So what did you do with your OTHER hobbies today?

[bailey mountain brewer]

One of my other hobbies is messing around with old Saab cars, which you can still get pretty cheap. Yesterday, I got my 2004 9-5 ARC wagon on the lift at a friend's garage to investigate an exhaust problem and it turns out this is a good time to drop the sump and investigate possible sludge buildup on oil the pick up screen. Then the discussion turned to boosting HP by reprogramming the ECU and possibly going to a 3" downpipe and sport exhaust. The stock HP for the ARC I is 220 but I believe I can get it up to 275 by simply re-programming. My feeling is for now is leave the old 9-5 stock and see if I can get another 10 years out of it. However I've got an 1998 Turbo convertible that is much more fun to roar around with so its a more likely candidate for a ECU re-map. Stock HP is 185 and reportedly a stage 1 tune takes it up to 220 or so. The reported 0-60 time isn't really all that great by today's standards, but with the top down, running errands around town is way more fun.

I own 2 viggens, doing a clutch on my wife's currently, last year took the head off sent it to a machine shop did all the usual stuff that a 200k mile motor needs.. I've owned I think a dozen or so saabs so far, a couple 900 spgs a 9-5 and a bunch of 9-3s all mine are 2000 model year and older.

 

[matt_m]

Working on a prototype as I get time for a simple but noticeable USB powered status indicator light based on an ESP32 for home automation use. Main use cases are in our basement to indicate our cameras have detected a person at the front door or a car has been detected in the driveway so we know when deliveries have been made since we can't see from our home offices or basement.

Also have been researching options for a covered outdoor kitchen. Really like the Yardistry gazebos but concrete has gotten ridiculous. I had found an Amish builder that can bring something similar in pre-built with a composite decking floor. Unfortunately that's out since its too tight between the neighboring houses.

 

[madscientist451]

I own 2 viggens, doing a clutch on my wife's currently, last year took the head off sent it to a machine shop did all the usual stuff that a 200k mile motor needs.. I've owned I think a dozen or so saabs so far, a couple 900 spgs a 9-5 and a bunch of 9-3s all mine are 2000 model year and older.

I currently have 7 Saabs including 2 parts cars. Newest 2007, oldest 1995. Someday I might get a 96 or 95 if the right one comes along. I was interested in getting a Viggen, but they are actually pretty rare cars and the only ones I can afford seem somewhat worn out. That's great that you can do your own engine work and the clutch. Those jobs would add up to serious money pretty quick at a reputable shop. Are you going to Saabs at Carlisle in May?

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

After dark, it's often binoculars (10x50 or 20x80) if night skies are clear. Cloudy night? There's a forum for that!

 

[Skeeter686]

After dark, it's often binoculars (10x50 or 20x80) if night skies are clear. Cloudy night? There's a forum for that!

I second that! Unfortunately, my neighbor started closing her blinds a couple months ago.

 

[DuncB]

I second that! Unfortunately, my neighbor started closing her blinds a couple months ago.

Buy an endoscope!

 

[bailey mountain brewer]

I currently have 7 Saabs including 2 parts cars. Newest 2007, oldest 1995. Someday I might get a 96 or 95 if the right one comes along. I was interested in getting a Viggen, but they are actually pretty rare cars and the only ones I can afford seem somewhat worn out. That's great that you can do your own engine work and the clutch. Those jobs would add up to serious money pretty quick at a reputable shop. Are you going to Saabs at Carlisle in May?

Yessir, been going to the carlisle show for many years, it's a good time, lots of knowledge there.

 

[madscientist451]

Walmart has an endocope for less than $20....this could be the start of a another hobby? https://www.walmart.com/ip/Wireless...-Type-C-Micro-Lightning-10ft/6818903348?gQT=1

 

[madscientist451]

Yessir, been going to the carlisle show for many years, it's a good time, lots of knowledge there.

I've never been able to go because of work, but this year I'm calling off and probably going on Saturday. I'll take the 1995 900:

 

[Miraculix]

I've made my first cheese. Now the watch begins...

 

[bailey mountain brewer]

I've never been able to go because of work, but this year I'm calling off and probably going on Saturday. I'll take the 1995 900:

Nice, I will have these 2 viggens, the silver one will have a blue canopy behind it, hopefully 2 homebrews on tap in the trunk. Stop by if you like, we'll be there all weekend.

 

[seatazzz]

I've made my first cheese. Now the watch begins...

Cheesemaking is on my bucket list, for sure. I've done homemade mozzarella once (who hasn't, it's easy) but I would love to try my hand at making hard cheeses. Someday....

 

[Miraculix]

Cheesemaking is on my bucket list, for sure. I've done homemade mozzarella once (who hasn't, it's easy) but I would love to try my hand at making hard cheeses. Someday....

It's a so called farm house cheddar I'm making. It's basically the simplest hard cheese there is with lots of room for variations. It's just the first tryout, but I'll be making more.

 

[lumpher]

Built this from the ground up. Been working on the shingles this weekend. Tiki bar in process. It's not sitting at an angle; that's just the picture.

 

[Deadalus]

Over the weekend I shaved six inches off the width of one my raised beds to increase walkway space.

 

[MaxStout]

Now that the snow's gone and the trails are drying up, we went for a short hike today at a nearby county park. Hiked just a couple miles, but it's one of the few places in our mostly flat area that actually has some elevation changes. The trail we hit was like a gentle rollercoaster, lots of up and down slopes. Mind you, the elevation changes are only 100' or so, but I'll take what I can get.

 

[HBT_Admin]

I got a typewriter, but it's having issues so I've spent a frustrating amount of time trying to figure it out. Think I have the wrong ribbon on it, but no clue.

The romantic idea of using a typewriter wore thin really quickly. LOL.

 

[IslandLizard]

Walmart has an endocope for less than $20....this could be the start of a another hobby? https://www.walmart.com/ip/Wireless...-Type-C-Micro-Lightning-10ft/6818903348?gQT=1

Thank you for the link!
I hope it allows me to inspect some dark, hard to look into areas...

Spoiler: ... It's not what you're thinking!

... around the house, of course.

 

[passedpawn]

Cheesemaking is on my bucket list, for sure. I've done homemade mozzarella once (who hasn't, it's easy) but I would love to try my hand at making hard cheeses. Someday....

lol. mozz is not easy, don't buy into the hype. Yes, if all goes right, you'll be stretching it. But sadly, you'll probably end up with ricotta.

 

[passedpawn]

Good thread. Sadly, I have so much to say I realize I should just not do it at all. I have a lot.

 

[Agent]

Good thread. Sadly, I have so much to say I realize I should just not do it at all. I have a lot.

 

[Snuffy]

I have successfully trained my cat to snorkel.

 

[Agent]

Weekend recap - while I had the stuff out, I cast and coated 1k+ more .45 boolits.

In preparation for a 3 person relay marathon, I snuck out for an 8 mile run.

Used the cold but nice weather to haul out a half yard of concrete chunks to my newly inherited dam and split/hauled a cord of hard maple.

Brewing tangential- I finally swapped out the faucet in the brew area due to a faulty diverter valve. Good timing, as I had two carboys and 6 kegs stacked up and waiting for cleaning.

And ended up with 10 healthy chicks from the incubator.

 

[day_trippr]

fwiw, eight of my RC planes, all stick-built from Great Planes plans...

I have three "Combat Gremlin" models for RC dogfighting competitions (used to have four, one turned into fragments from a head-on collision ) which are strictly belly-landers as they do not have landing gear. That scores up the plastic film - the blue film seems especially prone to scoring - and eventually turns it into shreds as seen here:

Today stripped the shredded film off one of the Gremlins in preparation for applying fresh film.

Then I switched to another project: refinishing the front of a bathroom vanity I built around 35 years ago. Starting to strip them down to bare wood here.

Worked the top square cut in the ogees with a square scraper, then reloaded the sanding bars with fresh paper. The tough work of scraping and sanding the ogee curves starts tomorrow...

Cheers!

 

[bailey mountain brewer]

Working on replacing the clutch on my wife's 1999 saab 9-3 viggen, while I've got it apart I've been replacing other wear items. The shift linkage had plastic ball sockets that were completely worn out, obviously this is a part that's not easily found but I was able to make my own stainless ball sockets and rebuilt the existing shift linkage on the cheap. Here's a before and after.

 

[day_trippr]

I love fabrication, full stop. Electronics, metal cutting and welding, house wiring, plumbing, additions and modifications, custom furniture, modeling of all kinds...you name it, I love making things.

I hate finish work with a passion. I've never been able to "make it fun", it's always tedious AF, regardless of form.

I spent the afternoon stripping the ogee edges on these four laid-up hard maple panels, after scouring the local hardware and Big Box stores for something that would make sanding those darned ogees easier. Actually did find a sturdy mesh fabric based sanding sheet that could easily be formed into different diameter rolls that definitely cut the amount of time I spent in half or better vs wrapping regular tear-prone sandpaper around various forms.

Highly recommend this - a single small sheet handled all four panel edges and was still going strong.

Anyway, with a couple hours of sanding, this phase of the vanity refinishing project is complete.

Cheers! (Beer Time!)

 

[leedspointbrew]

Working on replacing the clutch on my wife's 1999 saab 9-3 viggen, while I've got it apart I've been replacing other wear items. The shift linkage had plastic ball sockets that were completely worn out, obviously this is a part that's not easily found but I was able to make my own stainless ball sockets and rebuilt the existing shift linkage on the cheap. Here's a before and after.
View attachment 871952
View attachment 871953

That's impressive.

 

[seatazzz]

Today I didn't have to work, had some downtime, so started looking around for something to do. At last count, between me and the husband (mostly me) we have six laptops in this house; his is a gaming laptop, mine is mainly now for use when I'm working from home and my pc monitors are in use by work laptop (which doesn't count in the main count). PC I built around christmas and is my main computer. The other laptops are hand-me-downs from various friends/family members, and my old MSI that I bought for almost $1k in 2010. It still runs, has a lot of files on it that I don't want to lose, but the HDD is dead slow and only has 8gb of ram. TL;DR, but I have a 1tb SSD via usb on my pc that I use for a backup drive; on a whim took it out of the case and tried it in the old MSI. It fits! Yay SATA!!! Right now running DiskGenius to migrate what's on the original MSI spinny drive to the SSD, then will see if it boots. Not out any $$ for it, and it's fun. If it does work, will get a new 512gb SSD from allmymoneyzgone and migrate it again so I have my backup drive again.

 

[bailey mountain brewer]

That's impressive.

Thank you!

 

[Jonakr]

Walmart has an endocope for less than $20....this could be the start of a another hobby? https://www.walmart.com/ip/Wireless...-Type-C-Micro-Lightning-10ft/6818903348?gQT=1

I got one online a few years back. I've investigated engine problems, checked in my walls, etc. Sometimes you just need a camera in the right spot...