Categories: all aviation Building a Biplane bicycle gadgets misc motorcycle theater
Sat, 03 Nov 2007
So, I just spent the last 4 hours building a workbench for the garage. I tossed the ex-Boeing computer table I'd been using before. It was too low, and not really the right shape. I knew what I wanted: a 2' by 8' table that was actually at my waist level, instead of some malnourished 19th century European craftsman's waist level.
Making it would be straightforward. I had a complete sheet of plywood left over from something, so I'd use that as the top. I could get a bunch of 2x4s to form the structure underneath, and voila! Workbench!
So, I checked in the shed. Yep, there was the plywood, but also... What's that up there? Oh, look, it's a 2x8! Oh, huh, and there are four more 2x8s! And, pull, it's 10 feet long?! So's that one! And look at that, some 8 foot 4x6s! Wow, I could build a bench out of all that!
So, I did.
The thing is, using 2x8s like I did is completely massive, dramatic overkill. That bench could probably support a car without creaking. It's way, way stronger than it needs to be. But I only had to buy one piece (a likely-redundant diagonal brace to keep the legs from wobbling side-to-side), and it cost $2.50. I even had all the screws I needed. The amazing, $2.50 workbench! The 3/4" plywood (which is very, very strong) is probably the weakest part of it. It kind of makes me giggle a mad, power-hungry giggle.
I really hope, if we have an earthquake while I'm still living here, that it happens when I'm in the garage. Ain't nothin' touching me under that bench.
Posted at 21:55 permanent link category: /misc
It's been a busy, busy few days.
First things first. I'm participating in National Novel Writing Month again. That's a link to the page of a small group of friends, but what's cool is that you can check it each day, and see how I'm doing. The goal is just this: wordcount. Nothing more or less. The target is to write at least 1667 words per day.
Last year, I ended up writing 50,000 words (the goal for the month) in just 12 days. I was finished writing on the story in 13. This is... unusually fast, let's say. I don't expect I'll finish that fast this time, but so far I've turned in over 3300 words per day, which will have me finishing in 15 days if I keep up that rate. We'll see.
The story this time is sort of modern fantasy-ish, kind of. It's called Hybrids, and involves a DNA scientist and a Wiccan. How's that for a description you can't really do anything with? I'll put up a link to the text later, so you can read along each day, and see how terrible my writing is when I write too fast.
The next thing I'm doing is working on that motorcycle. I've made good progress: the front wheel is in to Metal Frictions to have the brake shoes replaced, and the drum turned. I have a new rim in the garage, and new spokes on the way, to rebuild the front wheel once the brake work is done. I have a flood of parts arriving from Ebay over the next week. I spent a little bit of time, and was able to straighten up the spare rear wheel, which is now mounted to the bike.
What I'm doing with the bike that makes things so interesting is that I'm filming it as I go. I decided this would make great material for a series of YouTube shorts, so I'm shooting myself as I work, and narrate what I'm doing. It's fun so far, and I've got a bit over an hour of footage, which will reduce to the first installment, of perhaps 3-5 minutes. I expect, by the time I'm done, I'll have at least 5 installments, probably more. It depends a lot on how much work I have to do, and how much patience I have for filming it as I go. It'll also depend on my patience with editing down the footage to a standard of quality I'm willing to put out. On the plus side, I'm finally using the shotgun microphone I picked up last year. It makes the longer shots in the garage sound a lot less hollow.
The third busy-maker is that I'm still working on unpacking boxes. I've set myself a goal of unpacking at least a box a day. So far, I'm one for two, so not doing too well. Today should be a good day, though, as I don't have anything definite planned. I should be able to get in a lot of writing, some motorcycle work, and a few boxes, at least. And of course at some point I'll fall over, exhausted.
It's true what the say -- if you want something done, give it to a busy person.
Posted at 08:10 permanent link category: /misc
Categories: all aviation Building a Biplane bicycle gadgets misc motorcycle theater