We all obtain building information, whether generally educational or mission-specific, from a variety of sources, both online and otherwise.
Who/what are your top 5?
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We all obtain building information, whether generally educational or mission-specific, from a variety of sources, both online and otherwise.
Who/what are your top 5?
This is an interesting one that I really had to think out. For me, in no specific order:
- Google. Simple as that.
- My online guys. If I'm on a forum long enough, I'll identify various posters that are extremely knowledgeable. Some of these guys I know personally, some I've never interacted with. Querying them for info can be anything from sending a personal email, to directing a question to them in a thread, to including their username in a Google search.
- My offline guys. These are people I know personally, not in cyberspace, but in meatspace. Mostly older guys, some in my neighborhood, some in the nearby area, some who work at places like the hardware store or the lumber yard. These are generally people who rarely, if ever, use the internet. There is a really smart old hotrodder in the next canyon over. He doesn't own a computer, and I'm pretty sure he's never been online. He has this joke I've heard a million times. When anyone mentions the internet, he says: "I love the web. I used to have one of the oldest 'web' sites around, until I took it down..." Then he points to the corner of the ceiling and says:
"...with a broom!"
:rimshot:
- Books. Still beats the internet for lots of topics.
- My mistakes. I have a go-to response I say when I get a compliment on something I've made, built, cooked, etc. I say: "Thank you. My secret is years of screwing up." This usually gets a laugh, and it's very true. A good screwup, followed a good analysis of the screwup, generally yields a lot of knowledge.
I read a lot and look at many pictures.
Sometimes I study catalogs.
Mostly I scratch my head, or a lower part of my anatomy and try to think of a simple way to inexpensively solve a problem.
Hi,
Like Jon above, I use online ideas, and I am proud to say that my research now always starts by the Homemadetools.net great encyclopedia, with its great search engine, great classification, great bottom page suggestions (So many thanks Jon, I know we all participate, but you put all that stuff in such a great shape, and I notice day after day continuous improvements (that had to be said :thumbsup:) ).
Aesthetically speaking, I have had one new resource since a few months, that I like more and more, it is Pinterest. I was skeptical at the beginning on how it could be interesting and I started using it as simply as a repository to classify the great pictures and ideas I meet here and there over the Web, in boards that represent my own centers of interest, and I was surprised to see some people subscribing to my boards, and having a look at what they have I found really great stuff, and the more I have activity on it, the more pertinent are the suggestions I get from it. I find some really awesome stuff there. Fine old tools, aesthetically good looking tools, and same for musical instruments.
And same as Nadogail also, I scratch my head, and scratch again and scratch so much I now have few hair left on top of it ... thought it provides better cooling :embarrassed:
I try to find elegant solution, with as often as possible my personal touch in implementing somewhat differently than the main stream. Sometime, it's worthwhile, sometimes not, but I like to give myself some challenges.
You will see, the next tool I will submit, I have it on the bench, it's a lot of research over the Web and a lot of head scratching to figure out how I could do it by my own means ...
As quoted by Christophe today reference point initially is Homemadetools.net. of course :rocker:
But also like the old patents (free online) .
:hattip:
Glad this is being noticed! :rocker: I'm almost done dividing up the Woodworking category into subcategories. After that, I think we'd like to add the option to restrict searches to specific categories.Quote:
Originally Posted by Christophe Mineau
The new Popular listings on the homepage have also been getting a lot of traffic.
I like Pinterest too. However, I did notice that it's mostly for crafts and recipes, and not really for "builds". My wife really loves it.Quote:
Aesthetically speaking, I have had one new resource since a few months, that I like more and more, it is Pinterest.
Jon, One thing that could be nice would be to introduce a placeholder for discussing or reacting about the external tools you pick up and we see only in new tools or the newsletter or that Popular listing. even if we miss the author, sometimes, it could be interesting to start discussions ..
cheers
Do you find that the "add comment" feature at the bottom of a tool page is useful? Should we place that comment box in a more prominent position (like maybe closer to the "Rate this build" star ratings)?Quote:
Originally Posted by Christophe Mineau
Hey Jon, that's the first time I see this button !
OK I just did some comments, is there a forum thread where it appear or does it stay at the tool page level only ?
Yes, I think you should do something in order to make it more visible.
Are there a lot of comments comming through this way ?
Thanks for the job Jon.
Christophe
Like most others, and certainly anyone reading this (being already disposed toward online resources), my first stop is invariably Google. There's lots of info out there on any and every topic under the sun. Often, the first challenge is one of devising a set of suitable search parameters to narrow in on exactly what I'm seeking. The second (sometimes greater) challenge is of separating the proverbial wheat from the chaff. On many forum sites, the signal to noise ratio is, shall we say, not great. That said, it's not terribly difficult to figure out who the knowledgable and respected members are and to rank their contributions correspondingly higher. Individual websites vary widely in quality, but good and useful info is out there to be found.
At this point in my life, I've been fortunate to have made the acquaintance of a fairly wide net of skilled craftsmen in a range of disciplines from whom I've learned a great deal over the years. When I need specialist tips of a particular sort, I usually have a "right" guy to call or email.
My current major project is a kit car, so the factory is a prime source of building information on that front.
Books are essential and I've managed to assemble a decent reference library covering a range of topics. Automotive, aviation, motorcycling, firearms, etc.
I'm sure to be leaving something out, but this seems to cover most of the usual bases…
Ken
Ken,
Great question to ask.
My top five building information sources are:
1) Google searches with the word "images" included in the search. I find seeing a picture of something is a quick way to find new ideas.
2) HomemadeTools.net - Encyclopedia of Homemade Tools
3) YouTube including about two dozen subscriptions and searching within each subscriptions
4) Emailing some of my favorite YouTube authors but keeping the questions short and to the point
5) I have a home library of books on using tools, tool catalogs, building techniques, etc. that serve as inspiration for ideas and building methods with lots of yellow stickies and sheets of notes stuffed in the pages.
I am also a member subscriber to Practical Machinist, Tool & Die Guy, Home Model Engine Machinist, and Mad Modder where I can find a variety of "how to" information, photos, and references.
Paul
As a guy with varied interests (cars, bicycles, computers, food, science stuff), I used to hoard books, magazines, and shop manuals. Nowadays, there's Google. As Ken said though, there is a lot of noise out there, but spend an hour or two in a particular forum and you'll find out who the helpful and knowledgeable guys are. Youtube is also an excellent resource, but I sometimes get bored with long videos that take such a long time to get to the meat of the matter.
Christophe, your experience with Pinterest is interesting, as I also opened an account last month but found my experience (so far) to be the same as Jon's. HMT has become an excellent resource and I never hesitate to point out specific tools and/or categories to my handyman friends.
Wow Paul when do you get the time to do projects being in all those groups???:lol:
I like You Tube. Web searches too. Mfg. PDF manuals are handy. This forum seems like it will be handy too.
Oh, I'm not shy about calling companies & asking to speak to the tech guys. They are almost always very helpful & happy to chat.
My go-to resources, in no specific order.
HomemadeTools - saved me a couple of times.
Forums
YouTube - I echo DIYer's opinion. I always cut to the chase when watching videos.
Google (again) Books - lots of good resources.
Al
I'd like to respond as well; somewhat in order of importance. Order is related to how long I regard them as a resource, but not entirely. Some have become difficult to examine separately.
I have a personal library, collected over what seems to predate my first employment to this very instant. Texts are like music. An effective description paints a picture that you comprehend at your level. It is composed of various editions of Machinist Handbook, Colvins, Marks, I find, not duplicates. Manufacturers manuals and catalogs. Advertisement sheets. Textbooks & Reference books in general; on engineering, mechanics, tool design, welding. US NAVY Machinery Repairman (stupendous!), Hull Technician, Boatswain Mate, Gunners Mate, and Electricians Mate to some degree. They are separated by paygrade (E4, E5, E6 and E7)which equals responsibility in the service. Those beyond address mainly administrative topics. I advise anyone at any level interested in machine work to beg-borrow-steal Machinery Repairman's 4-6. They are digital now, print copies are best. The ARMY certainly has equivalent reference material. All generated by the the U.S. Government Printing Office. They are without classified material, and just outside public domain but available.
Next has become the web; but only because the library allows me to screen questionable material. I use Google only for search engine, and Copernic for academics. Wikipedia is good enough to be third in line. Google brought me to HMT, so it equals Google for direct searches. Participating there is just plain fun, and unexpectedly rewarding. Web focus on visual input detracts what could be just as effective as text. But even textbooks are illustrated. I can only echo what others state on HMT.net, it is staggering. Youtube usually disappoints me, instructional content turns out to be more self serving promotion than educational. Or so poorly staged you can't see what is delivered. A requisite directing and production values course should be mandatory before you get a channel. It is far better for historical and archive material. I'm glad our taxes support that for sure. Same for Pinterest, I like to aim my work to interested parties, not passerby. The trick is learning to manipulate and SAVE search terms; in both general info and very pointed searches. Bookmarks classify into narrowly titled folders; logically subbed of course. Don't forget, you can notate pages differently in bookmarks differently than the web pastes automatically. I wouldn't say I have lots of interests, but varied and interrelated at the same time. Oddly enough, I catalog (curate?) music online in the same manner. Bye bye Grooveshark, hello Spotify. Want something different? Search a11four1 T(or t)oolmaker51 everywhere else
Moving from California lost most interpersonal contacts, most regrettable. However, there is this thing called the web...and cellphones. Midwest hasn't displayed the population of machinists like I grew up with, even a retired Public Safety Chief for LA Sheriff. Hi FB!
I keep a small set of notebooks; paper and finepoint pen. Mostly incidental solutions, that may need to surface again. There is no proper front or back. Answers are written on right-hand pages, revelations or stumpers on the left, after the book is turned around. I carry a file of whatever the current project is as a brainstorming record. Right now it is all about the electrical project, gauges, wire fill, project of making wireway hangers, building the punch stand, amps/hp/volts of the equipment...The un-bucket tool bag began there.
And finally, as others have said our experience is valuable for own self and others. Fix or fail, each has some bit of worthwhile potential to refine.