Rapprochement *PICS*
WoodburnBob
>This week I'm off work. I can't get a damn thing done. Monday I caved in and called to get an appointment for that right of passage called colonoscopy. They took all my serial numbers via phone, certified my capacity for "reimbursement", and now I'm just waiting to find out my departure date. And waiting. And waiting.
So here's a shot showing you some mostly familiar objects. Take a close look at the discoid gizzmo with the "10". I made it from something you probably have collecting dust in your garage.
A couple years ago I submitted to routine "fact finding" sigmoidoscopy which yielded, what else, a polyp. It was "biopsied" benign but not removed and I was instructed to have a colonoscopy to remove it and "look for more" beyond the reach of a "mere" sigmoidoscope. Yes, I've put off said colonoscopy for a couple years now...using my highly tuned capacity for denial and distraction. But I have to go in for yet another yearly internist's maintainence check in October and I can't bear the prospect of another earnest display of evangelism.
Thus, my caving in.
So, right now, this week, my denial and distraction capacities are failing me as I simply wait for the gastroenterologist's office to call back the date and time of doom. Shit.
To kill some more time, I thought I'd make a contribution to global bandwidth by way of illustrating the production of a cast-iron sharpening plate from a bar-bell weight. But I can't get it together (initiative deficit) to go out and do another one for step by step photos. What really does it matter anyway.
This disk with a "10" in it was formly a ten pound bar bell weight. I mounted it on the lathe and turned it down flat. This is a trivial task if you don't mind the grime and mess of cast iron powder and it's clean-up. One thickness cut and a final finishing cut. I could have gotten the surface smoother (shinier)but I was actually interested in having a little roughness to help hold the abrasive particles...probably a stupid (counterproductive) idea given the size of the particles.
Right now I have Tormek honing compound on one side...which I believe is a ceramic in the vicinity of 3 microns or so. On the other side I have diamond compound labeled at 1/4 micron...but how would I know for sure. I've used the plate with plane irons and a few chisels. It works okay. But I have my doubts about overkill in many endeavors.
Please, if you must respond to the bowel content, keep the sympathy and testimonials to a minimum. None would be best. It will only scare me more if you pour out any condolement.