Woodworking

Slim Cognito · #26

Cool idea. Thanks Sugar!

#27

Slim - our local medical supply company sells a big assortment of canes including ornate models that would make 19th century gentlemen proud. Rather than ruin a pool cue, find a cane that is purpose built. YMMV of course.

sugar magnolia · #28

Slim Cognito wrote: ↑Sat Nov 04, 2023 6:59 pm Cool idea. Thanks Sugar!

And of course, I forgot to put in a plug for your local handmade craftsmen. If there is a craft guild or woodworking group near by, you may find something you fall in love with. Our guild has gorgeous canes, walking sticks and hiking poles made by a master craftsman, so I suspect you could find something locally and support an independent small business person!

roadscholar · #29

We used to have a world-famous pool cue maker in Towson (MD). I visited his shop a few times when he was selling off some exotics, and observed the process.

So I would just add that all but the cheapest cues are made really well. Tight straight grain, to withstand years of impacts.

So yeah, I too say cut off the small end and go for it.

P.S. Point well taken above: If it’s a real special gorgeous hand-made cue, better to just find a cane instead. If it’s sort of a B-grade item, well… there’s a whole lot of them in the world. Doesn’t strike me as blasphemous to cut one down. YMMV.

sugar magnolia · #30

roadscholar wrote: ↑Sat Nov 04, 2023 7:42 pm We used to have a world-famous pool cue maker in Towson (MD). I visited his shop a few times when he was selling off some exotics, and observed the process.

So I would just add that all but the cheapest cues are made really well. Tight straight grain, to withstand years of impacts.

Usually rock maple, which is beautiful.

Slim Cognito · #31

It has some pretty inlay in it. We never played, Hubs got it when his brother died. I have no use for a cue and nobody bought it so I figure it's up for grabs. No rush but I think I'm going to look into it.

W. Kevin Vicklund · #32

Since it unscrews into three pieces, you could add a handle the screws in to the base, and still be able to turn it back into a cue. I love the idea!

Shizzle Popped · #33

: easy-cane-fastening-system__19524.jpg (19.97 KiB) Viewed 1693 times

https://treelineusa.com/walking-sticks- ... e-handles/

It's a bit of a longshot but if the threading on the cue matched up to the threading on the hanger bolt of one of the handle fastening systems then it might be as simple as screwing the adapter and a cane head on one end and a rubber tip on the other. They're probably not the same size and pitch of threads but stranger things have happened.

W. Kevin Vicklund · #34

That's exactly what I had in mind, Shizzle. Should be able to find something that works.

Slim Cognito · #35

Shizzle Popped wrote: ↑Sun Nov 05, 2023 2:38 pm easy-cane-fastening-system__19524.jpg

https://treelineusa.com/walking-sticks- ... e-handles/

It's a bit of a longshot but if the threading on the cue matched up to the threading on the hanger bolt of one of the handle fastening systems then it might be as simple as screwing the adapter and a cane head on one end and a rubber tip on the other. They're probably not the same size and pitch of threads but stranger things have happened.

Bingo! Threads lined up perfectly!! Forced a chair leg rubber cap on the bottom and voila! I wish I'd stuck with a traditional derby handle. I got carried away with a cool brass fox with an extended tail that is pretty derby-ish in shape but too ornate considering the inlay on the cue. But now that I know the threads match up, I can order a second one from the same manufacturer. Using the cue where it unscrews makes it about one inch too short. There was a rubber bumper on the bottom but I removed it figuring it would make the cane unstable. I may make a spacer for it, but that's for another day. I have a package of four chair leg caps so it's no biggie if I ruin the one that's on there now.

Shizzle Popped · #36

Slim Cognito wrote: ↑Tue Nov 07, 2023 2:06 pm
Shizzle Popped wrote: ↑Sun Nov 05, 2023 2:38 pm easy-cane-fastening-system__19524.jpg

https://treelineusa.com/walking-sticks- ... e-handles/

It's a bit of a longshot but if the threading on the cue matched up to the threading on the hanger bolt of one of the handle fastening systems then it might be as simple as screwing the adapter and a cane head on one end and a rubber tip on the other. They're probably not the same size and pitch of threads but stranger things have happened.
Bingo! Threads lined up perfectly!! Forced a chair leg rubber cap on the bottom and voila! I wish I'd stuck with a traditional derby handle. I got carried away with a cool brass fox with an extended tail that is pretty derby-ish in shape but too ornate considering the inlay on the cue. But now that I know the threads match up, I can order a second one from the same manufacturer. Using the cue where it unscrews makes it about one inch too short. There was a rubber bumper on the bottom but I removed it figuring it would make the cane unstable. I may make a spacer for it, but that's for another day. I have a package of four chair leg caps so it's no biggie if I ruin the one that's on there now.

That's awesome! Hey, a long shot actually paid off!

#37

Great job, Slim.

If'n you believe that stuff, I bet that made Big D smile.

John Thomas8 · #38

Ya might wanna skip this variation on woodworking:

#39

The case of the couple killed in their garage was the subject on the Oxygen Channel on an episode on Accident, Suicide, or Murder. It was originally considered a murder.

#40

Fractal wood burning taken off my bucket list - check.

***

Back in the olden days - about 1982 - there were still lots of tube transmitters out there. High power transistors and mosfets didn't quite exist yet. If you wanted 100W or better, the finals were tubes that required a high voltage section to operate. And no matter how many safety signs we put up, guys would think They were the one who could pull the heat sink off without disabling the HV. They usually ended up in the emergency room with cuts, bruises, and head injuries from flying across the room. Mfgs got the message, and started putting interlocks on the service panels. Removing a panel disabled the HV ... until someone bypassed the interlock while troubleshooting.

A related problem was the voltage rating of their test probes. Guys would poke around in the HV circuit unaware the insulation on the probe and/or the leads broke down above 200V, and they'd get bit holding the probe when they touched their other hand to the chassis. WHAP! is all you heard as they sailed out of their chair.

That was something I noticed in the video. People were using standard low voltage alligator clips to carry the transformer output to their project. I will bet there was some magnificent arcing through the insulation that caused some of the injuries and deaths shown.

If you happen to be in a power plant, and you see a bunch of guys dressed in thick bomb squad suits and welders masks, walk the other direction. Say a prayer for them. They are going to touch something that is known to arc, and one of them may not be going home tonight. You can't fuck with lightning.

sugar magnolia · #41

We have a fractal woodburner in our craft guild. He has most of his fingers, and his stuff is way underpriced.

W. Kevin Vicklund · #42

bill_g wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2024 3:42 pm Fractal wood burning taken off my bucket list - check.

***

If you happen to be in a power plant, and you see a bunch of guys dressed in thick bomb squad suits and welders masks, walk the other direction. Say a prayer for them. They are going to touch something that is known to arc, and one of them may not be going home tonight. You can't fuck with lightning.

I'm usually the guy trailing behind, wearing what looks like street clothes (but is actually an 8 cal/cm² outfit) and a face shield, because I'm the one going to be poking around once the power has been safely shut off. My main job for 10 years was figuring out what type of suit you had to wear to open things up.

#43

W. Kevin Vicklund wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2024 6:45 pm
I'm usually the guy trailing behind, wearing what looks like street clothes (but is actually an 8 cal/cm² outfit) and a face shield, because I'm the one going to be poking around once the power has been safely shut off. My main job for 10 years was figuring out what type of suit you had to wear to open things up.

That job was all party all day I'll bet.

Picture goodness of the gloves we were issued. Never wore them, but they are great at Halloween.

RTH10260 · #44

2X4s Are Getting Smaller! - Builders OUTRAGED!

Stumpy Nubs
7 Sept 2024

#45

RTH10260 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 06, 2024 10:22 pm
2X4s Are Getting Smaller! - Builders OUTRAGED!

Stumpy Nubs
7 Sept 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhyz8F9p9Jc

Too much promo advert by this dude and I could not find anything that talked about the size of boards. Its a big 7 minute advert.

2×4 boards have not been in my lifetime 2-inches by 4-Inches.

This holds true for other standard sizes of precut wood here in the States.

roadscholar · #46

Having been around 2X4s for 50 years, I must say they don’t seem to have gotten smaller. They were, and still are, 1-1/2” x 3-1/2”. I have, however, noticed them getting gradually shittier.

We do run across salvaged pre-war structural timbers that are true rough-cut 2X4s, 3X8s, 4X10s, etc. because our customers are often contractors working on historic Baltimore and Washington houses ~1750-1900.

We buy them any time they are offered. The resins in the softwoods have hardened over time and they’ve undergone countless wet-dry hot-cold cycles, so when re-machining them, they do not move. They’re done moving. No bend, no warp, no crook, no cup, no matter how you cut them.

#47

One summer between semesters I worked on a demo crew. We took apart old homes to recover all the good stuff including the old dimentional lumber. Those were real full two by four inches. Being Michigan we found mostly roughcut hardwood lumber in the walls covered in plaster lath and wall paper. Nails were almost impossible to get out. We had to cut them with a saber saw. Each stick was pulled out, stacked neatly outside in matching lengths, bundled, and hauled off with the other goodies to eventually be sold to restorers.

Good times.

#48

You should try putting a nail into a bit of frame from my house. It was built in the 30's with Redgum (Eucalpytus camaldulensis - River Redgum) timber.

That stuff is now like IRON, you must drill a pilot hole for a nail, and more often than not that drill bit will only work for one hole.

#49

I broke a drill bit when putting up a feeder on the porch. The 100-year old would makes rocks seam soft and cuddly. A woodpecker was briefly pecking at it. I was worried he would hurt himself.

John Thomas8 · #50

northland10 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 08, 2024 6:54 am I broke a drill bit when putting up a feeder on the porch. The 100-year old would makes rocks seam soft and cuddly. A woodpecker was briefly pecking at it. I was worried he would hurt himself.

We live in suburbia North Carolina. The number of woodpeckers I hear pounding on the wood-looking vinyl siding is quite disturbing.