Scantlings

I do.

http://vimeo.com/65542790

The cobwebs on the truck dash are beyond cool.

I really LOVE the bit about form not needing to follow function! Of course, an anachronistic old bastard like me with my wooden car, bike and boat probably would.

This guy pretty well sums up the reason I don't like modern architecture (especially Bauhaus). Minimalism may be fine in computer programs, but it often represents the elimination of all the beautiful bits in the name of function. It's a bit like a joke told by a person with no sense of humor. The funny bit is missing, and the teller doesn't even realize it.

Off on a ride on my wooden bike this afternoon - see ya!

I hear you Beau. Somestimes less is just less and a convenient excuse for lack luster design.

I like building bikes.

I should probably stop.

BeauV wrote:This guy pretty well sums up the reason I don't like modern architecture (especially Bauhaus). Minimalism may be fine in computer programs, but it often represents the elimination of all the beautiful bits in the name of function.

Off on a ride on my wooden bike this afternoon - see ya!

Beau, how about a wood, mid-century modern, finished bright!

Keith, that's not half bad. I enjoy more ornamentation that that, but I'm ok with anything that requires varnish bought in 5-gallon buckets!!

This is more my style:



Then there is this:

Beau, it wouldn't surprise me if that stuff were yours.

Here's some form follows function on Quill. I especially dig the chainplate.

BeauV wrote:-- snip --

A fellow I used to work with told me that when he was a kid, their family car was a woodie. Each spring, the car got a coat of varnish and then the boat got a coat. It as all part of their annual commissioning process.

Pat

kdh wrote:Beau, it wouldn't surprise me if that stuff were yours.

Here's some form follows function on Quill. I especially dig the chainplate.

Keith,

I've been shopping for a Real Woodie for years, but have yet to pull the trigger. The house in Switzerland is a place I stayed once a decade ago or so. It's a rental/hotel sort of place. The view from that ledge was EPIC!

Now, to the chainplate. If we lived in Victorian England there would be decorations on the chainplate sort of like this door lock from England:



Or if we lived in the Edwardian era a door bell surround might look like this:



Then in the Art Deco period it would look like this:



I fear that our current sense of decoration has ended up as the elimination of all decoration. Now, we have beautifully built clean designs, like your chainplate, but (for me) it lacks any imprint of decoration that the pieces creator might have added in an earlier era.

I see and appreciate your point, Beau.

At least on that deco plate the screw slots are aligned in the same direction, and vertically so dust won't collect in them.

kdh wrote:I see and appreciate your point, Beau.

At least on that deco plate the screw slots are aligned in the same direction, and vertically so dust won't collect in them.

A man after my own heart - I wander around the house lining up the screw slots.

BV

Reminds me of From Bauhaus to our House - Tom Wolfe's book about the joke of proletariat worker's housing foisted on the wealthy.

BeauV wrote:I really LOVE the bit about form not needing to follow function! Of course, an anachronistic old bastard like me with my wooden car, bike and boat probably would.

This guy pretty well sums up the reason I don't like modern architecture (especially Bauhaus). Minimalism may be fine in computer programs, but it often represents the elimination of all the beautiful bits in the name of function. It's a bit like a joke told by a person with no sense of humor. The funny bit is missing, and the teller doesn't even realize it.

Off on a ride on my wooden bike this afternoon - see ya!

To each his own I guess--wouldn't trade mine for the world. Sure is nice to live in one!

BeauV wrote:

kdh wrote:I see and appreciate your point, Beau.

At least on that deco plate the screw slots are aligned in the same direction, and vertically so dust won't collect in them.

A man after my own heart - I wander around the house lining up the screw slots.

BV

Some one correct me on this one. Alignment of screws was a throw back from the cabinet guys going into yachts to do the finish work and if an area was passed for scrutiny by the shop foreman the screws where left in a vertical orientation. Given to me when I apprenticed as a ship wright. Bullshit ?????????? Needless to say all our electrical face plates in the house have the screws aligned.

It doesn't work very well with wood or sheet metal type screws since they need to turn until they are tight. It DOES look good with machine screws - it's one of those almost invisible things that create a perception of quality. It gets into your mind without really registering consciously in most cases.

It really shows up on holey rail if the heads are aligned. 4 hole cleats as well.

Just one of those little bits of care and pride that separates workmanship from craftsmanship.

SloopJonB wrote:It doesn't work very well with wood or sheet metal type screws since they need to turn until they are tight. It DOES look good with machine screws - it's one of those almost invisible things that create a perception of quality. It gets into your mind without really registering consciously in most cases.

It really shows up on holey rail if the heads are aligned. 4 hole cleats as well.

Just one of those little bits of care and pride that separates workmanship from craftsmanship.

True. In tightening up screw heads to align you may overtighten them, and in the case of wood screws may cause some tear out of the thread in the wood. Sure it may be less than a quarter turn for a Phillips or Robertson but if the join is critical better to leave them be. Of course these days you can set your driver to disengage at a low torque setting and then tighten by hand until just right.

It should be moot anyway in the case of wood screws - you shouldn't be able to see them under the grain matched plugs.

Back to bikes,

Wah who! New toy:



Not anything special other than it's my new toy (and got war office funding approval!) It's not a commuter POS it's more like the bottom of the range for the proper mountain bikes.
My old mountain bike was on its way to dead, I bought it 18 years ago 2nd hand and the things it needed to bring it up to scratch was well above what the bike was worth, and I'd have a frame the was a little small and centre pull breaks and all that other 20 yo stuff.
The technology of bikes in the last 16 or so years ( since I last paid any real attention) is amazing! I've gone from the centre pull breaks to hydraulic disks, 21 speed to 27, although, extra gears but they seem to work very much the same and 29" wheels, or 700C just like my 20 year old road bike (new?)
The riding position, with the seat at about the same height as the bars will take some getting used too, I'm used to the seat being much higher, I'm going to trust what the manufactures build for a while but I just can't help but think that those bar's are going to move down. Bigger wheels on a MTB feel odd to, I'll get used to it.
My old bike, the bike shop gave me $50 for it, they are going to hang it on the wall as a step of evolution for bikes, Fine end for a good old bike (LX group set).

GT X frame, already a classic.
My wife has an alloy one from the nineties, still going 100%.
I have an old steel Giant, we had both of them out on the weekend riding on Bruny Island.

Well, here's the commuter/trainer, which I bought in about 1992 and seems to be the only thing I'm riding these days. It's mainly LX. My training program is to let the tires get softer and softer.



I also have a cheapo SSFW and beautiful Ca. 1985 custom road frame with a CycleArt paint job and Nuovo Record group and ancient sew-ups. I haven't ridden it for years.

So, what is the best in folding bikes? The bride likes riding, a lot of the places we sail have bike rentals, but some do not. I think we can clear enough space in the sail locker or quarter berth for a pair for me and the bride.

Had a nice ride through the National Seashore trail at Provincetown last week.

Rob McAlpine wrote:So, what is the best in folding bikes?

No idea. I don't even own a RIB.

Rob McAlpine wrote:So, what is the best in folding bikes? The bride likes riding, a lot of the places we sail have bike rentals, but some do not. I think we can clear enough space in the sail locker or quarter berth for a pair for me and the bride.

Had a nice ride through the National Seashore trail at Provincetown last week.

Look up Montague