On Dec 9, 4:19*pm, Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 9 Dec 2009 10:56:15 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

hows the weather holding up there, brother?

I've heard Chicago-land is supposed to get a pounding. Here, there's
40 mi gusts, 35 degrees and spitting snow occasionally...

I just feels plain cold outside. *the wind drives the humidity right
though coveralls

I was out and about today. *Windy, some snow. *It'll get worse.
This was my drill when working outside fueling trucks at UPS from
'76-80. *'78 and '79 were about the worse winters in history here.
You might remember the snow. *We had 8 feet here. *And cold.
Snow that fell in December was still there in March.
Feet. *Loose socks, then a pair of thick looser socks. *Pac boots -
the kind with the rubberized lowers and about 1/2" felt liners.
Legs and ass. *Jockeys, then long johns, then heavy work trousers.
Arms and Body. *T-shirt, then thin turtleneck, then long tail wool
shirt, then loose winter jacket. *Any gloves that work.
Now cover everything with extra large, heavy industrial coveralls.
I swiped a couple pairs over the years I worked at IH.
Probably weigh 5 pounds. *Maybe 1/4 thick cotton/polyester blend.
They stop wind cold and even oil doesn't want to go through them.
Never found any in the store like that.
Head. *Hard hat liner with chin strap. *Stops air dead. *Your ears
never even get a chill. *Cover that with a thick wool stocking cap.
Then wrap a regular cotton bathroom towel around your neck and tuck
the ends in the coveralls.
So now you look kinda weird, but you're ready.
Important to have thick coveralls a few sizes too big. *Since I'm
short I just roll up the legs. *I don't care about fashion.
Reason I wrote this is I'm planning to work in the garage this winter,
and wanted to remind myself what works. *You probably don't have to
go to these lengths, but if you're going to be outside all day, that's
how to do it.
I need to get some stuff. *My overalls are gone and I'm going to find
some like I had. *Probably cost 50 bucks right there if I can find
them.
Kerosene heaters are on the way, and I picked up 3 *2 1/2 gallon jugs
of K-1 kerosene at Menards on the way to a place I had called.
First place only had gallon cans, for 10 bucks, so I was on the way to
a second place that told me they had 2 1/2 gallon jugs for 20 bucks.
Menards was on the way, so I figured I'd stop there and get a few 4'
fluorescent fixtures and a box of light tubes.
They had the 2 1/2 gallon jugs for 12.99. *That's 5.20 a gallon.
Not bad since I was expecting to pay more. *Kerosene is a funny
market. *Best to look around good if you don't want to get raped.
My kid is real excited about the heaters, since he loves to work on
cars. *Wish kerosene heaters could get me excited, but I can't get
there. *But I do have a better attitude about this winter.

--Vic

Wow. I flew into Chicago 15+ years ago in January... rental car was
sitting there running when I picked it up. Drove to the hotel in
Schaumberg, went to bed. Next morning got up, three S's, headed out
the door to the car. My nose and mustache felt funny by the time I
got to the car, and then the car just clicked. It was -20 at night,
never broke 0 during the day, with wind chill -40 or so. Water vapor
was freezing up in my nose, the car didn't crank for two days, and on
the third day it warmed up to 5 degrees, the car cranked and it felt
good outside!

That's when I knew that you guys could keep that... it might be hot
here in the summer, but I can deal with the heat. My shop has a small
electric heater that I use to cut the chill when it's cold. 50 feels
good when I'm working, and I keep it on low at night to prevent
freezing when the temps drop. It was 70 today, but will be 29
tomorrow night. A little rain and no snow... I can deal with that.