ZCI for the Bosch

Not quite happy with the insert provided by Bosch, I decided to build my own.  It is a pretty common thing on most mitre saws and should help give a nicer cut.  Of course, I kept the original in case I have to tilt it over on the bevel adjustment.  This will handle everything else.  I rarely use the bevel anyway.  I just stick to mitres and straight cuts for the most part.

I am still getting accustomed to Lightworks.  It is much more powerful than what I need, but I am getting some of my routine tasks down and getting more comfortable with it.  This time I decided to add some music.

It is quite hard for me to decide on what to use for music.  There are some good ones out there, but not long enough.  I tend to go for something with acoustic guitar in it.  I guess that comes from my love of the instrument.  Some, I find, say it is acoustic guitar, but is more keyboard than anything else.  This leaves me on a quest that can last for hours to find what I want.  Your ears can get tired by then.  Fortunately, YT has a bunch and you can mark favourites.

So, today is my birthday, so I guess this is my birthday gift to you.

Thanks for dropping by

Three little ones

I sometimes remember to get the camera rolling and pass on knowledge that was passed on to me.  I often don't have anywhere to put them though, so I started a new series.  Doc's Little Docs.  We all started out knowing nothing, and often times, small bits of knowledge go by the wayside because people just assume that they are common knowledge.  So although you may think that some of the ideas are self evident, or that everyone knows that, I think little ideas are worth preserving just to make sure.

Here are the first three of a series I will add to as thoughts and ideas strike me.

Thanks for dropping by

Why I will not buy a SawStop: A Rant

I have some very strong opinions on some things.  I don't often speak of them in my public discourse because they often times upset people.  I am going to break with that tradition.  Feel free to disagree if you want, but this is how I see it.

Steve Gass is one clever guy.  He had the smarts to invent and patent flesh sensing technology.  It is no secret that he spends a lot of time and effort defending his patent rights.  It is also no secret that he was turned down by every major saw manufacturer to implement, or, license for a fee, his technology.  The third leg of this story is his efforts to have it mandated, by law, the use of flesh sensing technology as a safety feature on all table saws.

He is trying to create a legislated monopoly on table saws.  Which, in my opinion, would like having a monopoly on vehicle seat belts.  Could you imagine being able to demand whatever sum you could dream up from vehicle manufacturers in order for them to produce any vehicles?

If successful, Mr. Gass will be able to ask whatever he wants in order for anyone to build a saw, and the consumables (they use a cartridge remember) that must be included with them.  Manufacturers will only have 2 choices.  Pay Mr. Gass, or don't make table saws.  At this point, Mr. Gass can ask whatever he wants for licensing and who knows how high that will be.  Just think Martin Shkreli for starters (bought the patent for Daraprim and raised the price from $13.50 per pill to $750 per pill.....how much will you pay to stay alive?).  Don't believe that?  Mr. Gass is a lawyer, and as such is well trained in manipulating the system to get his way.

So, again, if he succeeds, what will happen to the price of table saws?  Are you willing to pay $2500 for a job site table saw for instance?  How about $5000?   How many thousands of dollars will it cost for a cabinet saw?  Will you go out of business if you don't have one?  What about if you manufacture furniture?  How about picture frames, or pallets, or any other of the myriad of consumer goods that relies on the humble table saw for production?  Mr. Gass would have a strangle hold on many items that are in day to day use, and some may say a necessity, like your house and a lot of things in it.  Do you think all the extra costs will be transferred to the consumer....you and I?  Of course it will.

Mr Gass, if successful, will make billions while we, as consumers, will have to fork it over to him, or go without.  He is trying to create his own proverbial golden goose, and trying to do it at the expense of everyone.  Pure greed.   In my opinion, Mr Gass is also a parasite.

That is why I will not be buying a SawStop.



Thanks for dropping by.