What's the Buzz on Restoring Old Firearms?

It's been a while since I posted and thought I'd write about restoring a firearm. That hobby has garnered an interest to me.

A person has to be smart with how they go about choosing a firearm to restore because not all of them can be brought back to their former glory. In the end, some guns will be restored without a hitch, some will restore with a few new parts, and others will be as broken as they were before. Still, restoring a firearm is a great idea because it can sometimes be done for little money and little effort. Collectors can keep the firearms for themselves or they can sell them off for some extra money. Of course, it doesn't matter what happens as long as the gun works again!

Getting Started

In the beginning, a person who wants to restore a firearm will have to find one to restore in the first place. The best bet for doing so is choosing a firearm that doesn't have mechanical issues, such as a broken trigger, bent hammer lock, or bent bore. It's best to choose a firearm that looks banged up but works just fine as far as firing the weapon goes. Fortunately, these types of weapons can be found just about anywhere for low prices because they aren't exactly the most valuable firearms out there. Some may even come with holsters and/or range bags.

Next, costs for restoring the firearm should be considered. A firearm made out of expensive materials with a lot of damage can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars to fix. With that in mind, a person who hasn't restored a firearm before should stick to something a bit easier to fix up. The more complicated the gun, such as those with holographic sights, the harder it will be to restore. Nobody should jump right into restoring an assault rifle for their first job. Typically, it's best to start out with a basic rifle, shotgun, or handgun to restore. Also, only guns that won't cost hundreds of dollars to fix up should be worked on at first because it is highly likely that a person will mess up their first firearm restoration job.

The Restoration

Each restoration job will differ in some way from the last or the next one. Of course, each gun is going to have its blemishes and issues that need to be addressed. For example, firearms with dented or scratched wooden stocks will take some sanding or replacement. A rusted firearm will need some touching up to restore its shine. Some parts for the firearm might just need to be replaced altogether or parts like red dot sights may need calibration. So then, let's jump right into it.

Rust is a big problem on old guns with metal on them, which is pretty much every firearm out there. Fortunately, it is possible to get rid of rust on a firearm most of the time. There are professionals who can remove rust and other blemishes, but that's too expensive for most casual restorers. Rubbing the rusted areas gently with steel wool can remove great amounts of rust. Of course, it might take a few minutes or hours to get rid of most of the rust, but nobody should expect to get rid of all of it. Still, it's a simple solution that gets the job done.

Stocks aren't that difficult to fix because they can just be replaced with a new wooden or synthetic stock. On the other hand, some people prefer to keep the firearm's original stock. To restore an old stock with dents and scratches, the stock should be sanded down in the affected areas ever so slightly. It's very easy to sand the firearm too much to where the stock looks awkward. Anyways, the blemishes should be sanded down and then a coat of finish should be applied to the stock. Minor problems should be solved in this manner without a problem. Some stocks might need to be replaced at the end though.

Finally, the restorer should clean all other parts of the firearm, such as the bore and other parts. The firearm doesn't need to be taken apart if it works mechanically and may just get dirty, especially at this time of the year when hunting season is in full swing and people are in the woods using their hang on tree stands for hunting deer. From there, one must hope for the best and hope the firearm looks great and fires without a problem. After a few restoration jobs, some people will be able to move onto dealing with mechanical repairs with a firearm. This is much more difficult than cosmetic repairs, but it is also more rewarding. Everyone must be careful when attempting mechanical repairs though because they can be dangerous. Still, now you can restore that old firearm that's lying around in shambles!

Why I Don't Like Nonstick Cookware

I want to take a break from writing about the Pacific Coast and focus on cookware, specifically no-stick.

A few years ago, new pots and pans with a special coating changed the history of sales of cookware.

Customers were so excited about trying out the at-the-time best non stick cookware due to its claims that it is easily cleaned and cooking with those pots and pans uses less oil and butter. Most cooks love this cookware that they prefer to use it in almost every meal possible. What most of us don’t know is that we are unknowingly exposing ourselves to hidden dangers. And the release of that news caused the sales of non stick pots and pans to drop slowly due to numerous health concerns about possible toxic and chemical emissions. Here are a few reasons why I don’t like non stick pots and pans.

Non Stick Coating Does Not Last Long

Most customers buy these pots and pans because of its non stick coating. But after a few months, users can observe the brittleness and weakness of the coating material. The coating is very prone to scratches. The slightest scratch can start the wreckage of the coating in the whole material. This cookware needs careful handling and maintenance in order to last for some time.

Non Stick Coating Requires Special Cooking Utensils

As mentioned, the coating of non stick pots and pans are easily broken upon the slightest scratch. And because of that, special cooking utensils are made for non stick pots and pans to avoid ruining of the coating. Many people will opt for good quality ceramic cookware.

Non Stick Pots and Pans Are Costly

This might be helpful for anyone to cook easily. But that help comes with a great price. Non stick pots and pans are very costly and impractical if you are an average family. The pots and pans itself are expensive, just think about its maintenance and additional requirements just for it to last longer in your kitchen, especially when you can purchase the best stainless steel cookware in 2014 for a good price.

Non Stick Coating of Pots and Pans Releases Carcinogenic Fumes

At normal conditions, non stick pot and pans are safe. But upon heating, the coating that is responsible for the non stick ability of the pots and pans begins to break down. This occurrence is not observed with the naked eye. Break down occurs in the molecular level so it seems normal during cooking. The molecular break down of the coating releases toxic particles and gases that mostly are carcinogenic.

Non stick pans are generally made up of set of compounds that come off when the pots and pans are being heated high enough for the compounds to decompose. Most compounds contain fluorine which is generally toxic. The coating system of non stick pots and pans are made up of fluoropolymers, so you should see how potentially dangerous it is.

To be more specific, the coating is made up of a carcinogenic material known as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Upon heating, this chemical agent releases toxic fumes that you inhale every time you cook using the non stick pots and pans. You might not even be aware that you are inhaling the fumes because it is odourless. For you to fully understand how dangerous the fumes are; the fumes of PFOA are one of the primary reagents of the World War II’s nerve gas phosgene which caused severe injuries and even death to so many individuals.

PFOA has been associated with different types of cancer. It can also cause flu-like disease caused by inhaling the fumes. Preganat women are more likely to suffer to its unexpected effects. It has been tested to animals and caused poisoning of the birds and other animals.

Manufacturers and inventor of non stick pots and pans suggest that the maximum cooking temperature for this cookware is only up to 500oF. And so, a study was made to know how easy non stick pots and pans reach the temperature limit. And you would be surprised to know that non stick pots and pans get heated very easily using even normal home burners. You might not be aware that you have reached above the maximum temperature already. And that can result to dangerous effects.

Moreover, the molecules of the fumes stay within a person’s body for years. It runs in the blood, and some are stored in tissues and organs as well. Just think about how much you are exposed to those dangerous substances. The more you use non stick pots and pans, the more you expose yourself. And that makes you more prone to getting some health problems in the near future. You might be diagnosed with a different source of your condition, but you have to keep in mind that risks that you exposed yourself. And those are the reasons why you shouldn’t like non stick pots and pans.

What Is the Weather Like on the Pacific Coast?

Off the Pacific Coast Highway. Photo source via CC-2.0: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rkramer62/3841989817/

The Pacific Ocean is known as one of the biggest oceans on Earth. Most of the unexplored part of the world’s waters belongs to that part. There are so many myths and stories about sea creatures living in that area due to the limited number of people traveling in waters using that direction. A Pacific coast of the country is the coast bordering the Pacific Ocean. And if your country has a pacific coast, it means that you are beside thousands of miles of water area. You might want to rethink about staying there especially on the Pacific coast proper. Due to the vast area that the Pacific covers, it harbours so many coastal areas in the West and in Asia as well. And if you are curious enough to ask what the weather like on the Pacific coast is, you would be surprised to know that it varies from one place to another.

There are more than ten countries in the Western side of America that have a Pacific coast as their Western border. These countries are Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and the West Coast of the United States. Meanwhile, there are less than ten countries in Asia that have a Pacific coast as their Eastern border such as Russia, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, China, Philippines, and Taiwan. But to the gravest extent, there are three countries in Oceania that have a Pacific coast in the entire border of their country. These countries are Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Some countries experience the same weather, while others do not.

Wet And Perfect For Summer Get-Away

Almost all Pacific Coasts of the countries in the West, Oceania, and Asia are perfect for summer vacations. The beach is so wonderful that you would want to go back in the area over and over again. The Pacific Ocean gives off lovely water for the beach that makes swimming in the Pacific Coast a lot better. Most countries have made their Pacific coast the vacation centers of the country to provide locals and foreigners a one of a kind vacation that they definitely would not want to miss.

Hot And Dry

Due to a very large portion of water area, this affects the temperature that is being radiated by the sun. The vast water of the Pacific re-radiates the sun rays along with its high temperatures to its territory including borders. This is another added element that makes most Pacific coast perfect for summer seasons. This is the weather almost year round. And this is exactly what the visitors are looking for.

Typhoon Threats

Most Asian countries that have Pacific coasts are experiencing many typhoons and rainy seasons within the year. Storm clouds are formed always in the Pacific Ocean, and the fast wind velocity in the area almost always sends the storm clouds in the East border. Typhoons from the Pacific Ocean are known to be so strong that the countries with these storms suffer much flooding in the central area, and tsunami in the borders. The strong wind in the Pacific Ocean is always pointed to the East direction which is why most clouds are sent in that direction.

The West borders are not free from these typhoons. The Western countries are experiencing a few months in a year of rainy season. It is the time when business is weak in the area. No one wants to swim and go beach hopping under the rain. But the west is not experiencing the same strength of typhoon as the West area. But when hurricanes come in other parts of the country, it adds moisture to the rain clouds in the border causing more rains to fall during the rainy days.

Some Countries Have Winter

Some selected pacific coast areas have winter seasons. Those countries are the once near the Antarctic Ocean. The very low temperature in the area imparts greatly on the weather and season of the Pacific Coasts of these few countries. But the winter season is not long enough, and these countries experience wet and dry months as well.

The weather in the pacific coast is over all perfect for your vacation time. All you need to consider is where and what area you should go in order achieve the weather that you are expecting. You can expect the rainy seasons to last for 2-3 months, and enjoy the hot beach ready sun all year round. The weather in the pacific coast is one of the most predictable weathers in most countries. And you surely would like to experience t for yourself.