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Showing posts from March 20, 2016

LavaCon 2026 and the future.

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LavaCon is a conference now going on 25 years. Its always fun at conferences where folks collaborate on what the future holds. This year I drove to Charlotte NC from Duluth GA to attend. I used the Tesla in Full Self Drive. I went park-to-park without touching the wheel for over 200 miles. It's crazy. I don't think most people understand how well it works. Lots of nay-sayers still, but it really does work. Be on guard, but enjoy. I spent some of my time "driving" while conversing with Grok as part of my daydreaming. I was discussing with Grok an idea I have of building a West system (cold molded) old style barrel-back runabout maybe 20 feet long- all varnished Mahogony. Of course this boat would have an exotic 12-cylinder engine under a transparent engine hatch between the twin cockpits. We discussed the designs, available actual study plans and pre-lofted design documents for the hull. We also discussed the best engine (perhaps a BMW N73) coupled with a Velvet Dri...
"Nature abhors a vacuum, but not as much as a normal domesticated cat does." --Charles Dowdell See Horror vacui (physics)
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I have been building my tool collection lately. I have had this cool 4 inch (cute) Delta Rockwell 37-290 jointer around for awhile. I bought it at auction a number of years ago. Interestingly, there is a lot of information/following on the web. Mine is now ready for production in my shop. I decided to leave the paint on the tool-head as-is. Rewired, sharpened and trued up, it is a welcome addition to my shop to add precision. I was going to add a 1.5 HP motor and/or change the pulleys. Not necessary. The only technology add is with the wiring and the power-twist v-belt to reduce vibration.