Where’s Waldo Vern?OK. OK. I’m back.
Where was I?
I had to do it.
Jump off the forum cold turkey. I had this list of things that I either absolutely had to do or really wanted to do and I realized that I couldn’t stop reading damn near every post on MEM.
Jeez, if Zee makes a sandwich there are 21,312 views and 1,863 comments. That takes time.
Cletus has been keeping me up to date with the gossip and other juicy tidbits.
That said, what have I been doing?
Let’s begin with the S4. (Simpson and Shipton Short Stroke)
With the “unusual” oval cylinder, this seemed like a good project to REALLY learn CNC.
Much experimentation with a great deal of learning
Next, our son has started a new business (bespoke bicycle tours in the Atlanta area.) I’ve been helping out with graphics, video editing, etc.
Then, in random Youtube wanderings, I saw people playing homebuilt busker organs. After a bit of poking around, I found John Smith in Flitwick, Bedfordshire, England and ordered a set of drawings.
http://www.johnsmithbusker.co.uk/busker.htmlAll pipes are now completed along with one of the three bellows.
Fred, who got me started in engine building, had a birthday coming up and had mentioned that his tap holders were a bit big for tiny taps. Nothing for it but to make a copy of a Starrett # 174
I needed to make some trim rings for recessed lighting in the bedroom. .0625 aluminum.
I could have used double stick tape to hold them for cutting on the CNC mill but that would have been too easy which led to making a vacuum chuck.
After buying screws that I already had (but couldn’t find), it was time to do a proper organization
A few rebuild/restorations were waiting.
A Wilton Bullet Vise and a Brown and Sharpe knurling tool.
My wife’s birthday was approaching and since she does a great deal of the grilling, a new Weber seemed in order. I made a nameplate for her to match the Weber plate (more CNC)
While lying in bed one night (where I get many of my ideas) I was thinking about using the CNC to cut gaskets. This led to three iterations of a drag knife.
Last week, with the S4 engine sitting on the bench waiting for me to locate the point where it’s binding, a “quick” project seemed like a good idea. I’d always meant to build Elmer’s #50 Educational Model. Here we are as of yesterday.
Various other activities interspersed here and there. Upgrading the home automation system to current technology, some volunteering at the new Museum of the American Revolution, (SPOILER ALERT! We won), Fred’s twice yearly Gun Day and the weekly banjo lesson.
Thanks so much to everyone who asked if I was OK. That is much appreciated.
So, I’m back (perhaps to the chagrin of many)
