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Young man,
If you really do know the secret handshake, then you need to check in at the tavern. Just don’t ask these sort of questions there though. As for your original question I once built a castle out of stone that I hewed and carted from a local quarry. I made my own Lome mortar as it is much more forgiving than cement mortars by digging up coral at low tide then burning it to produce quicklime. After hydrating it I was then able to make my mortar.
Aunt Marthar
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Young man,
If you really do know the secret handshake, then you need to check in at the tavern. Just don't ask these sort of questions there though. As for your original question I once built a castle out of stone that I hewed and carted from a local quarry. I made my own Lome mortar as it is much more forgiving than cement mortars by digging up coral at low tide then burning it to produce quicklime. After hydrating it I was then able to make my mortar.
Aunt Marthar
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Marthar,
Was that a one weekend project? Or did it take two?
Rich Beckman
*CraigThere's an article in the current edition of Harrowsmith Country Life magazine on mortar mixes for repointing old stonework. Now this mag is firmly directed at the Yuppie i city-dweller-wannabe-countrifiedmarket, and usually pretty short on real details, but this article, which I perused at a bookstore, seems to be fairly good on detail.-pm
*why, why, Patrick! That was positively the i nicestthing you've ever said. ( At least that I have seen ) ;-)
*WolvieI guess you don't leave the tavern much???-pm
*Wow, Pat, you really let your guard down. You visit bookstores?
*Would someone please explain to me the need for the secrecy in such organizations? (NOTE: I am NOT asking for the secrets, just the reason for them.) I ask this, particularly in light of the sharing of info on the net, but also because I simply don't understand why good info should not be shared for the wealth of all. Oh, I guess some of you will call me a communist. I forgot about that.Guess I'm a freak--I gladly share my knowledge (not company or gov't secrets, btw). Does that make me a traitor? Guess I have a teacher gene. Well, that sucks, doesn't it? I am helping someone get a leg up, so I won't have to support them on welfare, and they can, in turn, teach someone else. Man, I must be on the wrong freakin planet or something!Excuse my rant (Jeffie, just shut up already), but I really want to know what kind of souffle recipe or whatever these folks are trying to keep a secret from us. What if all the "knowledgeable" (sp?) ones die? Your little architecturally superior mitering technique dies w/them?Sorry if this sounds oblique, but I really want to know! Please give me an example when keeping knowledge of superior techniques (assuming the Masons have them) has helped foster the positive growth of civilization/whatever.TIA
*KaiThe thread started with a cute lil double entendre, ya know.. . mason/masonic. Ya didn't get it huh?? Here's a hanky.. . go clean the egg off!!!Anyway, it's (i Free Masonicwhoohaw)just a private club. Ego bullshit. Self agrandising superiority trip for wankers. One of my grandfathers belonged because of the necessity for business back in the 20's. People seem to like private clubs, makes em feel special. Pay Costco/Price Club a membership and get checked at the door...feel special...course they don't deny i anyone membership but you're not supposed to think about that.Ain't nothin secretive about masonry of the bricks 'n blocks variety 'cept why anyone would want to do it day in and day out. Guess that's why they get the big$$$$$$$.-pm
*Thanks, Patrick :) Guess I wasn't, as they say in CT, "paying attention"
*But note he reads the mags and doesn't buy. Or maybe waiting for the customers to clear out so he can buy his Hustler unseen (or maybe to buy The Weekly Standard unseen!)Rich Beckman
*Wankers is right Patrick, Club or freaking cult guess which way i got it figured. Oh gees i got a freaking headache, Patrick pass me a tumbler of the Irish Sipping Whiskey.No damnit that is not an impossible act or a triple oxymoron you bums.
*JoeStay where yer at and I'll come where you is. .. d'ya need a straw. . . it's easier with the throbbin head-pm
*Hustler content is better on the web, so I'm told. . .don't know the Weekly Standard... it's i Cosmothat I don't want anyone seein me purchase...research on how the other half is thinkin(?). ..gotta keep up on the latest techniques for G spot stimulation, but don't want 'em to know I didn't come by it spontaneously. . . Actually, when I visit the big town, I try to reserve an hour or so to spend in the big box book store. They have a nice comfortable coffee bar with overstuffed chairs around a fireplace and designer coffee. Usually just flop for awhile and eyeball whatever is lyin on the adjoining table...this time happened to be Model Aircraft News(?), and Harrowsmith...easy choice. Don't think they even have Hustler, though a quick scan of the mag racks would almost do. .. some serious skin on the covers of just about everything these days. Dozens of mags I've never heard of, all with half nekid honeys on the cover. T&A sells as always.-pm
*Yehh Paddy, I'm ok now, one root canal later.Would you believe those dentists can drill a 2mm hole and then clean the tissue out of the roots 22mm down?Last night couldn't sleep, terrible pain and only 2 vicodins for 12 hours. Much better now.Couldn't work today as my current job is 30' above a very busy street, on a scaffold, built on the roof, to reside a cupola. Need more wits about me for that then i could muster today after the am root canal.Still got a little whiskey left and tomorrows Friday. How about a game of 9 ball in the Tav? 2 bits on the 5 and 4 bits on the 9.joe d
*Weekly Standard is a conservative opionion rag, as The New Republic is a liberal opinion mag. But I would say the Standard is further from center. The most likely title I could think of as least likely to be read by you.Rich Beckman
*>"Would someone please explain to me the need for the secrecy in such organizations?"Very simple, really. There are a couple of old sayings that explain it very well...."A closed mouth gathers no foot""Better to keep your mouth shut and let people think that you're stupid, than to open it and leave them no doubt."
*I built a limestone wall 40 yrs ago using a cement and sand mixture I think it was one to one, and water enough to make a good slurry. The trick is to soak the stones in water for a few hrs so the dry stone doesn't suck the water out of the mortar before it sets and gets a good bond. My wall lasted 30 yrs and was still in good shape when it was torn down to add a porch.
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Hey pat
you shouldnt downplay something you dont know about
*
Huh?????
*Kai - I don't understand the need for secrecy either. But, just for the sake of arguement, Women have secret organizations also. For instance, there's a group around here called PEO. Only Women can belong to it. They won't say what PEO stands for, and they aren't allowed to discuss who's actually in the club. You can't ask to join - Membership is by invitation only. So why are these women so secretive ?But I'm way ahead of them - I've single-handedly figured out what PEO stands for:b Penis Envy Organization~
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Hey Pat,
You shouldnt insult something you know nothing about
*
Yo roofer j,
An obsolete cult.
enough said
*roofer jim... r u referin to the masonic order?paddy is so used ter insultin all groups equally , he never quite figgers witch 1 he might have gored last....praps u'd like ter enlighten us....
*RooferActually I'm just pissed because ol grampa didn't show me the secret handshake before he passed on. ..got this nifty lil book that he left behind though.. . -pm
*LOL Ron, I'll buy that definition if it has to do with relieving oneself when the ladies room line is too long!!! (Have you heard of that funnel device? Allows a woman to aim, supposedly, away from her own leg!)
*
I never really bought into the secrecy part of the masonry business until recently, when I needed to research a mortar formula for stone construction.
My local library (Philadelphia) has 2 books on masonry construction. Right on the same shelf there's 10 on building your own home, 20 on designing your own home, 30 on decorating it. Hell, if I looked I probably could find some books on do-it-yourself home surgery.
So, if any you folks can help, I'd sure appreciate some guidance.
Question: Should I avoid lime based mortars (as one book suggests) to avoid staining my $285/ton stone? This book suggests fireclay in lieu of lime, but doesn't say why.
My restoration books suggest a high lime mortar which is more forgiving, and can move slightly and reseal itself. Sounds weaker, no?
If any masons would care to help, I promise I'll delete an references to masonry on my computer, use the information for non-commercial purposes, forget the secret handshake my grandfathers showed me (late on 4th of July when his guard was down), and possibly contribute to the next Freemasonry fund raiser.
Looking forward to the free exchange of information,
Craig