Shopsmith Forums

dusty wrote:I have been trying to figure out how I can make little pyramids (SAFELY).

I often cut pyramids on the top of square fence post to shed weather. Just start with a square piece and mark it off all of the way around. I like the chop saw or RAS. Make 4 cuts (rotate for each cut) on the line and you have a square piece of wood with a pyramid on the end. Then just make a square cut to cut it off of the base stock (I don't do that last cut on a fence post ).
On small stuff you don't even have to mark it if you can use a stop at the opposite end from the cut and it is square.
Another option is to use a lathe and make little cones instead of pyramids.


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I need to be more frugal with my time. Gadz I can waste time...and there is nothing more valuable than time.

tomsalwasser wrote:I need to be more frugal with my time. Gadz I can waste time...and there is nothing more valuable than time.

You want to be very careful in deciding just how to define what constitutes a waste of time...
In the early 1970's I decided that my pressure cooker executive position in the early days of commercial data processing was wasting my life... I was doing all of the things that many people mistakenly believe should be part of a successful career. Ultra long hours. Returning to the office in the middle of the night to solve problems. Shuttling around hand feeding clients who usually didn't have a clue. It was all job first and everything else (including family) was to be secondary. For many, back-stabbing was the order of the day. The money was good but the divorce rate among my peers was over 90%. What a crock...
I walked away and never looked back. I gave family and the farm priority then my own businesses. Even building a business family time and time for self comes first, not trying to please some alcoholic. corporate dick-head that thinks it is funny that he is on his 4th wife and is cheating on her...
I turn 70 next spring and have yet to regret that change of direction many years ago. When we all get together for holidays and family dinners our 4 grown children (2 of our kids are grandparents) and many of my grandchildren all sit around talking about their memories. Happily I am a big part of those memories because I chose to spend my time with my family instead of that phony career first corporate world. Those memories they love to talk about are not related to any majors event but the everyday home and family lifestyle we chose.
We had everything but money...
Define carefully.


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As far as your corporate experience goes, while I agree with you, it's really a matter of different strokes for different people. Been there, too. Got out, too. The money was great, the rest sucked. Some people thrive in that environment, though.

Quality time spent with family and friends is never wasted.
But,sitting on my duff in the shop daydreaming about non shop related stuff, I consider a waste of time. I still do it, though.

dusty wrote:I throw the catalogs in the truck. They come in real handy when I get left sitting while she goes shopping or to the doctor.

I have been trying to figure out how I can make little pyramids (SAFELY).

Old water bed frames. Usually made from 2x materials. Be careful though. Used lunber can be hard on planer blades.

I made the little (painters) pyramids by rough cutting 2X scrap material with the bandsaw and sanding to size on the belt sander.

What using good scrap wood up making painting pyramids. What a waste of wood!:D

I just use a scrap of plywood and drive a few finish nails in the general size and shape of the what I want to paint/finish. I then set the project on the nail points that extend through the wood and do my thing. After I'm done I pull the nails. To be reused of course and ply can be reused or made into something else.

No one job resource wasters for me!

Ed in Tampa wrote:What using good scrap wood up making painting pyramids. What a waste of wood!:D

I just use a scrap of plywood and drive a few finish nails in the general size and shape of the what I want to paint/finish. I then set the project on the nail points that extend through the wood and do my thing. After I'm done I pull the nails. To be reused of course and ply can be reused or made into something else.

No one job resource wasters for me!

That is frugal except for the time wasted.

Gene Howe wrote:As far as your corporate experience goes, while I agree with you, it's really a matter of different strokes for different people. Been there, too. Got out, too. The money was great, the rest sucked. Some people thrive in that environment, though.

Quality time spent with family and friends is never wasted.
But,sitting on my duff in the shop daydreaming about non shop related stuff, I consider a waste of time. I still do it, though.

I thrived on the corporate environment for several years and then it all got old fast. I must say that for the first couple years the free meals in fancy hotels and restaurants was great but then that got old along with everything else.

During those "high times" I sure wish I had spent more money on tools and less on everything else.

Sure wish I could go get one of those free steaks dinners tonight and then retire to the hotel spa.

dusty wrote:I thrived on the corporate environment for several years and then it all got old fast. I must say that for the first couple years the free meals in fancy hotels and restaurants was great but then that got old along with everything else.

During those "high times" I sure wish I had spent more money on tools and less on everything else.

Sure wish I could go get one of those free steaks dinners tonight and then retire to the hotel spa.

Yea I retired from the corporate world too. It was nice having expense account and living the high life but it got old real quick. In fact I hate air travel so much I haven't traveled by air since I left the corporation. I was herded, pushed, shoved, bumped off flights, lost bagage, threatened if I didn't give up my seat and mistreated enough to ever do it again.

One day before some holiday in Chicago I was in the middle of a riot between ticketed passengers and those that were booked but didn't have a ticket.

They out numbered us 2 to 1 and it got nasty when they realized they had no chance of getting home for the holiday. Police and a moveable iron fence stood between them and us. I thought they would win.

I also loved the time I flew from Florida to Endicott New York in the middle of winter. Of course I packed my coat in the suitcase. and of course the airline lost my bag. Spent the rest of that day and part of the next trying to look warm dressed in a suit and tie while my teeth chattered.

But there were good times like being put up in Palmer House Hotel on State Street Chicago when the all the big names stayed there. Met a lot of people most people never get to see up close and personal.

Wow Francis you sure can run off on a tangent. I'm glad I provided a springboard for your rant. It was from out in left field but interesting none the less!

Best,
Tom