Anybody out There?

I think it's just slow. It seems to be everywhere for one reason or another.

On the woodworking ng, real posts have slowed due to the avalanche of spam. It has lasted longer and in higher volume than I have ever seen, and it shows no sign of letting up.

On the bbq ng, there are a couple of real bullies there, and if you don't agree with them and the way they cook meat, they really come down on you hard. In fact, there is a guy that will literally offer to fight you if you challenge him on his technique. He'll even meet you. After one of those nasty little snits come up (after all, it's just barbecue) and the offer for a fist fight is thrown down, it is really quiet there for a while.

It seem like more and more on the moderated forums that they are turning into private clubs. There isn't anything wrong with that if that's where the owners want that to go. But they have a real pecking order and hierarchy, and even have certain guys that are expected to respond to certain aspects of different issues as the resident experts. Others don't bother to voice their opinions much anymore.

And since none of the above roll out the red carpet to anyone new to the venue on a consistent basis, no new blood sticks around. According to Google, this is a medium activity newsgroup with 823 subscribers. How many unsubscribed readers must there be?

I'll bet there are about 10 people here that do 90% of the posting. If they are all busy it is slow indeed.

Robert

Thanks. I was beginning to think that Telus cut out all newsgroup service.

In message , " snipped-for-privacy@aol.com" writes

Hi Robert

The problem you have is that Google in this case do not have a clue. This is not a Google group it is USENET, so they would have no idea at all as to how many people read the news here. All they can do is count the number of people who access the group through their system.

As to why its quite - they're all off creating their next masterpiece :) I would do the same ,, but when its warmer :)

There have been a few posts but not the usual amount... If you haven't seen ANY, you have an issue with Telus, I guess..

mac

Please remove [dot]splinters before emailing

Here in Baja I'm spending all the time I can in the shop while the temperature is moderate, in the mid-80's... another month and every day is an A/C day...

mac

Please remove [dot]splinters before emailing

Thanks Mac. I guess that this slow period just coincided with Telus's dropping their Binaries service. Guess i"m going to find a new provider if I want pictures. ;(

Thanks Mac. I guess that this slow period just coincided with Telus's dropping their Binaries service. Guess i"m going to find a new provider if I want pictures. :(

Hello, John. You posted:

I posted: " According to Google, this is a medium activity newsgroup with 823 subscribers. How many unsubscribed readers must there be?"

I didn't say it was a Google group. Google actually purchased the newgroup archives and history for this and many hundreds more from Deja.com in 2001. This group was actually one of the pioneer craft groups, along with the woodworking group. Both started around '97 or so, shortly after Deja.news became a portal to usenet service.

However, that being said, I use Google as a for this group since my ISP has continual problems (ATT/DSL) with its news group access. Google as a reader isn't great, but it is better than some services I have tried. If you take a few minutes to look it over, the Google reader isn't bad for the price. And it makes searching the archives of the groups I participate in ridiculously simple.

I wish I was. I am home for lunch, then back to the salt mill. BUT, this weekend I will be trying out some new goodies I purchased from PSI like a "pretend" Steb center, and some other stuff. I am pretty excited about it.

I also bought some new stuff for my Jet mini (do they ever become obsolete?) that could really improve its performance. I am looking forward to posting good results from all my purchases - maybe crossing my fingers a bit, too.

So.... post more John! How long have you been turning? What kind of things do you like to turn?

Robert

I've been real happy with APN... Great service for $3 a month..

mac

Please remove [dot]splinters before emailing

In message , " snipped-for-privacy@aol.com" writes

Me , I've only been turning on and off since September, But much of that time has been spent collecting tools for the workshop, and we all need tools. Second issue is Space unlike many of these workshops I see members from the States using, mine is probably smaller than most of your wood piles :) At a whopping 12ft x15ft exterior. Which also stores

2 motorcycles and 2 Freezers and all the rest of my tools, and quite a bit of wood I have been accumulating. Luckily I have 2 cellars in the house, which would be better described as tall crawl spaces. Which have now been filled with wood I have processed for my 20 year plan ;)

But back to what I like to turning. I really haven't had much time, let alone space, and apart from that its rather cold in the unheated workshop. Currently sitting at 50F outside which is good. Last week there was snow :)

I have played with Bowls, Winged bowls and a little shallow hollowing, miniature goblets etc. At present all my intent is to get a feel for the tools, and experimenting with what finishes I prefer. As nothing is intended to be sold its only me that I have to please :) Besides my excuse is actually I had to wait 4 months to get my new Trend Airshield (picked it up earlier in the week)

I remember the other week "is wood turning addictive" I categorically say no :) Just because I now have virtually all the woodworking tools I wanted, and a small metalworking lathe to go with it. Again I say No, not addictive :)

The problem I have today is I am off to collect a second lathe, though as its 3phase I need to sort out a phase converter ideally with speed control. And then Saturday more tree trunks arriving which will need processing.

After typing this I wonder if I will ever get time to turn the wood :)

Definitly not! I don't see you doing anything at all that might be considered addicting. And everyone needs multiple lathes because if one goes down, you should have a backup. And there is no problem with huge stock piles of wood either, if you never get to turn it, you can always use it to keep the house warm. Addicting? Absolutely not, I call it practical, smart, planning ahead, building for the future.

Good luck with you new found addiction, err I mean hobby.

JD

In message , JD writes

Now if you know where I can buy a 4 Dimensional workshop, I could put one to great use :)

That's the problem (if you can call it that) that I'm running into. Since getting the lathe in December, I've been keeping my eye out for wood sources. So far, I've had a good spring.

The problem is that I'm an out of shape, middle-aged desk jockey, and lately I've been stopping here and there on the way home from the day job to load up some more of the spring "clear the overgrown areas" wood. The recent batch being about a mile down a bike trail, by wheel barrow. Then I go home and unload the wood, perhaps restack parts that I wasn't so careful about, and seal the endgrain if I'm not exhausted yet.

After that, I just want to crash on the couch.

I haven't had the time to practice sharpening the chisels, much less time to turn any wood. Maybe this weekend.

SNIP

Sounds like you are right in the thick of turning! You might be surprised about selling a few things now and then. You might hint around at holidays or birthdays that you could sell something or make something as a "one of a kind, unique" gift for someone. I am certainly not a professional turner, but I sell a fair amount of stuff every year. After doing it for several years now, I am probably at the break even point on chucks, gouges, different spur points, faceplates, and all the other stuff I "need" along the way.

I copied this from another thread on the woodworking ng, and it might be helpful to you in purchasing the new 3 phase machine.

****************************

motor. You can buy one VFD and use it to power several 3 phase machines, one at a time. Great deal for a one man shop. With 3 phase available you open up a new world of machines you can buy often buy cheap, and sometimes are not offered in single phase. No affiliation but try here.

After typing this I wonder if I will ever get time to turn the wood You have to "make" time. Collecting stuff including wood and new tools is very time consuming! Stay with us John, and let us know how things are progressing across the pond.

Robert

In message , " snipped-for-privacy@aol.com" writes

I just collected it , cost a small fortune at $10 :)

I have my days planned as soon as there is room to work and its a lot warmer :) 9am turning till 12 BBQ then relax till the next day :)

I am sure I will be around for a while , unless I buy too many tools :)