[TheForge] Another Long rambley YAK

Thu Nov 20 06:19:00 2003

Hmmmm. I don't know if Role Model is exactly how I'd put it. <grin>

It's a matter of perspective, I'm fully aware I don't have a market on
ideas, techniques, nor much of anything so I try to cultivate as many
different perspectives as I can. Playing cards arranged in neat rows can
look like an inpenetrable brick wall from the wrong perspective.

I too tend to "overthink" projects. However I've, on average, been very well
served by putting as much work as possible into the front end of a project.
Usually once I start cutting material I don't hit the 90/90 rule. (The first
half of a project takes 90% of the time and money and the last half takes
the other 90% of the time and money)

Probably my biggest weakness (Go ahead &E take a shot <grin>) is math, it
has to be pretty rudimentary or I'm screwed. I know there have been several
times I haven't been able to describe something on the list, let alone
defend it because of my lack of math. Things I know from hands on experience
to be true are none the less indefensible if I can't adequately describe
them. Oh well.

My compensation on the other hand is visualization; I see mechanisms,
structures, stress, etc. in my minds eye. For example, the first drawings of
the Grasshopper mechanism you posted were all I needed to build one. To
design one however I needed to model it, in part on paper and in part with
sticks. The "weightless" return is very easy for me to "see" as well.

Another example is the scotch yoke I reinvented. Far from being ashamed I'm
pretty proud of coming up with the idea. What has me slapping my head though
is how much time I spent reinventing the thing instead of just reading about
it and adapting it to what I need. <sigh>

Another prime example of not being able to do the math not slowing me down
much is mitering pipe. I have wrap arounds and sometimes even look at the
marks for mitering. However I don't use them, I first (straight) cut the
pipe at the angle I want, then lay it against the other pipe and mark the
trim cut with dividers. It takes some practice and wastes a little bit of
pipe (the radius of the pipe being trimmed) but it's fast and accurate.

Anyway, you and I do things very differently; we have different training,
professions, philosophies, etc. and hence perspectives. Different
perspectives are important to me, I'd rather attempt a difficult project
with someone who disagrees than one who agrees with me. There're more
options available, more to learn.

Here's a good example of our different perspectives. To my eye your design
of the Grasshopper is more complicated than necessary. The reason in large
part is your "no weld" philosophy. It's my experience more people own a
welder than a drill press. More importantly, more people can weld than
layout and drill holes accurately .

I wouldn't attempt a Grasshopper linkage without a drill press due to it's
low tolerance nature. However building the entire hammer to close tolerance
as a bolt together unit is too daunting for most folk, I certainly wouldn't
given an alternative

I don't make any claim for superiority of method except for ease of
construction (in this case). I sincerely believe there'd be grasshopper
hammers all over the place if you offered plans for a welded design.

Frosty
------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Freeman" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 7:45 AM
Subject: [TheForge] Another Long rambley YAK

> Wow!  Now I'm a role model!  It's scarey!
>

>
> The other thing I do is to study things mathematically.  I think too
> many people shy away from doing calculations because they're "too hard."
>  Yes, they're hard, but your brain can work through them.  Modern
> software helps a lot too, mainly by allowing you to test multiple cases,
> one after another.  Even if not programmed in any sophistocated way,
> this sort of calculation is powerful in its ultimate effect.
>

>
> Actually, reinventing the Scotch Yoke is nothing to be ashamed of.
> Mortified by, perhaps, but not ashamed of!
>

>
> When I finally come up with a final design and prototype for the new TH
> design, I expect there will be more people interested - people like me
> who will never need or want a power hammer, but who really could use a
> striker every once in a while.  I'm aiming for many the same features of
> the GH, but lightweight and cheap to construct WITHOUT welding.
>
> Bruce
> NJ
>