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The Lighter Side of Steampunk
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#1
Off Topic / Re: YET *EVEN* MORE things tha...
Last post by Sorontar - Yesterday at 10:45:20 PMCertainly sounds progressive. Hope it works out.
Sorontar
Sorontar
#2
Off Topic / Re: GAAAAAHHHHHH Mk.VI: The Re...
Last post by Sorontar - Yesterday at 10:43:09 PMNot a great start to the week. Discovered our car's brake lights weren't working properly. Managed to find a dealer that let us book a service for today but still needed to confirm it this morning (but no-one answered their phone). Found my car keys in the ignition and the battery was flat, so needed to call roadside assistance just to get the car started so I could drive to the dealership to confirm that they can't fix it until Wednesday morning. Now neither of us can use it till then (my wife had a busy week planned).
Sigh.
Sorontar
Sigh.
Sorontar
#3
Architecture / Re: That 'big project' I've be...
Last post by James Harrison - Yesterday at 03:34:21 PMSo, now five full weeks into the 2026 Programme, let's see how things are looking.
The only item I can really show is that the spare bedroom repaint is steadily progressing. This week I've finished (so far as I can for the moment) the west wall and made a good start on the north wall. All things being equal, next week I will be able to show you why I was keen to get past this corner and along the north wall so quickly.
I've also taken delivery of a pair of sconce lights for the hallway.
Looking at the 2026 Programme generally;
1. The objective to progress a number of smaller items to get some more rooms from my '90%, move on' level closer to 99% finished hasn't been pushed yet, but I have spoken with my electrician to sort out a package of works for them. Two new ceiling lights in the kitchen, one new light in the bathroom (then puts that room up to 99%), moving a hallway ceiling light into the master bedroom and fitting new brass light switch and power sockets in there (gets that room from 90% to about 95%), fitting two sconce lights in the hallway and then fitting new brass light switch and sockets in the spare bedroom. So there's that, not yet in hand but I've at least get the ball rolling.
2. External works. The package here is cleaning paint off of two walls and several window sills, repointing all of the external walls with lime mortar, repairing the gable above the front bedroom window, maybe replacing some spalling brick on the side wall, and replacing a garden fence with a brick wall. Now, in early January I contacted a local building conservation company to enquire if it's a package of work they would be interested in taking on. Two weeks later I hadn't heard anything in response so I gave them a call and was told 'yes, we're looking into it, we'll be in touch shortly'. That was three weeks ago.
Personally I take the view that if you ask someone if they're interested in a job and they leave you waiting five weeks and more before they reply even to the initial question, you've probably got your answer (ie- no). If they then come back and say yes they're interested, then they've already demonstrated the sort of relationship you're likely to have with them... So I started looking for somebody else.
I've found another company and they replied within about 20 minutes of my enquiry, yes they're up for the repointing and maybe the gable repair, but they can't do any of the other works. They've pointed me toward somebody who cleans masonry walls (and I've approached them for a quote for removing the paint) and mentioned somebody else who would be able to build my wall.
Now this means that the major element of the Build Programme is probably going to be a bit more complex than I first hoped - going from one contractor to at least three - but it can still be done, even if it's in smaller stages over the year.
So, yeah, we'll see.
The only item I can really show is that the spare bedroom repaint is steadily progressing. This week I've finished (so far as I can for the moment) the west wall and made a good start on the north wall. All things being equal, next week I will be able to show you why I was keen to get past this corner and along the north wall so quickly.
I've also taken delivery of a pair of sconce lights for the hallway.
Looking at the 2026 Programme generally;
1. The objective to progress a number of smaller items to get some more rooms from my '90%, move on' level closer to 99% finished hasn't been pushed yet, but I have spoken with my electrician to sort out a package of works for them. Two new ceiling lights in the kitchen, one new light in the bathroom (then puts that room up to 99%), moving a hallway ceiling light into the master bedroom and fitting new brass light switch and power sockets in there (gets that room from 90% to about 95%), fitting two sconce lights in the hallway and then fitting new brass light switch and sockets in the spare bedroom. So there's that, not yet in hand but I've at least get the ball rolling.
2. External works. The package here is cleaning paint off of two walls and several window sills, repointing all of the external walls with lime mortar, repairing the gable above the front bedroom window, maybe replacing some spalling brick on the side wall, and replacing a garden fence with a brick wall. Now, in early January I contacted a local building conservation company to enquire if it's a package of work they would be interested in taking on. Two weeks later I hadn't heard anything in response so I gave them a call and was told 'yes, we're looking into it, we'll be in touch shortly'. That was three weeks ago.
Personally I take the view that if you ask someone if they're interested in a job and they leave you waiting five weeks and more before they reply even to the initial question, you've probably got your answer (ie- no). If they then come back and say yes they're interested, then they've already demonstrated the sort of relationship you're likely to have with them... So I started looking for somebody else.
I've found another company and they replied within about 20 minutes of my enquiry, yes they're up for the repointing and maybe the gable repair, but they can't do any of the other works. They've pointed me toward somebody who cleans masonry walls (and I've approached them for a quote for removing the paint) and mentioned somebody else who would be able to build my wall.
Now this means that the major element of the Build Programme is probably going to be a bit more complex than I first hoped - going from one contractor to at least three - but it can still be done, even if it's in smaller stages over the year.
So, yeah, we'll see.
#4
Off Topic / Re: YET *EVEN* MORE things tha...
Last post by Sir Henry - Yesterday at 09:33:34 AMExcellent news!
On the road to recovery, next step getting on the road, then getting off the streets.
Sounds like a very healthy plan. Stay strong.
On the road to recovery, next step getting on the road, then getting off the streets.
Sounds like a very healthy plan. Stay strong.
#5
Off Topic / Re: YET *EVEN* MORE things tha...
Last post by LukeHogbin - February 07, 2026, 03:43:58 PMAfter almost 3 months in a psych ward, getting treatment for alcohol addiction, I am now at a place that's part halfway house part occupational therapy with the focus on reintegration into the society. I plan on staying here for at least a year, to properly work on myself, maybe even getting a drivers licence. And of course, eventually, a job and a place of my own.
#6
Tactile / Re: The Wardian Engine
Last post by von Corax - February 05, 2026, 12:43:29 AMSlightly off-topic: I've long wondered what a Charles Dexter Wardian Case would look like. 
#7
Tactile / Re: The Wardian Engine
Last post by Robotguy - February 04, 2026, 05:19:56 PMI don't have a miter gauge or bevel sled for my table saw so I had to build something that would let me cut the 30 degree bevel on the sides. It was really janky, but I think the results turned out OK.
Needs sanding still, a few burn marks from the saw blade.
But I think the bevels match up OK.
Next up I have to do a preliminary pass at the brass instrument panel, because I need to cut the hole in the front wood panel for it before I glue everything together.
Needs sanding still, a few burn marks from the saw blade.
But I think the bevels match up OK.
Next up I have to do a preliminary pass at the brass instrument panel, because I need to cut the hole in the front wood panel for it before I glue everything together.
#8
Metaphysical / Re: Well, how do we do it?
Last post by Sir Henry - February 03, 2026, 08:30:19 AMQuote from: dman762000 on February 02, 2026, 04:41:54 AMYeah, work/life balance is definitely something I am struggling with. Factory work tires me out and takes up half my day. The other half is taken up with sleep and daily upkeep. It's hard to make stuff when you don't have the time. Made stuff is kind of the core of getting people interested.I suspect that this explains the average age of steampunk aficionados being higher than the population as a whole. Add to that the fact that the 'boomer' generation have more disposable income that younger generations these days and you have the conditions for limited participation in a world where folks are struggling to survive, let alone thrive and create fantasy worlds.
On the other, more personal hand, creating things became my prime sanity protection tool once I had to retire and I doubt I'm the only one. Sadly my current home improvement regime has meant waving goodbye to any time for creation for enjoyment or much sanity. One day I hope to regain at least one.
#9
Metaphysical / Re: Well, how do we do it?
Last post by dman762000 - February 02, 2026, 04:41:54 AMYeah, work/life balance is definitely something I am struggling with. Factory work tires me out and takes up half my day. The other half is taken up with sleep and daily upkeep. It's hard to make stuff when you don't have the time. Made stuff is kind of the core of getting people interested.
#10
Architecture / Re: That 'big project' I've be...
Last post by James Harrison - February 01, 2026, 01:45:10 PMThe big achievement this week is that...
I finished painting the back wall. I say it's achievement purely because of the height of the wall which meant constantly being up and down a ladder.
I've stripped the skirting board to carpet level, when the carpet is gone I can finish stripping it off and then stain it. But I want to get partly along the side wall before that carpet is cut away (because I'm using it as a dropcloth to catch paint splatter). And to start that side wall means moving everything in the room to the other side, a thought that bores me to tears.
So I'm not doing that yet.
Instead I've gone back to the fireplace where I started from, and I've begun cleaning things up the other way. Firstly by patching in a number of holes in this alcove, and then smoothing back and cleaning the wall down with sugar soap.
And then I've taken down and thrown out the curtain and the curtain rod, and started patching up holes and cracks in the wall around the window.
My goal is, I'm going to start coming around the room the other way. I'll only be able to do the top half of the second alcove at the moment (that radiator isn't coming out until Spring), but I should be able to fix up the north wall (the window wall) and get that re-done as far as the doorway quite easily. And then I won't have any alternative other than to sort out the side wall.
I finished painting the back wall. I say it's achievement purely because of the height of the wall which meant constantly being up and down a ladder.
I've stripped the skirting board to carpet level, when the carpet is gone I can finish stripping it off and then stain it. But I want to get partly along the side wall before that carpet is cut away (because I'm using it as a dropcloth to catch paint splatter). And to start that side wall means moving everything in the room to the other side, a thought that bores me to tears.
So I'm not doing that yet.
Instead I've gone back to the fireplace where I started from, and I've begun cleaning things up the other way. Firstly by patching in a number of holes in this alcove, and then smoothing back and cleaning the wall down with sugar soap.
And then I've taken down and thrown out the curtain and the curtain rod, and started patching up holes and cracks in the wall around the window.
My goal is, I'm going to start coming around the room the other way. I'll only be able to do the top half of the second alcove at the moment (that radiator isn't coming out until Spring), but I should be able to fix up the north wall (the window wall) and get that re-done as far as the doorway quite easily. And then I won't have any alternative other than to sort out the side wall.