Swarf caps

In a previous post...

http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/m...1056#post73670

I mentioned that magnetic pickup tools will collect all matter of ferrous swarf in use and can be a real pain to clean. I suggested that the tip of the tool be covered in Saran wrap or similar during use. Cleaning then is nothing more than peeling away the wrap over the trash can.

While that system works and I've used it for many years, it is a tad fiddly. I had time on my hands so I decided to make something a bit tidier and professional.

I made two caps from 1/2" PVC bored out to be a friction fit on each of the pick-up tools. I wanted something thin for the end of the cap so it would provide minimum separation between the magnet and whatever was being retrieved. In addition, the retriever on the left has a built-in LED light so the cap end needs to be transparent.

I used some modelmakers' transparent styrene I had on hand. Used to make windows in architectural models and miniature RR layout buildings, it's only 0.009" thick. Loctite super glue bonded it to the PVC sleeve and the excess was cut away and filed flush.

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/f...he/75126-1.jpg

The result works well and now I don't have bits of food wrap floating around the work bench.

Nice Pro build Marv! ;) The idea of using the thin Styrene is a great idea and got me to thinking of lots of other apps for it. Your ideas always get me thinking! Thanks Much, ~PJ

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Originally Posted by PJs

Nice Pro build Marv! ;) The idea of using the thin Styrene is a great idea and got me to thinking of lots of other apps for it. Your ideas always get me thinking! Thanks Much, ~PJ

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Most of the things I submit are more in the form of ideas rather than finished, polished projects. Although I usually show a completed item, the real thrust is for the reader to take the ideas that my project suggests and run with them on his own. After all, that's what homemade ingenuity is all about.

I get lots of requests for plans. Some of them are downright silly. For example, this one...

http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/t...entifier-34046

has 14 requests for plans. Even if I wanted to construct a plan, of what would it consist?

Drill hole sized to diameter of rivet in key.
Coat rivet with glue.
Insert glue-covered rivet in hole.
Allow glue to dry.

The whole idea is for folks to learn to make things themselves. You're not going to learn any skills without devising your own plans for how to build something.

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Originally Posted by mklotz

Most of the things I submit are more in the form of ideas rather than finished, polished projects. Although I usually show a completed item, the real thrust is for the reader to take the ideas that my project suggests and run with them on his own. After all, that's what homemade ingenuity is all about.

I get lots of requests for plans. Some of them are downright silly. For example, this one...

The whole idea is for folks to learn to make things themselves. You're not going to learn any skills without devising your own plans for how to build something.

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I get it completely Marv, and have a hard time understanding who might have a need for plans on your tactile key ID post TOO! WoW. For me the ideas people present here are for their use specifically, although sometimes general in nature like most of yours. Most of the time it gives me ideas how do what I want to do "specifically" and adjust it for my needs or incorporate some of it into what I want to bring forward. I like a tool/idea that has multipurpose generally or something I can have an add-on to to use in a different capacity.

I also agree learning and doing is the fun of it to me...and it's icing on the cake when it's simple and elegant in design and function and if it's pretty it lights my candle! Thanks for sharing the wisdom! ~PJ

<!-- BEGIN /var/www/html/homemadetools/protected/modules/zeus/views/tool/postUpdate.php -->
Thanks mklotz! We've added your Swarf Caps to our Cleaning category,
as well as to your builder page: mklotz's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-swarf-caps"> <img src="https://www.homemadetools.net/uploads/237667/homemade-swarf-caps.jpe"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-swarf-caps">Swarf Caps</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/mklotz_3">mklotz</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/magnet'>magnet</a>, <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/pickup-tool'>pickup tool</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
<!-- END /var/www/html/homemadetools/protected/modules/zeus/views/tool/postUpdate.php -->

Marv, just saw your idea. I like it and thinking about the 54 caliber barrel I'm rifling at the moment.

Every couple of passes I have to run a dowel rod pushing a piece of cloth to clean out the swarf. I'm placing a reflective piece of paper at an angle for the light above to reflect into the barrel so I can get an idea of rifling progress. Your idea seems to be spot on for me at the moment. I have one of those telescoping magnets but unfortunately it's too short and also too big around. But great idea.

I agree with the plans thing. I don't do well following plans as I always have my own ideas and invent as I go.

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Originally Posted by sking0369

Marv, just saw your idea. I like it and thinking about the 54 caliber barrel I'm rifling at the moment.

Every couple of passes I have to run a dowel rod pushing a piece of cloth to clean out the swarf. I'm placing a reflective piece of paper at an angle for the light above to reflect into the barrel so I can get an idea of rifling progress. Your idea seems to be spot on for me at the moment. I have one of those telescoping magnets but unfortunately it's too short and also too big around. But great idea.

I agree with the plans thing. I don't do well following plans as I always have my own ideas and invent as I go.

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Here's what I use for inspecting firearm bores...

http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/b...7451#post37079

As for plans, my idea to glue a toothbrush to a magnet and use it to keep the leadscrew on the lathe swarf-free...

Homemade Lead Screw Cleaner - HomemadeTools.net

has, so far, garnered seven requests for plans.

Quote:

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As for plans, my idea to glue a toothbrush to a magnet and use it to keep the leadscrew on the lathe swarf-free...

Homemade Lead Screw Cleaner - HomemadeTools.net

has, so far, garnered seven requests for plans.

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:rofl: O' come on Marv, Please~~> ~PJ Sorrry...

Redacted: glue toothbrush to magnet to keep leadscrew on the lathe swarf-free...
has, so far, garnered seven requests for plans.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PJs

:rofl: O' come on Marv, Please~~> ~PJ Sorrry...

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....maybe the magnificent 7 need GPS too, to locate distributors of such items.....maybe half the 14 after pvc pipe and saran wrap are still looking.........:brickwall:

What household hasn't all those in kitchen and adjacent junk drawer?

Ahh ha; the nefarious WAP link removed, now what to do?.
I taped a toothbrush to the leadscrew. It just spun around, how does it work?
It's the pic of Einstein that intimidates us.

Guys I'll lay odds that some if not many of these plans seekers are actually search bots. The way the infernalnet is so intertwined with 1000's of search engines and key word loggers it is a wonder we each don't get requests for more things than we do.

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Originally Posted by Frank S

...plans seekers are actually search bots....infernalnet intertwined with 1000's of search engines and key word loggers...wonder we each don't get requests for more things than we do.

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Well, I know some don't get credit for what they DO to start with.
Or they don't when we do, just when were not.
Anyway, back to search bots...how do we re-program the drones in their direction? Eagles have better things to do too.

Agreed that the votes for plans requests are not 100% exact, and are probably closer to 50% exact. Some are bot clicks, some are just used as generic "I like this idea" clicks, some are someone's cat stepping on a keyboard, etc. This is true of any anonymous counting metrics on the web. This is why the "Thanks" method on the forum is so trustworthy; it's not anonymous, each thanking name is publicly displayed, and the thanks-es can be given and retracted at will.

If you count each plan request vote not as a single person formally entering a request for drafted plans, but as a generic "+", you can use it comparatively to see the trends. This will show you which of your tools are more-liked compared to others. The commenting feature on tool pages is helpful too.

Nevertheless, this is a fairly new feature; we're open to ideas on improving it.

If the plan request is largely incorrect (in the sense that it reflects something other than a desire for plans) then folks contemplating the submission of plans will be discouraged which is counter to the forum's benefit.

If folks are using it as a pseudo "like button" then how to separate "likes" from genuine plan requests?

The "Thanks" method is indeed better - far better than the nearly ubiquitous "like" button. Maybe make plan requests work the same way as the "Thanks" method?

That's a valid point. There are a few knobs I can turn, including limiting that feature to logged-in users. We even have a few emails from people who think that clicking to request a plan should then immediately make the plans viewable to them. The "Want a plan" prompt isn't aligning with the user's intent. We also have a star rating feature accompanying each tool listing, which can be more frontloaded, or we can just combine both features into a "Like"; this is a plainer but more accurate way for the user to express opinion, and the builder to analyze it. I'll look further into this.

I agree with both Marv and Jon, I mis-cued a couple my self way back in the newbie days; if FEB counts as way back. No cat for an excuse; sometimes the dog drops tennis ball on laptop in use........ It would appear a portion of users liken 'our' set-up to common social media [of which I have no contact, save comments by others] that treats interaction like a game; instead of a communal response. Judgement lies on builders page, some longtime user names don't bring their game at all, and hence unfamiliar.
Even at 14,000 odd builders, that's no percentage = of where trips to the mall are news, bathroom selfies, or idlers haunt and stalk.

Jon says "There are a few knobs I can turn,......".
What I think needs twisting isn't knobs; although could be similarly sized.

Let me know if you guys have an idea for wording a single positive indicator, besides "Like". It's accurate, but I'd rather choose something less Facebook-ish. "Want" probably won't work; it's too indicative of some sort of potential future acquisition. Increasing the prominence of that star rating tool is also an option.

"Thumbs up", "Would you build this tool?", something like that, but worded concisely and presented cleanly.

Removed "Want a plan" text from tool pages, thanks for the input guys. We can figure out what to add in its place going forward, but the argument for removing it was strong enough to do so. Plans sales are working out nicely without it anyway :)

:thumbsup: Jon for all you do to keep this place going. When you have folks from all over the world dropping in here from other sites with different expectations.......I wouldn't even want to try and ride herd here. Good thing it doesn't seem to bother you.

As one who doesn't make plans for anything I've ever made, I've watched the whole "plans" idea from afar. I would much rather provide details on a build from asked questions than try and make formal plans. Like Marv my interest is in the idea behind the post. The learning curve for me was seeing how folks explain and show the build more than the step by step. I get it can be hard to get how something functions from words and stills. I'm experimenting with those animated gif's as a way to bridge the gap between stills and full on vids you have to post to YouTube.

I'd not thought of the bot thing(good call Frank) as a reason for plan requests. I want to help folks out if they want it, but I also don't have a ton of time to spend doing something I'm not great at for no reason. Or for somebody who's attitude is I'm not doing enough or doing it right.... Good luck with all this Jon.

I'm with C-Bag on All that you bring to us here, Jon. Sincere thanks and a fine response to this small issue we were having fun with. Had no idea that Bots could push radio buttons (good one TM)! I'm sure you'll come up with an alternative to a plans request radio button with a Bot defender. Honestly I know it's a vigil just to keep up with all that's flying out there now. My Hat is Off to you and the HMT Crew!!

Marv, What was it your avatar said about Imagination? Keep'em coming, "it embraces the entire world"!

~PJ

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Originally Posted by mklotz

Maybe make plan requests work the same way as the "Thanks" method?

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This may truly be the crux of the biscuit right there. I'm not privy to all the stats but certainly Jon is and in a recent thread concerning how things were posted it was suggested that there was not enough detail overall in the posts. It was an ego thing of "look at my stuff" instead of an instructable. When it was suggested that they could ask questions it made them incensed they would have to ask. Was this a minority opinion?

But I tried to point out it seems there are a lot of "people"( are these bots too?) cruising the forums with a tiny % posting and even tinier interacting. So when your post doesn't get much views or interaction, why would it seem to get plan requests?

Probably too much belly button gazing.........

Jon,

I find the HMT postings with more details on the methods and instructions used to fabricate, machine, weld, cast, etc. the parts that ultimately become the tool just as useful as the final tool. The "look at my stuff" method of posting doesn't catch my interest other than knowing what is possible. I especially like the story behind the story and how the tool idea got started. I see this technique used by Marv and I appreciate the insight.

Jon, I think we all thank you for all you do behind the scenes to make HMT an interesting and useful website.

Thank you,
Paul

Thanks for the thanks guys. We have a popular subject matter in this forum, but what makes it great is that we have a deep bench of heavy hitters. A single high quality poster can make or break an entire forum, and we have many.

Agreed that drafting formal plans is tedious. Authors are making real money from the plans market now, so their work is paying off. Looks like we'll have multiple guys making over $100 in profit from their plans sales just for this month. I'm looking into seeing if we can have our members partner with professional plans drafters, and split the earnings from the plans sales.

I don't yet know how we can best correlate interest in plans with actual revenue from plans. Nobody has ever made an online marketplace for selling tool plans, so we are learning as we go. We just put up nhengineer's Rotary Phase Converter plans for sale. All of the listings we had on the site for all rotary phase converters collectively received minimal "Want plans" clicks. However, 20 of the Rotary Phase Converter plans have already sold in the first week. Clicks and bots aside, that sales figure is real credible data indicating true desire.

There are plenty of forums that I visit, but do not post on. I think the estimates claiming that 80-90% of forum visitors don't post are probably accurate. We've been running site surveys to try to figure out what that silent majority wants, and it looks like detailed tool plans is high on their list, and they're happy to pay for them.

Good to hear more interest in GIFs. I've been posting one per day in the Tool Talk forum. While they seem gimmicky, they're genuinely useful for DIY instruction on the internet. Right now we see this most often in the recipe GIFs that are popular (like these churro ice cream bowls or steak with garlic butter). For specific tasks like that, it may be a superior instructional method than a photo article or a video. The same concept can be applied to DIY builds.

I just put my magnet stick end in a baggie.

I think you are spot on.
Dick