Z is for Zero

Z is for Zero

In discussion with some colleagues at work on today’s topic on zero they said that I should have a bit where the limit of the function tends to zero.  Being that I generally do not discuss calculus on the blog generally and that limits are not my favourite thing to talk about I will defer that topic for the time being.

A zero is an important concept in building something. It is also known as a datum.  This is the point in which to measure everything off of, and therefore all cuts and work are from it.  I typically have two types of measurement errors, the first is where I just make a mistake and the second is where I take a measurement off of another cut without double checking to make sure the measurement chain works out.  Sometimes it is as simple as I did not account for the width of the blade in the cut.  Other times I was just not careful in the math to work out the chain.

On lumber typically the most accurate sides to take measurements off of are mill cuts or the factory cuts.  They are usually identified either with some paint or they have writing on them.  You know that the cuts are parallel and perpendicular to the work so that your other cuts have a chance at being so too. 

When machining you will take your metal stock and make a zero by facing off the stock so that it is also flat, parallel and perpendicular to the work surface.  From this surface all of the measurements are worked off from there. 

I have made these mistakes on my personal projects and whenever I get a drawing that has a dimension that comes from nowhere I tend to ask a lot of questions about it, or try to work through the measurement chain to see if the measurement is correct.

Please share some of your measurement adventures in the comments section below.  

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I is for Ideas

I is for Ideas

Where do I get the ideas for my projects?  What is the inspiration for work?  Where do I get the information that I need to complete work?

For starters, you may have guessed that I have a lot of hobbies and interests, also I am homeowner, and I like to get out in the outdoors.  I am also frugal, not as much as my wife, but I do not like to spend money on things that I can do myself.  I guess that makes me independent. So necessity dictates a lot of the projects that I do.  I hate make work projects, so there has to be a benefit for me to spend the time and effort into working on the project.

I have not had a lot of artistic projects or projects with artistic elements in them yet, but there are some wood working projects that I would like to do that have some more aesthetic elements in them.  My inspiration for things is as varied as my hobbies, but I have difficulty to create them as my artisan skills are limited.  I enjoy religious symbols from many religions, medieval Europe, feudal Japan, Spanish design, electronics and futuristic modernism, so it all depends on what I want the space to become. 

I also gather information from a variety of sources.  This goes back to some of the other posts that I have published so far.  I tap into the resources of the communities that I am apart of.  Working in construction I deal with a lot of tradesman and I am in a position to be able to talk with them and ask them questions on how to complete certain work.  I also will search on the internet for answers and how to do it, and look on YouTube for the answers.  There are lots of forums out there on every topic, from woodworking to home metal shops.  Depending on how focused you are and how much you want to be involved in their communities then you will be able to get better answers out of people.  This is because they want to invest in other people in their community not just transients that are passing through their digital town.

The ability to do anything you want is with you, the information that you want is out there.  It is just needs to be sought after and asked for.  Please join my community as I go through some of my projects that we both may learn together by subscribing to my blog or following me on twitter at @bjshideler.  Also, don't be afraid to share this with your friends on your favorite social media sites so that we can cast the net out to those that are also interested.