Aric's Workshop
@aricsworkshop.bsky.social
Engineer who works in IT but dislikes modern technology, lives in a house built in 1813, loves Art Deco, and spends his free time going down rabbit holes. Currently obsessed with the intersection of Art and Science.
Artwork by Kurt Vonnegut on display at Drexel University until the 19th. Best part was a quick chat with a random stranger about her dad being one of Kurt's close friends years ago working at the Cornell Daily Sun.
July 11, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Artwork by Kurt Vonnegut on display at Drexel University until the 19th. Best part was a quick chat with a random stranger about her dad being one of Kurt's close friends years ago working at the Cornell Daily Sun.
Progress on fixing the wood chipper. Tried annealing where the studs were welded on so that I could drill them out, but that didn't work so out came the plasma cutter. Not a great repair, but should work well enough since I'm out of time a d need to make space for the new mower.
May 8, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Progress on fixing the wood chipper. Tried annealing where the studs were welded on so that I could drill them out, but that didn't work so out came the plasma cutter. Not a great repair, but should work well enough since I'm out of time a d need to make space for the new mower.
I don't remember what I was doing when I bent these channel pliers, but I clearly remember blinding pain. I never noticed they are actual ChannelLock, which makes bending more impressive.
May 1, 2025 at 11:39 PM
I don't remember what I was doing when I bent these channel pliers, but I clearly remember blinding pain. I never noticed they are actual ChannelLock, which makes bending more impressive.
Not my best work, but worlds better than the burst pipe that was there previously. PITA due to the soft pipe going oval, huge amount of scale needing to be sanded off, and poor access down in the hole. Also, I love my farm jack. How did I get to to be 50 without having one?
May 1, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Not my best work, but worlds better than the burst pipe that was there previously. PITA due to the soft pipe going oval, huge amount of scale needing to be sanded off, and poor access down in the hole. Also, I love my farm jack. How did I get to to be 50 without having one?
Came around the bend to see this guy. Sadly it's in the middle of an S curve that's blind both directions, has no shoulder on either side of the road, and handling snapping turtles is rarely a good idea. I hope it makes it across, but I'm surprised we weren't rear-ended so don't have much hope.
April 23, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Came around the bend to see this guy. Sadly it's in the middle of an S curve that's blind both directions, has no shoulder on either side of the road, and handling snapping turtles is rarely a good idea. I hope it makes it across, but I'm surprised we weren't rear-ended so don't have much hope.
Went to a Mexican ice cream shop in Reading yesterday. This is lime sherbet(?), chamoy (fruit sauce), Tajin (chili powder), a concerning amount of Valentina hot sauce, and a straw covered in tamarind paste and rolled in hot chili powder.
It was interesting, worth revisiting.
It was interesting, worth revisiting.
April 21, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Went to a Mexican ice cream shop in Reading yesterday. This is lime sherbet(?), chamoy (fruit sauce), Tajin (chili powder), a concerning amount of Valentina hot sauce, and a straw covered in tamarind paste and rolled in hot chili powder.
It was interesting, worth revisiting.
It was interesting, worth revisiting.
Can't say I've ever seen someone land both black and white on the same side of the outlet, let alone do that on /both sides/. I guess it doesn't really matter since the outlet isn't polarized, but both 110v and 220v plugs can fit is worrying. Seems it's rated for 10a/250v and 15a/125v.
April 16, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Can't say I've ever seen someone land both black and white on the same side of the outlet, let alone do that on /both sides/. I guess it doesn't really matter since the outlet isn't polarized, but both 110v and 220v plugs can fit is worrying. Seems it's rated for 10a/250v and 15a/125v.
Unsurprisingly I drove it with wild abandon. 😁🤣
April 14, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Unsurprisingly I drove it with wild abandon. 😁🤣
A goodly part of the weekend was spent unpacking the garage and making space for a go-cart for Enno. Was not a small amount of work.
April 14, 2025 at 12:56 PM
A goodly part of the weekend was spent unpacking the garage and making space for a go-cart for Enno. Was not a small amount of work.
Kim appeared in the workshop, looking for a drill index.
Not knowing what she was up to, I eyed her suspiciously and handed her the blue drill index.
She needed something smaller, so I pointed to my full drill index, letter/number/fraction.
I think the look I got was "Why am I not surprised".
Not knowing what she was up to, I eyed her suspiciously and handed her the blue drill index.
She needed something smaller, so I pointed to my full drill index, letter/number/fraction.
I think the look I got was "Why am I not surprised".
April 12, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Kim appeared in the workshop, looking for a drill index.
Not knowing what she was up to, I eyed her suspiciously and handed her the blue drill index.
She needed something smaller, so I pointed to my full drill index, letter/number/fraction.
I think the look I got was "Why am I not surprised".
Not knowing what she was up to, I eyed her suspiciously and handed her the blue drill index.
She needed something smaller, so I pointed to my full drill index, letter/number/fraction.
I think the look I got was "Why am I not surprised".
Mostly a note for myself, for reference later. Antique shop had a walk-in fireplace of similar age and construction as ours, so I took pics for when I convert ours back to the original setup. Bear in mind that I'm 6' tall and was standing inside the fireplace when taking these pics.
April 9, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Mostly a note for myself, for reference later. Antique shop had a walk-in fireplace of similar age and construction as ours, so I took pics for when I convert ours back to the original setup. Bear in mind that I'm 6' tall and was standing inside the fireplace when taking these pics.
Final tally: ~150oz at 67%. Need to make more labels, I guess.
April 5, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Final tally: ~150oz at 67%. Need to make more labels, I guess.
Saw this flyer at the feed store, and later realized leaving it for my father-in-law to find would be amusing.
It then occurred to me making the tabs removable and have one be missing would be even funnier.
Especially since we discussed us getting ducks or chickens with him earlier today.
It then occurred to me making the tabs removable and have one be missing would be even funnier.
Especially since we discussed us getting ducks or chickens with him earlier today.
April 5, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Saw this flyer at the feed store, and later realized leaving it for my father-in-law to find would be amusing.
It then occurred to me making the tabs removable and have one be missing would be even funnier.
Especially since we discussed us getting ducks or chickens with him earlier today.
It then occurred to me making the tabs removable and have one be missing would be even funnier.
Especially since we discussed us getting ducks or chickens with him earlier today.
18 cups after straining, which works out to 1.125 gallons, which is 9.33 pounds. Added 9 pounds 4 ounces of golden sugar, came to ~54% sugar. Boiling until 67%, then filter and bottle.
April 5, 2025 at 9:10 PM
18 cups after straining, which works out to 1.125 gallons, which is 9.33 pounds. Added 9 pounds 4 ounces of golden sugar, came to ~54% sugar. Boiling until 67%, then filter and bottle.
/Somebody/ gave away all of our Hickory Syrup. Again.
It's me. 😬🤣
This batch is:
28oz bark, weighed after soaking for 15 minutes then roasting at 400 for 30 minutes
22 cups water
Golden Sugar to 50%, boil to 67%
It's me. 😬🤣
This batch is:
28oz bark, weighed after soaking for 15 minutes then roasting at 400 for 30 minutes
22 cups water
Golden Sugar to 50%, boil to 67%
April 4, 2025 at 8:01 PM
/Somebody/ gave away all of our Hickory Syrup. Again.
It's me. 😬🤣
This batch is:
28oz bark, weighed after soaking for 15 minutes then roasting at 400 for 30 minutes
22 cups water
Golden Sugar to 50%, boil to 67%
It's me. 😬🤣
This batch is:
28oz bark, weighed after soaking for 15 minutes then roasting at 400 for 30 minutes
22 cups water
Golden Sugar to 50%, boil to 67%
Drivers are a different kind of crazy out here in Oley.
Also, for the first to happen the way it did, he would have had threaded a very small needle at considerable speed, in a No Passing Zone.
That house was built ~1860 and is about a mile south of me. It didn't seem to notice the impact.
Also, for the first to happen the way it did, he would have had threaded a very small needle at considerable speed, in a No Passing Zone.
That house was built ~1860 and is about a mile south of me. It didn't seem to notice the impact.
April 3, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Drivers are a different kind of crazy out here in Oley.
Also, for the first to happen the way it did, he would have had threaded a very small needle at considerable speed, in a No Passing Zone.
That house was built ~1860 and is about a mile south of me. It didn't seem to notice the impact.
Also, for the first to happen the way it did, he would have had threaded a very small needle at considerable speed, in a No Passing Zone.
That house was built ~1860 and is about a mile south of me. It didn't seem to notice the impact.
Turkish coffee with extra cardamom is a wonderful thing. Lately the ratio has been ~260g of water and ~35g of Turkish coffee. No Standard Banana handy, so sugar jar for scale in spite of not actually putting sugar in my coffee.
April 3, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Turkish coffee with extra cardamom is a wonderful thing. Lately the ratio has been ~260g of water and ~35g of Turkish coffee. No Standard Banana handy, so sugar jar for scale in spite of not actually putting sugar in my coffee.
A bit of powerwashing makes a huge difference. I'm now very cold and can't feel my fingers or toes, as it's 51 deg and windy and I'm underdressed.
April 2, 2025 at 9:50 PM
A bit of powerwashing makes a huge difference. I'm now very cold and can't feel my fingers or toes, as it's 51 deg and windy and I'm underdressed.
Forgot to mention.... the Grand Canyon of PA (Pine Creek Gorge) is ~47 miles long and is ~1450' deep at the southern end. We were at the northern end at Leonard Harrison State Park, where it's only 800' deep.
April 2, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Forgot to mention.... the Grand Canyon of PA (Pine Creek Gorge) is ~47 miles long and is ~1450' deep at the southern end. We were at the northern end at Leonard Harrison State Park, where it's only 800' deep.
The day after we got home Kim checked out the German Import store just up the street from us, and they happened to be clearing out old style clothing at a huge discount. Which lead to me finally buying a pair of Bundhosen (below-the-knee Lederhosen). I love them.
April 2, 2025 at 11:57 AM
The day after we got home Kim checked out the German Import store just up the street from us, and they happened to be clearing out old style clothing at a huge discount. Which lead to me finally buying a pair of Bundhosen (below-the-knee Lederhosen). I love them.
We then stopped at Clyde Peeling's Reptiland just south of Williamsport, after taking a drive past the Victorian Mansion on Millionaire's Row where I had an apartment from 1995-96. I'd not been to Reptiland in 40+ years, and happy to see it's still around. Naturally I bought alligator jerky.
April 2, 2025 at 11:57 AM
We then stopped at Clyde Peeling's Reptiland just south of Williamsport, after taking a drive past the Victorian Mansion on Millionaire's Row where I had an apartment from 1995-96. I'd not been to Reptiland in 40+ years, and happy to see it's still around. Naturally I bought alligator jerky.
Last of the vacation pics from 3/24-25. Stopped at the Grand Canyon of PA near Wellsboro. This section is 800' deep, but everything is still closed for Winter.
April 2, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Last of the vacation pics from 3/24-25. Stopped at the Grand Canyon of PA near Wellsboro. This section is 800' deep, but everything is still closed for Winter.
Pool area is cleaned up and prepped for new fence, cover put back on for safety until the new liner goes in. It occurred to me halfway through that I've never installed one of these covers, so am left wondering how I remembered how to do it.
April 1, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Pool area is cleaned up and prepped for new fence, cover put back on for safety until the new liner goes in. It occurred to me halfway through that I've never installed one of these covers, so am left wondering how I remembered how to do it.