Hobby Thread - October 10, 2026 [TRex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. For this week, the Wheel of Hobbies (TM) is feeling spooky and decided on a furniture theme for this Hobby Thread.

Furniture hobbying?! Yes! Tell me more!

[Top photo: pre-furniture]

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Furniture can be fun. Do you appreciate interesting and well built furniture? Are you a collector? Do you like antique furniture? Do you like restoring old furniture? Do you haunt garage or estate sales for furniture? Do you watch YouTube videos by furniture makers or restorers?

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What are you hobbying?

The theme may not be your favorite but give it a chance before you judge and bail out. Any adjacent hobbying is in scope, so jump in with your interests, stories and questions.

In any event, the thread is not limited to to the theme. Anything (legal) you are hobbying is welcome. Even if the theme does not speak to you, you might learn something or be entertained. If not, offer something else relating to hobbying. If all of that fails, just check in and say hello.

As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. Leave politics and religion to threads elsewhere (unless your hobby is building or restoring churches). Pants? Nope. As always, puns are welcome and encouraged.

Play nice and do not be rude. Do not be a troll and do not feed the trolls.

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Restoring an antique desk:

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Build furniture like an engineer:

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This guy had to be in the content somewhere:

His channel has so many good projects. Tough to pick just one.

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More secret compartments:

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Japanese joinery - next level:

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Hidden compartments in antique furniture:

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Clever concealed home storage solutions:

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Old school hand built automobile body shaping:

Going to be the first of a series, so watch and follow along to see the process and final result.

Forming aluminum panels by bending them around wood bucks was common in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. It took a lot of skill to build the wood frame and a different set of skills to hammer the aluminum panels against the wood to create a body panel. The cars are works of art. Few original wood bucks survive, but they're works of art too. Maybe we'll do a deep dive down this rabbit hole in a future thread.

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Nothing to do with wood or furniture, but appropriate for the season:

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Nothing to do with wood or furniture, but this might be interesting to astronomy hobbyists: starfront space

This company caters to the remote astronomer from its location near Brady, Texas. Do you want telescope time in a place with dark skies? You don't have to be located in the same place as your camera. You can rent time on one of their cameras or ship your camera to them and pay a monthly fee and let them point it to the sky. No personal knowledge and not an endorsement but amazing that such a service and business model exists.

The roof slides open and closed to protect and expose the equipment.

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Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week? We did a Halloween hobbying theme. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

Notable comments from last week:

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Words of wisdom:

"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).

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Reminder: if you put links in the comments, use a URL shortener and describe what you're linking to. Failing to do either or both makes you barrel-eligible. Don't make people click to find out what you're linking.

Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Or just email to say hello. Do mighty things.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 05:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 1

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 10, 2026 05:31 PM (eRlcH)

2 Furniture making? Should get pretty stickly in here.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 10, 2026 05:31 PM (1Ff7Z)

3 Add the right kind of fabric on your furniture and you get furr-niture, something that can be shared with this post and the previous one...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 10, 2026 05:31 PM (l3cgK)

4 Top 5?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 10, 2026 05:32 PM (wzUl9)

5 My mother's uncle made the table and chairs we used in the mid-70's. Was nice work; at least I thought so as a kid.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 10, 2026 05:32 PM (l3cgK)

6 Every time I've made something, it has fallen apart. Easier to just buy a kit or complete piece.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 10, 2026 05:33 PM (1Ff7Z)

7 6 Every time I've made something, it has fallen apart. Easier to just buy a kit or complete piece.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 10, 2026 05:33 PM (1Ff7Z)

Can Ace make furniture? I'm not so sure knowing his history with shelves...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 10, 2026 05:33 PM (l3cgK)

8 Oooh, I made comment of the week...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 10, 2026 05:35 PM (l3cgK)

9 Can Ace make furniture? I'm not so sure knowing his history with shelves...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 10, 2026 05:33 PM (l3cgK)

(shakes magic 8 ball)

"My reply is no."

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 10, 2026 05:35 PM (1Ff7Z)

10 No hidden compartments in my oldest furniture, a library table that my father brought home and assembled about the time I started school. It's basically three slabs of wood, the top and two leg or side pieces. There once was a drawer in it, but that's long gone, and there were two captain's chairs. I took one chair and the desk from Mom's place after she passed.

The table has served as dinner table, model-building table, cat-sitting area, card table, and since 1986 as my desk. I know of a wood furniture shop here in town; they have pre-made items you can buy and have them stain your choice of color, and they will make certain items for you. My TV stand is from them, ca. 2005. I'm sure they would refinish the table and chair to a high standard.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 10, 2026 05:37 PM (wzUl9)

11 My other major piece of furniture is a Mission-style armchair I bought from a shop in Colorado, Fort Collins I think it was, in late 1997. I chose the Indian-blanket style upholstery for it and the ottoman. The cushions that came with it I leave on the love seat. The chair was my reading chair when I lived in Denver, and will be again some day soon.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 10, 2026 05:39 PM (wzUl9)

12 I need to work on my furniture project today - building stupidly over-designed legs for my project desk.

And film it, because I'm putting the making videos on youtube.

... I probably ought to go buy the hardware I need to attach the stretcher board between the feet.

If I play that right, I could use that hardware as part of what secures the feet to the legs.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at October 10, 2026 05:39 PM (C0Nlv)

13 Never built furniture, per se. My wife had a dresser-drawer she'd built herself (with some drawer not working). I reworked them for her. I don't count that.
I did redo the aquarium cabinet to have a bigger door on one side so I could fit in the filter system...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 10, 2026 05:41 PM (l3cgK)

14 My dinette table and its four chairs are from World Market, purchased on a cold rainy January in '04, I think. I had it delivered and then assembled it myself. It has held up very well despite various cat-claw marks on it.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 10, 2026 05:42 PM (wzUl9)

15 Welcome Hobbiests, at comedy club to see Adam Corolla
Shame didn't know have made quite a few pieces of furniture

Posted by: Skip at October 10, 2026 05:44 PM (xxYed)

16 My living room bookcases were a special order from a small independent furniture shop in Denver in '97. I wanted something deep enough front to back to hold my stereo and CD changer. The changer is gone, but the receiver and speakers remain, along with loads of books. Both are deep enough to have two ranks of books on each shelf.

Another bookcase was a find at a big furniture store in southern Denver. It turned out to be the perfect size to hold my set of the Britannica. Two others in my bedroom were from Target, and they do not look cheap or poorly made. (It's hard to find bookcases nowadays.)

Finally, in my bedroom is a wooden chest from This End Up Furniture. Remember them in the malls of the '80s? Real wood, and it holds all sorts of stuff. In early '87 I was going to buy more items from them, but then lost my job. And they vanished not long after. A shame.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 10, 2026 05:45 PM (wzUl9)

17 Finally, in my bedroom is a wooden chest from This End Up Furniture. Remember them in the malls of the '80s? Real wood, and it holds all sorts of stuff. In early '87 I was going to buy more items from them, but then lost my job. And they vanished not long after. A shame.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 10, 2026 05:45 PM (wzUl9)

Woulda bought stuff from them, but had too much furniture already when I had a place of my own. I got excited once when I found a nude furniture store in Reno, but they were only unfinished. Used Danish oil on the pieces. Still have the table and one complete chair and one for parts.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 10, 2026 05:48 PM (1Ff7Z)

18 As for pipe smoking: I am waiting for a delivery of two tins of cigarillos and two oz. of a pipe blend. It was, according to the USPS website, out for delivery on Monday 10/5. But the mail truck could not get into the complex because they did not have a gate code. The website said that the package would be delivered on the next day.

Uh-huh. It still says that, four days later, and no package despite other mail arriving. And there'll be no mail on Monday. I'm girding up to visit the local substation on Tuesday, to see if the package is still sitting there.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 10, 2026 05:50 PM (wzUl9)

19 If you look closely at that wood pile, you can see hundreds of hungry eyes peering back at you.

Posted by: Spiders! at October 10, 2026 05:51 PM (V+cxR)

20
Some of the best furniture we have came from estate sales.

Posted by: four seasons at October 10, 2026 05:54 PM (/QHx4)

21 I always enjoyed that little side joke in the movie "The Patriot" where Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) was always failing at making furniture. I think there was a scene where he tries to sit on a rocking chair he made and it collapses.

Posted by: Orson at October 10, 2026 05:55 PM (dIske)

22 Oh, and I have a tan fabric love seat purchased from a local vendor around 2012 after my old cream-colored one, bought in Denver, finally got too shabby. Flanking it are two Mission-style end tables, each with a shelf underneath perfect for magazines (or for cats to sit on).

My bed also dates to 1997, when I moved to Denver. The same shop who did the deep bookcases sold me the box spring, mattress, and a blond wood headboard and matching night stand. Now that I look back, I realize how much I spent with them -- and how good their work was.

The box spring still works, but that linen-like underfitting has holes in it now. When I move, it'll stay behind, and I'll buy a new box spring to go under the mattress.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 10, 2026 05:57 PM (wzUl9)

23 My dad was a master carpenter and made a china cabinet, sideboard, and credenza for my mom. I have them. He also restored my grandmother's desk, at which I am sitting, and some tables. He loved doing that.

My cousin's husband does a lot of refinishing of garage sale and auction finds. They have some very nice, old cabinets and tables in their house.

Posted by: huerfano at October 10, 2026 05:58 PM (2Xqig)

24
Do be wary about buying upholestered furniture second hand unless you know the seller.

People are gross and heaven only knows what is on that furniture.

Posted by: four seasons at October 10, 2026 05:58 PM (/QHx4)

25 I always enjoyed that little side joke in the movie "The Patriot" where Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) was always failing at making furniture. I think there was a scene where he tries to sit on a rocking chair he made and it collapses.
Posted by: Orson at October 10, 2026 05:55 PM (dIske)

I was just recalling that very same scene. His little daughter not knowing whether to laugh or not is very sweet.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Sounding the Carnyx at October 10, 2026 05:58 PM (0aYVJ)

26 Some of the best furniture we have came from estate sales.

Posted by: four seasons at October 10, 2026

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And certain kinds of antique stores. The only problem being delivery if the item is too big for your car. Furniture stores deliver; small thrift/antique places don't. But I guess nearly all of them know somebody with a truck who'd be willing to haul your new dresser for a fair price.

I've seen dressers and end tables and dining tables I'd love to have, if I had the room. I'd have to arrange for delivery too, but they'd be worth it.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 10, 2026 06:00 PM (wzUl9)

27 We gave our son my Dad's old piano. It's an upright built in the 1920s. It really needs to be refinished, but, after a friend repaired and tunes it, and fixed some of the mechanisms, it plays beautifully. The thing is a brute, takes four strong men to move it.

Currently it resides at son's pastor's home. Pastor D. is a very good piano player, and he is in his 80s, so son wants him to enjoy it for a while.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Sounding the Carnyx at October 10, 2026 06:02 PM (0aYVJ)

28 Buying dead people's stuff, I'd worry about the dead people coming with it.

Posted by: Every Day is Halloween if You are Superstitious Enough at October 10, 2026 06:03 PM (jJhtM)

29 We like 'Mission style' tables and chairs. Don't build them though. We buy them. We have one mission chair. One.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at October 10, 2026 06:03 PM (NnhvP)

30 This End Up is still around: https://thisendup.com/ Just not in your local mall, I guess. Their love seats, for example, are not cheap, but they have lots of bookcases.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 10, 2026 06:05 PM (wzUl9)

31 Do be wary about buying upholestered furniture second hand unless you know the seller.

People are gross and heaven only knows what is on that furniture.

Posted by: four seasons at October 10, 2026

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I suppose if someone allergic to cat dander bought my current loveseat, he'd have a hell of time until he got it cleaned.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 10, 2026 06:07 PM (wzUl9)

32 Blue Angels in the air.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 10, 2026 06:09 PM (RIvkX)

33 31 Do be wary about buying upholestered furniture second hand unless you know the seller.

People are gross and heaven only knows what is on that furniture.

Posted by: four seasons at October 10, 2026

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I suppose if someone allergic to cat dander bought my current loveseat, he'd have a hell of time until he got it cleaned.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 10, 2026 06:07 PM (wzUl9)

I don't think four seasons was writing about animal dander...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 10, 2026 06:11 PM (l3cgK)

34 I don't have a painting with even a single piece of furniture. Surprised myself.

Posted by: polynikes at October 10, 2026 06:12 PM (KC5Lt)

35 I fashioned a rudimentary lathe

Posted by: Kindltot at October 10, 2026 06:12 PM (rbvCR)

36 I made a tractor seat.

Posted by: Ronster at October 10, 2026 06:18 PM (xtXF+)

37 I made a bench out of chunks of old concrete driveway.

Posted by: fd at October 10, 2026 06:20 PM (MWfyi)

38 Well, I am done for the day. Nasty cold out, 32 degrees with a strong North wind, and the odd flake of snow. I took a trash bag to the transfer station, and 2 old 20# propane cylinders and a big propane "manifold tank", all purged. Attendant said to drop the cylinders "over there", and to throw the manifold tank into the metal pit, which I did. No longer my problem. Got home, and repaired the screen/storm door which had had its hinges torn out of the frame by a gust of wind a few days ago. Managed to refit the hinges to the continuous pin in the door frame, and rehang the door. Also spent time making a custom screw eye to hook up the restraint spring, which may help prevent a future occurrence.

Speaking of secret compartments, I was wearing an old club jacket today. Black melton cloth body, black leather sleeves. Was fishing around in the inside pocket (found a rock, lol), and noticed a tiny zipper joining the sateen lining to the lapel, started at the inside pocket, and went towards the collar. I don't think there is a hoodie in there, and the entire lining is not zip-out. What gives?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 10, 2026 06:25 PM (quk5M)

39 I have Grandma's old oak dining table & 6 chairs. Chairs are press-back and need new fabric on the seats. Table has pull-out leaves at either end, pretty cool.

Dad said his parents bought the set *used* from a Montgomery Ward store in the 1940s.

Posted by: JQ at October 10, 2026 06:27 PM (rdVOm)

40 4 frames in formation just over the house

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 10, 2026 06:27 PM (RIvkX)

41 Unrelated to furniture, but related to hobbies: I did my first SOTA hike in about 2 months this morning. My usual lightweight radios are both out of service, so I hauled a G-90, a big battery, and a vertical antenna up a hill. It was much colder than I planned for, but I made up for it by making contacts on the east coast and across the pond into France.

I'm still working on the Bayou Jumper that was featured here recently, and I'm also about halfway through assembling a QCX‐Mini (40m version).

Posted by: PabloD at October 10, 2026 06:28 PM (OXSZa)

42 Uh-huh. It still says that, four days later, and no package despite other mail arriving. And there'll be no mail on Monday. I'm girding up to visit the local substation on Tuesday, to see if the package is still sitting there.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 10, 2026 05:50 PM (wzUl9)

Speaking of pipes, have you ever run across a brand called Medeco? They used to run ads on the backs of old magazines. IIRC, their thing was a briar bowl with a finned aluminum stem to cool the smoke. And black Bakelite mouthpiece, of course.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 10, 2026 06:29 PM (quk5M)

43 The closest I've come to building furniture was buying a dinette table from Ikea and cutting the legs down to make it a coffee table.

Well, I did build a work bench and a router table but it'd be a stretch to call those "furniture."

Posted by: Oddbob at October 10, 2026 06:30 PM (vTZFs)

44 If my furniture had hidden compartments there would be chocolate bars in them.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 10, 2026 06:30 PM (RIvkX)

45 That pass was low the blue bird is complaining.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 10, 2026 06:32 PM (RIvkX)

46 We had This End Up furniture, a sofa, loveseat and single chair with an ottoman, it lasted us a good long time and stood up to the abuses of a five kid family. One son got particular delight in destroying it when it was time to buy some new stuff.

Posted by: Debby Doberman Schultz at October 10, 2026 06:33 PM (ibDUx)

47 We don't collect furniture since we've inherited most of our bigger pieces. Inherited, in a few cases, means I was the only one in the family able to carry the things. Our dining room table is solid mahogany, not veneer, and weighs a ton. It came with a custom container holding 5 leaves that can be inserted. This was THE TABLE in our home growing up: dining, homework, holiday celebrations, jigsaw puzzles, etc. No idea where my parents got it. Made in the 1800s. It still has my sister's name pressed into the wood when she was doing a report and signed her name a little too hard. It had a dark stain, which was a crime. I took it down to bare wood, revealing some of the nicest mahogany I've ever seen. Took a couple of months to do it but worth the effort.

The other big piece is my dresser. it belonged to my grandparents and predates them. Six feet tall, many drawers of different depths, veneered in figured walnut, and dovetailed joinery. The brass pulls are original as are the casters. The draws have move smoothly after more than a century of use.

I can't imagine what it would cost to have these pieces made today with the quality materials and construction.

Posted by: JTB at October 10, 2026 06:33 PM (yTvNw)

48 When I bought my first house, I was big into Southwest decor. I have a 6.5' dining table with 8 chairs, a corner cabinet, and two barstools from the Scottsdale Art Factory. They're solid cedar distressed to mimic knotty pine (don't recall the process). The chairs and barstools feature an acid washed copper plate design in the back.

Lotta miles on that furniture; NJ, CA, PA, back to CA, and (currently) FL.

Posted by: Joe Kidd at October 10, 2026 06:33 PM (08OqX)

49 Wood. *hehehehe*

Posted by: Butthead at October 10, 2026 06:33 PM (cWLG3)

50 Refinishing that secretary is hard work, burns calories, need to replenish them.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at October 10, 2026 06:34 PM (VPNgR)

51 50 Refinishing that secretary is hard work, burns calories, need to replenish them.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at October 10, 2026 06:34 PM (VPNgR)

I know.

Posted by: Bill Clinton at October 10, 2026 06:42 PM (l3cgK)

52 Closest i've gotten to furniture hobbying is repairing my husband's dining chair. The creaks were ominous!

Today I sewed, pressed, and trimmed some quilt strips. For a baby who is over a year old already....oops. Its just more half-square triangles because that's what i am comfortable with.

Posted by: Funsize at October 10, 2026 06:44 PM (3j87q)

53 JTB, your dining table and dresser sound like fantastic pieces of furniture. I don't know what I will do with my stuff when I downsize, the kids don't seem too interested. The old hand carved tavern sign is going to number 4 kid though, he has wanted it since the time he was a little boy.

Posted by: Debby Doberman Schultz at October 10, 2026 06:45 PM (ibDUx)

54 Well, I did build a work bench and a router table but it'd be a stretch to call those "furniture."
Posted by: Oddbob at October 10, 2026 06:30 PM (vTZFs)

Speaking of router tables, and machine tables in general, you can easily and cheaply make a very sturdy machine table from the shell of an old top-loader washing machine. Take off the top, and throw it away, gut it out, and fasten sturdy industrial casters to the bottom. I weld mine on, because I can, but if you don't weld, you could bridge across the inside bottom with 2X6, and screw the casters to that with 1.5" wood screws, making sure that 2 or 3 screws go through holes in the bottom flange of the cabinet. I make the top out of 2X6 tongue and groove, glued together, and screwed to the top flange of the cabinet with wood screws. Add a piece of 1/4" Masonite if you want a smooth work surface. I usually add a pair of 1" by 1" angle iron cleats at bout mid-height inside, and place a 3/4" plywood shelf on them. Also a 3/4" plywood bottom shelf, too. It is a shame to have all that cubage, and not have it accessible for storage. Such a table will easily support a 300 pound machine.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 10, 2026 06:45 PM (quk5M)

55 All my and my wife's inherited furniture is 1/4 sawn white oak. I hate building with oak, but an having about 10 big logs sawn up this winter to begin to build a quality set of oak chairs for a claw-foot, round oak table.

Posted by: MkY at October 10, 2026 06:46 PM (ZHRuH)

56 I know.
Posted by: Bill Clinton at October 10, 2026 06:42 PM (l3cgK)

Heh!

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 10, 2026 06:47 PM (quk5M)

57 This table has had maybe 10 sets of chairs since I've known it. None have been well-designed. I'd like to build a set that will last as long as that table.

Posted by: MkY at October 10, 2026 06:49 PM (ZHRuH)

58 Furniture making? Should get pretty stickly in here.
Posted by: OrangeEnt

Chip and Dale made some pretty stuff.

Posted by: Tonypete at October 10, 2026 06:50 PM (N5iuz)

59 I has a new hobby!
We bought a 2006 Mx-5 miata on thursday, yea!

Friday we drove it about 60 miles and i puked all it's radiator fluid 2.5 miles from home. Boo!
I will be installing a new all aluminum radiator with replacement tubing.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at October 10, 2026 06:51 PM (NnhvP)

60 Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon

There is a box traveling with us to the TXmome.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at October 10, 2026 06:52 PM (NnhvP)

61 42 ... "Speaking of pipes, have you ever run across a brand called Medeco? They used to run ads on the backs of old magazines. IIRC, their thing was a briar bowl with a finned aluminum stem to cool the smoke. And black Bakelite mouthpiece, of course."

AOP, That sounds more like the Falcon pipe with the aluminum stem and a black plastic or nylon mouthpiece. The briar bowl screwed onto the stem and could be swapped with other bowls. Medico pipes are still made, apparently, although I don't recall seeing any in a long time.

Posted by: JTB at October 10, 2026 06:53 PM (yTvNw)

62 I took a break from the corporate world about 40 years ago to move to Boston and work with a master cabinetmaker in the North End for a couple of years. It was great fun and learned a shit ton. I haven't made many pieces recently though. I gave all my mahogany and walnut planks to one of my sons before this last move. I had too much to use in my lifetime.

I have to say though, that really hurt.

Posted by: Tonypete at October 10, 2026 06:54 PM (N5iuz)

63 I refinished an old bottom half of a hutch. No idea where the top is. Wife scored it at a garage sale.

Solid cherry and somebody painted it. What an abomination. Took my time stripping and sanding before staining. Looks pretty good now.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at October 10, 2026 06:55 PM (GZ3K7)

64 I'm just quietly watching the restoration/secrets vids. I love secret compartments and I love old furniture.

Posted by: RandomDave at October 10, 2026 06:57 PM (aJQbY)

65 We bought a 2006 Mx-5 miata on thursday, yea!

Friday we drove it about 60 miles and i puked all it's radiator fluid 2.5 miles from home. Boo!
I will be installing a new all aluminum radiator with replacement tubing.
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at October 10, 2026 06:51 PM (NnhvP)

Check for a blown head gasket before shelling out for a new radiator! An overheating incident can cause a head gasket to blow, and a blown head gasket will cause overheating, as hot combustion gases enter the cooling system. Fill the radiator, and water will do in this instance, and put a cooling system pressure tester on in place of the filler cap. From cold, start the engine. If the gauge begins rising right away, especially if it rises in jerks, you have a combustion leak into the cooling system. There is also a chemical test kit to test for the presence of combustion products in the coolant. The O'Reilly's store on Apache Trail at Gold Drive ought to be able to help you with either test.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 10, 2026 07:01 PM (quk5M)

66 My main interest in making furniture was the joinery. A good dovetail joint, even without glue, should remain solid for a century or more. I've probably lost the touch but used dovetails for small pieces. They aren't just sturdy, done with different color woods they become a decorative feature.

I'm also a fan of half lap joints, which I used on some picture and document frames. Lots of surface for glue and more stable than a mitered joint. They are usually done on a table saw but lend themselves to hand tools very well. The chisel work does require some care.

Posted by: JTB at October 10, 2026 07:02 PM (yTvNw)

67 There is a box traveling with us to the TXmome.
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at October 10, 2026 06:52 PM (NnhvP)

Woot!

If I were there in AJ right now, I would be happy to help you fix the Miata.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 10, 2026 07:03 PM (quk5M)

68 That "impossible dovetail" joint in the Japanese joinery vid is actually very easy to make. My father made one, many, many years ago. Make perfectly ordinary dovetail joint on the ends of two 3X3 sticks of wood. When the glue dries, run the completed piece through your jointer on all four corners repeatedly, until the corners become flats, and the flats become corners. Done.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 10, 2026 07:09 PM (quk5M)

69 Furniture? I almost feel attacked by this thread. My recliner broke last weekend (The toggle assembly became partially detached from the drive rod and started twisting horribly) and I've spent too much of my 'hobby time' trying to diagnose the problem and then repair it. I don't think it's going to happen. The only way I see to buy a replacement for the twisted part is to get a used part off of ebay....and I'm not sure I trust used furniture parts.

I think replacing the chair is going to be far less brain damage. And it's not like the chair was without its (minor) issues before this...

Posted by: Castle Guy at October 10, 2026 07:09 PM (3v7ra)

70 It'll be in the rv garage when you come down for the winter.
Running or not, I can't guess!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at October 10, 2026 07:11 PM (NnhvP)

71 My dad had a hobby/side line repairing antique upholstered chairs. He could take a wrecked piece, take it down to the frame, reinforce it, than replace the padding and fabric. He could keep everything under the correct tension with brass tacks and fabric covered buttons anchored to the frame. The couple of chairs he kept eventually ended up with my brother.

I have no idea where he learned to do that or what got him interested in the first place. Sadly, there's no one left who knows. I wish he had taught me to do it.

Posted by: JTB at October 10, 2026 07:17 PM (yTvNw)

72
We have three solid wood washstands in our house, two of them with towel racks. We also have two old iceboxes; those are less well off than the wash stands. I can see us taking the two "more complete" wash stands with us when we eventually move, but definitely not the iceboxes.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at October 10, 2026 07:20 PM (trSL4)

73 Seeing all those telescopes reminds me I have one in the closet with a dirty secondary mirror that needs cleaning. Hopefully the shmutz is just residue from a moth or two and not something harder to get off.

Posted by: Additional Blond Agent, STEM Guy at October 10, 2026 07:22 PM (iIyc0)

74 Oregon lost!

My day has been made.

Posted by: nurse ratched at October 10, 2026 07:23 PM (yEz+x)

75 Hey, All.

Do boobs count as a hobby?

Posted by: Bulg at October 10, 2026 07:23 PM (77rzZ)

76
Glass punkin, that chunkin punkin

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at October 10, 2026 07:23 PM (trSL4)

77 69 ... "My recliner broke last weekend (The toggle assembly became partially detached from the drive rod and started twisting horribly)"

CG,
The same thing happened to me on a couple of recliners. The chair itself is fine but the lift mechanism died. I just secured the lift and got a separate foot stool to use. Works great. Cheap and effective solutions suit me.

Posted by: JTB at October 10, 2026 07:23 PM (yTvNw)

78 Furniture making !!! I love it. I built all my own to fit my living space.

Posted by: Ben Had at October 10, 2026 07:23 PM (nxLtX)

79 Do boobs count as a hobby?
Posted by: Bulg at October 10, 2026 07:23 PM (77rzZ)

I consider it an occupation. And the renumeration is not monetary.

Posted by: Additional Blond Agent, STEM Guy at October 10, 2026 07:24 PM (iIyc0)

80 My furniture making abilities are limited to the assembly of IKEA and the like. I'm sure that doesn't qualify as "furniture making." My other hobbies include gardening (different thread) and shooting (different thread), so it's back to lurking for me.

Posted by: Pod Hamp at October 10, 2026 07:25 PM (C8+gh)

81
For a span of about two years around five years ago I explored flameworking -- making glass beads and glass flowers. I ultimately decided that I'd not have the time to become good at it so I struck my tent, distributed my tools -- most obtained at second hand and on the cheap -- and dropped the whole enterprise. Looking at matters now, it was a wise move.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at October 10, 2026 07:29 PM (trSL4)

82 AOP, Langlitz leather jackets have a discreet zippered passage at an angle next to the obvious pocket, which they brazenly label as the "pistol pocket." Any chance yours is in the right place to do that duty?

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at October 10, 2026 07:33 PM (zdLoL)

83 One hobby is loading ammo for my target shooting. I've been thinking about which guns I'm likely to use over the next year and the calibers. (The muzzleloaders are a separate category.) 32 long, 38 special, 41 magnum, and 44 special are the calibers at the top of the list at the moment. I already have the components. Clearly, I'm thinking in terms of single action revolvers.

Posted by: JTB at October 10, 2026 07:34 PM (yTvNw)

84 Anything (legal) you are hobbying is welcome.

Legal where??

Posted by: From about That Time at October 10, 2026 07:36 PM (sl73Y)

85 JTB,
I've reupholstered quite a few pieces of furniture, and I learned how in adult evening classes at the local high school. You might check that out.

Posted by: Wenda at October 10, 2026 07:38 PM (bGLcx)

86 After all the hard work on the secretary the finish looked coarse.
Don't thing the original appeared coarse. Good word, didn't like the finish.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at October 10, 2026 07:39 PM (VPNgR)

87 I sewed three quarters of a pair of firewood slings the other day.

2 yards of 45" fabric was just the perfect amount, but my sewing machine decided that all the bobbin thread needed be in large loops halfway through the second one.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at October 10, 2026 07:40 PM (C0Nlv)

88 79 Do boobs count as a hobby?
Posted by: Bulg at October 10,
--

Smash is going to get you.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at October 10, 2026 07:42 PM (VPNgR)

89 Thanks everyone for being here. Sorry I was absent. We're in transit. Thanks to Doof for launching.

Posted by: TRex - soggy dino at October 10, 2026 07:44 PM (TfIR2)

90 85 ... "I've reupholstered quite a few pieces of furniture, and I learned how in adult evening classes at the local high school. You might check that out."

Wenda,
Thanks for the suggestion. My interest these days is academic more than practical. Recalling what my dad did would require positions I can't get into or, especially, out of these days.

Posted by: JTB at October 10, 2026 07:45 PM (yTvNw)

91 TRex, we hardly noticed; But glad you're here!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at October 10, 2026 07:46 PM (NnhvP)

92 I restored enough furniture in my time. I use a lot of antique tools, because it just seems right. Sometimes the old tools replicate the look.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at October 10, 2026 07:55 PM (vzuC7)

93 JTB,

I hear you!

Posted by: Wenda at October 10, 2026 07:55 PM (bGLcx)

94 AOP, Langlitz leather jackets have a discreet zippered passage at an angle next to the obvious pocket, which they brazenly label as the "pistol pocket." Any chance yours is in the right place to do that duty?
Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at October 10, 2026 07:33 PM (zdLoL)

Not really. I did unzip it all the way. The zipper runs up the left lapel and ends at the right-hand end of the collar. You can reach in there, and explore the entire void between the shell and the lining. Sadly, no sheaf of 100-dollar bills, nor treasure map to be found. It would make a lousy pistol carry space. I think the zipper was simply a means to close access to some sewing points.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 10, 2026 07:55 PM (quk5M)

95
What are you hobbying?

I'm working on a trailer module tester. Circuit will fool the truck's trailer module into thinking it has a trailer connected. This triggers the module to flash the testers LEDs for brake, tail, left, and right as well as enabling the 12vdc relay for the electric brakes.

The whole shebang is a simple exercise to get 12vdc at the number for a portable aircompressor to air up trailer tires and the truck's rear duallys. Mounting it in an anodized black aluminum case 6"x6"x3", with the circuit laser engraved on the outer case and the LEDs labeled and mounted at the proper place in the circuit diagram. Using HAM Radio power port 30 amp quick connectors for the 12vdc so I can also run my radio from the tailgate while making remote Parks On the Air calls.

Posted by: BifBewalski - at October 10, 2026 07:57 PM (QVmho)

96 I missed the Pet Thread but the most popular dog costume this year is the pumpkin. That is all.

Posted by: fd at October 10, 2026 07:57 PM (MWfyi)

97 75 Hey, All.

Do boobs count as a hobby?
Posted by: Bulg at October 10, 2026 07:23 PM (77rzZ)

_____________________

Sure. I collect them....and make lampshades, throw pillows and all kinds of neat stuff.

Posted by: Ed Gein at October 10, 2026 07:59 PM (dIske)

98 I built all my own to fit my living space.
Posted by: Ben Had at October 10, 2026 07:23 PM (nxLtX)

*looks up Texas county sizes*

Posted by: RI Red at October 10, 2026 07:59 PM (LMRVO)

99
What are you hobbying?

Junior-ette is working on kashmir sweater, nice vanilla color, good quality yarn, very fuzzy. Says she'll be knitting puppies to go over the front pockets.

It's making my Type 2 diabetes worse just commenting on it.

Posted by: BifBewalski - at October 10, 2026 07:59 PM (QVmho)

100 I missed the Pet Thread but the most popular dog costume this year is the pumpkin. That is all.
Posted by: fd at October 10, 2026 07:57 PM (MWfyi)

An alligator costume for a wiener dog would be really cool.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 10, 2026 08:00 PM (quk5M)

101
What are you hobbying?

Smash is working on another bracelet with her beading loom. She's gotten very talented with those Itty bitty colored beads and complex patterns.

Posted by: BifBewalski - at October 10, 2026 08:00 PM (QVmho)

102 Speaking of woodworking, I need a new hammer handle for my 16-ounce ball-pein hammer. Princess Auto wants like 21 bucks for a new wooden handle. Yikes! I know handles are usually hickory, but are any other kinds of wood acceptable? I could probably dig out a nice well-seasoned hunk of box elder from my woodpile.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 10, 2026 08:03 PM (quk5M)

103 What are you hobbying?

Smash is working on another bracelet with her beading loom. She's gotten very talented with those Itty bitty colored beads and complex patterns.
Posted by: BifBewalski - at October 10, 2026 08:00 PM (QVmho)

Think I'll go hobby myself a pina colada right about now..

Posted by: Joe Kidd at October 10, 2026 08:04 PM (08OqX)

104 Ooops....NOOD music.

Posted by: Orson at October 10, 2026 08:04 PM (dIske)

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