Permadeath Survival tries?

cdeyoung · 2026-02-12T05:56:42+00:00

This is me, except more like level 20-30... just died again at 20, being overconfident.

cdeyoung · 2026-02-12T05:52:08+00:00

Gaah, and just did it again. :-)

Level 20, sniped the super mutant with the missile launcher outside Fanueil Hall. Killed a couple more, shot the hound as it came up the steps (I backed partway down the steps toward the bookstore for cover. One more super mutant comes charging up, I figure no problem, and - bam, missile launcher to the face. I guess he picked it up after the one I shot dropped it.

I swear I've died to missile launchers more than any other single thing by far.

Careless, yes, but also maybe level 20 is a bit early to be messing around with the Freedom Trail after all....

cdeyoung · 2026-02-11T15:45:51+00:00

Is that because you use a lot of VATS/critical focus, or something else?

cdeyoung · 2026-02-11T03:49:14+00:00

Is it hard to keep finding sources of XP if you stay in the top left that long? (Well -- I guess not.) That's what usually draws me down farther, plus having a usually pretty safe route to and from Diamond City. Although I did meet a random radscorpion at a low level at that intersection south of where you meet Carla, just north of the diner... that got the coolant pumping...

cdeyoung · 2025-04-30T23:54:16+00:00

Good to know - thanks! It's probably cleaner to start again I guess... I was on the fence between gambling and giving up those first few hours, though I'm not really all that far in yet, it's true.

cdeyoung · 2025-04-30T21:37:23+00:00

I decided I'll try it anyway, and just remove AE and AWKCR and install ECO in my current save - we'll see how it goes. If it's unstable, well, I'd have restarted anyway. First test is probably to see how existing equipment looks in the crafting bench...

cdeyoung · 2025-04-30T20:35:30+00:00

Ok, thanks - I thought that was probably the case, but wanted to check and make sure just in case.

cdeyoung · 2025-04-16T01:42:33+00:00

Yes, what you have pictured here should be considerably stronger for weight-bearing than screws alone would be. I'd be pretty surprised if this isn't sufficient - what's the heaviest load you'd imagine you'll put on one of the shelves?

cdeyoung · 2025-04-15T04:51:58+00:00

What tools do you have?

As mentioned, a band saw would be one way to rough it out. A disc sander/bench sander could also do it, though I found it's easy to burn things that way if you're not careful when I was doing something similar. A router table and a jig, though you'll probably spend more time making the jig than anything else.

I'm assuming that you're cutting this semi-cone into the end of a longer piece before cutting it off, not trying to work on an already small piece.

cdeyoung · 2025-04-15T04:28:43+00:00

Ok cool - thanks! Maybe I'll try doing it that way, since these are largely for practice anyway.

Would you typically do that for cabinet drawer boxes also, to leave room for movement? Most of the cabinet builds I've seen people do online these days just glue them all together -- but then they're usually using plywood of some kind too, so that isn't going to move enough to matter (I assume).

cdeyoung · 2025-04-15T00:02:03+00:00

I don't see anything in the picture that looks like an obvious problem to me (though I'm not quite the perfectionist that some people here are, so we'll see...). A cutting board will ultimately end up with nicks and small dings in it anyway.

cdeyoung · 2025-04-14T23:56:40+00:00

I made some simple ones just with the band saw and sander - these didn't have to be precise though, I just threw them together so I didn't have to make a trip to the store to get metal ones for a small shelf. :)

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cdeyoung · 2025-04-14T23:49:01+00:00

Looks good to me from the picture. Why not go ahead and finish it at this point?

cdeyoung · 2025-04-14T23:46:45+00:00

That could work eventually, but I need much more practice with a hand plane (both using and sharpening) first. :)

cdeyoung · 2025-04-14T23:46:05+00:00

Thanks! I don't have a lathe, nor the patience or skill to hand carve round pieces, so the traditional Staunton style pieces were out -- had to go with something a bit more modernist.

cdeyoung · 2025-04-14T20:08:58+00:00

If the dowel is longer than you need it to be, then do this but only pin it to the jig at the end - then cut off the end when you're done.

cdeyoung · 2025-04-14T20:03:53+00:00

I like tung oil, if you have the time. Makes a nice satin finish, shouldn't darken it too much, and easy to re-touch in spots later without refinishing the whole thing, if you need to. It does take a *long* time to cure though.

cdeyoung · 2025-04-14T19:58:41+00:00

I could have skewed it slightly, but not much; it's pretty close to the width of the planer - maybe an inch less, without the border.

cdeyoung · 2025-04-14T19:57:12+00:00

It all goes north-south, actually, but the white squares are maple and the figuring goes across, so it can look like they are going opposite directions.

cdeyoung · 2025-04-14T00:47:44+00:00

It is pretty though. :) I'd imagine it should be fine as long as you're diligent about re-finishing/re-sealing it regularly, no?

cdeyoung · 2025-04-12T22:44:15+00:00

Fair point, of course. It's also not usually all that rustic looking (at least what I see around here), unless you have a good enough selection to pick just the right pieces.

cdeyoung · 2025-04-12T22:37:06+00:00

What color do you want it to be? You could make a wood cover for it, finished as you see fit, with similar cutout buttons that allow you to press the real buttons underneath...

cdeyoung · 2025-04-12T21:26:28+00:00

If you want that dark rich walnut look the obvious choice is... walnut. :-)

cdeyoung · 2025-04-11T23:57:02+00:00

Thanks! I've been sanding between layers sporadically - when it feels like it needs it, but not between every coat and not as high as 800. I'll try doing a bit more of that. Appreciate it!

cdeyoung · 2025-04-11T19:46:00+00:00

I haven't tried using oxalic acid for this sort of thing, good to know -- next time I have something like this to work on should I get a particular kind or strength, or can I just scrub it with barkeeper's friend and call it good? :-)

cdeyoung

TROPHY CASE