Author Topic: Old member returns again.  (Read 779 times)

Offline Captain Jerry

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Old member returns again.
« on: October 20, 2025, 05:04:50 AM »
I thought that I would reintroduce myself after a long absence.  To use sailing as a metaphor of life, I am sailing single handed now.  After a long battle with Parkinson's Disease, my mate of 64 years has finally found rest and peace.  My last few years have been spent  seeing to her needs and comfort with all that I could give. 


I am now finding my way back and charting a new course.  I had planned to close up shop and sell off my equipment but I could never quite get around to it.  I simply locked the door and left it. I'm still not sure why, but I left the A/C running.  My daughter has a home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northeast Georgia and she thinks that I need some to take care of me.  She has finished an addition to her home for me and so I will be moving there.  I drove a hard bargain though.  I will have my own door, my own porch swing, my own kitchen, my own dog, and my own shop! YES, my own shop. 


Logistics are still in the planning stage, but I will be in Georgia before the snow flies.  I have been spending a fair amount of time in the shop for the last few weeks.  Sorting, packing and planning.  It will not be an easy task to get there but not something to leave to some one else.  I am having a little problem focusing.  I seem to spend more time fiddling instead of packing, but the tools need some attention too. Thanks to the A/C there is no rust or damage but they do need a good oiling and testing.


I have been looking in on the forum over the last few weeks but posting this notice makes my intentions and my commitment more concrete. Since I have the PC up and running I of course had to re-open my Alibre' CAD and see if there was anything I wanted to do there, and there is.


Shop is not open yet but it will be.


[size=78%]Captain Jerry,  [/size]
[size=78%]Notary Sojack [/size]
« Last Edit: October 20, 2025, 05:08:47 AM by Captain Jerry »
NOTARY SOJAK

There are things that you can do and some things you can't do. Don't worry about it. try it anyway.

Offline CI

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Re: Old member returns again.
« Reply #1 on: October 20, 2025, 09:40:01 AM »
Welcome back.
Whats up man ?
Good to hear from you.

I had to move my dad's shop to my garage, and it was tedious.
I packed things in gallon ziplock bags, and labled each as to which wall the item was on.
I started to make an exact recreation of my dad's shop, but gave up on that, since I needed a functional workshop, not a museum.

Best of luck to your new start in life.

Pat J
.
« Last Edit: October 20, 2025, 10:39:42 AM by CI »
Without pushing the boundaries, one never knows what can be achieved.

Online Kim

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Re: Old member returns again.
« Reply #2 on: October 20, 2025, 05:40:57 PM »
Hi Captain Jerry,
Sounds like you've had some very difficult years.  And more big changes to come.  Wishing you all the best for the move.

It will be good to get your shop back in order in your new place.  We'll be looking forward to seeing your new shop when you get it set up!

Kim

Online crueby

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Re: Old member returns again.
« Reply #3 on: October 20, 2025, 05:42:00 PM »
Welcome back  Capn!

Offline steamer

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Re: Old member returns again.
« Reply #4 on: October 20, 2025, 10:03:38 PM »
Welcome back Jerry!

Dave
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
Damned ijjit!

Offline Captain Jerry

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Re: Old member returns again.
« Reply #5 on: October 27, 2025, 02:38:05 AM »
Thanks for  the open door and welcome back from old friends.  I've tried to return a few times in recent years. Maybe it will last this time.  I've been cleaning up the old shop and getting ready for the coming move. Machines are all in various stages of decommissioning and weight stripping in preparation.  I will be headed for GA in about three weeks but the machines won't follow for another few weeks and setup will take a few weeks after that.  I likely won't be making chips until next year it seems.


I think I have decided on my first project and I have most of the tight spots identified and I don't see anthing too hard to overcome.  So far the biggest problem seems to be fingers.  I thought it would be eyes but Ive been wearing glasses for a while and I can get stronger ones if I have to but fingers are a surprise.  I havent really been doing anything in the shop but cleaning and packing but just picking up small items on the workbench now takes some planning.  Lack of feeling in my fingertips makes it all but impossible to pick up a 1/16" drill bit like i used to.  The big parts on my upcomming project  won't be hard.  "Fiddly bits" has taken on a much more frightening connotation.  I have plenty of time to think about it sin the new project will have more than a few "fiddly bits."  It is much harder to make accurate parts if they won't hold still so I am spending my evening hours designing parts holding jigs and planning workflow that will keep me out of trouble.


I need to reaquaint myself with posting graphics on the forum and when I get that worked out I will be able to show you where its headed.


It is coming back slowly;


Jerry
NOTARY SOJAK

There are things that you can do and some things you can't do. Don't worry about it. try it anyway.

Offline mklotz

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Re: Old member returns again.
« Reply #6 on: October 27, 2025, 02:27:25 PM »
On the matter of declining finger dexterity...Get several pair of 8 inch tweezers, e.g. ...

https://www.amazon.com/HTS-171T8-Stainless-Steel-Tweezers/dp/B01BUIJR1I/ref=sr_1_1?crid=M8DZNEH5OWXA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7RWSrGiD3ns_pFOkRp_7HQAniw7otiv8EEgNAeqmk7z4bUFBhu8cubcHfFUuWl4qSwZG3iHDXbakL-Y7fp-Tp7QZGMFsrYMBvsx4-XIOY6RkS1C9uW-pWyGrPA2e1AC8x7_4u2Ui1d9uvIzUbClh_XijBJ4GmKpcP7DiA6IKrUnU7ykIOCDgJdJDCkWgrdl0XNn20Y_puNekvWIrg546R0gn3P1PaV4Xsk7h8G1IWZ3ySj6vNjPQMdAeQvvRyBsXLCESwZRGmsnrEcFzjWT4UGhaFqtiLCGWDpJlh6pYqTE.V6pDdKqLqLmxlchzxvAOoGvLHaVqZjw6vdKczdyuBVo&dib_tag=se&keywords=8%2Binch%2Btweezers&qid=1761574658&sprefix=8%2Binch%2Btwee%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-1&th=1

and scatter them around the shop.  Thankfully, my 84 year old fingers are still sensitive but, nevertheless, I wouldn't be without my tweezers.  Picking exactly the 2-56 screw I need out of the drawer of screws is a doodle.

You'll find a few sizes of surgeons' hemostats super handy as well.
Regards, Marv
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Homo sapiens is a goal, not a definition

Offline uuu

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Re: Old member returns again.
« Reply #7 on: October 27, 2025, 02:45:00 PM »
I find one of these four-prong pen-size grabbers quite useful.  It will hold the head of a screw for engaging in the hole.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/373506693168

Wilf

Offline Dave Otto

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Re: Old member returns again.
« Reply #8 on: October 27, 2025, 06:22:51 PM »
Welcome back Jerry!

Dave

Offline Roger B

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Re: Old member returns again.
« Reply #9 on: October 27, 2025, 06:56:54 PM »
Welcome back  :)  :)  :)
Best regards

Roger

 

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