Where’s the Beef!
The “beef” is in the bun. Some of my readers sort of ask me that question.
I have received a number of emails wondering what my latest project might be of if I still like or use such and such a tool that I published in my now aging website. I think it is mainly because I have not made any major updates in the old style web pages for awhile.
The truth is I still report rather actively but not in the same way as I have in the past. I started my THMS web page before there were such things as dynamic web site Blogs and CMS (Content Management Systems) like Joomla. There is actually quite a bit of work building a pure static HTML web site.
I still like the old format when I want to publish a full article with lots of pictures. The total control is awesome. But I am finding more of a liking with the high level presentation format available in dynamic publishing.
Most of my web pages now have both a URL identified server where the management code is stored and lives but also requires the services of an SQL database server to hold and provide the dynamic data. It sounds complex and it is. My several blogs (WordPress), one Bulletin Board (TEDEX), and multiple Joomla sites all require two remote computer servers to provide the viewer the content you see, like this very page.
The result is that publishing content is 10 times easier once the website is set up. I love the design complexities and that creative exercise, but when I want to post something like this, it only takes five minutes or less, just the time to log in and upload, and the world can read it fully… Continue reading
Woodcarving and Dust Control
As seen elsewhere in this blog, I have been doing some woodcarving. Some of it is done by CNC machine and the rest is done with power hand tools or just knife and gouge. I like them all.
My PN causes some problems with hand (blade) carving but I still like it very much and it is so simple, clean and basic I just keep going back to it.
The biggest problem I have with powered (rotary tool) carving is the fine dust control. I haven’t yet invested in a good dust control system. That’s big money to do a good job. I will probably design my own to control the cost. I just want to be carving things right now so I use a shop vac or a small fan to blow the dust away from me. That isn’t too effective and doesn’t make for a clean shop!
Carving is much more than just wood. Wood is usually the vision a non carver thinks about when they hear the term. What’s not immediately thought about (and this holds true for all woodworking) is the dust issue. Wood dust is not a harmless “natural” material. I remember the years my grandfather (who taught me a lot about woodworking) worked in the dust and he was a smoker. We learned about the hazards of mineral dust because it was more irritating, but wood dust is no safe haven.
I use both the HB2 CNC carving machine and hand rotary tools like the Proxxon, Dremel (not so much) and I really like the 400,000 rpm air powered hand piece. The later is a super fine dust maker but I love the action. They all definitely need a fine dust collection system before I use them much more.
My dust system will… Continue reading
New Look Again
Some of the blog “regulars” may have noticed the look of this site has changed a bit. We are still running inside WordPress but I built a new template using Artisteer. Today it is possible to do something that looks this good without directly using HTML, a special language to create web pages.
There is some very minor use of HTML for “tweaking” for a little more (but unnecessary) personal touch.
I hope it looks good to you too.
Perfect
I decided I should move back on topic here in the THMS Blog. One perfect part at a time is a hard challenge. I am the first to admit I am far from perfect. How boring life would be if everything was perfect. That’s why I doubt heaven or whatever that great place you want to be in the next life is as perfect as it is cracked up to be. If it is, it might be a place for a short visit but I wouldn’t want to live there forever. But then it all boils down to the definition of perfect, doesn’t it? Perfect could be just enough frustration to keep life interesting. A need to make enough bad parts to make the good parts enjoyable.
Wow! No wonder metalwork is such a perfect hobby!
Note the heading doesn’t say, “One Perfect Part EVERY time.”
…and a cast of thousands.
That’s a famous movie intro tag from when I was a kid. (Ben Hur, Moses and The Ten Commandments, etc.) In this case the “cast” is a bit different. No Charleston Heston. Yes, a pun.
The process here is casting pewter into a mold. Perhaps thousands could be made given enough time. What I find interesting is the use of a rubber mold. When I was much younger I remember toy soldiers cast in metal molds. (The metal ones are still available.)
The mold shown here looks like it was made with hot vulcanized rubber but hot metal casting process is also shown to work with RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanization) rubber. Of course metal and plaster molds can be used.
You will notice a few have short guns. The pour was a bit too cold and the flow didn’t get to the end of the rifle. Thin parts like that are tough to fill. I cast many more than shown here (just remelted them) before I got the process right.
All I did for the pictures was cut off the sprue while still hot and then file the flash from the bottom so each one would stand up. No clean up of the casting at this point.
My plan is not to make toy soldiers. This is just an inexpensive all-in-one kit I bought on sale to get the “hang” of casting pewter. I plan to make and cast my own mold designs and perhaps offer them for sale (the molds and what they make).
I choose pewter and this variety is lead free. There is so much concern about the “dangers” of lead, it is not a good idea to offer it to the public. Of course the other metals in pewter are not intended for… Continue reading