What did you do today?

[dmartin]

Didn't do it today but on Saturday I sold my bandsaw mill. Had it for over 9 years but hadn't used it much for the past few years due to back problems. Kinda hated to see it go but kinda glad I didn't have much trouble selling it either. The mill was used to make lumber for a few outbuildings and hemlock siding for a few farmers in the area. I have a sawmill shed full of white oak, red oak, ash, and black walnut. Most of the lumber has been air drying for a few years and some for about 8 years. I definitely have all the wood I could ever use for any future wood working projects.

The Hemlock in the area have been dying due to a little pest called a woolly adelgid so I used a lot of it in making beams and siding for an implement shed, sawmill shed, and pavilion. I milled the dimensional lumber for the buildings out of white pine because Hemlock has a tendency to split so is not generally used for that purpose. Here is a picture of the mill leaving on it's way to it's new home. I hope the guy that bought it enjoys it as much as I did.

[PStechPaul]

Cut a piece of stair tread to fit as the windowsill:


And I filled in the stone wall with concrete:


That was yesterday. Today I used an axe and chainsaw to tackle the roots of the cherry tree that is limiting the size of the shed I want to build.




Now I just tried installing my TurboCad 15.2 Pro on my Win10 machine, and it crashes. I may try installing Oracle VM Virtual Box and Win XP or Win7 so I can use it. I'm still using my old, tired Dell Win8 machine. TCW15.2 runs on it, but not Win8.1.

http://forums.turbocad.com/index.php?topic=17458.0

https://www.virtualbox.org/

https://softlay.net/operating-system/windows-xp-sp3-iso-full-version-free-download.html

I'm not sure I trust such free downloads, however.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-hardware/install-vmware-player-virtual-machines-in-windows/014d2b12-30c1-4402-9c9b-9a65a124cdab

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/download-windows-xp-for-free-and-legally-straight-from-microsoft-si/

[Cenedd]

Not sure if it's of help but have you tried either SketchUp or Autodesk Fusion 360? Both of are free for hobbyists. There may be an unwelcome (or welcome maybe) learning curve in either though.

I definitely wouldn't trust a free download of Windows. Microsoft are not in the habit of giving away Windows for free and that site as much as says the license code will only let you install it and not activate it. Why would they risk the ire of Microsoft's large and litigious legal team for no reward at all? Has to be dodgy.

[PStechPaul]

I agree that a free download of Windows XP or 7 would be dicey, and genuine OEM software is available for less than $30. Such vendors satisfy Microsoft's requirements by shipping the discs and key with a hard drive or laptop computer, but some of them mail the software and offer the hardware for free user pick-up, or separate shipping charge, and say they will recycle the drive if not picked up or shipped within a week.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-Windows-7-Professional-SP1-64-Bit-DVD-Genuine-Product-Key-COA/113313375501

I also have a desktop PC with Windows 7 Pro, that I have not used for over a year. So I could use it for TurboCad and other legacy programs. I'm a little hesitant to install the dual boot virtual machine software on my Win10 machine, and there is no guarantee that Win7 will install properly or run TurboCad. I'd also like to set up a Linux machine, but, again, I don't know if it can also be installed on the Win10 laptop.

Of course I can just get a Win7 laptop for about $200:

https://www.blinq.com/detail/electronics/laptops-tablets/pc-laptops-netbooks/sony-vaio-15-5-laptop-2-2ghz-4gb-320gb-windows-7-nw270f-s/23059?condition=used-very-good

Or one with Ubuntu for less than $100:

https://www.blinq.com/detail/electronics/laptops-tablets/pc-laptops-netbooks/asus-vivobook-11-6-led-notebook-1-50ghz-2gb-320gb-ubuntu-os-black/1000638?condition=used-very-good

Meanwhile, today I did more heavy work cutting away at the "roots of all evil":








I think I now have enough roots cut to put in the rear foundation wall. But perhaps I should also cut the stump off at the level of the proposed foundation, for better access to the rear wall. But I might need more than my 18" chainsaw. I also need to dig out the roots in the area enclosed by the foundation.

[Dan Dubeau]

I think I now have enough roots cut to put in the rear foundation wall. But perhaps I should also cut the stump off at the level of the proposed foundation, for better access to the rear wall. But I might need more than my 18" chainsaw. I also need to dig out the roots in the area enclosed by the foundation.

I quit using my chainsaw for cutting roots after trying a reciprocating saw with a big carbide tipped demo blade. A 12" pruning blade also works. Chains just dull too fast, and all the sand and dirt get in everywhere and start wearing stuff out. Something to try if you've got a one. I have a poulan pro that was my first saw, and I used to use that as a stump saw, but quit using it unless I have stumps and roots that are too big for the recip.

[10KPete]

Paul, as close as you are to having the stump out now, I would finish the job. If you wait until the wall is in it will be way tougher to get that stump out!!

Pete

[3 Phase Lightbulb]

Paul, as close as you are to having the stump out now, I would finish the job. If you wait until the wall is in it will be way tougher to get that stump out!!

Pete

I agree, if you're putting your foundation close to that stump I'd completely remove the stump now rather than later. Also, as that stump starts to decay and attract guests, you don't want that right next to your shed either.

[Cenedd]

I agree that a free download of Windows XP or 7 would be dicey, and genuine OEM software is available for less than $30. Such vendors satisfy Microsoft's requirements by shipping the discs and key with a hard drive or laptop computer, but some of them mail the software and offer the hardware for free user pick-up, or separate shipping charge, and say they will recycle the drive if not picked up or shipped within a week.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-Windows-7-Professional-SP1-64-Bit-DVD-Genuine-Product-Key-COA/113313375501

I also have a desktop PC with Windows 7 Pro, that I have not used for over a year. So I could use it for TurboCad and other legacy programs. I'm a little hesitant to install the dual boot virtual machine software on my Win10 machine, and there is no guarantee that Win7 will install properly or run TurboCad. I'd also like to set up a Linux machine, but, again, I don't know if it can also be installed on the Win10 laptop.

Of course I can just get a Win7 laptop for about $200:

https://www.blinq.com/detail/electronics/laptops-tablets/pc-laptops-netbooks/sony-vaio-15-5-laptop-2-2ghz-4gb-320gb-windows-7-nw270f-s/23059?condition=used-very-good

Or one with Ubuntu for less than $100:
https://www.blinq.com/detail/electro...used-very-good

I don't want to sound like a broken record but I'll give you the information and you can do with it what you will. It's very difficult to comply with Microsoft's licensing requirements when it comes to second-hand software. An OEM copy would not be legal to install on another machine and can only be sold with a new PC. Even selling a second-hand PC with its original copy of Windows, as a business it is quite difficult to comply with their requirements - other than the 'pay us more money for this' one. Personally, I'd want a genuine and legal copy if I were spending good money (or any money) on it as otherwise, you're no better off than if you'd been dodgy for free.
You should be able to install Ubuntu on a Windows 10 laptop. Worst case you may have to disable SecureBoot if the laptop doesn't trust Ubuntu's signing keys - it should do but Microsoft's own Hyper-V 2012 doesn't. You would need to be careful when installing that you don't wipe the disk if you want to keep Windows 10. You could download a Windows 10 installer and install it onto a USB stick and then at worst, you can easily and legally reinstall it if it goes wrong (back up your docs etc first!). You don't need an install key as your computer will be recognised as already having been activated.

In terms of a virtual machine, that would avoid issues with two sets of disk partitions and dual-booting. If you have Windows 10 Pro, it has Hyper-V that you can use for this. If you have Home, it doesn't. Something like [/url=https://my.vmware.com/en/web/vmware/free#desktop_end_user_computing/vmware_workstation_player/15_0]VMWare Player[/url] is free and should work fine for a Ubuntu install or an older Windows version. Hope this is of some help.

[Jon Heron]

Just install linux and be done with windows. Install freecad and your off to the races.
All the time wasted trying to get windows to work and update etc. could have been spent learning linux and freecad in my opinion.
Cheers,
Jon

[DICKEYBIRD]

...and there is no guarantee that Win7 will install properly or run TurboCad.

Hiya Paul, I have run TurboCAD v9 on Win7 for years & it works great. I like 7 & hope it stays around a while.

[PStechPaul]

I have used my TurboCad v15.2 Pro on XP, Vista, Win7, and Win8.0. Whatever Microshaft did for 8.1 broke it, and apparently the same crap is in Win10. I meant that it might not work on my Win10 machine under a Win7 virtual machine or dual boot (and I'm not sure of the difference). It's probably best for me to use my existing Win7 desktop, perhaps with a radio mouse/keyboard so I sit in a more comfortable location with my Win8 and Win10 machines, and then retire my Win8 laptop.

Today I decided to clean my Remington electric 16" chainsaw. Sure needed it!


Much better, but it still sounds like it has bad bearings. It works OK, but it might need further disassembly and diagnosis and repair:

[J Tiers]

Win 8 or 8.1 seems to be a low quality phone app. I have it on a tablet, and do not care for it at all.

[brian Rupnow]

For the last two months my computer, a quad Pentium, has been warning that it was out of available memory and storage space. The 3D CAD that I use takes up a whole lot of computer room. So--this morning I leapt out of bed, unhooked my computer from all of its cables, and rushed it down to the nearest computer dealer to have a two terabyte hard drive installed. Picked it up again at 4:00, zoomed home, and hooked everything back up. They cloned my old hard drive, so my desktop and all of my programs are all exactly the same as they were. The two terabyte drive has 8 times as much capacity as my original computer hard drive had. I've had this computer five years. If everything works as I was told, the new drive should give me 35 years more. By that time I will be 107 years old, so it probably won't matter then.---Brian

[lugnut]

so, you're finally catching up with the rest of the world.

[Dan Dubeau]

Got my plasma wired up to 240 and cut up a car rim for a tool stand. Last time I made one it took 20 minutes with a cutoff disc, and flap wheel. This time was less than 2 minutes, although I haven't cleaned it up yet. My only experience with a plasma is borrowing a buddies esab when I built my smoker about 7 years ago so I don't really have a frame of reference to go by but this little Chinese import has really exceeded my expectations so far. I'm going to get a lot of use, and fun out of this thing. Here's hoping it holds up with no major issues that can't be fixed. If I find myself using it a lot or building a cnc table (thinking about it), then I'll go the Hypertherm route as an upgrade. But for such an infrequently used tool I just couldn't justify the $2800 one was going to cost me when I got this one for $599 tax in, shipped. The extra money I saved will now upgrade my compressor.
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07DCX2YQ1/ref=cfb_at_prodpg

Some pretty ragged cuts, as I don't really know what I'm doing yet and wasn't very smooth, but I'm sure I'll figure it out given some time. Plus it was dark and I couldn't see anything

This thing is tiny. Much smaller than I thought it was going to be. Fit and finish is also MUCH better than I thought. Not the typical import quality that I was expecting.


Going to dig through the scrap pile and play around a bit tomorrow, then cut some frame plates for the heep. This new toyyyyooool, tool, is going to be fun.