Your Christmas gift to yourself?

[Bo Liljeborn]

So what has everyone bought them self for Christmas I wonder!

For me I got a book https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Book-Scroll-Saw-Patterns/dp/1497103037

And 12 sheets of A+ grade ¼ inch plywood for coming scroll saw projects.

[OCtoolguy]

I have no space for anything new.

[Bill WIlson]

When my Excalibur broke down a few weeks ago and I was struggling to remedy the problem, I bought a new Dewalt 788 to use as a back-up.  I ended up getting the EX fixed a couple days before the Dewalt arrived.  It's sitting in the box, unopened, at the moment.  I'm going to keep it, but have to find a place to store it.

[Scrappile]

Good question.  Kinda sad.. I'm so old now I have everything I need.  I even have enough wood do keep me busy for sometime. Just for fun, I have been watching scroll saws for sale.  I would like to have a second saw again.  But do not really need it.

[OCtoolguy]

19 minutes ago, Scrappile said:

Good question.  Kinda sad.. I'm so old now I have everything I need.  I even have enough wood do keep me busy for sometime. Just for fun, I have been watching scroll saws for sale.  I would like to have a second saw again.  But do not really need it.

If you WANT one, then you NEED one.

[preprius]

I almost bought a Dewalt thickness planer.  But decided I don't need one at this time.  Maybe 6 months.

Then I was looking at different telescopes.   But 2 is enough.

So no new toys this year. 

 

[Scrappile]

1 hour ago, preprius said:

I almost bought a Dewalt thickness planer.  But decided I don't need one at this time.  Maybe 6 months.

Then I was looking at different telescopes.   But 2 is enough.

So no new toys this year. 

 

Interesting.. What do you have in telescopes?  I have always wanted one.  l live out in the country, so little light pollution and I often go out just to look at the stars.  I had the plans for making one many years ago.  Never got to it.   Now they hook up to computers to view would be so awesome.  

I also got a DeWalt Planer last year, I got the 734 and could not be happier. It replace a Delta I had for years and I thought the Delta did a great job, but really the  DeWalt does me an awesome job.

Edited December 15, 2023 by Scrappile

[preprius]

I am a visual only hobbiest. I dont consider myself a astronomer.  The have really intensive math.

The big diameter scope can see pretty faint galaxies.  

The little diameter scope can see Andromeda and some deep sky objects.  They look dimmer because the tube diameter does not get as much light.

I do not take photos.  Astrophotography has 2 art forms. Mostly computer processing of files.  I sit on computer enough so I want to relax and ponder the universe.

The little scope can get Jupitor and Saturn on good clear nights.  Mars can be pretty small.  

The big scope can get lots of cloud detail from Jupitor.  Saturn's ring has a gap called Cassinie's division. The big scope can see the gap. 

Since I live in a residential area I can NOT see large faint galaxy's like M33.   I have to go to a dark sky area for those type.  Crab nebula also known as M1 "messier 1" is really hard to view in the city.

Messier 13 is my favorite. The big scope does so well with it. M57 is also my favorite. 

Use Wikipedia to look those up. 

I don't get these color views. I barely get a tint of blue and slight red. Only on m57.  But here is the wiki pages links. My view of m13 shows similar to wiki page. slightly less detail. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_13

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_Nebula

 

 

The big scope does not have a wide view.  So the little scope can see large open star clusters. Double cluster is wide so small scope is the best tool.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Cluster

 

Andromeda's dust bands reach 3 times wider than the moon.  But I need to go to dark site to see that much width. 

I learned all this stuff in the last year after I got my little scope. 

Me.

Edited December 16, 2023 by preprius
updated wiki links, added note saying I don't see color like the wiki pages show.

[dgman]

Nothing this year but last Christmas I bought this.

[Wooden Lace]

This year I treated myself to a new Jet 18 inch saw.  I still have 2 DeWalts, one upstairs in a backroom off the bonus room, and another in a spare bedroom downstairs.  I've had the Jet 22 inch before, but another scroller offered to buy it and I let it go.  Really wish the new 18 inch was only 16 inch, like an Excalibur I had, but also sold.  Most of my work is either ornaments or wine glass caddies, with some plaques thrown in, so a smaller saw is nice to have.

I'm to the age now where I struggle with tightening the thumb screws, so the Jet is an obvious choice.  The bottom blade holder does take a bit to get used to, but once you learn it's great, and the blade NEVER slips out.

Nancy

[Scrappile]

38 minutes ago, dgman said:

Nothing this year but last Christmas I bought this.

WOW!  your Chistmas  budget is way ahead of mine.  but that is an awesome ride!  Okay just for the sake of argument , I'd rather have my old "66 Ford F100 back!  But that is another story..

Edited December 16, 2023 by Scrappile

[MarieC]

I am looking for a bigger scroll saw.  I am in contact with someone on Facebook for this Hawk G426 saw.  I might get that for myself for Christmas.  I believe it is a pretty good saw.... the woman says it was rarely used.  Any thoughts on the quality of this saw?

[dgman]

25 minutes ago, MarieC said:

I am looking for a bigger scroll saw.  I am in contact with someone on Facebook for this Hawk G426 saw.  I might get that for myself for Christmas.  I believe it is a pretty good saw.... the woman says it was rarely used.  Any thoughts on the quality of this saw?

Marie, I don’t have any idea about the quality of that saw but, I’m concerned about the two bags of sand under it. Sand bags are routinely used to dampen vibration. Although they are not sitting on the shelf of the stand, if they were, it’s because the saw has a lot of vibration. 

[MarieC]

35 minutes ago, dgman said:

Marie, I don’t have any idea about the quality of that saw but, I’m concerned about the two bags of sand under it. Sand bags are routinely used to dampen vibration. Although they are not sitting on the shelf of the stand, if they were, it’s because the saw has a lot of vibration. 

Yes, I saw that as well... My thinking is that you may be correct...why else would there be bags of cement under it....thank you for pointing that out.

[Dan]

My wife's phone died so I got her a new one. Then, our water heater went out, so that is what I bought for myself this Christmas. The install was easy and we now have hot water. 

Oh, and I replaces all my small power tools (drills, sanders, circular saw, and many others) with Dewalt cordless. 10 tools in all. I had too many chargers hanging up and was running out of outlets to plug them in. Wife sold the old tools and so far got several hundred back. I guess I'll keep her. 

[Bo Liljeborn]

8 hours ago, dgman said:

Nothing this year but last Christmas I bought this.

Nice ride like it

[barb.j.enders]

The flex shaft on my rotary tool gave out.  Couldn't seem to find a replacement in the city.  Purchased this instead.  https://www.vevor.ca/flex-shaft-c_11126/vevor-hanging-flexshaft-mill-jewelry-tools-foot-switch-6-5mm-780w-no-leakage110v-p_010553045782.  It should arrive Monday.

[TAIrving]

I like the book that Bo mentioned and am thinking about that.  

Being a tool junkie, I am always thinking about a new tool.  At the moment I am thinking about a King Arthur Guinivere sanding system but have not pulled the trigger.  The reviews seem to be of 2 types; one says they are really nice and do a good job of sanding details; the other says they are too expensive for what they do. Can anyone offer thoughts on this?

Aside from the shop a few recent acquisitions come to mind.  

We recently bought a new Honda CRV hybrid.  This is our first car purchase in over 10 years, it was overdue and it tapped the bank account enough that it will be our major new toy for this Christmas.

I bought and installed an electric fence to keep the deer from eating all of our landscaping plants.  They are cute but voracious foragers.  It is quite satisfying to see one approach a plant, get zapped and take off running at top speed!  It gives on reason to hope for the safety of our landscaping.  

And lastly, I am putting in low-voltage lighting along our front sidewalk and driveway.  It is quite dark at night without them and they look nice.  My sweet lady does like them but, in her nicest way mentions that they make the driveway look like a runway.  

[JessL]

I got my new Delta saw earlier this year and a new easy pull stihl chainsaw. I consider those my B-Day and Christmas presents for this year. With our budget lately, that'll probably be next years gifts too. haha    Luckily, I have all birch wood I need to make tons of projects and fire wood too.

[OCtoolguy]

15 hours ago, MarieC said:

I am looking for a bigger scroll saw.  I am in contact with someone on Facebook for this Hawk G426 saw.  I might get that for myself for Christmas.  I believe it is a pretty good saw.... the woman says it was rarely used.  Any thoughts on the quality of this saw?

Great saw. It really depends on what they are asking for it. There is one near me that has been on the market for many months because they want $900 for it. I would say no more than $500 and it had better be in VERY good condition and have all the stuff that came with it.

 

Edited December 16, 2023 by OCtoolguy

[OCtoolguy]

2 hours ago, barb.j.enders said:

The flex shaft on my rotary tool gave out.  Couldn't seem to find a replacement in the city.  Purchased this instead.  https://www.vevor.ca/flex-shaft-c_11126/vevor-hanging-flexshaft-mill-jewelry-tools-foot-switch-6-5mm-780w-no-leakage110v-p_010553045782.  It should arrive Monday.

I've got one like it and it works well.

[MarieC]

13 hours ago, dgman said:

Marie, I don’t have any idea about the quality of that saw but, I’m concerned about the two bags of sand under it. Sand bags are routinely used to dampen vibration. Although they are not sitting on the shelf of the stand, if they were, it’s because the saw has a lot of vibration. 

Dan, I contacted the woman who owns the saw and she said it does not vibrate and those are pellets that they store for their pellet stove, since they haven't been using the saw it has been kind of a storage area

[jerry1939]

Early September, I had 2 major heart attacks. 7 stents, 6 days in ICU and a $170.00 price tag, I rewarded myself with

this;  

Amazon.com: Ruko F11PRO Drones with Camera for Adults 4K UHD Camera 60 Mins Flight Time with GPS Auto Return Home Brushless Motor, Compliance with FAA Remote ID, Black (with Carrying Case) : Toys & Games

Pretty good learning curve, but a heck of a lot of fun. 

I had to R.click the link and "Open in new window".

[Bo Liljeborn]

Nice reward lokes like a lot of fun flying what

[Sycamore67]

Wow that drone is awesome.