Good to be amongst you

[Deanism]

In a world where hardware shops are disappearing daily and being replaced with mobile phone shops and cafes, its great to have a forum for people who actually still make useful things.

I am an instrument maker by trade - which means I am competent with metal, but wood is still a bit of a challenge. Some of those classic woodwork joints are an exercise in animated 3D thinking .

I have been drawn into woodwork initially by having to repair simple things around the house and finding that I quite liked working in wood for a change. My joint making skills are still pretty hilarious - why, just the other day the local rubbish tip sent back the mortise and tennon joint I chucked out!

I promise to get better.

[poulso]

Hi Deanism
Welcome to the forum

[glenn k]

Welcome and what sort of instruments do you make?

[artme]

G'day Deanism and welcome to the world of the sane!! Good to have you here.

[Old farmer]

Welcome, mate. Like your sense of humour!

[Ed Reiss]

Welcome to the club, Deanism

...there should be plenty here that can help with the joint situation!!!

[bullfright]

Hi Deanism, I couldn't agree more about disapearing hardware stores. I can't pass one and my wife, store customers and store owners can't understand how I can spend so much time walking the aisles. I still come across the odd good one on my travels and
Can't teach you a damn thing about wood but we can learn together..................

[Deanism]

Welcome and what sort of instruments do you make?

"Scientific" it said on my trade papers. In fact it described me as "Scientific Instrument Maker and or Repairer." The joke was that if said fast enough the last few words sounded like "...and door repairer".

The trade no longer exists. I remember getting a letter from the Government telling me in big red letters with lots of exclamation marks that I no longer existed. No wonder women ignore me.

These days I work with a medical group in visual research making one-off special equipment for our experiments. Its very interesting work, but eye surgeons can drive you mad when they carelessly break something that took 3 weeks to build.

[munruben]

Welcome Deanism to the land of knowledge.

[glenn k]

"Scientific" it said on my trade papers. In fact it described me as "Scientific Instrument Maker and or Repairer." The joke was that if said fast enough the last few words sounded like "...and door repairer".

The trade no longer exists. I remember getting a letter from the Government telling me in big red letters with lots of exclamation marks that I no longer existed. No wonder women ignore me.

These days I work with a medical group in visual research making one-off special equipment for our experiments. Its very interesting work, but eye surgeons can drive you mad when they carelessly break something that took 3 weeks to build.

NMR's, AAS, Mass spec this sort of instrument? What your doing now does sound interesting

[4Him24_7]

G'Day all. I'm new to posting on blogs and woodworking. Am a teacher by 'trade' and have been woodworking for about two years now.

Am currently seeking advice on how to make a sandpit shaped like a dinghy for my son. Any advice would be welcome.

Cheers.

[Deanism]

NMR's, AAS, Mass spec this sort of instrument? What your doing now does sound interesting

Nothing as flash as that. We do have a range quite specialized lasers and optical analyzers for use in florescence work, but that is made by 'proper' manufacturers.

To briefly describe it a typical task - I frequently have to make small motorized mechanisms that might move glass pipettes down to the micron level on an X-Y-Z stage on a microscope. I have to make the glass pipettes and also mount ready-made things like valves, pumps etc around our equipment. I also program processors (using fairly simple software actually!) to automate some of the motorized parts.

The hardest part of my job is the tiny, cramped spaces where everything has to fit.

[ficfac]

Welcome aboard Deanism and 4Him24_7! You've come to the right place. All here love working with wood in various ways. Some are further along their journey than others and some have different skill sets. Everyone loves to learn and share and it's a wonderful community to be part of.