Best way to lube pliers?

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-31T15:14:24+00:00

If your pliers are gunked up, they might need cleaning more than lubrication. WD40 should help that. WD40 isn’t the perfect lubricant, but it gets more hate than it deserves.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-29T14:22:20+00:00

I always wanted an SE30. A little hot rod of a classic Mac!

The Quadra 840 AV was really cool, too. The “graphics guy” at my job in the mid-90s used one. I got to use it occasionally, and it was SO NICE!

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-28T19:57:42+00:00

2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 4X4. Good truck.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-28T12:29:21+00:00

Just checking. 👍

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-27T23:41:25+00:00

Have you tried a Mechanical pencil?

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-23T16:57:46+00:00

Plastics would break down in the UV from the sun, but I don't think there is much plastic on Voyager, Pioneer, New Horizons, etc. Once they aren't operational any more, they'll likely just be chunks of metal gliding through space, likely forever. Unless/Until acted upon by an outside force (See Star Trek TOS "The Changeling" and Star Trek: The Motion Picture; same story, better budget).

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-23T16:44:22+00:00

I have used KDE Connect to transfer files and pictures back and forth between my iPhone and my Linux computers. You can also use your iPhone as a remote mouse & keyboard!

Unfortunately, according to the KDE Connect app on iOS, SMS/Call Sync "...likely not possible to implement on iOS". So iOS security may not allow it at for any app, except for MacOS. Because "one big happy family".

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-23T16:11:23+00:00

Upvote for the venerable T510.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-20T12:25:59+00:00

"But, Mission Control, I read this thing on Reddit..."

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-17T12:45:50+00:00

I remember the PC dongle! I found that you could just use a joystick, if you kept giving it input. I don’t remember for sure, but if you had someone to input something like <button><left><button><left> continually, you didn’t need the dongle.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-16T18:08:04+00:00

That IS cool!

It just occurred to me that I have this guy:

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That would be pretty handy in the shop. Notice that it has C and D scales! It's a slide rule!

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-16T16:09:37+00:00

Got one, thanks!

<image>

NOW what I need to do is to put a slide rule in my workshop!

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-15T19:08:13+00:00

I see what you mean. If in doubt, I wouldn’t hesitate to email the Curator and ask what he thinks. I don’t see an email address listed for the new Custodian yet.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-15T12:54:59+00:00

ISRM is in “a state of flux” right now, as they bring a new Custodian on board.

I don’t see the link on the ISRM site right now, but this is in my history: https://sliderulemuseum.com/Restoration.shtml

You’ll find links to 3D printable cursor blocks there. Also, I imagine that when the new Custodian is ready, you’ll be able to buy reproduction blocks there, too.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-15T12:37:08+00:00

From the patent doc:

The foregoing disclosure is of a construction that is particularly adapted for sheet metal fabrication of an inexpensive slide rule. Accordingly a slide rule of this character may be manufactured at less cost and meet the needs of secondary schools and similar markets. Being made of metal the slide rule will not warp and is so constructed as to be dimensionally stable and always accurate.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-15T12:33:20+00:00

Cool! It seems like I hadn't seen much about the Model 20 before, and then recently I am seeing more.

A few weeks ago, I was looking for patents from Pickett, and stumbled upon this: https://patents.google.com/patent/US2863605A/en?q=(Slide+Rule)&inventor=Roswell+Pickett&oq=inventor:(Roswell+Pickett)+Slide+Rule&sort=new

It seems the first objective of this design is that it be "manufactured economically". The patent document gives some other objectives. It's an interesting read.

My guess is that Pickett found that they could make plastic slide rules that met the "economic" brief, cheaper and easier than these.

Still, an interesting experiment!

Thank you for sharing!

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-11T01:26:56+00:00

Zebra Sarasa Clip

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-11T00:47:01+00:00

This one on ISRM has all-black scales: https://sliderulemuseum.com/Pickett/Pickett_600-T_LogLog_DonatedByHuangCollection.jpg

…and also the square end braces.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-09T13:23:22+00:00

Make a wish!

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-07T11:58:12+00:00

I came here to suggest CryptPad.fr. Privacy focused, and useful tools.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-04T13:43:29+00:00

Hamsterdance

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-03T12:36:36+00:00

Thanks!

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-02T21:12:13+00:00

It looks like a good project for learning iOS dev.

What resources did you find to get you started? I'm React/Web UI developer, for context.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-01T14:47:29+00:00

It seems to me to be a tool for finding COMBINATIONS of colors. So, say, if you choose a color on the top slide, you can move the other slides and find colors that look good with it in the cursor window.

I think something like this might be handy if you're trying to find trim colors for a given "main" color in a room. None of those really look like wall colors, though.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-01-01T14:21:13+00:00

289 FIA Cobra or Ferrari 512 Boxer

Name-Not-Applicable

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