So much to tell. I'm a motor mouth in real life, why not here too:
1) Metalworking. I recently replaced my faithful Emco Compact 5 lathe and mill combo with its much larger brother, the Emco Maximat Super 11. It's a legacy machine tool having been out of production since the about 2000. It's a high quality lathe and mill combo with the home machinist/ hobbyist/ inventor, or light manufacturing use in mind. Sort of the dream system for someone who wants to do light metal working with a limited budget and space. I finished modifying a carbide tipped MT5 dead center modified for the Super 11 lathe. Tough job cutting hardened tool steel. Not something I'm setting out to do often, but unfortunately have a couple of similar projects in the queue.
I'm also making inserts to stiffen my telescope tripod's legs. Started with 60mm diameter hardened 6063 aluminum tubing. Turning 6" long pieces of the material down to a 57.5mm diameter with a couple of 12 mm long steps at 52.5mm and 54.5mm to assist in fitting the finished insert into my telescope tripod's stainless steel legs. The final fit will require driving the insert into the leg with a mallet and wood block, held permanently in place with some epoxy. Why you ask? Because the tripod legs' stainless steel tubing is so thin, the tubes deform with you tighten them enough to not slip under the load of the telescope mount, telescope optical tube, and other accessories. Total load for the tripod is well over 150 lbs, so a tight lock for the adjustable legs is imperative. The increased thickness of the legs will permit sufficiently tight set screws to prevent slipping under the weight of the telescope kit. Here I am again, redesigning someone else's mistakes.
2) Woodworking: Finished a nice 3/4 scale potting bench for my wife. Made is from 3/4" cedar fence boards and finished with multiple coats of outdoor furniture oil. We'll use it for a serving buffet on our patio. It does look rather nice if I do say so myself.
3) Astronomy: Due to family commitments this summer I've only been out observing and astro-imaging once this summer. Had great weather and viewing in spite of the smoke from Oregon and Washington State forest fires. We observed from my friend's site, Skyview Acres, about 10 miles NE of Goldendale, WA. It's one of my favorite observing sites with eletricity available and near enough to Goldendale for supplies and the occasional restaurant meal, yet located in a "BLACK" zone on the light-polution map. VERY nice. Thanks to Phil Ried for his hospitality.
That's all for now. Steve J.
