a little secret

[bloke]

Creating threads - in the forum - motivates me to "get on with" some of these epic projects/repairs.
Even when they are delayed (due to my life) or postponed (by a customer's life), these threads about specific repairs or projects - are still existential reminders.

You (plural) might prefer to see more pictures, but - not being particularly good at/about that - I'm afraid that these threads end up being (mostly) self-serving.

[the elephant]

I consider my project threads to be a sort of public diary. I actually peruse them after short breaks to remember what my plans had been, because (heh, heh) I keep adding to my workload.

By way of example, I was getting set up (looking at various tools and buying materials) to relocate my thumb ring and then make a new, extended lever on my Kurath. I stepped away from the thread for about a week, and during that time I decided, on a whim, to add a 6th valve. During that break, I started reading posts by you about the logic behind the 6th valve, as you see it. In looking over that Kurath I noted (for like the umpteenth time) that another rotor could be shoehorned into that space fairly easily. The real issue was how the lever/linkage relationship would work. I had to take several days off for a big gig I had to actually practice for, and I used the partially completed Kurath for it. As usual, during tacets I found myself reengineering the dang thing and came up with the idea that it would work if I could get a valve with some minor modifications.

BOOM! Damage done. Money spent.

Then I came back, reread my own thread to see what I had been thinking about, and realized that I had made a huge leap from one thing to something completely different, almost unrelated to what I had been doing. So now I have the stopping point laid out as a part of all this additional work. I would hate to do the valve install and forget about the thumb ring. It is not comfortable to use, so I probably would remember to go back and fix it. Duh…

My threads are sort of what I had been doing in the past, but instead of a logbook or work journal, I was posting on TN (and now here) and getting some helpful feedback. So I kept doing it. I got the idea from the various automotive forums where lengthy build threads are the norm. I have had several heavily documented ones on my 2003 Wrangler and my 1990 Volvo 740. So why not a tuba build thread?

So yes, I know full well that pretty much no one reads my stuff, but there are a few dedicated cheerleaders put there who help to propel me along. I keep doing it because the space is free and I like doing it now. It *is* self-serving, but it is also very educational if someone interested in what we do stumbles across one of these threads and gets something from them.

Keep posting. I will, too. Even if we are mostly posting stuff read by each other. HAHAHA!!!

There is an inherent value in that.

[prairieboy1]

There is incredible inherent value in the threads posted here. I have learned so much by following along and although I will never have the skills to carry out these projects, it is fascinating to read and learn from the folks that do. This includes bloke, elephant and Yorkboy, etc.

[Three Valves]

Since I only follow along to live vicariously through you, whatever motivated you is irrelevant.

[Three Valves]