What did you do Today 2018

[Anonymous]

Posted by ChrisH on 31/03/2018 23:48:15:

What this illustrates is that the young may think they know it all, but they dismiss age and experience at their peril

…..

PS How do you get rid of these blooming smilie things when you just want brackets? Other than by changing brackets for dashes?

Ask a young person, they'll know.

Andrew

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

ʎboןouɥɔǝʇ puɐʇsɹǝpun ʇ,uop ı

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

I'll ask my seven year old granddaughter… she's a whizz at this sort of thing,

George

[Martin DowingParticipant @martindowing58466]

Posted by David Taylor on 01/04/2018 00:32:31:

The IT business is big on getting rid of over 40s these days. Most of my North American teammates have been pushed and I expect it will happen to me soon enough. I guess I was still cheaper than them, being Australian. But I'm still a bit more expensive than a recent uni graduate so my time will come, especially since I don't have a local team. The Australian company is basically sales and marketing – so inspiring!

The problem is I never wanted to leave programming. I tried 'management' for a while because that's what we're meant to do as we get older but spreadsheets and meetings and contracts aren't my thing. It was horrible.

I know a gimnastician, now in her 30-ties.

At the age of 21 she was considered a granny with no prospect to win anything and she was made retired.

From then onwards she never had a stable job. She hates rehabilitation and she hates to become PE teacher.

Martin

[Philip RoweParticipant @philiprowe13116]

Today I finished a lantern chuck that I have been making, unashamedly pinched the idea from another post on here about shortening screws, thanks to all of you for the ideas. I think that I may have slightly over engineered it but I feel justified in that it can be used for quite a range of screw sizes.

The photo shows it set up with a 2mm screw fitted ready for shortening along with some collars for other sized screws and a few blanks for screws of unknown size that will inevitably require working on. Although not seen in the photo the knurled ring is double sided, so with another clamp ring (which I haven't yet made) it will be capable of dealing with larger screws up to 8mm.

Phil

[Martin DowingParticipant @martindowing58466]

Posted by Philip Rowe on 01/04/2018 16:45:19:

Today I finished a lantern chuck that I have been making, unashamedly pinched the idea from another post on here about shortening screws, thanks to all of you for the ideas. I think that I may have slightly over engineered it but I feel justified in that it can be used for quite a range of screw sizes.

Phil

I have never regretted overengineering something but on few occasions I did regret *underengineering*.

I love to make things to last and to have them trouble free. As a hobbyst I care little about money while making a project. If I have found that money might be an issue it will be concluded that a project is not affordable and something else will be chosen.

It is rather rare that I sell something so I am not really concerned about cost of materials etc. However if I *do* sell something, I will often get few years later enquiries from my customer how the item is made because after years of use and abuse it seems indestructible in its duty or could I make more for profit.

I will kindly explain that repetitive work is not my cup of tea and refuse. Profits in engineering and other industries are to be made in China and Europe with its red tape, taxes, welfare etc is best to be left a a hobbyland.

Lets enjoy while party last and once we are dead deluge and egyptian plagues may come. Stupidity here gone too far to have any hope for a timely change.

Martin

[Micky TParticipant @mickyt]

Finally placed the new Squirrel proof bird feeder in the garden

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Don't doubt a determined squirrel! what about access up the wooden support on the right hand side of your assembly, won't the squirrel just shimmy up that & through the nice brass tubing & voila! dinner same goes for the squirrels' jumping ability, shimmy along the fence, up the wooden support or jump from the fence top, same result, dinner ! lovely design though.

George.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Looking at the size of those peanuts I think the metal rings are too small to admit an adult squirrel. Looking forward to seeing some birds in it.

It's been an interesting year in our suburban garden so far – apart from the redwings and fieldfare with the snow we have regular bramblings and siskins and, a garden first in 20 years, repolls last weekend and jackdaws today which, although common round here, have never ventured onto the feeders before.

Cheers,

Rod

[Micky TParticipant @mickyt]

It’s not my original idea . But the copper rings are 38mm in diameter and should only allow access to small sead eating birds like blue tits sparrows and robins. As soon as I get birds eating in there I’ll post a photo.

[Martin DowingParticipant @martindowing58466]

It may look a bit too high tech for birds.

They may well hesitate sensing something unusual and suspicious.

Martin

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Posted by ChrisH on 31/03/2018 23:48:15:

I'm not using that 16th century technology he said, before spending nearly 3 hours trying to work out a 'quick and easy' 20th century way of doing it

I guess we have all been there at some time or other. Trouble is your head tells you that 'progress moves forwards with time' so logically old methods must be less good. Sometimes the mantra trips you up.

It's the same with employment. The next promotion must be an advance because it's a promotion and you fail to consider if you might just be happier staying where you were and avoiding the extra work/worry/extra hours etc.

regards Martin

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Regarding retirement/employment I just realised I am working for a new employer, having worn the other one out. The MRC is no more long live the UKRI. Quiite pleased that I took my pension and went part time before the event though. Nice to get those things bolted down tight before the new lot try and change stuff.

regards Martin

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

How many birds need to gain access at any one time? Looks like a lot of unnecessary effort/cost, when few holes and perhaps a perch would have been more than adequate.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Delighted to see that John Harrison is celebrated in today's Google Doodle

MichaelG.

[JohnFParticipant @johnf59703]

Yes Michael a remarkable man and most people know nothing of him. Some years ago there was a drama on the TV showing his life and work. His clocks are in Greenwich and we’re almost “lost” but fortunately rescued for posterity.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

He was brought back into prominence by Dava Sobel's "Longitude" – well worth a read.

Rod

[Phil StevensonParticipant @philstevenson54758]

And of course Delboy and Rodney found the long lost Harrison Lesser Watch which eventually made them millionaires.

[Jon GibbsParticipant @jongibbs59756]

Posted by not done it yet on 03/04/2018 09:17:11:

How many birds need to gain access at any one time? Looks like a lot of unnecessary effort/cost, when few holes and perhaps a perch would have been more than adequate.

-1

I like the look of it.

We seem to get quite a few birds (often woodies) fly into our windows and knock themselves out. So, if I have a criticism, it might be that the glass could confuse the birds – but perhaps up-close they can see it better from the reflection?

Jon

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Jon Gibbs on 03/04/2018 11:25:57:

Posted by not done it yet on 03/04/2018 09:17:11:

How many birds need to gain access at any one time? Looks like a lot of unnecessary effort/cost, when few holes and perhaps a perch would have been more than adequate.

-1

I like the look of it.

We seem to get quite a few birds (often woodies) fly into our windows and knock themselves out. So, if I have a criticism, it might be that the glass could confuse the birds – but perhaps up-close they can see it better from the reflection?

Jon

I would agree, looks good but it may be worth adding a sticker or similar to the glass.

I'd be most worried about a sparrowhawk or similar hitting it – small birds are likely to be going slow and about to land.

You could fit a webcam inside.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 03/04/2018 09:34:16:

Delighted to see that John Harrison is celebrated in today's Google Doodle

MichaelG.

Clearly following our twitter feed

Neil

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 03/04/2018 13:01:55:

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 03/04/2018 09:34:16:

Delighted to see that John Harrison is celebrated in today's Google Doodle

MichaelG.

Clearly following our twitter feed

Neil

That was a cheep joke

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

Finished making a backplate for an EBay Chinee 8" four jaw chuck. I got it after getting annoyed with the limited capacity of the Genuine Hardinge chucks on my lathe (they're also 65 jears old and haven't been loved very much).

Here's the new chuck and the old chuck for comparison:-

[Raymond Sanderson 2Participant @raymondsanderson2]

Lost of woodwork, sanding much waiting for humidity to die down. Think I'll try some metalwork this year.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 03/04/2018 13:01:55:

Clearly following our twitter feed

.

Nice try, Neil … but a totally erroneous deduction.

MichaelG.

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