Shopsmith Forums

I second Alans response he nailed everything I would be interested in. I'm the new kid on the block learning my SS and this forum.
Jim

After reading all the posts to this thread, I agree that adding a few more such as lathe turning, maintenance of the SS and Jigs & fixtures would be all good additions. I also concur with the others that you wouldn't want to get too many subjects to make it complex. It's real simple to get around the way it is now.

One of the disadvantages of all forums is that as new people enter, the same or very similar questions come up time and time again. Yes. One can search, but this is rather tedious and not always productive.

How about creating an "on line" magazine, where members could submit articles & pictures, basically along the same lines as the forum topics. It's obvious to me that many members not only have experience and knowledge, but writing skills as well.

Thus pertinent subjects would be more easily found and recovered for reference by new and older members alike.

I'd like to see a wood turning forum. An off-topic forum might also be fun.

I too urge caution in opening too many categories.
Though I'm not big into turning I think the idea of a category for turning would probably be used by many.

I also like one where maintaince tips and helps could be set apart and perhaps make them easier to find. Just like the table alignment thread which is awfully hard to find, probably because it started out addressing another subject. I think maintaince tips, helps, and how to's would help all of us at one time or another.

What I really enjoy in the weekend blog and when someone posts things about jigs and fixtures. I would really like to see those two categories, one dedicated to jigs, fixtures and shop tips and another listing current projects.

In the current projects we could share ideas, plans, tell our war stories and perhaps discuss finishing techniques. I particularily like to hear war stories probably because nothing I ever start out to do ends up being as straight forward as it seemed when I started.
Ed

Old age I punched submit on my last post before I got to the real point I was trying to make.

I visit at least 20 other woodworking forums from time to time and one by one I have narrowed the frequent visited to just a few. In most of them people pontificate about things they know little or nothing about.

What I really like about the this SS forum is we seem to have a good bunch of people. If someone knows the answer they share it if they don't they keep quiet. That along with SS input particularily from Nick makes this forum very special in my eyes.

Whatever you do, please insure SS stays involved. It makes us feel like we are once again connected to SS as in times past. Also it is very comforting to know a helping hand is there for the asking.
Ed

Ed in Tampa wrote:Old age I punched submit on my last post before I got to the real point I was trying to make.
Ed

Ed: Wanted to write two things here.
1st; Like you - I often do the submitting thing before I'm ready - That's why so many of my posts are "edited". Saves posting two to make a point.

2nd; I agree 100% with your last two posts!!

3rd; To ADMIN - - Glad you have, and are following a plan! Now I have confidence, if you stay true to what you have done in the past, the changes will be moderate, well taken and well used!

dusty wrote:I log on many times and see eight, ten, fifteen quests none of which post. Are these the same ten or fifteen "lookie lews" just nonjoiners or does the forum not offer something they are interested in.

Thanks Dusty! Whoops! I had certainly downplayed the value of the Forum to those folks just wanting to read and enjoy and/or learn. I apologize!, and did not intend to minimize the value of just plain reading. Read On!

dusty wrote:I log on many times and see eight, ten, fifteen quests none of which post. Are these the same ten or fifteen "lookie lews" just nonjoiners or does the forum not offer something they are interested in.

Thanks Dusty!
Whoops! I had certainly downplayed the value of the Forum to those folks just wanting to read and enjoy and/or learn.
I apologize!, and did not intend to minimize the value of just plain reading. Read On!

I've visited the HandsOnline test site several times and it made me think that the chatroom feature of that site would be a neat addition to this forum.

Not only would it be convenient for logged on users to communicate, but we could start a regular meeting time (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc.) to have a structured, moderated discussion about a given topic.

Is this even possible? Would others like to see it?