Bricoleur -- "Someone Who Fixes Stuff with Whatever he Finds Around"

A short time ago Paul VK3HN told us about the term bricolage. It seemed to capture much of the homebrew spirit.  This morning I heard Van Neistat's video-cast  (also something that came to me from Paul VK3HN) talking about the related term "bricoleur."  His  video (above) also has some great workshop ideas.  

Here is a nice Wikipedia discussion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bricolage

Note from the Wikipedia page: 

• MacGyver is a television series in which the protagonist is the paragon of a bricoleur,^[28] creating solutions for the problem to be solved out of immediately available found objects.

Some Great Analog Pictures from MIT Building 20 and other Analog Locations

Here is a picture of Jim Williams taken through a Tektronix oscilloscope camera.  I never used one of these things, but Dean KK4DAS did.  Here are the details of the shot: 

I took this great photo of Jim Williams with a Tek scope camera sometime around 1977 or so. There was no digital (or analog) manipulation. It was a simple double exposure. I first shot a scope waveform, then just to see what would happen, I pulled the camera off the scope, stuck it Jim’s face and snapped another shot before pulling the film. I never expected it to look this good….a view from inside the oscilloscope!

Here is the collection of pictures that this 'scope shot came from: 

https://lensprojects.com/analog-history/

Thanks to Len Sherman for the pictures.  On his site you will see, among other things, the upside down Christmas Tree of dead parts, and Bob Pease's Volkswagen Beetle. 

More info on MIT's Building 20: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_20

California Typewriter -- Full Movie with Tom Hanks

I think this one is a bit over the top.  They are way too interested in the old typewirters.  The artist who destroys the old machines to make robots and sculptures... the "musical group" that plays songs on old typrwriters... all the people who decry modern digital tech, but then create internet pages that save the old typewriter shops.   But hey, who am I to criticize them?  Some readers really liked the New York Times article on the Bremerton Typewriters Company.  And there is a lot of overlap between these typrewriter fanatics and the many shades of  ham radio fanaticism (boatanchor-oligists, I'm looking at you!)  So here (above) is the full movie.  

One personal note:  My paternal grandmother was part of that original typewriter revolution - she remained proud all of her life of hwer ability to use that machine.  She kept her own typewriter in her house all of her life. And she used it. 

There are  a LOT of YouTube videos about old typewriters and workshops that service them.  Here is one about the last typewriter shop in Melbourne, Australia: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxx6ZutCU5w

 

A Great Story about the Benefits of Repairing Old Gear -- The Bremerton Typewriter Company

Listen to this in its audio form.  Maybe follow along with the (type?)written text.  Enjoy the pictures and the videos and -- above all -- the message.  

This wonderful article has a lot to say about the value of repairing -- and knowing how to repair -- old gear.  Not just typewriters, although that is very cool.  But this article also pertains to old boatanchor ham gear, and to the skills needed to homebrew rigs today. And it says a lot about mentorship. 

I really liked this story.

 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/11/20/us/typewriter-repair-seattle-bremerton.html?unlocked_article_code=1.208.N367.53DGZGZ8oPIm&smid=url-share

Building "Newt" for "The Lightning Code"

This is part of our "Other Kinds of Workshops" series.  Newt was a little Arduino-R/C robot built for a movie called "The Lightning Code," which apparently has something to do with Nikola Tesla.  

Thanks to Hack-A-Day for the heads up. 

Building a Helio in Alaska from 75 year-old Blueprints

This video is part of our "Other Workshops" series.   I like it because in the beginning it seems to have a Piper Cub vibe that reminded me of former SolderSmoke co-host Jeff Whitlatch KO7M.  I also liked their discussion of how they did this with 75 year-old blue prints, how they brought the model into CAD, and how they used templates and other modern techniques to mas produce this plane.  Also, it made me feel a lot better about frequently updating the schematic for our direct conversion receiver.  

Forbidden Workshop Practices -- Part 2 -- By Van Neistat

The image I had for Part 1 was frighteningly large, so I made it smaller.  

I know this is controversial (!) but I share Van's aversion to flat head screws.  

Becoming a hoarder is a real danger that we all face. Be careful out there! 

Forbidden Workshop Practices Part 1 -- By Van Neistat

 

CuriousMarc Gets an Apollo DSKY Running. FPGA AGC Computer. Rope Memory.

I really liked this video.  So much amazing wizardry in it.  Just the FPGA Apollo AGC simulator that Mike whipped up.  Wow.  Kudos!  

Their occassional references to "rope" brought back fond memories of "Sunburst and Luminary" by Don Eyles:  https://soldersmoke.blogspot.com/search?q=Apollo+rope 

Other Workshops: Making The World's Smallest Motor

When I watched this very cool video, I thought of all those hams who complain so bitterly about how difficult it is to wind a toriod on a T-50 core. 

Thanks to Hack-A-Day for alerting us to this. 

 

SolderSmoke Direct Conversion Receiver Challenge -- Soldering!

The DCR challenge is going well, and we have several builders making good progress.  We noticed that some first-time builders are having a little trouble with soldering. Cold or weak solder joints are the bane of the of the homebrew builder’s existence.   It happens to all of us.  A board that was working fine suddenly is not working – you poke around and touch some part and the board springs to life – you just found a cold solder joint.  Dean, KK4DAS put together a short bonus video just on soldering.  He covers the tools you need for a basic soldering station, and step-by-step instructions for reliable soldering Manhattan Style.

Other Kinds of Workshops -- Making a Clock with a Lathe

Somehow, this video fits well with the SolderSmoke theme.  It may be that Uri cheerfully acknowledges that the lathe can kill you (the same is true of much of our gear).  Or it may be his repeated use of the term "Bob's your uncle" (has he been listening to SolderSmoke?).  Whatever the reason, this beautiful video fits here.  This is from Uri Tuchman's channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@urituchmanpigeon.  Uri is in Germany.  Thanks Uri! 

The Importance to Bell Labs of Lunch or Breakfast with Harry Nyquist -- "The Communicator" -- Bimonthly Publication of the Surrey (British Columbia) ARC.

This is a good sample (!) of the great content to be found in "The Communicator." This is the bimonthly publication of the Surrey (British Columbia) Amateur Radio Club.  You can find the publication and digital back issues here: https://ve7sar.blogspot.com/ 

There is a lot of great material in this publication. 

A Solar Energy Workshop in Hawaii

I include this because I am interested in workshops and solar power.  

Thanks to Bill AH6FC for sending this.  Mahlo Bill!  

How to Organize a Small Shack

A YouTube comment from Paul VK3HN sent me back to "The Spirited Man" YouTube channel, and one of the first things I found was this video about how to organize a small space.  This is very relevant to my shacks in Virginia and in the Dominican Republic. 

Lots of good ideas here, but that propane heater kind of scared me.  And it seemed inconsistent with concerns behind the fire-preventing garbage can.  What do you folks think? 

Thanks Paul. 

 

Harry Caul had THE KNACK -- Movie Review -- "The Conversation" --1974 by Francis Ford Coppola (Harry Caul based on W3VCG)

 

I give it FIVE Soldering Irons! 

I found it on Amazon Prime.  The workshop scenes remind me of ham workshops.  The movie character Harry Caul was based on real-life Marty Kaiser.  Was Marty a ham? 

POSTSCRIPT (August 23, 2024):  Yes, he is a ham!   W3VCG!   FB.  Here is his web site: 

http://www.martykaiser.com/fbi1~1.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Conversation

http://www.martykaiser.com/odyssey2.htm

Thanks to Roy WN3F for reminding me to watch this film.  Roy found a clip that is reminiscent of hamfests: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joM5VDCIQg8

ANOTHER Great Workshop

As I get ready to build the SolderSmoke Shack South, the Radio Gods (well at least YouTube) keep sending me these workshop videos.  Today's is also for a shop specializing in the repair of vintage audio gear, but the lessons-learned and observations are also applicable to a ham radio workshop.  This fellow's shop is in New York City, where space is very limited.  Check it out.  Lots of great ideas here.   

And check out the Novalux Stereophhonic channel:

 https://www.youtube.com/c/novaluxstereophonic

 

Some Really Amazing Test Gear

Wow. Really great test gear, and an amazing parts collection.   This guy even gets a "nice workshop" comment from Mr. Carlson.   Pac1085 seems to be in Rochester N.Y. and he says he specializes in the repair of vintage audio gear.  He should have more subscribers.  Does anyone have more info on him?  

Here is his channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@pac1085/featured

Innovations and Inventions in Garages and Basements

The Hewlett-Packard garage

There is a lot of inspirational stuff in this blog post, especially for those of us who work in home workshops, often in garages or basements. 

https://www.strangeloopcanon.com/p/the-mystery-of-the-garage

Thanks to HackaDay for alerting us to this. 

Pine Boards, Analog VFOs, and Homebrew BITX Transceivers -- AG5VG's Magnificent Creations

Click in image for a better view

This is amazingly cool.  WE ARE NOT ALONE!  There are others out there breaking the tyranny of the Si5351, building BITXs with analog LC VFOs.  And using copper clad boards affixed to pine boards. Plywood cabinetry!  And medicine bottle coil forms.  Really great.  And what a wonderful workshop. Thanks Michael.     

Good Afternoon Bill,

This is Michael Sahn, AG5VG.

I hope your doing well, all is well here in south Texas. I have recently built a bitx20 receiver and bitx20 for 40 meters receiver.

I built it using the analog VFO and both of mine are stable. What an awesome feeling it is to have a stable homebrew VFO. I have attached pictures .

It’s been a fun journey to get to this step. I have just been enjoying the receiver as Farhan instructed us. Then I’m going to go through the transmit side.

Air core coils are great for VFO. On my bitx40 I used a medicine bottle bottom but I put the VFO in a tin can as you will see in the pictures.

The bitx20 is all out, hand capacitance is a slight issue but it’s all learning experience.

Going to be adjusting the pvc coil bandpass filter inductors, I think the value is a bit off so it’s not as loud as it should be, but everything else is set good.

Just wanted to check in and great job on the videos and podcasts. I really enjoy them

73s

Michael

Click on image for a better view

Click on image for a better view