Member postings for Danny M2Z

Today I logged into this forum with a HP laptop that was purchased for and mainly used for flying a dji mavic drone on a commercial basis. It has worked well so far. The cheap datalink from the linked tablet is quite a useful way to get online for peanuts.

Then up popped a message "Windows updates are ready to be installed" click here etc.

So I don't want to update as nowhere is mentioned what will be 'updated' or why.

I am perfectly happy with the current setup. I update the security scanner on a regular basis but that's it!

If the 'update' screws my laptop, looses me a filming job will Microsoft compensate me - Lol - noway I suspect!

So how does one turn off this invasive crap and take back control?

* Danny M *

The Motor Boys Plans Books have been released into the public domain here **LINK**

There you should be able to find something that is capable of being made in a home workshop.

* Danny M *

My local ISP has been giving me problems so I resorted to using my tablet for backup Internet communications. It is a Lenovo Tab3 8Plus that I purchased for use with my flying camera (drone) so that maps and flysafe data is readily available. As a result I installed a 12 month Sim. With a data only account this cost $125Au (about 50 squids).

As I don't fly the drone very often I thought about all the wasted paid for data so linked it to my laptop (USB tethering, but WiFi hotspot and Bluetooth link works also) and voila - reliable internet for a fraction of the cost of my greedy ISP.

Then I heard about this

Some towers here in Australia are already in place so bring on the phones.

This is going to be quite a communications revolution IMHO and a lot of traditional ISP's are going to be forced to reduce prices before they fade away.

Welcome to the future

* Danny M *

Edited By Danny M2Z on 25/10/2018 07:56:11

Edited By Danny M2Z on 25/10/2018 07:59:09

Because of the drought many interstate trucks are transporting hay bales (the round ones) thousands of kilometers here in Oz. Farmers are being advised to stick a crowbar or piece of rebar into the bales and feel for a temperature rise as spontaneous combustion is a real problem. **LINK**

Prince Harry brought a bit of welcome rain though with his visit , he's a popular lad here down under **LINK**

* Danny M *

I found that a mild citric acid solution works very well in my ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning fired/decapped brass centrefire cartridge cases destined for reloading. (Citric acid powder purchased at the local supermarket).

In 5 minutes I get a result as good as my vibrating tumbler achieves overnight (and no pesky walnut shells to poke out of the primer holes).

For aluminium I use this **LINK** (not in the ultrasonic) although I have heard that Coca Cola or rhubarb leaves simmered in a pot work ok.

Rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid - that's why one does NOT eat them!

* Danny M *

Edited By Danny M2Z on 01/10/2018 08:15:42

Test honed edges by seeing if they will slice a sheet of copier paper. If you obtain a clean cut then they are sharp enough.

When turning fins on model aircraft engine cylinders a re-cycled piece of hacksaw blade makes a useful cutting tool.

Biggest PITA is making the tool holder.

* Danny M *

That's exactly the the red squiggle that I get under my words Jason but I don't seem to be able to modify the SCAYT settings.

Windoze XP and Firefox set to Australian English on this ancient machine. It's the safest way to get online as my Windoze 10 laptop's and ipads appear to want to harvest too much personal info and it is a pita to turn off all the 'features'

* Danny M *

When I type certain words to this forum they are 'highlighted' for incorrect spelling. Typical examples are ' aluminium' and 'sulphuric'.

It appears that an American spell checker is in use to check posts.

For the forums you might consider a Queen's English spell checker.

* Danny M *

Today I discovered that a bit of broken steel crankshaft (1947 Mills 1.3 Mk1) can be successfully removed from an aluminium alloy (2024-T6) spinner nut blank by covering it with sulphuric acid (battery strength) in a plastic yogurt container and leaving it in the garden for about a month. The aluminium has a dull glaze but all of the ferrous parts have dissolved. A tap run down the threads cleaned them up with minimal cutting action.

A friend suggested that nitric acid could do the same job in a day but try obtaining that!

Might be worth trying for a broken drill or tap in an important aluminium part if you have a bit of patience.

* Danny M *

I have no time for politics on this forum, they have their own place for fanboys.

This is the type of thing that I don't mind being distracted by as it is actually educational. Although not quite within most of our capabilities it is the result of great engineering and perseverance **LINK**

* Danny M *

It's not a surface grinder, it's a toolpost grinder but a handy bit of kit for a C3 Mini lathe if one is into sizing hardened model engine crankshafts (I am btw).

I wonder why they are not readily available from the usual sources?

Apart from the fact that it took a good search to find replacement toothed belts (LMS came good) it is a great addition to a Mini lathe **LINK**

* Danny M *

Edited By Danny M2Z on 06/07/2018 09:37:47

Neil, let the pot call the kettle black but I often notice the odd 'typo' in MEW. I suspect that predictive spell checkers have much to answer for until they reach the stage where the context is analysed and the correct word substituted.

Not a complaint, just an observation from an understanding old git.

* Danny M *

Flying low and fast in a military Chinook (below tree top height) was fun. I had an M60 machine gun to hold onto and a harness. A bit noisy though.

Just had this flying around the local area for a few days, low enough to rattle the windows it seemed to be undertaking some kind of survey as it had a bit of kit attached to the starboard side.

* Danny M *

I have a small container (might require a bigger one soon). It stores all of my 'whoopsies' and is located in an easily visible place..................Just to remind me!

* Danny M *

I just turned some outer casings from black Delrin for my Badge Timers (viscous d/t timers for Free Flight model aircraft) as the originals had split . Replaced the viscous timing fluid and now my problem is how to fit the new casings as they resist the airtight seal, so tight they are impossible to press home. The original manufacturers obviously overcame this problem. Thinking of turning some from Al with an air-bleed screw in the base - any ideas?

* Danny M *

Edited By Danny M2Z on 12/06/2018 13:24:57

Maybe this recent discovery could help us all **LINK**

* Danny M *

Sounds like my new tablet Neil. I purchased it for my multi-rotor work and put it into a 12 month plan so that map data could be downloaded. Aussie Telco could not give me the long term plan on line as the 'clickable link' was redundant, it only gave me the monthly options as ' clickable'.

So went into town and got a lecture from the teenage staff in the local store as to why a monthly account would be nicer until I pointed out that $30 x 12 months was a bit more expensive than $150 for unlimited data for 365 days.

After a bit of calculator work we agreed and I managed to obtain a SIM card for my tablet.

Now my tablet has it's own phone #, disclosed to nobody but already has calls and messages asking me to ring back.

I checked the numbers, all are at premium rates! Looks like I have been sold out by somebody already.

* Danny M *

Same here in Australia, this one is 12 years old.

* Danny M *

Fishing talk, I love it.

A short walk down the hill is Lake Hume and five minutes away is the Hume Dam spillway.

By June (winter here) the trout are active in the lake and I usually manage to get a feed using lures or my fly rod. The upper Murray headwaters have some fantastic trout waters and the mountain lakes are even better. Can go all day and only see a few people.

* Danny M *

This one has the tourists wondering **LINK**

* Danny M *