khunkeith

17 hours ago, Buffy Frobisher said:

A mate of mine out in the sticks up Maha Sarakam way got a wifi router from AIS which has a SIM card in it and pulls data from mobile towers, and he gets a decent 8mb/sec from that which is more than enough to run Netflix and a Kodi box for international channels. Cost is about 500 baht/month from memory. Might be worth checking that out. But you say you already have Netflix so you must have reasonable internet already - that's a bit confusing, Keith. Truevisions lost all value to the common man a long time ago. Move on to IPTV and you'll never go back - go talk with AIS.

Netflix works but does stutter and I get tiling on occasion.  Most of the movies they show do not appeal to me (I am not a major demographic anymore).  That's why I prefer the old movies shown on TCM.  Movies that rely on acting, storyline and direction and not animation, special effect and CGI to draw in an audience. 

2 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

Got to have internet. I ditched True ages ago they are appalling. Netflix is a dream come true and Pulse for News etc. is ok.

I have netflix but they are geared to a much young audience.  Not a single John Wayne movie at all.    But the internet problem seems unsolvable.  it is just not stable here.  I guess it's research time.  THai visa is a great tool for people helping each other.

True Visions did it again.  Outside of documentary channels like Nat Geo, HIstory, etc, the only channels I watch are TCM and AMC as I like older movies.  True took both of those channels away yesterday.  I am not technically savvy bt am looking for an alternative where I can still watch my preferred channels.  I live away from any large metropolitan area and do not have a stable internet connection. 

are there any viable alternatives to True Visions?

18 hours ago, eyecatcher said:

Unfortunately wood is high maintenance and you need to be prepared for that.

The only wood I have around the house, and I have it everywhere, that has maintained a high gloss is that which doesnt get rained on or is in direct sunshine all day.

 

I have used loads of products including mixing my oen with silicone and even enamel paint.

 

You could first start with a chaindrite stain. It will soak into the wood and protect it from insects and wood rot. It also semi seals it for your top coats.

The best high gloss product i used wwas a Berger deck seal. It wasnt implying a patio deck but a yacht deck boasting its durability. About 900bt for a 5litre can.

Theres also the boat varnish, a cheap local product that is pretty good. I used this to seal our wooden foot spa bowls. They are filled with hot water several times a day and only need resealing oncee a year.

But tbh you need to resign yourself to an annual maontenance job, but hey its only a couple of days work when all said and done.

Boat varnish might be worth trying.  I had a stained deck back in the states and used THompsons water seal which I had to reapply annually, after I did a power wash.  I guess no matter what I apply, it will have to be done annually.  thanks for the input.

2 years ago, I built a nice gazebo in my garden.  the problem is, after the rainy season, I have to stain the wood every year.  My wife likes that high gloss Thai stain.  I am looking for a good quality wood water sealant I can apply so water beads up.  I am fully aware that high cost does not always equal high quality.  There is a Thai Watsadu and a Home Pro near my home. 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

12 hours ago, Oxx said:

Unadvertised? Not as far as I know.  However, they do offer term deposits with higher rates.  And they do typically offer higher rates for larger deposits.

thanks for the input.  I will do some checking around. 

back when I was a young man, I worked for a fairly large bank.  the bank offered unadvertised interest rates for large deposits.  For example, if someone had $1 million, they would contact the bank and ask for a 30, 60, 90 day etc rate and the bank would give them a rate that could be 1% or more than a standard savings rate with interest accruing daily. 

do Thai banks have any program that is similar for a multi million baht deposit?

On 9/5/2018 at 6:23 PM, jmd8800 said:

It is a cat and mouse game. When you get a new VPN IP address then Amazon notes it and blocks it.

the interesting thing is, amazon advised me to get a VPN to access the videos.  

1 hour ago, jmd8800 said:

NORD is one of the better ranked VPNs around.

 

It doesn't matter which VPN you use, in time that VPN can be blocked. Amazon will determine the IP address ranges of any or all VPNs and block as they see fit for whatever reason they choose.

 

Amazon is protecting someone's (or their copyright) so you'll have to get pretty creative to get that content.

 

I refuse to do business with Amazon but I would bet if I opened an account with them and then a few days later logged in through my VPN (I run my own VPN) I would be blocked quickly.

I talked with a friend in the Philippines.  he said Amazon does the same with his VPN regularly and usually within a week, it is working again. 

1 hour ago, jmd8800 said:

 

 

update.   chatted with NORD just now.  Amazon is blocking NORD.  NORD is trying to fix the problem.  I think I will cancel NORD and use another VPN    Any suggestions from anyone here that watches Amazon Prime?

I have an Amazon Prime account and many shows and movies are blocked from being shown in Thailand because of copy rights.  I subscribed to a 30 day free trial with Nord VPN and it worked great watching shows on my laptop.  Suddenly 3 days ago, if my VPN is enabled, I am blocked from logging on Amazon.  I wanted to test the VPN before installing it on my router so I would be able to use my Smart TV and watch things ( I am now connected to the TV with a HDMI cable).  Any suggestions on a VPN that would work,  the only reason I have for a VPN is to use Amazon Prime. 

thanks

1 hour ago, b17 said:

Well, I'd buy one. So only 49 left to unload. Bet you could easily find 49 other people on Thai visa alone who would buy one if the price was reasonable. 

  check the lazada link above

15 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

This from Lazada ... https://www.lazada.co.th/products/outdoor-pit-bbq-table-grill-garden-patio-camping-heater-fireplace-brazier-intl-i243691661-s373996298.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.7.7e2e45d9xzx86C&search=1

thanks!!!   already on order now.  when I receive it, I will post how well it works and the quality. 

13 minutes ago, Hank Gunn said:

That could very well be true (the quality of steel here I mean). In the case of the barrels here, and the BBQs made from them, part of the issue may also be the gauge (thickness) of sheetmetal that's rolled into barrels.

 

I'm really glad that amongst the stuff I had shipped over was a nice, 21" Weber grill, but I do regret not shipping over some really nice garden tools (super strong, square-bladed spade, and fiberglass-handled pick-axe among them).

I shipped over my Webber too.  Bought a spade and,  it bent the first time I tried to dig with it and pushed in with my foot.  I have hed my Webber 8 years and still works great.  My wife bought a knock off table top webber at Home Pro and it started to fall apart after a 1/2 dozen uses.  I had the same garden tools in the states for over 20 years.  I wish I had bought a new set and shipped them when I moved here 8 years ago. 

Back to topic, I am looking not jsut for functionality but aesthetics as well. 

6 minutes ago, Hank Gunn said:

Actually, I have a friend with an old barrel converted to a fire pit and it's lasted for over 20 years. However, the barrel is oriented vertically, with a plate welded in about 1/3 of the way up with holes in the plate and holes around the barrel at the bottom (below the plate). The fire is started/burns on top of that plate and works very well. If you look at Starky's suggested design, which is not bad either, you'll see the ridges on the barrel (used for when they're rolled) the bottom of which you can weld the plate to. With lots of welders and cheap labor in Thailand, you should be able to do one up pretty cheaply and easily.

 

As a side note, in addition to the durability of this design, it has save my friend from tickets for illegal fires from the US Park Service and US Forestry Service (as well as in state parks) due to the fact that the fire is not directly on the ground and is contained in the barrel. I think you'd be surprised at how durable this design is, and with pretty much every fire my friend has made, he's gotten the barrel around the ventilation holes cherry red.

I wonder if the steel used in barrels here is a lower quality steel then used in the US?  I know the steel used in nails I have bought here is poor quality and the same with gardening tools that I have purchased.  When I built my gazebo, nails bent easily and, when I tried to pull them out, the heads sometimes popped off, never had that happen with nails I got in the US. 

what I found on AMazon.  cost, shipping and import tax, about $250. 

1 minute ago, jimmyyy said:

Keith I think you would do much better at a local shop.  basically you are looking for a large 12 gauge Wok.  Take a photo of a Wok, tel them how large and thick you want the wok to be.  Tell them to put legs on it and weld supports between the legs.  Don't let them Tack it you want solid welds.  Best of luck to you sir, may you have many cool nights by the fire........

maybe I can just order 50 from Alibaba and sell the here on Thai Visa   ?

by the way, I can order one on Amazon that can be shipped here.  The price, about $125, will double with shipping and import tax though.  I think the wife will kill me if I pay $250,  ?

update:  thanks for all the suggestions and ideas.  Most of them I have already looked into.  the disk idea is a new one that I will look at for sure.   Shaping and cutting a hemisphere that looks good is an art and I want something that is not only functional but aesthetically pleasing.   the problem with home made is, well, it looks home made.  At least it will if I make it.  I have about zero blacksmithing skills. 

35 minutes ago, starky said:

Does it have to be a bowl? What about the old 44 cut in to a third with some holes punched in the bottom they are pretty portable. If ya can't build your own there is a Thai style one available just about everywhere on a much smaller scale.

 

a friend of mine used one for a BBQ.  worked nicely for a while but the steel was to thin.  it burned and rusted though the bottom after a couple years.  I looked at commercial sized woks and saw they would have the same problem.  1/8" steel thickness  (10-12 gauge) or better is recommended.  a barrel is usually about 18 gauge.   thanks for the suggestion though. 

4 minutes ago, malt25 said:

Like I said, buy a plough disc & have your local guy make the legs. Easy peasy.

I looked in line at them and not sure they are deep enough for safety.   I will go to the local shop where I know they are sold.  thanks for the suggestion. 

16 minutes ago, malt25 said:

I'd go to an agricultural-hardware store & purchase a plough disc. They come in a variety of sizes. For a very basic base just set the disc on a few bricks. For something more like your photo, any local engineering shop, shack, will be able to make you the base for next to nothing.

Hope this helps. 

I have shown the photo to the local metal shop guy and he is not sure how to make the bowl.  I have looked into commercial sized woks to use as the bowl but the are mostly aluminum or very thin steel.  my dad (in the states) has a 30" one made of copper and uses in his gazebo and he paid about $60 for.  he can also move it to his wooden deck if he chooses the roof of my gazebo is vented, the same as my fathers. 

Greeting all. 

I am looking for a place to buy a fire pit that is portable.  I have built a new gazebo in the yard and would like a place to build a fire during the cool nights in late December and January.  I lost a couple good sized trees during a large windstorm earlier this year and the wood is cut and stacked. 

here is a photo of the type I wish to get.  They are quite popular in the states and easy to buy. 

Thanks

just went to Phetchabun airport and spoke with the people in the building.  It's scheduled to open at the end of June with 2 flights daily to Bangkok on Nok Air.  I used it several years (2005) ago when it had a daily flight to Bangkok.  the flight I took had originated in Chiang Mai.  Only about 10 people boarded and it was a very small plane.  Seating probably less than 50 people all in all. 

20 hours ago, downtowneddie said:

What variety of Tomato did you use?

 dont remember the brand.  I used Better Boy and Beefsteak I think.