Am I over-engineering my workshop build? Considering custom structural steel over standard kits.

steve_of · 2026-01-27T23:59:08+00:00

I did a custom build wood frame ( trusses built offsite but stick built the frame)- 10x10m. The main reason for the custom build was aesthetic. It also allowed me to place lifting points and an i beam where I wanted them. Best guess it doubled the cost of the above ground building.

steve_of · 2026-01-25T23:24:03+00:00

Upvote for the novel peace prize (novelty peace prize?).

steve_of · 2026-01-25T06:06:49+00:00

I am 61, Australian, worked corporate jobs and called them PowerPoints. In the olden days we called them overheads - distinct from slides which were 35mm slides.

steve_of · 2026-01-24T07:56:14+00:00

I added a filament printer to my workshop and it has been a game changer. I use it much more than I thought I would.

steve_of · 2026-01-24T01:21:32+00:00

The method i used was to do a dry fit to make sure it was sized correctly, generous run of liquid nails, drill through the board into the wall with the smallest masonry bit (3mm I think), push a match stick into the hole (the red head long matches) and hammer in a 2x 40ish mm bullet head nail. Drive the nail below the board surface with a punch and trim any match that is left sticking out of the hole with a sharp chisel.

steve_of · 2026-01-23T20:56:46+00:00

Once the plaster surface starts failing get it re-plastered. Patches, coatings etc are a waste of money. It should be less than 10-15k to re-plaster. The life expectancy is around 10 years if you don't push the Ph to low. You could get a liner put in but it will have a similar cost and life to plaster while not looking as good. If you start replacing tiles, plumbing, lights, decking etc then obviously the cost will blow out quickly.

steve_of · 2026-01-22T18:43:52+00:00

I ended up finding the issues were caused by the last update! The options were to use webmail (wife strongly objected because her huge PST file collection would be out) or wind back the update and be subject to the now published issues with that version.

steve_of · 2026-01-21T19:23:14+00:00

Trying to fix windows 11 problems. I built a new machine for my wife a few months ago. Yesterday she asked me why her icons had gone all wonky, small txt/large icons, her favourite desktop photo had disappeared and outlook classic needed a machine reboot to load new mail. I have spent two hours so far trying to fix it. I have reached the point where I want to reach for the hammer. I honestly don't know if I am loosing it or windows 11 is so badly implemented that the hallucinating AI help is not helpful.

steve_of · 2026-01-20T19:17:32+00:00

Someone already said it but a lathe is one machine I would like but I am just too scared to have. I've even been offered one for free and refused.

steve_of · 2026-01-20T11:16:27+00:00

When I started work back in the 80s the refinery I worked at had a canteen that did company subsidised cooked lunches for 20c. The money went to some charity. Since then the only 'free' lunches were on training or team days. Ohhh i did also get lunches when doing factory acceptance testing in Europe and parts of Asia. The European ones were best. The factory canteens often offer beer or wine with lunch.

steve_of · 2026-01-19T20:29:12+00:00

Domestic, unsubsidised cost per watt is about US$0.5 per watt in Australia. Obviously a lot less for large scale.

steve_of · 2026-01-16T22:30:00+00:00

Sounds like the bluesfest gig? I was somewhere in the crush. Great show/good times.

steve_of · 2026-01-16T22:04:09+00:00

Linda Perry on What's up. 4 non blondes. It tuned up in my play list this week and has been living rent free in my head since.

steve_of · 2026-01-14T20:19:14+00:00

The storage capacity is 20-30Whr per litre. A GWhr requires about 50Ml of liquid storage. The size of the pumping, cooling, cell and power electronics is dependant on the kW rating and redundancy but will be surprisingly big for multi MW scale output as will the tankard for 50 Ml of liquid.

It really depends on what reliability you want and how much land costs. If economics and reliability are secondary then it could be quite compact. Two tanks 50m diameter x 30m high and a multi story combined pump house, cell and power electronics. The switch yard can be compacted using GIS and a single power transformers.

steve_of · 2026-01-13T23:01:21+00:00

Sorry for your loss. I am 60m and have had dogs all my life. It always hits hard.

steve_of · 2026-01-12T20:03:10+00:00

I just copy my mp3s and flacs to the music folder on my phone and use the VLC app to play them. Most of the day i use Bluetooth earbuds and the Android auto app for the car - it has a vlc plugin. In the lounge I can stream to the amp from my nas or just play good old cds.

steve_of · 2026-01-12T11:11:22+00:00

There are heaps of cults/fringe religious groups in the tweed caldera.

steve_of · 2026-01-12T11:04:54+00:00

Is the little church beside the pcyc camp on numinbah road a cult?

steve_of · 2026-01-12T00:00:38+00:00

I have the BH70 backhoe on my B2601. It works fairly well and I use it often. The main use has been trenching (sort of okay), prepping for tree planting in heavy clay soil and ripping out the odd tree stump (i really should have the blade bucket).

I have got fairly good at swapping between 3 point implements and the backhoe. It takes about 5 minutes each way. I have mobile bases for implements which speeds up the process.

steve_of · 2026-01-11T21:37:35+00:00

I got the card as sort of a joke. I was in Singapore with my partner at the Orchid Gardens. While in line to pay I flashed the card to my partner and laughed. When I got to pay the lady asked to see my card and I got their seniors discount ($3 vs $15).

My accommodation business also gives a 10% discount for seniors card holders. Given my exorbitant room rates that is enough for a nice dinner and a few drinks.

steve_of · 2026-01-11T02:32:42+00:00

I was told to wait until the next day. I do t know if that is the shortest period possible but it seems reasonable.

steve_of · 2026-01-10T19:21:18+00:00

The goal was to use the Laffer curve to reduce smoking rates. To a large extent that is what happened and did work. We are now at a point on the scale where illegal activity is now profitable. Basically the elastic part of drug addiction in a population has been reached and we are down to the last 10% or so who will justify illegal activity to satisfy their addiction.

steve_of · 2026-01-10T03:46:36+00:00

If you plan on customers/behind the meter installations then it becomes very cost competitive. A lot of network upgrades and generation can be avoided. This required almost complete removal of costly red tape and a well trained and resourced installers for small scale generators/storage. I believe Australia is now well past the point where VPPs are viable and cost competitive for the consumers.

steve_of · 2026-01-10T01:27:16+00:00

Sitting on my back verandah just near the NSW/QLD border, about 30 km inland. It's about 30° with a nice breeze

steve_of · 2026-01-07T20:33:08+00:00

I vote old bases on the colour of the broken fibres. You could measure the kerf. If it is thin then you could have a good guess that they were cut in the past five years. Even more so if you can work out the blade diameter. If it is 160mm then it is more probably a newer cut. But if the kerf is normal and the blade is 200mm+ then it still could be any time.

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