Todays Project - What did you do today?

[Vinny]

Back when I was doing CDs and DVDs we also made a few clocks. Unfortunately, this is the only one I took a picture of the whole thing, the rest of the pics are just the clock face.

The clock face is a CD, printed directly then laminated. In this one, the wood washer in the middle is something I made on the lathe from a chunk of the wood the frame was made from.

To countersink the CD, I had to make a tool for the drill press that would cut it out. I don't think they make paddle or forstner bits that big.

My neighbor did the wood part, I did the CD, artwork and clock. The artwork was from their wedding video, I froze a frame and used it. Since they were long time friends, making the CDs and clock were a wedding gift.

EDIT: Almost forgot, the wood is a hunk of old barn wood.

[TomG]

Andrew,

I remember the Ampex quality, with their industrial pushbutton solenoid controls. Didn't realize they used vacuum as well.



Looking on eBay, reel to reel seems to be the new vinyl? I have a couple of old Tandbergs. Maybe it's time to dust them off.

Tom

[awemawson]

It was a very clever system. The tape was pulled by vacuum into two glass fronted slots one either side of the capstan wheel. There were photo sensors at each end of the columns that were part of the spool reel servo system. Each spool reel motor had a servo amp that maintained the loop between the photo-sensors of it's respective column.  When the capstan wheel turned tape was either allowed into or pulled out of the columns, and the spool motor servo amps reacted accordingly.  This meant that there was very little inertia thus allowing the capstan wheel to accelerate and reverse very quickly.

About the only thing that went wrong apart from drifting set points was the pea bulbs in the photo-sensors and carbon dust from the vacuum motor getting on the electronics. After VERY long mileage the tape heads would wear increasing the head gap and hence giving miss-reads. Oh happy days from my youth !!!!

[TomG]

Today's project was to finish installing a gas fireplace insert for my mom and dad. I had already run the gas and electrical and my son helped pull the flex ducts through the chimney for the intake and exhaust. Today I finished up a few details on that and permanently installed the chimney cap. Then I pulled wire for the thermostat and hooked it up to the gas valve, hooked up the flex line to the gas supply, leveled the insert and installed the decorative surround. It took longer than I expected to purge the air from the supply line via the pilot light, but once that was done, it fired right up. The only real issue I ran into was the blower wouldn't turn on. The cause turned out to be a thermo-switch that had worked loose in shipping, so it was no longer in contact with the fire box. I'll have to go back and fix it because by the time I had it figured out, the insert was too hot to handle.

Mom and Dad are happy and warm.  

Tom

[Roadracer_Al]

I've been doing a major service on my wife's 09 Kawasaki Versys 650. She bought in in '12 with 9k miles on it, and now it has 65k miles. Roughly 11k miles a year.

The motor has literally never been apart. Maintenance has consisted of changing the oil every 3~5k with good oil, keeping the chain tight & oiled (she's been through 4 sets), and making sure the tires are inflated, and not worn out. She's been through 6 sets of tires (about 1 set a year, plus an extra set for our Alaska trip 4 years ago). Plus the occasional filter cleaning & oiling.

Remarkably, it needed neither valve adjustment (shim under bucket), nor throttle body syncing. And, can I just say, what a PITA to sync. With EFI, you can't just throw a fuel bottle on it and run it, the tank has to be fully connected (about 6 hoses and 3 electrical connectors), then you have to use your tiny Trump hands and work under the tank.

The OEM NGK "iridium" plugs were, however, pretty well-consumed, even though they continued to work fine. I'll never hesitate to use the iridium plugs again - they are a *high mileage* plug!

Next job on deck will be to install all new bearings in the wheels, steering head & swingarm, and those are being replaced "just because". Should be good for another 65k miles after that.

[Mayhem]

To add to the clock theme:

   

Back when I was playing in bands and making my own guitars, I was talking to someone about the fact that most of the "off the rack" instruments sold have bodies that are either made from plywood or basswood (there are other names for basswood - micktoon carved a rabbit out of it).  

He didn't believe me, so then next time I brought a second hand guitar (I bought them for the necks only and tossed the rest) I decided to sand the paint off whilst he watched.  Once he saw the plywood beneath the paint he ate some humble pie and never mentioned it again.  

I decided to sand the remainder of the paint off and turn the body into a clock.  I painted the scratch plate and drew on the symbols that indicate the numbers.  I think I had to enlarge the pickup pocket to place the mechanism where I wanted it and that was about it.

[Old Minger]

I bet the guy from 'Clickspring' is seriously worried with all these clocks that are popping up on the forum!

[Wongster]

Hope I'm not off topic.

I just completed my very first pen!  Bought the kits and acrylic blanks from Penn State Industries in US.  Started this morning before work and finished it up when I got home from work.  The bundle that I bought which is on sale is called the Gatsby Grande.  Nice simple pens with only one blank to turn for each.  To save money, I didn't purchase the barrel trimmer and the mandrel with Morse taper.  Got myself a simple drill chuck mandrel.  If I've the dimensions of the mandrel, I may even make the mandrel myself.  But for USD12 over... 

Some pics of the pen:







This is a fun and simple project.   Great as gifts.  Will be turning a few more to give away and maybe even sell some to fund my hobby.

Regards,
Wong

[Vinny]

Nice looking pen. A friend of mine's been trying to get me to start making them. I know they sell real well.

[texx]

i have been making and selling pens for about 10 years and i stopped using a mandrel about 8 years ago , i only use the mandrel for the 7mm pens all the rest are turned between 2 centres on custom bushes that i made, makes for a much better end result .
i stopped using the barrel trimmer about the same time and i have my own method of trimming them now which is a lot better and quicker .

johno

heres a few i prepared earlier .