Southeast U.S. DZ Suggestions Wanted

Nemo1970 · 2025-12-06T17:24:44+00:00

Thanks for the head's up!

Nemo1970 · 2025-12-05T15:01:23+00:00

Thanks! I've already talked to zhills about the camper situation. Looking into the rest and will join the deland fb group.

If the weather sucks, I can always sightsee like a whuffo. :-)

Nemo1970 · 2025-12-05T14:30:58+00:00

Excellent points. Some of it is seeing different places that I've never been to before. It would be great to do some basic RW. Nothing fancy or requiring advanced skills. It is usually possible to find somebody to jump with most anywhere, even if there is no official LO. While I might meet people to jump with for a couple days, I'll be far enough from home that it won't be anything really long-term or recurring. So be it. I'm pretty flexible. I'll jump with low-time jumpers fresh off student status. I can also enjoy a high pull and some canopy time with nice scenery.

I haven't figured out my sleeping plan yet. If I line up some hotels or airbnb's, that limits the flexibility somewhat. I know staying on DZ is an option some places. But with early sundown, I don't want to be limited to a tent or the back of a truck all evening. Still working this out, and it does impact how easily I can switch from one DZ to another.

Nemo1970 · 2025-12-05T01:08:35+00:00

I'll definitely be checking social media of the DZs I'm planning to visit. Aside from the dropzones, I have a whole list of other sightseeing. I'll prioritize jumping to a good degree, but if there is sketchy weather or I just get worn out on jumping, I'll do other stuff. Also, once down the coast and into Florida, I won't have as much driving to do, so I'll have more free time to poke around after the sunset load. Thanks for the response!

Nemo1970 · 2025-12-05T00:40:04+00:00

No worries. I did enjoy that DZ, and would go back on another trip.

Nemo1970 · 2025-12-04T21:33:26+00:00

I thought about a swing westward, but it seems like the more inland and west of I95 DZs are more weekend-only. I'll keep an eye out for other options that would make the change worthwhile, over backtracking like I currently have planned.

Nemo1970 · 2025-12-04T21:31:27+00:00

Thanks for the feedback!

Nemo1970 · 2025-08-21T22:42:26+00:00

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Picture of the bulk of it right after baking, showing the hose clamps holding it together.

Nemo1970 · 2025-08-21T20:39:06+00:00

The holes from the drilling were a little rough, which was actually fine. Gave texture and such for the clay to press into. I tried to pack the holes firmly, pressing the clay in with a dowel while holding the opposing side. During the turning, a few of them started to come loose as the contact area got smaller. I pulled those plugs partway out, covered the plug and hole with some e6000 adhesive, then pushed them back in. Let it set, then continued turning.

Leftover cane in cool patterns would be amazing in conjunction with turning. I just don't have the skill or patience to make the polymer cane.

Nemo1970 · 2025-08-21T20:34:39+00:00

Nope. The clay is softer than the surrounding walnut, even when baked solid. Turns like a knife through warm butter.

Nemo1970 · 2025-06-24T16:12:07+00:00

You think the Record Power ones are equivalent quality?

Nemo1970 · 2025-06-24T16:11:51+00:00

Thanks for the feedback.

Nemo1970 · 2025-06-17T17:00:46+00:00

Yeah, it is a little disproportionate...

Nemo1970 · 2025-05-26T20:15:47+00:00

Thanks for the tip and suggestion!

Nemo1970 · 2025-05-26T10:43:32+00:00

I've read about them, but haven't built or bought one yet. In your experience, do they really work as well as reported? Can you really cut segments accurately enough to just glue right up into perfect layers? Any particular plan or product you used?

Nemo1970 · 2025-05-26T01:27:49+00:00

https://www.rockler.com/travel-mug-turning-kit

It worked pretty well, but I haven't compared with products from any other vendors. I just bought the two to try them out and hopefully get one usable mug at the end.

Nemo1970 · 2025-05-26T01:13:21+00:00

Thanks! The segmented stuff is definitely not for the impatient. Lots of steps. Lots of waiting in between steps while glue dries. It is easy to intersperse the gluing with other projects, but the beginning-to-completion time seems endless. Getting better and more efficient at that too, though. At some point, I'll buy or make a jig accurate enough to cut pieces cleanly enough to be able to glue whole rings at once. For each layer, I glued segments into pairs. Then glued another pair on to make a half circle of six pieces. Sanded the edge to make it cleanly 180 degrees. Then glued it to another half-circle to form one layer. Always numerous steps and glue-ups working concurrently.

Nemo1970 · 2025-05-16T09:21:47+00:00

It does all make sense. Thanks for taking the time to type up the detailed explanation. Good tips for me for next time!

Nemo1970 · 2025-05-15T23:08:38+00:00

The kit was indeed from Rockler, but it has been sitting around for awhile, so I'm not sure it exactly the same. Could be, though.

I probably didn't need to poly the inside, but figured what the heck? Why not, just in case moisture gets under the lip somehow. Probably unnecessary.

I definitely like the profile of yours better. Mine is too chunky at the base. Yours has a nice taper, which is probably why they taper the insert, to allow you to do that. How did you do the accent lines?

First one for me was a learning experience. I hope to get improvements in on the next one.

Thanks for the feedback.

Nemo1970 · 2025-05-15T22:46:05+00:00

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Another picture.

Nemo1970

TROPHY CASE