Repair/resto question

Bob A · 11th June 2019, 01:56 AM

I know nothing of Birch Tar.

I know that the sort of tar used in roofing and roadway construction was utilised by the youth of yore. My late Uncle informed me, some 60 years ago, that snatching a shiny black chunk of the stuff from a construction site and using it as chewing gum was not at all uncommon. He eventually died, but not from that.

Spider webs are still in regular use today in our more rural areas as a sort of quick-clot material to staunch bleeding in otherwise intractable wounds. Horse barns are full of spiderwebs, and C. tetani. Perhaps early vaccination against tetanus has prevented secondary mortality in the yeomanry.

ariel · 11th June 2019, 03:34 AM

Alan,
I really enjoyed your dualistic approach: as usually very informative and subtle.
It reminds me of the late President of Israel, Mr. Levi Eshkol, who was known for his "sophisticated way of approaching a problem" ( his admirerers) or as "awfully indecisive" ( his opponents).
It was told of his answer to a question whether he wanted tea or coffee: "Half and half".
I guess I am still in a league with your "shoot the bastards" friend:-)

ariel · 11th June 2019, 03:44 AM

Re: body work.
My car was rear-ended on the parking lot with a big indentation of the plastic bumper.
We did not want to approach our insurance agent, because we would have to pay large deductible and our premium would sky-rocket. Replacing the bumper would cost ~$800.

A young ( ~30 yo) guy at the shop told us not to worry and just leave a car with him for a couple of hours. He heated the plastic, re-formed the big ding and charged us ... $75.
There are still smart and professional youngsters. Not all is lost.

A. G. Maisey · 11th June 2019, 04:29 AM

That bumper story is good to hear, Ariel.

Never heard of that here but it is certain there is an opening for it.

Bob, the spider web for wounds was pretty much general rural treatment when I was a kid, women avoided cleaning spider webs that formed over the wood burning stoves that were used back then, and if any of the men suffered a severe cut a handful of spider web was slathered over the wound to stop the bleeding. I think it has just about disappeared as a treatment now.

11th June 2019, 01:56 AM	#1
Bob A Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 436	I know nothing of Birch Tar. I know that the sort of tar used in roofing and roadway construction was utilised by the youth of yore. My late Uncle informed me, some 60 years ago, that snatching a shiny black chunk of the stuff from a construction site and using it as chewing gum was not at all uncommon. He eventually died, but not from that. Spider webs are still in regular use today in our more rural areas as a sort of quick-clot material to staunch bleeding in otherwise intractable wounds. Horse barns are full of spiderwebs, and C. tetani. Perhaps early vaccination against tetanus has prevented secondary mortality in the yeomanry.

11th June 2019, 03:34 AM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Alan, I really enjoyed your dualistic approach: as usually very informative and subtle. It reminds me of the late President of Israel, Mr. Levi Eshkol, who was known for his "sophisticated way of approaching a problem" ( his admirerers) or as "awfully indecisive" ( his opponents). It was told of his answer to a question whether he wanted tea or coffee: "Half and half". I guess I am still in a league with your "shoot the bastards" friend:-)

11th June 2019, 03:44 AM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Re: body work. My car was rear-ended on the parking lot with a big indentation of the plastic bumper. We did not want to approach our insurance agent, because we would have to pay large deductible and our premium would sky-rocket. Replacing the bumper would cost ~$800. A young ( ~30 yo) guy at the shop told us not to worry and just leave a car with him for a couple of hours. He heated the plastic, re-formed the big ding and charged us ... $75. There are still smart and professional youngsters. Not all is lost.

11th June 2019, 04:29 AM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	That bumper story is good to hear, Ariel. Never heard of that here but it is certain there is an opening for it. Bob, the spider web for wounds was pretty much general rural treatment when I was a kid, women avoided cleaning spider webs that formed over the wood burning stoves that were used back then, and if any of the men suffered a severe cut a handful of spider web was slathered over the wound to stop the bleeding. I think it has just about disappeared as a treatment now.