An Ounce of Practice is worth a Ton of Theory .

Theory is when you know how it works but it doesn't

Practice is when it works but you don't know why

Roy

Good words, seemingly used less & less these days.

"Tried & Tested" more good words.

On another forum. I seem forever asking others ifthe have put there ideas into practice, being me, its hit air engines, and some ideas are a bit way out, most don't say one way or another, so I suggest they build a simple, proven design, get that working, then think about designing your own. Ian S C

Theory is important. It tells us what we're aiming at but it remains theory until it's applied and proven to be valid.

Perhaps I should change that statement to we validate or prove the theory by doing.

Edited By Chris Trice on 08/02/2013 10:45:51

I think Chris and Graham sum it all up properly. Another good reason for doing things that way is to prove a point or principle to others who don''t or can't grasp the concept and need to be won over.

Brian

Michael - you are being provocative! This is one of those sayings that sound good but, in fact, are meaningless. As an example the builder needs the architect (and the architect needs the builder) If you have any doubts about this watch Grand Designs and see the disasters that are, I suspect, "rescued" by the program makers...... and would you want to fly in an airliner built by skilled craftmen who had no knowledge of the necessary design parameters? Equally would you like to fly in a plane built by an experienced designer with little practical knowledge of construction.

The truth is, as Graham says, the theory backs up the practice and vice versa - both are important for a successful outcome. That both areas are not rewarded equally in industry is another matter.

Back in the workshop thinking (theorising?) about how things might be achieved is an enjoyable part of the process and might well save time ( and a bob or two!). It certainly gives me a kick when, having puzzled over how I might carry out some task it all works out well.

( Don't ask about the times when it doesn't!)

Cheers

Norman

Edited By NJH on 08/02/2013 11:16:08

False - Andrew

It's the difference between radio amateurs and CB radio. CBers buy a radio, plug it in, and it works. Radio amateurs can build it themselves, can mend it when it goes wrong and know how it works.

Regards

Geoff

It's a bit wobbly up here on the fence... True and false.

I've had a few disasters with silver soldering and screw cutting which I put down to being at the bottom of the learning curve. This has put me off attempting several projects. I bought and read a couple of workshop guides on the topics which soon highlighed the error of my ways (therory). I applied this with some simple test pieces and tooling, and am really pleased with the progress of my current project whih has employed both techinques (practice). The two complement each other in my veiw.

Bob P.

The bumblebee approach to flight.

titanic designed and built by experts..( and some say ruined by accountants)..

the Ark.. built by an ameture ( home built )

My chanlenge to the aphorism would be what exactly is the ratio?.. abd how does it relate to "measure twice cut once" ?

Jason

I don't think you can cite the case of the Titanic - surely that was the fault of the driver!

Norman

"Jason

I don't think you can cite the case of the Titanic - surely that was the fault of the driver! "

Wasn't the theory it was unsinkerble! Captain / iceberg proved them wrong

Cheers Mike.

Regarding Amateur radio enthusiasts and CB, its also plug and play for most and has been for at least 25/30 years, very few construct anything at all. It would be difficult to locate radio faults without a lot of electrical/electronic theory and a god understanding of how a raido works and so it is when working out gear ratios, dividing etc. In UK we ridcule theory much to our national disadvantage, just look at the so called third world ,Korea, China,India and how they are educating their children and the product they have invented and produce. Ever bought a mobile phone and have looked where it was made.

Wasn't the theory it was unsinkerble! Captain / iceberg proved them wrong

Cheers Mike.

------

I used to be a merchant navy navigator years ago

The watch officer bottled it, he should have rammed the iceberg head on

He's out of a job and the front end is caved in... but she stays afloat

Titanic gutted herself when he tried to dodge the berg and the rest is as they say, history

In the aeronautical world, undoubtedly true.

Just finished reading two books "The Quick and the Dead" - Bill Waterton's account of high speed flight and as Gloster's Test Pilot and "Winkle" Brown's extraordinary story of his mind-boggling range of aircraft - fixed and fling wing - flown. Waterton had a distinctly jaundiced view of the designers (or their reluctance to heed PRACTICAL advice). Winkle, on the other hand, just leapt aboard and got on with it - and, on occasion, nearly didn't stay intact.

Fascinating reads, if you're into that sort of thing

Rgds

Bill

Current research suggests that the hull of the Titanic wasn't torn open but the joints between the hull plates failed due to inferior rivets. This is backed up crew testimony who were inside the hull at the time of the impact and video footage of the wreck which matches the testimony.

Hence my" (ruined by accountants)".....
when all said and done the Titanic took a relatively long time to sink and with more ,or better use of the , life boats many less lives would have been lost..

Btw who knows what part "clockwork" played in the tradedy?........

hint: not aboard the titanic.

In the aeronautical world, undoubtedly true.

Just finished reading two books "The Quick and the Dead" - Bill Waterton's account of high speed flight and as Gloster's Test Pilot and "Winkle" Brown's extraordinary story of his mind-boggling range of aircraft etc

-------

If you're into amazing pilot books I would recommend this one

2500 combat missions

Most of us haven't heard of him because the Jerries lost the war

He did 17 in one day at one point