The Coffee Shop (a place to chat) Est. 2004

[Anonymous]

Bob that book showed up finaly... thank you... it is going to help out alot.

[tomwatkins]

Good Mornin' Everybody,
It's going to be a beautiful day in the mountains today. Last night we got down into the mid teens, but it's supposed to warm up into the 40's today. The coffee this morning is very good, I might have to put another pot on in a little while.

We got a fair amount done on the club's modules and the space yesterday. There's quite a bit still to do, but we're having a good turnout each workday so it's getting done. Since not everybody is fortunate enough to have a home layout, it's going to be good to have a place for everybody to run their trains.

On the way home yesterday, I made the Home Depot run and got the wainscoat paneling, paint and mouldings. The paneling got cut to the right height last evening, so today is a painting day. Working on the railroad would be a lot more fun but gotta do it.

Teffy, the trestle looks good! What did you use for stain?

Mitchell, I really like the SW1500. It looks good in that scheme. Once again, a very nice job.

Fergie, when is Teffy getting into town? It's very good of you to provide him with his own snoah shovel. He might have a problem getting it on the plane. The pics are really good. That is a lot of snow.

Trainwreck, a curved tresle would be the most accurate. Deck girder and thru girder sections were straight, with each following section set at an angle to the preceding section to make the total bridge curve. It's pretty easy to lay one out using Micro engineering deck or thru girder sections. Their 30' or 50' girders work well.

Der, the snoah blower looks good. I like the weathering on the freight car too.

I'd better get off here and get started.
Have a great day, everybody,
Tom

[Anonymous]

Good Morning All:

This is the second time I've had to type this in - I don't know where it went, just into cyberspace somewhere.

Mom is now back home. We went to the Dr yesterday and I told him if she still needed eyedrops she was comming back to our house and if she didn't need them I'd take her home. He said she was well enough to go home. In three weeks we go back for a new perscription for the glasses. Her comment yesterday was "It's amazing how much better I can see".

Tom:
Thanks for the complement. The stain is a waterbase stain made by Black Bear Construction Co in Austin, Tx. I like the idea of water base as it's so easy to clean up, just stick the brush under the faucet. He's the guy that put on the "make and take" clinic on trestles at the Lone Star convention this past June. He also has a plastic lamanite jig that is "out of this world" for making bents. If you are interested his webb site is:
www.blackbearcc.com
I've made several bents using his jig and it was easy. Now that I know how to do it I'll get a picture posted for you.

Eigref:
We're getting as bad a RDL!!!
That yard doesn't look like the well manicured lawn that we saw this fall. It is really amazing the difference in three months.
I haven't had that electrical problem yet (fingers crossed), usually mine is lack of power and not too much. I sure enjoyed the conversation.

Brian:
I'm glad that you got the book and I hope that it helps you out. I think the Steelers let a lot of us down.

Ed:
I was watching the game and came back into the coffee shop and saw post 4999 and decided to try it and it was just blind luck. Mitchell would have been it, but with him down in Austraila it took too long for his post to get to the states.
(I think).

Greg:
I like trestles with nice wooden bents so that's what I'm going to build. Black Bear's jig makes it easy and it looks good when it's done. With the bent jig, you can make the bents and then set them on a curve and WALLA their is the bridge. I set the curve in the stringers that go under the ties and then glue the ties on, then turn the tie/stringer piece upside down and glue the bents on - that way I know the track is going to be level. Notice in my picture that the bridge supports aren't in yet, but the track work is level. I'll add the supports when I'm sure that this where it is to go. I build by Hit and Miss, It's just experience that makes for more hits then misses.

John:
I like your picture of the SB. Forget my comment about the waste of gas as that one won't use as much as you use getting your car to the street from the house, but will it handle Fergies driveway?

Paul:
Many years ago when I was a port engineer I had a beard to keep the wind from going down the front of my coat and I can remember one night out on a barge with a strong North wind and sleet and when I went back into the tug my beard was all ice. I didn't realize it untill one of the deck hands said something about it.

Jim:
John has a timesaver incorparated into his layout. One of the things that John Allen was very strong on was the length of the stubs, they had to be short so you couldn't make up a train of seven or eight cars and make it go easier. Every once in a while someone will bring one to a convention and post the times for everyone and you get to see how good you are. A few beers sure distroyes your timeing.

Luct:
I hope you are going to use at least 22" radius, 24" would be better if possable.

I know that when you are by yourself it's hard to do something new that you think will mess up the project, but spray the side of the building that no one is going to see. Start off by washing the side with dish washing soap and get it good and dry. (I use Stephanie's Hair drier.) Then paint it with aged concrete and then wipe it with a piece of toilet paper. Don't use kleenex as it will tear and not wipe the paint. Have the TP already four thicknesses and ready to go before you spray. Come back in about 25-30 minutes and see the results - much better. If you messed up just spray the side with red. After you pat yourself on the back do the other three sides and then get a cup of tea. This will make the building look much better. Now they are ready to add the windows and doors and get on with construction.

Well Stephanie is telling me that we are late for work so let me get out of here.

Ya'll have a blessed day and remember SANTA FE ALL THE WAY
Bob

[JPowell]

Afternoon all... I'll take a mocha please. And let me have a slice of that homemade marble cheesecake. MMMM.
So, here I sit at the office....(warehouse) and the heat has been on and off for the past week. BBBBBBRRRRRR!
I was on the 'Trains' page earlier looking at the 'Upcoming Events' and found one on the 20th of Feb and one sometime mid/late April. I'll be going to both as who know's what I'll see.
Well, I'm going to go and enjoy my lunch, cheesecake, and mocha!
TTYL...
JP

[grayfox1119]

Good afternoon everyone, a beautiful day here today, clear, full deep blue sky, no wind at all, and temp is 21F !!![:D][:D] It actually is about 35 in the sun, as air temp is always measured in the shade. It is a good thing because the latest weather at noon just said that the next Clipper coming in tomorrow morning is going to intensify when it hits the Atlantic, so now we are going to get between 3 and 6 inches more snow.

Bob, happy to hear your mom is doing better, that is great news !!!

John, I love that snowblower at the station, where did you ever find that ?

Luc, Fergie and John, that means you guys may get even more as it travels up through the open Atlantic and pickes up even more moisture......you may need the roof hatches yet, or at least the attic windows.

The Boston weather bureau just said that if this next storm drops just 2.5 more inches, then the all time record snowfall for Boston will be eclipsed for the month of January.

I decided that I had better get my butt to HD and get the last 8 sheets of sheetrock for the trainroom walls before things get nasty again around here.

Only three more days until the Big Train Show at the Big E Fairgrounds in West Springfield Ma. this Saturday and Sunday. There will be 5 acres of nothing but trains and items for sale and demonstrations, all in three (3) very large buildings. One layout that will be there is a huge "O" gauge that has over 100 cars being pulled by 7 tandem locos. There is also a huge "N" gauge layout with 100 cars being pulled on an 80 foot long layout. Many RR clubs will be there with their modular layouts all set up.
This year, there will be even more demonstrations, illustrating the "how to's" of scenery, making rocks, aging, painting, everything you could imagine.
This show is rated as one of the TOP 3 MRR shows in the country.

I wish you guys could all make it here, it is really a terrific show.

Time to get out of the coffee shop and start mounting the last 8 sheets, yaa baby !!!

See you guys later, thanks for the coffee Zoe,

[TurboOne]

Hiya all,

hey Fergie, I will take a nice cool drink of iced tea, no sugar please.

Short note to say hello to all. It is warming up, 72 so far, doesn't look like the predicted rain the weatherman said.

Gotta eat and return to work.

Take care all

Tim

[Noah Hofrichter]

Der John, How did you get an N scale snoah blower? Did you buy it or build it? I'll have to look into something like that for HO.

Well, I better get going, I've got more homework to do, and I've got modeling to do to. I'm ahead of schedual today, so I better get a move on so I can stay ahead of schedual.

Noah

[fec153]

Evening Tim. Gladto know I am not the only one who drinks iced tes without sugar.
My wife and her family all drink it so sweet it hurts my teeth. {Thats Southern style.ya'll}
Flip

[egmurphy]

Don't know if any of you noticed it, or even read the thread, but Robert (RDL) posted an innocent post saying if anyone else had stuff they wanted to give away, he was open to accept it. Harmless enough, but several people really jumped very hard on his case over it. There were some good defense posts agreeing with him, but a couple of guys got very personal. He's apparently deleted his forum membership (the post, entitled "Taking all Freebies", now does not show an author) as a result of the exchange (I imagine).

Teffy, I think you talked on the phone to him, if you still have his number you might consider calling him up and trying to help get over it. It would be a shame to have him quit in anger over something like that.

I don't understand why people have to be like that in a forum. In my opinion (maybe I'm wrong) the negative responses were way over the top and uncalled for.

Once again, thanks to all the Coffee Shop patrons for either being such nice people, or (if you're just masquerading as someone nice) at least for checking your guns at the Coffee Shop door.

Regards

Ed

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fec153

Evening Tim. Gladto know I am not the only one who drinks iced tes without sugar.
My wife and her family all drink it so sweet it hurts my teeth. {Thats Southern style.ya'll}
Flip

I'm not adverse to Long Island Ice Tea[:D]

Ed: Yes the grey one's mine.

Not much to say except the Same-O-same -o

Fergie

[GDRMCo]

I'll take a Caramel Tea Deep fried. If anyone has AIM I'd like to chat

[fec153]

Fergie- did u get the forwarded E's?
Flip

[dave9999]

Well, I haven't posted in here in awhile... But it's getting pretty ugly out there. Look like we're
due for our yearly "forum explosion". I see some people getting booted. I guess ol' Bergie
will have some house cleaning to do tonight.

So how's everyone been[:D] Dave

[der5997]

Good evening folks: Zoe, I'll have a fried Mars Bar in honour of the birthday of Robbie Burns.[bday]
Also, [bday] tomorrow ***!
Glad to report that the endocrinologist was pleased with the way things are going. Talk of changes to the regimen were put on a "if it's not broke, don't fix it" basis, so we are "Go" for another year, or as Fergie might say, Same-O- Same-o. [:D] Went for a walk after dinner, first for about 3 or 4 days (treadmill isn't the same) and pulled a low blood sugar, so celebrated Robbie Burns day with a small single malt and the top half of a Tim Horton's Oatmeal and Rasin muffin! [dinner]
Thanks for the kind words about the Normal snow blower. It's scratch built, and was fun to do. It would lend itself to etched brass I expect. I used styrene and the chute is paper. The wheels are AMI roadbed material, painted. The auger is swarf from drilling a 9/64th hole in black plastic (size does matter for that one)
Were I to do it again, I'd try drilling a block of brass or aluminium to get the swarf. It was quite difficult to cut a straight end in the soft plastic swarf. In HO ,Noah, you would have to use a much bigger drill size to get the right twist for the auger, and that big you'd have to arrange each half of the auger so it was contra-rotating. Just eyeball a real SB, and use a scale rule to lay out the parts.
***:

QUOTE: I see you guys got 17.7" of snow!!! If my conversion is correct, 2.54 cm/inch.

That's close enough. I use 2.5 cm per inch as it's easier to remember and 45cm= 18", however trying to get that measurement on the ground was imposible because of the drifting, and the blowing clear of other areas.
The locals on the island say they have never seen so much snow in their lives here.
Tom:

QUOTE: I like the weathering on the freight car too.

I like it too, and can claim zero input as it came that way from the train show sales table! I bought it for the microtrains couplers[(-D]
Bob and Jim:

QUOTE: John has a timesaver incorparated into his layout.

...but what he doesn't have, and wishes like Jim he did have, is the article on how to run it the way John Allen explained. Actually, I've got only 1/2 a Time Saver, as the original was two layouts mirror imaged, so to speak. I make up my own switching puzzles for use with mine. You are right Bob about the short stubs. Jim I've an article on how those are meant to be, but, as I say, not the TimeSaver directions.
Good news about your mother's eyes too Bob, Praise the Lord!
***:

QUOTE: Luc, Fergie and John, that means you guys may get even more as it travels up through the open Atlantic and pickes up even more moisture......you may need the roof hatches yet, or at least the attic windows.

Sounds as though this one is going to our south, and we won't get it. Newfoundland very well may.
Ed:

QUOTE: I don't understand why people have to be like that in a forum. In my opinion (maybe I'm wrong) the negative responses were way over the top and uncalled for.

I don't do much on other forum threads, or other forums (forae?, forii?[:D]) However, the little I do convinces me that we have something very special going in The Coffee Shop. I find the tone of quite a bit of the other threads harsh or edgy, or maybe just plain insensitive.
Mitchell:

QUOTE: If anyone has AIM I'd like to chat

If it's AMI, that would be me. Talk away. Remember, the stuff is heavy,and quite sticky, and I've found there are some disadvantages I probably wouldn't use it again. It could be I'm not using it right. The "king" of using this stuff is in Vancouver. I forget his username, but it's got 48 in it. I haven't corresponded with him in some time. I don't know how searchable the membership for the forum is. Anyway, what's on your mind, besides deep fried AMI that is.[(-D]

Looks like bedtime is looming again, so Good night, and God Bless

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, All!

Zoe, a large mocha with a dash of cinnamon on the top, and a cinnamon raisin bagel with that, please.[dinner]

***, did you used to work in construction (before you started your new construction site)? Sounds like you’re getting lots of practice. [;)]

[#dots] Fergie, you must have had your beard a while. Hardest part when I had a beard was the first 2-3 weeks with the itching until it got long enough. Part of why I never really kept one very long (that, and warmer weather down here in the states...)

Teffy, I kind of knew the principle of Timesaver modules, but what are the ‘rules’ - i.e., is there a certain setup you start with (so someone can’t ‘rig’ their setup to make their times easier/faster)? I figured that there is a starting setup like:

boxcar on siding A,
hopper on siding B,
and
you have the engine followed respectively by:
boxcar 1 that needs to go to to siding C,
tank car for siding D, and
2 more boxcars to go to sidings A and B, etc....

Can anyone describe the ‘rules’ or point me to a copy of the article (or the text from it)? Help/explanations? Any and all information would be appreciated.[:)]

Hope that RDL comes back.[sigh]

All our northern neighbors in the sNoah zone, I sure hope the next jetstream flow misses picking up moisture as it goes through our area before it heads for New England and Nova Scotia.

Noah, hope you've still been able to get some modelling in today.

Luc, maybe I missed it, but has your CFO got rid of those [censored] kidney stones yet? Sure hope so!

Tim, how's your weather holding up there? You still toughing it out there?[}:)][;)]

I'm trying to find a drawing I made a long while back - it was a fictional map of the 'protoype' RR for my layout, with names for towns and so forth. Now where did that go?[X-)][%-)]

[#offtopic] In Cape G today we got to the 55s, but I was so busy at work I didn't even get out for lunch at all. One crisis after another... sent three clients to psychiatric wards (one voluntary). No breathing space at work for sure. Okay, I'll quit griping now. I *need* to chill with some modeling stuff tonight.[:)] Is it the weekend yet?[;)]

Well, my cup's about empty and I've polished off the bagel, so I'll wash out my cup and be heading out. Blessings on everyone's night![:)]

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[JimRCGMO]

Was just on my way out the door when I heard John's voice, so decided to pop back in just for a bit.[:-^]

QUOTE: Originally posted by der5997



Bob and Jim:

QUOTE: John has a timesaver incorparated into his layout.

...but what he doesn't have, and wishes like Jim he did have, is the article on how to run it the way John Allen explained. Actually, I've got only 1/2 a Time Saver, as the original was two layouts mirror imaged, so to speak. I make up my own switching puzzles for use with mine. You are right Bob about the short stubs. Jim I've an article on how those are meant to be, but, as I say, not the TimeSaver directions.

Ed:

QUOTE: I don't understand why people have to be like that in a forum. In my opinion (maybe I'm wrong) the negative responses were way over the top and uncalled for.

I don't do much on other forum threads, or other forums (forae?, forii?[:D]) However, the little I do convinces me that we have something very special going in The Coffee Shop. I find the tone of quite a bit of the other threads harsh or edgy, or maybe just plain insensitive.
Mitchell:

QUOTE: If anyone has AIM I'd like to chat

If it's AMI, that would be me. Talk away. Remember, the stuff is heavy,and quite sticky, and I've found there are some disadvantages I probably wouldn't use it again. It could be I'm not using it right. The "king" of using this stuff is in Vancouver. I forget his username, but it's got 48 in it. I haven't corresponded with him in some time. I don't know how searchable the membership for the forum is. Anyway, what's on your mind, besides deep fried AMI that is.[(-D]

Der John, can you email me the directions (even if they're not the original)? They'd at least give me a starting point for how to use a Timesaver once I build one. Thanks!

Yeah Ed (and Der John), I think we sort of get spoiled by the good company here in the Coffee Shop. Easy to forget that (apparently) the other forums aren't quite the same...[sigh]

John, I think Mitchell is talking about AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), not the roadbed material...[;)][:)]

Take care everyone, and I'll see you in the shop tomorrow!

Jim (heading back out the door for Cape Girardeau)

[Paul W. Beverung]

Hi Gang; Just a quick hello and off ot bed. I read the post by RDL and have to agree that some of those folks came down way hard. I hate to see waist myself and have no problem in someone asking for the unused. RDL if you are in the shop have a cup on me and don't be discourged. You'er our buddy and always welcome.

I had a beard for about a year after I got out of the Army. I can remember it did feel good on those cold winter days when I was out feeding.

Great photos der. I like the SB. I don't think that my fingers could manage building something that small.

Well Good Night all

Paul

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: (CG)Jim:
Der John, can you email me the directions (even if they're not the original)? They'd at least give me a starting point for how to use a Timesaver once I build one. Thanks!

Try the following link. It may not be exactly what you're looking for but may be a help:

http://www.wymann.info/ShuntingPuzzles/sw-timesaver.html

btw, I just did a Google search on Timesaver John Allen and got a bunch of hits. This looked promising.

Regards

Ed

[PennsyHoosier]

Hi Friends,

Still messing with A LOT of snow, but it was decent weather today. The old pickup slid through the horrible stuff and wiped out my neighbor's mailbox. [:I] I got a great laugh out ot if (nothing can hurt the truck). My neighbor was not as amused, however. I fixed the dumb thing for him in about 5 minutes.

Phil, how you doing down there in the southland. [;)]

Dave, you're right, what a mess out there on the forums (forae). Good grief! [V]

der, take a look http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GandD/ in the section under "files." This site has a lot of stuff dedicated to John Allen. If I recall, there is a complete plan on the timesaver. But it's been awhile since I checked.

Regards!

[PennsyHoosier]

Is Robert out, or what's the deal? I sure hope not. [:(]

[egmurphy]

Well it appears that he deleted his forum membership. When that happens, posts started by that person no longer show the deleted ID. If they posted in a thread, it will show 'error' instead of showing his old ID.

He could be lurking as a guest, but I'm pretty sure he's not registered now (unless he has re-registered under a new name).

Ed

[Fergmiester]

I see it's January, Cabin Fever has set in and someone has turned up the flames to heat things up. Sorry to see Robert gone. Same thing last year and one of the same people were involved.

I could say more but I'd be lowering myself to the depths of someone else's depravity.


Anyway I'm off to bed. Too bad some people don't take the time to hibernate and disapear for long periods of time.

Fergie

[PennsyHoosier]

Cabin Fever is a bad thing. Today we were up almost to 30 degree fahrenheit. IT FELT LIKE SPRING. Everyone wanted to be outside. So I ran over my neighbor's mailbox. [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[trolleyboy]

Pennsy: Did your neighbour call the society for the pervention of cruelty to mailbokes on you yet?[:D][swg][swg] I was upset to see what had happened to Robert[:(]it was an unfortunate event and it lookslike poor Mitchell has taken some flak as well[B)][B)],I'd not even looked at the "offending" topic until i'd read everyones posts today and well it is an ugly thing to seen grown adults behaving like 13 year olds[V]Sorry Mitch you are excluded from that last bit. On a happier or unhappier note looks like the Snoah monster is at it here again we're girding for another 15cm's of it at least theres not supposed to be much blowing so it shouldn't be quite as awfull as last saturday[:0].I'm really stalled on the snowsweeper project I've got all the material I need for it but I've got no real good pictures of all sides and at the moment I'd be guessing at dimensions[V]so far my internet research has not yielded any usefull info[:(] Zoe a double hot choc for me with extra marshmellows please(i always eat when I'm unhappy[:(][;)][}:)][:p]lol) Have a good nite folks Rob

[Anonymous]

Just dropping in to say good night, If you're still lurking out there Robert, we'd be glad to have you back in here.

Greg

[grayfox1119]

Good evening gents, John, thank you for the BD wishes, I cannot believe that I will be 66, time seemed to fly by once I hit 40.

Luc, Fergie, John, the weather bureau down here in Mass just uped the snow forecast now to 7-10 inches maybe more.

Luc, I sure hope the wife is feeling better, my best friend has had the same problem all his adult life, the latest bout was a beaut, he landed in the hospital. He has to drink mucho water per day.

Jim: No, I didn't work in construction, I started working as a tech in electronics, Raytheon, etc, 3 years in Army guided missiles, then later an R&D Co in Waltham, working on the 1st laser in 1962, Sprague Electric, designing D/A converters, and then Digital Equipment Corp for 23 years in Semiconductor process equipment maintenance, and last two years at Intel when they bought out the DEC semi div. The construction experience comes from 45 years of being a home owner, doing all my own installs, additions, electrical, plumbing, painting, you name it. Made a lot of mistakes, but learned from every one of them, too bad no one was there when I was 20 to show me the way.

Ed, two more gallons of fresh OJ arrived at the Frig today, there is nothing like it!!!!

Train Room const. good progress today, the wife went to HD with me and the PU truck to get the last 8 sheets of plasterboard,boy that was a big help, it is hard to handle 4x8 alone loading and unloading. To make matters worse, some dimwit moved 10 sheets of 1/2" on top of the 3/8" pile, so Lorraine and I had to move all those 10 heavy babies back to their own pile before I could get to the 3/8". I managed to get 7 sheets cut and mounted, now I only have one sheet to go tomorrow....while it Snoahs out again tomorrow. I will make like a groundhog and stay in my den (trainroom).

[?] I noticed that many people have blue painted background for their layout. I was planning to get some sky-blue paint to do the walls after I skim coat with plaster. Any ideas guys on additional paint schemes for the background on the walls? I was planning on painting cloud formations, etc ( snow clouds these days ).

Only me and Zoe here once again, the coffee is gone, OJ is empty, time to turn out the lights........see you in the morning, bon soir,

[Fergmiester]

I don't think we'll see Robert back in the near future as I've read some of the snipes and they were very callous to say the least.

It's sunny and bitterly cold this AM and the wind chill was somewhere down at -28 last night. If you'll notice even Polar Bears hibernate this time of year.

According to my Weather Girl Lisa, The jet Stream will carry this (as John has Said) snow to the South and clear of us.

Dave: Good to see you! A great spot here as it's Flame Free (knock on wood)

[bday]***! At 66 your probably just coming up to speed. So may the coming of maturity be ever lasting and bring you lots of new toys![bow]

Remember the one with the most toys when he dies, WINS!

Later Gents

Fergie

[Pruitt]

Hmmmm......

QUOTE: Originally posted by egmurphy

Don't know if any of you noticed it, or even read the thread, but Robert (RDL) posted an innocent post saying if anyone else had stuff they wanted to give away, he was open to accept it. ...several people really jumped very hard on his case over it. ...a couple of guys got very personal.

Although one guy did seem a little put off by Robert's request, ROBERT threw the first "punch" when he asked the guy "...how stupid are you, anyway?" That's when folks started jumping his case hard. Maybe I did, too, when I said maybe he "...should be reminded by the moderator that flaming is unacceptable..."

Still, I was thinking of what junk I might send his way, if he was serious - what I see as old junk I won't use might be just the thing someone else needs (especially if he's on a tight budget).

Any one else notice that there are two or three or four folks out there lately that seem a little short-tempered?

Too bad Robert got pissed and left - maybe he'll reconsider and come back (with the pilot on his flamethrower turned down a bit). I still have the junk.

[egmurphy]

Happy Birthday ***, hope you have a good one.


Ed

[tomwatkins]

Good Mornin' Everybody,
It's going to be a gray day in the mountains today. It will be fairly warm, and then start cooling off towards the weekend. The weatherguessers are calling for snow or ice on Saturday. We'll see what happens between now and then. As with many other places, if you don't like the weather here, give it 5 minutes or so, it can change. It also tends to be be very localized because of the wind patterns through the valleys.

That is a shame about RDL. I'll admit I wasn't paying attention to it. Some folks just jump way too hard at things they disagree with. They're very quick to take offense and hammer somebody. One of the pitfalls with a forum such as this is that all communication is written. We don't have the information provided by tone of voice or facial expression which affect what's being said verbally and influence how it's received. One of the best things about the coffee shop is the congenial atmosphere. Everybody is respectful of other's opinions and preferences and flame throwers are checked at the door. or probably just not carried at all.

Teffy, thanks for the information on Black Bear. A jig for building trestle bents would make it a lot easier.

Grayfox, enjoy the train show. Five acres of trains is a really big show. It will take a while to see it all.

I'd better go for now. There's still work to be done in the bathroom.
Have a great day, everybody,
Tom