Re: MEW No 126

On 24 Jun, 22:06, DCreed <DCreed.2sp...@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I personally dont think that things have changed that much over the
years, yes, there are generations coming along that cannot put a shelve
up, that has to be good news for the craftsman/joiner etc. That aside,
there are still many blokes still beavering away in their sheds making
things. I find the hardest thing is for them to open up and take the
camera into the workshop, sure they can do the work but are a little
shy when it comes to putting pen to paper, anyone got the answer cos i
dont know. In the clockmaking world there are loads of guys making and
repairing but they are reluctant to spread the word, i am sure it must
happen in other fields so the content of the metal mags will go down. I
stopped my MEW some years ago when it went on and on about a wire
eroding machine and then some fancy lathe spindle, talk about over
engineered, b---ocks. Dave England

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DCreed
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David Hi, a couple of interesting points you make about the reluctance
to "spread the word". I don't think that has changed a lot really
either over the years. In times past if you put your view forward to
the magazine you were likely to get some letters telling you a better
way or why you were wrong, but it would be several months later and
only then if the editor had nothing better to put in or didn't want
any future articles from you (sorry my cynicism showing again). Just
look at what happens on some of these (instant) forum that we use
today, while this one is one of the best (IMHO) we still get the odd
troll that disagrees with everyone, everything and anything. So it has
always taken confidence or a thick skin to put ones ideas up to be
shot down; personally I think it is a very good learning tool, I put
my idea forward and someone else tells me theirs and I can pick the
best - works for me.

I'm not sure why more people won't share what they are doing in their
own workshops as digital cameras are both cheap and very good these
days, I used to find the "workshop visits" some of the most
interesting items in the early MEW and ME of the same period. I know
some people were worried that pictures might identify what they have
to be stolen but I'm not sure if it ever happened. I preferred the
unstaged shots that showed the typical clutter and I found the many
different ideas for storage, machine types, locations and setups etc
to be invaluable sources of ideas. I have the pre MEW workshop
specials that covered a large number of different workshops and I
still find myself looking at them for ideas. I put some of the blame
onto the H&S brigade again as some of the pictures I've seen did not
always show the "safest" working methods and displayed our typical
lack of guarding etc.

As John and Peter pointed out there are new starters to be considered
but if you guess !0% of us at any one time have just started and a
similar percentage are "completing" their enjoyment that still leaves
80% that have some knowledge and experience to share. I still believe
that vast majority gets bored with being told everything as if they
have never seen a lathe before. I can't see why we don't have a better
range of articles for the different experience levels even if the PC
erks want a "don't try this at home unless you have 30 years
experience or a death wish" disclaimer attached. I also feel that the
"instant gratification" ethos that is prevalent these days has a
little to do with it. No one wants to file a one inch (or even a 25mm)
cube these days; better to start with an "Evening Star" and buy
everything that you haven't learnt to make yet, at least that is what
the advertisers would have you believe.

Before anyone starts shouting, I'm well aware that we need to
encourage those who are just starting out in the many diverse fields
available these days and I try to help when I can. I might not be able
to tell everyone how to cut a herringbone gear with an electric drill
and an old file but I can help with a few of the basics.

In my mind the truth is that we are changing; as has been pointed out
many have much less time to indulge in a long learning process. Why
should we waste valuable time learning to do what someone else has
already done? Pity that, as in this interest there are many different
ways to achieve the same end and too much uniformity leads to
stagnation. We need to encourage the thought process that says "how
can I solve this problem given the knowledge, experience and tooling I
already have", many times we can produce the item even if it might not
be the most elegant solution. We don't really need the latest
"wizzbang Mk 11 super variable speed lathemilldrillcnc" either.
Commercial pressures do all they can to make us all believe that what
we have is outdated and needs to be constantly replaced by something
"better", it's no wonder that one of the most common questions we see
is "what lathe should I buy". I'm as guilty as anyone here as it has
taken me 20 years (and a lot of money) to learn that there is no
"best" lathe just one that I can afford that suits me and my interests
better than some of the others.

So, what we need are magazines that cater for a wide range of
interests, abilities, equipment and experience. Articles that are
actually written by people with differing levels of knowledge and
experience; the truth is that with the best will in the world,
"experts" get out of touch with basic problems and see things in a
different way. Editors who have the strength of character to "take
risks" and ignore the PC pendants on the occasion they are not
relevant. Magazines who "allow" advertisements rather than compromise
all of their values to attract any revenue they can however dubious
the item. Will we get it? Not on your life. The "bean counters" and
"legal eagles" currently hold sway and sad though I am I don't know
how to go about changing it, that's why I am retired. I suppose we
need a wealthy individual who is passionate about "spreading the word"
and is willing to start a magazine without the need to make a profit -
sound familiar? Look out behind I do believe that is a flying
pig. :-) :-)

Best regards

Keith

.

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