I need to track more projects here and philosophize less! And as promised, here’s a project.
My tweeny daughter has aggression issues. And when I was her age I dealt with it by punching brick walls and cutting myself. Fortunately she asked for help in the form of a healthier outlet – a punching bag. I wish I had been able to talk to my own parents about mental problems.
So that’s what I got her. And I went official, UFC brand! Aww yeah. And no sissy 70# bag. No, this is the full 100! Which does limit hanging options, but I figured the I-beam in the basement that holds up the house should be strong enough.
And it also gave me a chance to use my bolt cutter – a tool I had purchased after a prior project involving chain segments. Previously, when I needed chain, I went to the hardware store and had an associate cut me off what I needed, which was an oddly awkward process to watch as they worked that pneumatic crank – equipment somewhat overkill for the rated chain I had selected. Now I can just have them cut one length, or better yet – buy a box pre-measured, and I cut to length on site. No lengthy store interactions, and no guesswork.
It’s also pretty manly to clamp through chain. Something about the raw power and strength of linked metal.
And so, some clamping and carabiners later, we had two sections of 250#-rated chain holding up a sand-filled stress-reliever.
It does shake the house a little bit, but I don’t think we’re in any danger of structural failure. A small price.
–Simon