Reposting this XKCD#3233 because the bots over here have horribly wrong alt text.

[ai6yr@m.ai6yr.org]

@MissConstrue @justin @W6KME @rberger @paul_ipv6 @intrepidhero I need to take a metal sculpture class....

[paul_ipv6@infosec.exchange]

@ai6yr @MissConstrue @justin @W6KME @rberger @intrepidhero

at one point in my life, i was taking a bunch of jewelry/goldsmithing courses. the surprise pleasure course for me was silver smithing. it had never occurred to me before to try it but it was way fun and satisfying.

[missconstrue@mefi.social]

@paul_ipv6 @ai6yr @justin @W6KME @rberger @intrepidhero

Dallas has an Arts Center that has been around probably as long or longer than I’ve been alive. There is this astonishing crew of world class artists that teach classes in everything from photography to jewelry to glass blowing and metal sculpture. It’s always different classes, depending on who is free for six weeks to teach. The metal lab is amazing. Classes run from free for workshops to half a grand for stuff that requires a lot of in place equipment, like metal sculpture and glass work. I think I paid $300ish for six weeks of welding classes, which is a steal, considering all the oxygen/acet tanks I used. It’s a couple hours away now, but I’m gonna see if they have a pottery class anytime soon. I don’t know how to do that.

My friends in Denver and Boston report similar Centers, so maybe there’s one in a big city near you?

[missconstrue@mefi.social]

@W6KME @intrepidhero @ai6yr

I can't do it today, but this weekend, I will dig into my "I have these but don't use them, children can borrow them" tool box, because I have a tool which none of us, including the airplane mechanic across the street, and the small block mechanic attached to my daughter, can figure out the purpose of.

I don't know when I bought it, or why. It may be an antique? I'm beginning to think it was formed by the particles of missing socks...if energy cannot be created or destroyed, then those socks turned into something, and it may be this tool. I'll try to get you a picture, so you too can be mystified.

[w6kme@mastodon.radio]

@MissConstrue @intrepidhero @ai6yr Hoping to see a picture...this is one of my favorite passtimes, identifying antique tools.

[intrepidhero@vmst.io]

@W6KME @MissConstrue @ai6yr me too! I don't know much but I love learning about them.

[dougfir@m.ai6yr.org]

@MissConstrue @W6KME @intrepidhero @ai6yr
" the small block mechanic attached to my daughter"
What an interesting description. 🥰

[paul_ipv6@infosec.exchange]

@Dougfir @MissConstrue @W6KME @intrepidhero @ai6yr

LOL.

i do admit i am now trying to picture how a large block mechanic and small block mechanic differ in appearance...

[w6kme@mastodon.radio]

@paul_ipv6 @Dougfir @MissConstrue @intrepidhero @ai6yr I look more like a slant six mechanic.

[dougfir@m.ai6yr.org]

@W6KME @paul_ipv6 @MissConstrue @intrepidhero @ai6yr
My very first effort at doing mechanic stuff was changing the valve cover gasket on a slant six engine. My father in law bought me a ½ inch socket set because I had no tools whatsoever.

[ai6yr@m.ai6yr.org]

@Dougfir @W6KME @paul_ipv6 @MissConstrue @intrepidhero I'm afraid to ask about any of these (although I do know Chevy and big block go together). I (much to my youthful regrest) am a "take it to the mechanic" person because I did not have anyone to teach me how to fix engines as a wee lad.

[w6kme@mastodon.radio]

@ai6yr @Dougfir @paul_ipv6 @MissConstrue @intrepidhero All the Detroit companies had two families of V8 engines, colloqially called small block and big or large block. There's no technical meaning. Slant Six was a "small" "economy" engine built by Chrysler Corp, an inline 6 tipped to the side to allow better hood clearance. They made about fifty billion over the decades. They were pigs.

Now you know

[paul_ipv6@infosec.exchange]

@W6KME @ai6yr @Dougfir @MissConstrue @intrepidhero

first car i ever drove regularly was a '73 dodge dart w a slant 6. first car i ever learned anything useful to do in way of repairs was an '85 honda civic. had a friend who was a honda mechanic, so i learned how to change filters, wires, plugs, oil. these days, i'm back to "take to good mechanic" since there's way too much stuff you need special diagnostic gear to be able to do much of anything.