Every one new to the challenge. The Challenge goes out on Jan 1st, 2015. Stay tuned.
I think Dave has given us adequate hints that a pin nailer will be a bigger help than usual this year. A couple years back he persuaded me to get one and I’m glad he did.
My most useful tool, however, is my metal scriber. It’s a good one, not cheap. Not very exciting, I know, but it’s the one tool I’ve probably used on every project since I was a teenager. I’ve misplaced it once or twice and until it turns up again I’m really out of sorts. I don’t get by at all well without it…
Still watching, intrigued to see what the challenge will be. I’ve been renewing acquaintance with my 50 years of junk collecting, sorting through stuff. (Oh, my poor wife…)
John,
Funny you mention the metal scriber. I was just thinking last night that I need to make a scribe for styrene cutting. Sense all you have to do is scribe it then break it I was thinking a simple scribe that held my Xacto knife in place then a sliding block on a rule that could run along the edge of the sheet. It would keep things much more square than how I have been doing it. I make marks and use a metal ruler to guide the blade. But I think a scribe would be better. Especially on thick stuff that takes a few passes.
An old blade could be used to scribe brass or other soft metals as well.
When I bought mine last summer, GREX I bought 10,000 3/8", and have used almost half of them , and several of the other sizes. Your right I will never give it up.
In making those Cliffhanging buildings in a different forum, I could not have done it without it.
A hint, is I bought a 11 gallon air tank at auto parts store, air it up to 110 pounds and you can nail hundreds of nails when you don’t have a portable air compressor. So even if you have no compressor and a close friend does or go to conv, store or tire shop could provide you alot of nailing. So even if you have no compressor get a pinner, you will wonder how you got by without it. Use titebond 3 glue and a few pins and you will build things that will last years outside.
I was amazed at how you can even toenail post to flooring.
Dennis
Well Dennis,
If your work is any indication of what can be done with a pinner, then I have to have one. I have the compressor so that is no issue.
Devon Sinsley said:
John,
Funny you mention the metal scriber. I was just thinking last night that I need to make a scribe for styrene cutting. Sense all you have to do is scribe it then break it I was thinking a simple scribe that held my Xacto knife in place then a sliding block on a rule that could run along the edge of the sheet. It would keep things much more square than how I have been doing it. I make marks and use a metal ruler to guide the blade. But I think a scribe would be better. Especially on thick stuff that takes a few passes.
An old blade could be used to scribe brass or other soft metals as well.
A good scribe can be obtained free at your next dentist appointment… I asked if they had any old worn tools and got a bunch. One of them I sharpened to a point to use as a center punch for drilling small holes, the other ones I sharpened and used for scribing plastic, and other uses. Seems like I grab the scribe more often than the #11 blade now…
Craig Townsend said:
Devon Sinsley said:
John,
Funny you mention the metal scriber. I was just thinking last night that I need to make a scribe for styrene cutting. Sense all you have to do is scribe it then break it I was thinking a simple scribe that held my Xacto knife in place then a sliding block on a rule that could run along the edge of the sheet. It would keep things much more square than how I have been doing it. I make marks and use a metal ruler to guide the blade. But I think a scribe would be better. Especially on thick stuff that takes a few passes.
An old blade could be used to scribe brass or other soft metals as well.
A good scribe can be obtained free at your next dentist appointment… I asked if they had any old worn tools and got a bunch. One of them I sharpened to a point to use as a center punch for drilling small holes, the other ones I sharpened and used for scribing plastic, and other uses. Seems like I grab the scribe more often than the #11 blade now…
Thatss a good idea. I have a nice assortment of dental picks already. Never thought of scribing with them though. I bet I could fashion one into a scribe. I like having t fixed to a sliding block with a rule that can run along an edge. But I can do that with a dental pick and make it permanent. Thanks for the suggestion.
The one I use has a curved point and actually shaves the styrene instead of just grooving it like #11 blade. I think Mirco-Mark sells something similar. The key is to actually remove the styrene instead of just forcing it to the side.
15 day count down to “Miks Build challenge 2015”. I hope that you all have been putting on the ol’ thinking cap and going out side of your comfort box some.
I’m putting on the final touches to the requirements. And the homework is all but done.
I think that almost everyone will have fun this year, and some will grooooan and still take up the challenge.
With the lack of good material showing up on the board of late, and some people showing signs of early cabin fever, I don’t think that this challenge can come soon enough.
I know that there are several folks in the process of stuffing there “I already have it, so it doesn’t count against me” box.
If you thought that the 90 lin. feet requirement for “Grand Central Station” last year was a challenge, Boy will you love this years…
Knowing what the challenge is, has me leaning towards the leader board with Todd, Vic, and last years winner Boomer, fighting it out with Doc Tom, to win this thing. And I wouldn’t count out up-N-Coming dark horse, the new kid on the block Devon. Thou some of the ol’ timers could very well pull the rabbit out of the hat. Don’t count out the likes of Ray or Craig or others. Oh ya, don’t count out previous winner John L. WoW it could really be a fight this year.
Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.
Wow, I made the list even though I didn’t finish the build challenge last year… 
Even though my waffle house didn’t garner any votes last year. I am very curious as to this years challenge
Um, i’ll throw a kink into the competition, if i have a roll of filament at my house before the contest starts would it count towards my build funds?
LOL
Do you think it should? Would MIK have?
I don’t care…
Gee, the suspenders are killing me. I wonder what boxes of “supplies” I will be rummaging through for this build. Last build I just used up some of my vast supply of cedar offcuts, some left over plexiglass and some empty beverage cans.
So, if I have a roll of twenty dollar bills in my junk box on January 1, can I use them?
I’ll go back to my room.
No fair Maynard, the cans were full when you got 'em.
printing a tree would be nuts on a normal 3d printer
Steve Featherkile said:
So, if I have a roll of twenty dollar bills in my junk box on January 1, can I use them?
I’ll go back to my room.
Sure, you can cut them up and use them as shingles.
Bob “IA3R#7” Cope said:
No fair Maynard, the cans were full when you got 'em.
Bob, (hic) yes they were full when I gottem. But once they were emptied, they went into a box for use in my other hobby, building stuff. And since I emptied them BEFORE the build challenge, they were left over scrap.
I think its time I go empty a few more, If you will excuse me.