things that I sometimes thing about...

 

This video is pretty incredible. Watching the iron cupola and molding process was pretty impressive. I can't help but think that once people have discovered new ways of making things they are unwilling to do things that involve this much work or older (more crude) methods are not seen as valid. Again, I'm not commenting on this from a cultural standpoint. I think I'm saying the more you know, the more likely you are to not return to methods of making that are labor intensive.

Do you ever wonder if education gets in the way of getting things done? For example, if I told you had to make a bandsaw like this, you might  spend more time looking for ways to avoid this much labor and you might claim that there was a better method for making. In addition, you might want to claim that the methods you would utilize would allow for more accuracy or precision. This might be true, but in the meantime this crew has gotten the job done, and they've got a bandsaw that gets the job done, regardless of imperfections in the casting, a lot of filler material, funky paint job, etc. 

I just sometimes look at things I built or restored at the start of my life might have been a little lacking in their sophistication, but it got me to a certain point where I had the tool in hand and I was able to use it, instead of spending so much time trying to decide which method I might use to make the thing. Less options turned out to be a bit of a blessing. Farm engineering vs. finite element method engineering. One happens out in the field and the other in the virtual world. 

For some reason this all makes me think of the motorcycle breaking down far from home and then deciding to choose a solution that might not be elegant but it gets you to your driveway before it gets dark. You know... like pliers in place of a  clutch lever. I guess that more of a temporary fix, but still it makes me wonder how ego gets in the way of progress.

Things that I sometimes thing about...