Weekend Hobby, Crafts and Bodging Thread

Greetings, gang. Hope your Memorial Day weekend is off to a fine start. Time once again to head for the basement, garage, shop, studio, craft room or wherever it is you can escape, get creative, make a mess and have some fun.

Please note that this is NOT an open thread so please limit the conversation to all things hobby and craft related.

What projects are you all working on, planning or thinking about?

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at 05:02 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Welcome Hobbiests

Posted by: Skip at May 27, 2023 05:03 PM (xhxe8)

2 Sculpting the bear? Sounds like a euphemism for something even worse!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 27, 2023 05:04 PM (omVj0)

3 Please note that this is NOT an open thread so please limit the conversation to all things hobby and craft related.

So, no yodeling ?

Posted by: JT at May 27, 2023 05:06 PM (T4tVD)

4 Have my 3 now Napoleonic era shakos done, really need to send in a report on them.
Also finally clear coated a few camp scene stands had but not finished in 15mm.

Posted by: Skip at May 27, 2023 05:07 PM (xhxe8)

5 Good afternoon nail benders, thread strippers, and 10mm socket losers.

Posted by: Tonypete at May 27, 2023 05:07 PM (qoGsy)

6 I had, but was told not to use a compartment similar to that video. I keep my troops in a modern version of them and always running out of space. I have 14 boxes, a few I made and 1 has I think a silver tea pot handle.

Posted by: Skip at May 27, 2023 05:11 PM (xhxe8)

7 Need to get off my butt and dimple my AR barrel for the low-pro gas block and finish the build. Alas, I am lazy.

Posted by: ballistic at May 27, 2023 05:11 PM (oXNqT)

8 Got into detailed planning for new overhead lights in the garage and overcab lights in the kitchen. Not really too bad of a job except for finding the entry point in the walls of the kitchen to run my lines in. The builder did a hell of a job with the blown in insulation so I have about 12" of that to dig through.

But, this is just planning - it's already too hot to work in the attic. I did pick up a couple of coils of 14-2 UF-B at fire sale prices. I guess they were overstocked. Yeah me!!

Posted by: Tonypete at May 27, 2023 05:11 PM (qoGsy)

9 Tonypete maybe a piece of plastic electric conduit to run through insulation

Posted by: Skip at May 27, 2023 05:19 PM (xhxe8)

10 Making a frame for a painting, 18 x 34 inches approximately. Taking a break before doing the final critical miter cut on the 4 pieces.

Posted by: stu-mick-o-sucks at May 27, 2023 05:20 PM (DsA2n)

11 Yep Skip, my thoughts exactly.

Posted by: Tonypete at May 27, 2023 05:20 PM (qoGsy)

12 Just finished most of the install of the new Yaesu FTM-500D in my new truck. Now I'm just waiting on a cable to arrive to connect the remote head to the body mounted in the rear. Once that shows up next week, I'll tear apart the dash to run the cable and mount the control head. It's usable now, thanks to a spare cup holder mount I had sitting around.

Posted by: Bert G at May 27, 2023 05:20 PM (VARTN)

13 It all began at the Pioneer Roller Corral. That's what its all about. True story.

Posted by: Hokey Pokey at May 27, 2023 05:21 PM (glGDV)

14 I have to replace bathroom ceiling fan, old one works but light doesn't. And do better job on duct work to soffit. Hopefully before it gets to hot to work in attic crawl space.

Posted by: Skip at May 27, 2023 05:24 PM (xhxe8)

15 Posted by: Bert G at May 27, 2023 05:20 PM (VARTN)

What license level do you hold? I'm studying for Tech and General.

Posted by: ballistic at May 27, 2023 05:24 PM (oXNqT)

16 I bought a Mac Air to manage my website and find that my host does not like Mac Air very much. I could manage it on my I phone better. I don't want to download windows which might not even help. I guess the Mac Air will turn into just a steaming apparatus.

Stuppleart.com

Starting on a new painting where a semi portrait will be involved and will be my first attempt. It's from a photo posted on aos almost a year ago.

Posted by: polynikes at May 27, 2023 05:26 PM (BqNkw)

17 Making a frame for a painting, 18 x 34 inches approximately. Taking a break before doing the final critical miter cut on the 4 pieces.
Posted by: stu-mick-o-sucks at May 27, 2023 05:20 PM (DsA2n)

How much do you think it cost you in materials?

Posted by: polynikes at May 27, 2023 05:27 PM (BqNkw)

18 I went ahead and bought a book on nature journaling and sketching. It wasn't one that JTB mentioned, but those led me to this one. It's by a guy called John Muir Law who is apparently considered one of the best, still living, nature artists in the country. He has actually done some of the field guides that are available. He has a lot of stuff on YouTube as well if anyone wants to check out his teaching style.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at May 27, 2023 05:29 PM (nC+QA)

19 Maybe now can get back to making a sketch with me wearing one of my shakos that was working on befI started making the shako

Posted by: Skip at May 27, 2023 05:31 PM (xhxe8)

20 I have miniature parts to vehicles, horses and oxen but waiting to Historicon to get them so out of hobby things otherwise to do.

Posted by: Skip at May 27, 2023 05:34 PM (xhxe8)

21 How much do you think it cost you in materials?

Posted by: polynikes

Actually it will cost zero dollars! I had some nice pine lengths left over from a stand-alone 3-level box shelf (blueprints courtesy of Ace

I made for my son, of which he tells me his cats highly approve.

Trimmed to width on my table saw, then kerfed the edges in, which was easier than setting up my router.

Posted by: stu-mick-o-sucks at May 27, 2023 05:35 PM (DsA2n)

22 Cleaning up the workbench, still. Decided I'm going to drag my fat ass over to Harbor Freight in a little bit and get some of those magnetic strip tool holders. Hoping to find something to hold my non-magnetic (plastic and ceramic) tools as well. Might head over to Ace after that to get another multi-drawer bin for parts. I know HF has them but I'd kind of like it to match.

Might hop on the radio later and do a little FT-8, even though it looks like most of the bands kinda suck today.

Posted by: Blanco Basura - Z28.310 at May 27, 2023 05:39 PM (Bd6X8)

23 Learning more about book mending

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at May 27, 2023 05:40 PM (vHIgi)

24 Have wood from 2 pallets and some cedar 4’ fence planks; lotsa half cans of exterior paint, already made a wishing well to put over septic tank (so no one drives over the lid). Now making Burma-Shave like signs that end with stylized small letters: DON’T BE A over Brandon-Slave ; not sure I have testicles to post them in front lawn, but we’ll see. Original Idea was DON’T VOTE. FOR WHAT. YOU FLED. Still working on other ideas.

Posted by: VizzinisGuess at May 27, 2023 05:40 PM (h8s0C)

25 I have no room to criticize a professional artist but the cloud lady made it a lot more difficult that it had to be.

Posted by: polynikes at May 27, 2023 05:40 PM (BqNkw)

26 I re-hafted two hatchets. One had a loose head because the handle was cracked in the socket, and the other had a handle made from a chunk of fir dowel.

The one handle I cut down below the cracked section and clamped it to the picnic table with a woodworking clamp shaved with the draw knife and spoke shave to fit the smaller hatchet's eye, and the larger hatchet got a brand new handle.

Which brings us to two puzzles: If you reuse part of the wood of Theseus' ship to repair another ship, which one is Theseus' ship, and;
How long until I build myself a proper shave horse because I hate standing in the sun clamping things to the picnic table?

Posted by: Kindltot at May 27, 2023 05:41 PM (xhaym)

27 Original Idea was DON’T VOTE. FOR WHAT. YOU FLED. Still working on other ideas.
Posted by: VizzinisGuess at May 27, 2023 05:40 PM (h8s0C)

"No vote vasura"

It is hilarious in Spanish

Posted by: Kindltot at May 27, 2023 05:42 PM (xhaym)

28 I had hoped to start practicing with my glass bottle cutting kit this weekend. Unfortunately, my sister and her husband, who were going to host the family dinner on Monday, realized their dishwasher had been leaking and causing black mold. So they don't have a sink while fixing all that and we're hosting the dinner instead. All of which is to say, no making vases and rooting set-ups for me because Littlest Kidlet and I need to clean the house.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at May 27, 2023 05:42 PM (nC+QA)

29 My general rule is it's best not to know how much hobby stuff costs, you might not do it otherwise.
I probably spent at least $100 on my shakos, to by one is around $350

Posted by: Skip at May 27, 2023 05:44 PM (xhxe8)

30 Lots of things have happened on the ham radio front. My Hermes Lite 2 software-defined radio now has a "50" watt amplifier. The problem being that the USB devices disconnect from the shack computer every time I transmit with more than 5W or so. Tracing that down gives me a (yet another) hobby. I can't run FT8 from that computer anyway, because of some Windows weirdness, but the downstairs computer (running Linux) handles FT8 just fine, it's almost embarrassing how easy the amp makes FT8 Q's, but I was kind of looking forward to doing CW and SSB with the SDR.

The FT-847 is set up and, well, the jumpers aren't right. As soon as I get a new iron for the solder station, I'm taking all the jumpers out (I swear I only saw ONE) and starting over. On the other hand, I've got antennas for all the bands it will do, including a new antenna for 6 meters. I used my NanoVNA to tune it. Man, the NanoVNA is slick at that sort of thing. I have heard precisely bubkis on 6m, though, so I'm hoping for some sporadic-E this summer.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at May 27, 2023 05:45 PM (iZEhM)

31 Tired of people not being able to figure out the house's address.
I have 4x4 ft plate of 3/8s steel and a plasma cutter, so I think I have a solution.
The 4 numbers might take up the entire 4ft in height the way I have it laid out.
I think I lay it out in cardboard, paint in black and tack it to the wall to see if SWMBO approves before I cut the steel.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at May 27, 2023 05:46 PM (ux8sM)

32 I'll be rewiring the lighting in the garage/shop. I currently have plug-in LED shop lights that are Chinese pieces of shit. The LED strips keep failing and there's no way to replace just the bad sections.

Plus, when you finally pry one apart... it will never reassemble properly.

$25 bucks a pop. Totally worthless.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at May 27, 2023 05:46 PM (Q4IgG)

33 Sculpting the bear? Sounds like circumcision.

Funny. because lot of Christians have their babies circumcised. Not for religious reason, but for heath reasons. St Paul forbade it for religious reasons.

I was. I also had my sons done.

So, when my eldest son married a Jewish woman, the rabbi had to see. Took one look and said "okay."

LOL.

Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at May 27, 2023 05:54 PM (vg8N1)

34 18 ... "It's by a guy called John Muir Law who is apparently considered one of the best, still living, nature artists in the country. He has actually done some of the field guides that are available. "

Polliwpg,
Glad you found Laws book and videos. I have his bird drawing book but haven't used it yet. His videos are great.

Posted by: JTB at May 27, 2023 05:55 PM (7EjX1)

35 Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Memorial Day 2023 will occur on Monday, May 29.

Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.

About 1.1 Million!

Posted by: rhennigantx at May 27, 2023 05:56 PM (BRHaw)

36 Inspector got to put his hobby of fixing computers to use when Littlest Kidlet's machine started letting the magic smoke escape. Turns out her graphics card ( which was about eight years old and had been in a couple of her siblings' computers) had responded badly to a power fluctuation. Thankfully it hadn't damaged anything else, and he had a board with an integral graphic ability at hand, so we have time to find a decent deal on a new card.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at May 27, 2023 05:58 PM (nC+QA)

37 Chinesium.

Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at May 27, 2023 05:58 PM (vg8N1)

38 1.1 million dead

Posted by: rhennigantx at May 27, 2023 06:00 PM (BRHaw)

39 IIRC, it was to remember on both sides on the war. We needed healing.

Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at May 27, 2023 06:00 PM (vg8N1)

40 For the soldering experts: Does the 70 watt Weller soldering iron get hot enough to reliably connect 12 AWG cable to a XT60 connector?

Posted by: mrp at May 27, 2023 06:00 PM (rj6Yv)

41

My hobby is hiking in the woods, although never for the hunting...

Posted by: Leo at May 27, 2023 06:02 PM (WMnGQ)

42 Thanks Kindltot

I also considered some Latin for

Don’t Touch
Me There
Don’t Sniff
My Hair

Which can have Biblical resonance [Jesus to MM after Resurrection]

Posted by: VizzinisGuess at May 27, 2023 06:04 PM (h8s0C)

43 I've just started reading The Compleat Angler by Izaak Walton, which makes me wonder if there are any people who still tie flies. by way of a hobby.

Posted by: NL at May 27, 2023 06:04 PM (eGTCV)

44 On the making front, I had an idea for making a mechanical segment for a seven-segment display for a digital clock with a large display. I'm doing some sketches before starting the CAD work. If I actually do it, maybe I'll send some photos.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at May 27, 2023 06:05 PM (iZEhM)

45 I have 4 amp camp amps to solder

I suck at soldering

They are design by Carver and his amps are about 2 to 3 grand

the kits are about 400

Posted by: rhennigantx at May 27, 2023 06:05 PM (BRHaw)

46 44 On the making front, I had an idea for making a mechanical segment for a seven-segment display for a digital clock with a large display. I'm doing some sketches before starting the CAD work. If I actually do it, maybe I'll send some photos.
Posted by: Cybersmythe at May 27, 2023 06:05 PM (iZEhM)

Achmed the clock maker

Posted by: rhennigantx at May 27, 2023 06:06 PM (BRHaw)

47 What license level do you hold? I'm studying for Tech and General.

Posted by: ballistic at May 27, 2023 05:24 PM

Extra, but it took me 34 years after I got General, lol. Knocking out Tech and General at once is the way to do it. And honestly, you don't need Extra. It just started bugging me that I hadn't gone ahead and done it.

Posted by: Bert G at May 27, 2023 06:07 PM (VARTN)

48 There are a couple of videos of Tucker Carlson talking about tying flies for fly-fishing.

Posted by: m at May 27, 2023 06:08 PM (LodBx)

49 OT FYI for JJ

Just saw that Ann Barnhardt's latest memes collection includes Thursday's Morning Report graphic.

Posted by: mindful webworker - know what I meme, verne? at May 27, 2023 06:09 PM (auNe7)

50 Nice video on bio-filter for ponds. I filled in my pond last year. The leaf situation became to much. It's now a great space for bird feeders, bird baths, and hanging flower baskets. Wonderful restoration project on the tank. Thanks for the hobby thread. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday w/e.

Posted by: sidney at May 27, 2023 06:11 PM (hGlnS)

51
I'm trying to do the math in my head of a garage makeover as my hobby area. A couple grand for cement board and drywall, ceramic tile floor, paint, and some other niceties should improve home value by about four times the cost if I DIY. Or pay down the balance on a second mortgage whose interest rate and cost has crept ever skyward since 2021.

I like to work and improve the value of my home. Making a number smaller on a monthly statement is not so satisfying.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at May 27, 2023 06:12 PM (enJYY)

52 Re rhennigantx Memorial Day (35)

Don’t Forget that Union Culturally Appropriated
the idea from an already established and observed April 25th observance South of the Mason-Dixon Line.

The same Democrats that erased the 30th May date in 1971 also passed one amendment that gave 18 year old vote and tried to get ERA certified as well, and wrote into stone the Revenue Sharing that financed the slow degradation of our once fine cities.

Posted by: VizzinisGuess at May 27, 2023 06:12 PM (h8s0C)

53 For the soldering experts: Does the 70 watt Weller soldering iron get hot enough to reliably connect 12 AWG cable to a XT60 connector?
Posted by: mrp
----

Unsure about which iron that is, but if uses changeable tips, it is the tip temperature that is important. a 700 deg. tip would likely work, though I forget the tip sizes.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 27, 2023 06:12 PM (eZV9h)

54 Made a nice discovery for drawing materials. Amazon sells what is called "Super Thick" index cards. They are made by a small family business in the US. They come in various sizes, lined and unlined. What sets them apart is their weight and being acid free. They are heavy enough for any dry medium that doesn't require texture, ink, as well as light washes. They are stiff enough to be used while hand held although using a backer would be better. A 200 count pack of 8"x5" cards was about 28 bucks delivered. Since both sides can be used, that's not bad for 400 pieces for drawing.

Just FYI. They are a good value and are going to be part of my traveling art supplies.

Posted by: JTB at May 27, 2023 06:13 PM (7EjX1)

55 The problem being that the USB devices disconnect from the shack computer every time I transmit with more than 5W or so.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at May 27, 2023 05:45 PM

Probably the USB cables themselves or the USB ports aren't well shielded. Might be fixed by adding some ferrites to the cables. Or if you want to spend the scratch, Tripp Lite makes RFI-shielded USB cables.

Posted by: Bert G at May 27, 2023 06:14 PM (VARTN)

56 Still doing Biblical word searches or words related to the Bible. Just a few minutes ago I was doing a word search on Deuteronomy 6:4-6 which is a beautiful passage about loving the Lord and is part of the three paragraphs which form the basis of the Shema Israel / which is said morning and evening and before retiring as well as in a service on Shabbat,

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 27, 2023 06:15 PM (Keyt1)

57 noli me tangere

Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at May 27, 2023 06:17 PM (vg8N1)

58 “The threats of terrorism persists and the accelerating climate crisis continues to disrupt lives and livelihoods,” Harris said.

She added, “All a threat to global stability and security and here’s how I see it, in the face of all these challenges America plays a singular role of leadership.”

Harris said the “an accelerating climate crisis” is one of the “biggest challenges the military will face during their careers.”

Posted by: rhennigantx at May 27, 2023 06:18 PM (BRHaw)

59 Don’t Forget that Union Culturally Appropriated
the idea from an already established and observed April 25th observance South of the Mason-Dixon Line.

The same Democrats that erased the 30th May date in 1971 also passed one amendment that gave 18 year old vote and tried to get ERA certified as well, and wrote into stone the Revenue Sharing that financed the slow degradation of our once fine cities.
Posted by: VizzinisGuess at May 27, 2023

***
When I went to school into early June, we did not have Memorial Day -- or as it was called then, Decoration Day -- off. Once our schools began opening in August and closing in May, national holidays meant nothing to me once vacation began. So "Memorial Day" is much more recent in my memory.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 27, 2023 06:18 PM (omVj0)

60 I envy cybersmythe and his Ham stuff.

My one no-dollar-cost hobby. Finding interesting public domain ebooks and patching them up.

I finished cleaning up the 1923 English translation ebook Dersu Uzala by VK Arsinov. New cover, title page, content links, high quality photographs and refurbished original maps. It's uploaded to Archive.org in .epub and .mobi file types. The best way to search archive.org is to use your favorite search engine; archive.org; name of book (or author). The homegrown archive org search function is terrible.

Posted by: 13times at May 27, 2023 06:19 PM (7Tb4o)

61 Unsure about which iron that is, but if uses changeable tips, it is the tip temperature that is important. a 700 deg. tip would likely work, though I forget the tip sizes.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 27, 2023 06:12 PM (eZV9h)

Thanks, Mike. The soldering iron is the Weller WEP70 (pencil type).

Posted by: mrp at May 27, 2023 06:23 PM (rj6Yv)

62 I'm making homemade rifle plates to test afterwards. Two 12 x12 ceramic tiles cut to shape sandwich a piece of hard rubber, wrapped with fiberglass tape and fiberglass resin. Interested if it will stop a .556.

Posted by: polynikes at May 27, 2023 06:23 PM (BqNkw)

63 43 ... " I've just started reading The Compleat Angler by Izaak Walton, which makes me wonder if there are any people who still tie flies. by way of a hobby."

Haven't done it for a while but I'll be able to start fishing again this year and will get back to tying flies. From some things I've read, it is growing a bit as a hobby along with some other hands-on crafts. I've caught fish on bait and heavy tackle, spinning gear and lures, and flies. I can say fly fishing is the most satisfying method of catching fish. Even small trout and pan fish can give a good fight with appropriate gear. And catching fish on flies you've tied yourself adds to that satisfaction.

Posted by: JTB at May 27, 2023 06:24 PM (7EjX1)

64 For the soldering experts: Does the 70 watt Weller soldering iron get hot enough to reliably connect 12 AWG cable to a XT60 connector?
Posted by: mrp

You will probably lose too much heat down the cable, so you should cut the cable tips off, solder your connectors to them and then solder that back onto your cable...

😉

Posted by: Mr. Wizard at May 27, 2023 06:25 PM (WMnGQ)

65 Cabinet-restorer, beautiful stuff.

Posted by: m at May 27, 2023 06:31 PM (LodBx)

66 Well, didn't realize how big the drawers were, that would hold lots of troops, nicely done

Posted by: Skip at May 27, 2023 06:34 PM (xhxe8)

67 For the soldering experts: Does the 70 watt Weller soldering iron get hot enough to reliably connect 12 AWG cable to a XT60 connector?
Posted by: mrp at May 27, 2023 06:00 PM

70W seems like plenty of power to me, but the wattage isn't the only thing that might be important. I've never soldered that kind of connector before, so I lack specific knowledge, but if you have an issue, you can describe it and we might be able to make suggestions.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at May 27, 2023 06:36 PM (iZEhM)

68 For electronic soldering is the same solder as plumbing?

Posted by: Skip at May 27, 2023 06:40 PM (xhxe8)

69 On the making front, I had an idea for making a mechanical segment for a seven-segment display for a digital clock with a large display. I'm doing some sketches before starting the CAD work. If I actually do it, maybe I'll send some photos.
Posted by: Cybersmythe at May 27, 2023 06:05 PM

Achmed the clock maker
Posted by: rhennigantx at May 27, 2023 06:06 PM

Now, don't take this the wrong way, and I'm only saying this because I care, but bite me.

Achmed put an already built clock in a box, I'm designing an electromechnical mechanism so that my ex could see the display from across the room without her glasses, and then writing the software and doing the other aspects of electrical and mechanical engineering necessary to make a clock based upon that kind of component.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at May 27, 2023 06:40 PM (iZEhM)

70 For electronic soldering is the same solder as plumbing?

Posted by: Skip at May 27, 2023 06:40 PM

Don't use acidic flux for electrical soldering. Use a rosin-type flux to solder electronics.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at May 27, 2023 06:41 PM (iZEhM)

71 Completed the refitting of all below-deck lights with LED fixtures today. They're a big improvement over the dying incandescents. The Good Ship Aurora, she shines brightly, or as brightly as a 12V lighting system can muster.

This calls for a round of rum to the long-suffering crew, with possible sodomy and the lash to follow later.

Yer Cap'n Cicero, out.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at May 27, 2023 06:54 PM (Zo4ys)

72 I got LED strip lights for downstairs, one over laundry and one for my work table, way better.
Watching the tank restore, said before there are probably half dozen old toys like that here

Posted by: Skip at May 27, 2023 06:58 PM (xhxe8)

73 Posted by: Bert G at May 27, 2023 06:07 PM (VARTN)
----
I've been thinking the same thing, but really haven't used my General License.

Posted by: Weasel at May 27, 2023 07:07 PM (RG6z4)

74 47 ... Yeah, another Extra here. I passed (barely) the code test portion. Used a slide rule for the math questions. Of course, shortly after that they eliminated the code requirement. Wish I had kept up the CW skills. It's my favorite aspect of the hobby and makes QRP operation more effective.

Posted by: JTB at May 27, 2023 07:20 PM (7EjX1)

75 I've been thinking the same thing, but really haven't used my General License.

Posted by: Weasel at May 27, 2023 07:07 PM

When I was doing the Volunteer Examiner thing, we would always advise anyone taking the Technician or General test to also try the test for the next class up. You don't have to pay another testing fee to take two tests in one session, and the worst that can happen is you don't get the "higher" class license.

I understand that if all you're doing is VHF or UHF, the general class doesn't get you anything, but you never know when you might get the HF bug or maybe you join a club that has a station and you want to try it out.

Oh, and North American Field Day is coming up at the end of June. It's kind of like a MoMe for hams. Strongly recommended.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at May 27, 2023 07:21 PM (iZEhM)

76 Food hobby: Just waxed 25lbs of smoked mild cheddar and pepper jack, dipping each block for 6 seconds, letting it dry and then waxing the part was holding for the 1st dip.
I put the freshly waxed cheese back in the frig and will apply a second layer using a bristle brush probably tomorrow.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at May 27, 2023 07:22 PM (fh8Ks)

77 Posted by: Cybersmythe at May 27, 2023 07:21 PM (iZEhM)
-----
Yep, they asked when I passed the General but I was in a hurry so I declined. Sort of regret that now.

Posted by: Weasel at May 27, 2023 07:23 PM (RG6z4)

78 Weasel!

Might you post your proton email address.
I have an article you've probably seen...

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at May 27, 2023 07:27 PM (fh8Ks)

79 Yep, they asked when I passed the General but I was in a hurry so I declined. Sort of regret that now.

Posted by: Weasel at May 27, 2023 07:23 PM

Most people wouldn't consider doing it, but you would sometimes see someone walk in with no license and walk out with an extra class.

I've come around to see the whole "incentive licensing" thing as kind of dumb. You're either a ham, or you're not and the different sub bands for difference license classes are just a pain in the neck.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at May 27, 2023 07:30 PM (iZEhM)

80 Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at May 27, 2023 07:27 PM (fh8Ks)
-----
Gunthread at ...

Posted by: Weasel at May 27, 2023 07:31 PM (RG6z4)

81 Well, that escalated quickly. Time to see what's on the menu.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at May 27, 2023 07:34 PM (KVGVf)

82 Toy restoration guy gets to play with all kinds of toys and chemicals

Posted by: Skip at May 27, 2023 07:37 PM (xhxe8)

83 Gunthread at ...
Posted by: Weasel

Thank you.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at May 27, 2023 07:41 PM (fh8Ks)

84 Thank you for clean up too!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at May 27, 2023 07:46 PM (fh8Ks)

85 You bet.

Posted by: Weasel at May 27, 2023 07:47 PM (RG6z4)

86 Jim Sullivan, author of many Squadron/Signal in Action books, has passed away. Writing credits include the F6F Hellcat, F4U Corsair, and OS2U Kingfisher.

Folks at iModeler have opened a memorial thread for people to build models of aircraft Jim wrote books on.

https://tinyurl.com/jimsullivan

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 27, 2023 07:56 PM (VGg6T)

87 Movie nood!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at May 27, 2023 07:58 PM (fh8Ks)

88 70W seems like plenty of power to me, but the wattage isn't the only thing that might be important. I've never soldered that kind of connector before, so I lack specific knowledge, but if you have an issue, you can describe it and we might be able to make suggestions. - Cybersmythe

Thank you. The YT videos for XT60 connector soldering make a point that overheating is a big problem. The XT60s and XT90s need a lot of heat, but the actual contact time should be 5 seconds or less. So make sure the tip is a maximum heat before melting the solder and dropping the pre-tinned cable end. That's the recommendation, anyway. Also, install the opposite gender connector to the soldered connector to help dissipate the heat before the nylon housing croaks.

Posted by: mrp at May 27, 2023 10:00 PM (rj6Yv)

89
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Posted by: Zara at May 28, 2023 05:08 AM (WjVZc)

90 Thank you. The YT videos for XT60 connector soldering make a point that overheating is a big problem. The XT60s and XT90s need a lot of heat, but the actual contact time should be 5 seconds or less. So make sure the tip is a maximum heat before melting the solder and dropping the pre-tinned cable end. That's the recommendation, anyway. Also, install the opposite gender connector to the soldered connector to help dissipate the heat before the nylon housing croaks.

Posted by: mrp at May 27, 2023 10:00 PM

I know this is WAY late, but in that case you need to solder it like I would solder a PL-259 on the end of a piece of RG-8. The way to do that is with a soldering iron that has a honking big chunk of metal on the end. That way, the temperature of the tip won't drop very much as the heat flows out of it into the metal of the bits you're trying to connect.

In my opinion, the ideal soldering iron is one of those like you'd use to solder the lead channels in stained glass. The last time I bought one, I literally went to the stained glass aisle of Hobby Lobby and bought one from there, but the important characteristic is "honking big chunk of metal."

Posted by: Cybersmythe at May 28, 2023 08:31 AM (iZEhM)

91 More than $15k can be earned online by performing straightforward tasks from home. In the previous month, I got $18376. Even a young child may do this job and make money because it is so simple to complete and has higher pay than typical office occupations. Everyone needs to try this task by using the information on this page. www.Richepay.com

Posted by: Jennifer Harris at May 29, 2023 03:59 AM (Pu2Cz)

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