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Smudge Pots

This is the place to discuss all your tricks and tips of bus life. From how to pack everything you need, to the best on the road recipes.
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BoxcarOkie
Posts: 538
Joined: Thu May 21, 2009 7:42 pm

Smudge Pots

Post by BoxcarOkie »

Image

Smudge Pots

My wife and I watch this program quite a bit called “Pickers.” It is about two guys who drive around and they pick thru other peoples stuff, and try to talk them out of it, so that they can sell it later.

We have a much different term for it, we call it “junking.” (I can hear my bride as I type this ... GARAGE SALE! GARAGE SALE .... MAKE A YOUIE!)

These Picker guys find the neatest junk. They always manage to sell it for a profit too. I find that a little less than truthful, but then again, “that is television for you” truly a dishonest medium and most always less than truthful when it comes to the storyline.

“One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” is what Mama used to say. Now the old man, he would put it much differently, he would say: “It’s too valuable to throw away and it isn’t worth a dime when you go to sell it.”

Two opposing viewpoints.

Junking is fun, and it keeps me out of the beer-joints, so it is a “win-win-situation.” We have never discovered the painting with the original Declaration of Independence on the back like you see on Oprah, but we sometimes stumble onto some neat stuff. (On one trip, in Wyoming, we stopped at this little store and I purchased some Coca Cola bottle openers. Later on, I took them to a Coke novelty store in Okie City and discovered my $8 purchase was an original and worth $144.00!)

We occasionally find a nugget or a little treasure when we junk on the weekends or on a trip. This time it was smudge pots, now I am not all that sure about the technical name, but when I was a kid, they were called that. If you are fortunate to find some, in reasonably good shape, they clean up rather nice. (Be forewarned this is messy work and not much fun, but in the end they are worth it)

Image

Back in the fifties you saw them everywhere on construction sites, cement work, road construction. They usually were filled with kerosene if my memory serves me right. In this case, I filled them with this stuff they sell at China-Mart for backyard Tiki Lanterns (Cintrella oil or something like that). We are going to use them for mosquito protection. One last thing: If you need to replace the wicks they can be found at Home Depot or Lowe’s. You can also make some out of cotton-type rope.

Image

Scratch ‘em up real good, paint ‘em and then find a suitable tool box to store them in (mine came from Lowe’s - less than $25) and you are off to the races! Best part, “no mosquitoes hanging around the bus in the parking area.”

Good hunting ...

BCO
No I didn't say that ... Must have been some other guy.
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Dreamscape
Posts: 3046
Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:03 pm
FMCA #: F391238
Bus Model: 1968 Silver Eagle Model 01
Location: Full Timing - On The Road

Re: Smudge Pots

Post by Dreamscape »

Man, you're making me feel old! ;) I remember those from days gone by, haven't seen them for years. That's when they made things to last, not like today! Good find!

I think my wife got the GS disease from her Mom, she was called the Queen of GS's!

That is a great idea my friend! 8-)
Paul Lawry
Dreamscape
1968 Eagle 01 #7443
Silver 8V92 HT 740

Dreamscape Build Blog: https://dreamscapesilvereagle.wordpress.com/
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luvrbus
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Club Member
Posts: 2981
Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2008 12:50 pm
FMCA #: F262917
Bus Model: 05

Re: Smudge Pots

Post by luvrbus »

I never want to see those things again when I was a kid my dad was into the highway and street const in Houston and always had about 5 different jobs going on with at least 50 on each site and my job on Sat and Sun was to fill and if that wasn't bad enough he made me put the flames out every morning and then go fill and light in the evening because he did not want to pay 11 cents a gal for fuel no thank you, man did I love the new battery powered barricades when they came out in the 60'S LOL.
When he passed away 10 years ago in cleaning and disposing of his shop he had over 700 of those some new they were sold 2 to a box with 30 boxes of new wicks I sold to a guy for a 1000 bucks and would not even help the guy load but I did keep 1 box.
BTW did you paint those I never saw red ones before always black


Clifford
BoxcarOkie
Posts: 538
Joined: Thu May 21, 2009 7:42 pm

Re: Smudge Pots

Post by BoxcarOkie »

BTW did you paint those I never saw red ones before always black


Clifford[/quote]

Yeppers. I paint just about everything. Everything but my bus, that is. I am working on a fuel stand now, gonna be pretty trick, waiting on decals.

BCO
No I didn't say that ... Must have been some other guy.
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van
Club Member
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Posts: 1437
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Re: Smudge Pots

Post by van »

My neaghbor often describes me as a smudge Pot, when I am twirling iron on the Eagle :shock: :lol:
sstrucinski
Posts: 92
Joined: Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:21 pm
Bus Model: 1966 Silver Eagle '04
Location: I'm a nomad

Re: Smudge Pots

Post by sstrucinski »

Those are actually pretty cool. I love the idea of getting something old that no one uses anymore and making it useful again. I especially love that you painted them to look like candy. I'm partial to candy...especially if it keeps those terrible skeeters away.
Stephanie

1966 Silver Eagle 04
BoxcarOkie
Posts: 538
Joined: Thu May 21, 2009 7:42 pm

Re: Smudge Pots

Post by BoxcarOkie »

sstrucinski wrote:Those are actually pretty cool. I love the idea of getting something old that no one uses anymore and making it useful again. I especially love that you painted them to look like candy. I'm partial to candy...especially if it keeps those terrible skeeters away.
The old stuff is better stuff, least that is the way I see it. One of the most important things about my bus, is its age. I just love the fact that it is 27 years old.

I guess I am just a hopeless romantic.

BCO
No I didn't say that ... Must have been some other guy.
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