the charm and durability of wooden surfaces in your home or office, professional wood painting services are essential. Whether it's your outdoor deck, interior furniture, or wooden fences, a fresh coat of paint can work wonders. This article explores the benefits of hiring experts, what to expect from these services, and frequently asked questions to help you make an informed decision.

Why Choose Professional Wood Painting Services?

While painting wood might seem like a DIY-friendly task, it often requires expertise to achieve flawless and long-lasting results. Professionals understand the intricacies of surface preparation, such as sanding, cleaning, and priming. They use high-quality paints and finishes to ensure your wood is protected against moisture, UV rays, and wear and tear. By choosing local wood painting services, you also benefit from their knowledge of the climate and conditions in your area, ensuring your wooden surfaces remain vibrant and durable for years.

The Process of Wood Painting Services

When you hire experts for wood painting, they typically follow a detailed process:

Surface Assessment: Professionals inspect the wood to determine its condition and recommend the best approach.

Preparation: Old paint removal, sanding, and filling cracks or gaps ensure a smooth surface for painting.

Priming: Applying a primer enhances paint adhesion and provides a protective base layer.

Painting: Professionals use specialized brushes, sprayers, or rollers for an even application.

Finishing Touches: Once painted, a sealant or protective finish is applied for added durability and shine.

This meticulous process ensures your wooden surfaces are not only visually appealing but also resistant to environmental elements.

Benefits of Hiring Local Wood Painting Services Near Me

Opting for nearby wood painting services has distinct advantages:

Quick Response Time: Local professionals can often accommodate your schedule more efficiently.

Familiarity with Local Conditions: They understand how regional weather patterns impact wood and can recommend the best paints and finishes.

Cost-Effective: Reduced travel costs and the ability to source materials locally often make hiring nearby services more budget-friendly.

Community Reputation: Local businesses thrive on word-of-mouth referrals, so you can trust their commitment to quality.

When searching for “wood painting services near me,” check online reviews and ask for recommendations to find reliable providers.

Types of Wood Painting Projects

Professional wood painting services cover a wide range of projects, including:

Interior Woodwork: Doors, window frames, cabinets, and furniture.

Exterior Woodwork: Decks, fences, and siding.

Custom Projects: Artistic finishes, textured paints, or staining for unique aesthetics.

Restoration: Bringing old or weathered wooden pieces back to life with a fresh coat of paint or stain.

Regardless of the project, experts can tailor their services to meet your specific needs and preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: How much do wood painting services cost?The cost varies based on the project size, type of wood, paint quality, and labor involved. On average, expect to pay $2-$5 per square foot for most wood painting projects.

Q2: How often should I repaint wooden surfaces?Interior wooden surfaces typically need repainting every 5-7 years, while exterior wood may require touch-ups every 2-3 years due to exposure to weather.

Q3: Can wood painting services repair damaged wood?Yes, most professionals offer minor repair services, such as filling cracks, replacing rotted sections, or smoothing uneven surfaces, before painting.

Q4: What type of paint is best for wood?Latex-based paints are durable and easy to clean, while oil-based paints offer a smooth finish. Your painter will recommend the best option based on your wood type and project location.

Q5: How do I maintain painted wooden surfaces?Regular cleaning with a damp cloth, avoiding harsh chemicals, and applying protective coatings every few years can extend the life of painted wood.

Conclusion: Enhance Your Wooden Surfaces Today

Investing in professional wood painting services ensures your wooden surfaces remain beautiful and durable for years to come. Whether you need to refresh your deck or add character to your furniture, hiring skilled painters near you guarantees quality results. Begin your search for “Exterior painting services near me” today and discover how local experts can transform your space.

[angles-on-the-out-field]

A Few Suggestions For Removing Wallpaper

As a professional in the home improvement industry I am asked often "What is the best way to remove wallpaper?" This is a challenge for most homeowners. In this article I click here will tell you what I believe is the best method for removing wallpaper.

To begin with, if the wall behind the wallpaper has been previously painted or primed it will make it much easier to remove but if it is unpainted drywall that is when the job becomes more difficult. I start by telling you this is because you can easily damage your walls if you attempt to remove wallpaper from unpainted drywall. If this occurs you will then have to repair the wall with joint compound which is a completely different project all together. Just remember, after you remove the first section of wallpaper from the wall and if the wall is unpainted you will need to take extra care so as not to cause any damage to the wall.

The items you will need to get started is wallpaper remover solution which is readily available at most paint or hardware stores, metal scraper, squirt bottle or garden sprayer and sandpaper.

1. The first step is to prepare by removing all furniture away from the wall and cover it with plastic drop cloths or tarps. Unless you are in an area with tile floors, make certain to cover all flooring with drop cloths.

2. To begin, start in a corner and pull a piece of wallpaper from the wall. Often you can remove the wallpaper easily and all you have left to remove is the glue residue. But most of the time you will be able to remove some areas and be left with some spots which you will have to apply wallpaper removal solution and invest some extra labor to remove. Remove as much as you can while dry, but remember to be careful and remove it slowly so as to not damage the drywall.

3. Fill your squirt bottle or garden sprayer with the wallpaper removal solution according to the manufactures direction. Begining at the top, spray the wall in four foot sections. Repeat this step about three times, until the wall is completely saturated. Do not use too much because if it gets too wet it can cause damage.

4. Take your scraper and gently start scraping away wallpaper and glue residue from the wall. Be careful not to gouge the wet drywall with your scraper.

5. Repeat these steps until all of the glue and wallpaper are removed.

6. If you are left with stubborn glue residue take your sandpaper and sand it away. You can start out with a rough grit sandpaper and as the glue is dissolved you can use a more fine grit sandpaper. Prepare to use several sheets of sandpaper because the glue will begin to cling to the sandpaper and lessen its effectiveness.

[tonguethulhu]

Woodshop guys own $20,000 in woodworking tools but still use fucking spray paint out of a can like dude you can just get a sprayer for like $20-$200 on the cheap end. And they don't even have the spray can trigger deal that costs like $1.50 step up your fucking game bros - what the fuck!

[some1s-sista]

Weekend Projects

We started on the Smokehouse!!! 1st pic is the “Before.” James started with the white trim. He was going to stop there yesterday but he couldn’t help himself and had to put up some red too - basically those spots that are too narrow to use the paint sprayer on. Then he found a lot of damage under the left window so he cut some new clapboards and replaced them.

I was going to finally finish the bunkhouse door, so when I got back from my walk he had taken it off the hinges and laid it flat so that I could scrape off the loose bits, sand it down with the palm sander, and finally paint it. Which means when re-hung, the bunkhouse will finally be done.

Anyhow, while scraping and painting I found the original keyhole that had been covered over in old paint! I used an artist brush to paint around it and the door handle. I think I’ll probably go back with some sand paper or paint remover and see if I can’t get the old paint off them. I should just take them off and boil them. That’s way easier. Maybe next weekend.

Finally, I’d seen that photo of a similar but white little building and I was like “that would look so cute under the stain glass window on the smokehouse!” and sure enough, he used some scraps and built me a little balcony to hang on the front of the smokehouse! He’s so talented

We’re going to be smart, though, and hang it after both the wall and balcony are painted! We just need some staging so we can reach up there.

That will probably be the end of the outdoor painting projects for this year. It’s getting colder every day and paint doesn’t go on very well (or dry well) when you get under the 50s. I was hoping to re-paint the barn, but I think we’ll leave that til Spring.

Choices! So many projects to do; we’re always having to juggle importance, weather, and fundage. It’s like DIY triage.

[chandandhillon21]

Business Operations Plan

At Chandan House Painting, we are dedicated to delivering high-quality, personalized painting services to both residential and commercial clients in Timmins, Ontario. This operations plan outlines how we manage and grow our business, ensuring excellence at every step.

Business Location and Facilities

Location:

Primary Office: We chose Timmins, Ontario, as our base of operations because it offers a balanced mix of residential neighborhoods and commercial districts. The central accessibility and growing demand for renovation services make it an ideal location for our business.

Facilities:

Office Space: Our office is a small, well-equipped space where we handle administrative tasks, meet with clients, and plan projects.

Storage: We have a secure storage area for our painting materials, supplies, and equipment.

Vehicles: Our company vehicles are essential for transporting materials and equipment to job sites efficiently.

Products and Services

Residential Painting Services:

We offer interior painting (walls, ceilings, trim), exterior painting (siding, fences, decks), and custom finishes and murals.

Commercial Painting Services:

Our services include interior office painting, exterior commercial building painting, and specialized coatings (anti-graffiti, fire-resistant).

Operational Workflow

1. Client Engagement:

Initial Contact: Clients can reach us via phone, email, or our website to inquire about our services.

Consultation: We schedule on-site consultations to assess the project scope, provide recommendations, and offer a detailed estimate.

2. Project Planning:

Quote Preparation: We provide detailed quotes, including project timelines, costs, and materials.

Contract Signing: Once the quote is approved, we prepare and sign a contract outlining the project details and terms.

3. Project Execution:

Preparation: We prepare the site by covering furniture, taping off areas, and performing any necessary surface repairs.

Painting: Our team applies paint using appropriate techniques to ensure quality and consistency.

Inspection: We conduct a thorough inspection with the client to ensure satisfaction with the completed work.

4. Project Completion:

Clean-Up: We clean the job site, removing all equipment and debris.

Final Walkthrough: We perform a final walkthrough with the client to address any concerns and ensure complete satisfaction.

Feedback: We request feedback and reviews from the client to improve our services and build testimonials.

Staffing Plan

Roles and Responsibilities:

Owner/Manager: I oversee overall business operations, manage finances, and ensure customer satisfaction.

Lead Painter: Our lead painter manages painting projects, ensures quality control, and supervises the painting staff.

Painters: Our painters execute painting tasks, maintain equipment, and follow safety protocols.

Administrative Assistant: Handles scheduling, client communication, and office management.

Recruitment and Training:

Hiring: We recruit skilled and experienced painters through job postings, referrals, and local trade schools.

Training: We provide ongoing training on the latest painting techniques, safety procedures, and customer service standards.

Suppliers and Equipment

Suppliers:

We establish relationships with local suppliers for high-quality paints, primers, and materials, such as Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore.

We source our equipment and tools from reputable suppliers to ensure reliability and efficiency.

Equipment:

Our equipment includes brushes, rollers, sprayers, drop cloths, ladders, scaffolding, and safety gear (masks, gloves, goggles).

Marketing and Sales Plan

Marketing Strategies:

Online Presence: We developed a professional website showcasing our services, project portfolio, and customer testimonials. We utilize social media platforms to engage with the community and share project updates.

Local Advertising: We distribute flyers, business cards, and brochures in the local area. We also advertise in local newspapers and community boards.

Referrals and Partnerships: We encourage satisfied clients to refer friends and family. We partner with real estate agents, interior designers, and home improvement stores for mutual referrals.

Sales Strategies:

Promotional Offers: We provide discounts for first-time clients and special offers for referrals.

Customer Loyalty: We implement a loyalty program offering discounts or perks for repeat customers.

Networking: We attend local events, trade shows, and community gatherings to network and promote our business.

Financial Management

Budgeting:

We create a detailed budget outlining projected income and expenses.

We monitor cash flow to ensure sufficient funds for ongoing operations and unexpected costs.

Pricing Strategy:

We set competitive prices based on market research, cost of materials, labor, and desired profit margins.

We offer transparent pricing with detailed quotes to build trust and avoid misunderstandings.

Accounting:

We use accounting software to manage invoices, payments, and financial records.

We hire a professional accountant for tax preparation and financial advice.

Risk Management

Insurance:

We obtain comprehensive business insurance, including liability, property, and workers' compensation.

Regulatory Compliance:

We stay informed about local regulations and ensure all our business practices comply with legal requirements.

We maintain necessary licenses and permits for operating in Timmins, Ontario.

At Chandan House Painting, we are committed to delivering exceptional painting services through careful planning, quality execution, and a strong focus on customer satisfaction. This operations plan provides a roadmap for efficient management and growth, ensuring we meet our goals and exceed client expectations.