Model Engineering Survey – What Do YOU make?

[Michael Gilligan]

On Michael Gilligan Said:

On SillyOldDuffer Said:

[…]

A number of regular posters have remained silent: I shall probably have to categorise them as ‘Armchair’.

[…]

With a twinge of regret, I accept that categorisation.

MichaelG.

I’ve not posted here but I don’t accept that categorisation, because I’ve worked 18 hour days 361 days of the year for the last two years, hence why I am posting this at 4.10 a.m. I cannot get into the workshop for more than about half an hour a day.

 

What projects could <i>you</i> complete in that time? Ideas would be welcome.

[DiogenesParticipant @diogenes]

My sympathy for your predicament, Bill; often I only manage to carry out some simple step in a session – set a workpiece up, or drill a couple of holes, or turn a piece having chucked it up the evening before – it’s not great for keeping  momentum on a project, but it does get the work done eventually, and there’s plenty of time to reflect on ‘method and sequence’ in it’s production.

My workshop is in a yard way from the house, so occasionally I might bring parts ‘home’ for finishing, nothing elaborate (without a vice), a wallet of swiss files, a couple of pin-vices and some W&D paper in a shallow box that I can pick-up & put down..

To my surprise I quite enjoyed ‘fitting’ the small metal & wooden parts of a ships gun – made a change to do something sitting at a table indoors – but wood and small bits of brass are rather more amenable than steel in this regard..

Edit; ‘Ancient-world’ siege artillery and some of Leonardo’s ‘ideas’ are probably work that could mainly ‘be done in a tray’..

[Diogenes]

On Diogenes Said:

My sympathy for your predicament, Bill; often I only manage to carry out some simple step in a session – set a workpiece up, or drill a couple of holes, or turn a piece having chucked it up the evening before – it’s not great for keeping  momentum on a project, but it does get the work done eventually, and there’s plenty of time to reflect on ‘method and sequence’ in it’s production.

You’re absolutely right there, Diogenes; I do think most jobs through thoroughly, not necessarily before the start but certainly before I get too far into them. It doesn’t always avoid mistakes but probably cuts down on them.

 

You’re right about the loss of momentum too. A knurling tool I’m “making” is still just a bag of partly finished bits that keeps getting picked up and moved around in the workshop without any real progress having been made for nearly a year.

 

One thing I can count on: as soon as I’ve got stuck into a task and feel I’m starting to enjoy it, this will be the moment I have to down tools again.

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

If it’s not too late here are my answers,

1   Stationary Steam, 5” locomotives, tooling CNC and CAD/CAM

2   Quorn T/C grinder 5” Sweet Pea loco

3   5” Gemma 040 Loco

4   Couple of stationary engines

5   Finish outstanding projects

6   10+ hours per week

7    10+ hours mainly Cad cam

 

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Though often used pejoratively, there’s nothing wrong with Armchair Engineering.  Covers a long list of vital activities such as innovation, research, learning, planning, ways and means, problem solving, consultation, calculation, budget management, ordering, organisation, documentation, communication, risk assessment, and reviews to name but a few.

Though some dislike the idea, engineering involves a lot of thinking!  Unless of course someone else provides the words and music, in which case one risks being labelled as an artisan, not an engineer!

And the armchair may be the only tool available to those who are ill, short of time, or don’t have a workshop.  They are not second-class citizens.

Rest and recuperation are important too.

Dave

[Author]

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