What happened to Zeke's thread

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

I work for TXRX Labs www.txrxlabs.org, a non-profit which is now the anchor tenant and co-owner of the East End Maker Hub www.eastendmakerhub.org
The EEMH is comprised of 70 or so suites of various sizes and capabilities, which are filled by start-ups and small businesses. They're required to be a producing facility of some kind (no software app stuff, no VCs, etc), they need to be pretty local, and they need to preferentially hire from within our district, a historically minority but manufacturing area in Houston.

TXRX Labs is a makerspace gone professional, we teach classes and certifications on a growing number of trade subjects (ASE, welding, machining, QC, etc). We also do design and prototyping for companies, especially the tenants in the EEMH, and we still do classic makerspace stuff, like have memberships and teach night classes on nearly every type of manufacturing or crafting that exists. Our core values are DIY, trades, skills, and the idea that we can't Buy American until we can Build American, and that won't happen until we Train American.

Wow, that's cool. I really hope there's resurgence on the skill trades. I think that will solve lots of problems in the lower social economic areas putting young folks back to work and provide them with an employable skill.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Sorry, .

I’m not going to quote any more of your arrogant post, but it makes plain who at least one of the morons is.

[Kraftwerk]

Zeke, I do think the original question is interesting. I missed the original thread, but it seems like a question which would naturally generate MANY answers and maybe raise some more questions. It's one of those question's with no right answer, many wrong ones but probably good advice sprinkled in there and sone good answers.. would take many pages of reading to find the advice you would find useful. It's the nature of the beast, the forum beast.

[look 171]

Milt, there are small pottery making and other hands-on places popping up all over the places. There's a private wood working school that operates from 4-9pm and they are always looking for instructors. I almost signed up for it but gotten too busy so I let that go. I thought of doing that 20 years ago for kicks but was worry about insurance and law suites. This isn't a trade school to put people back to work, but more of an art class where the local folks who are interesting building their cabinets, cutting boards, coffee tables and so on. Fun stuff. I might do it after I retired and do what I told you in your other post. I know there's a huge market for that but at a given price point. No hard sales, just facts so people have valuable info before they sink their teeth into their home remodeling project. Basically offer them direction on how to get started. Not as a class, but cater to the individual. It will only work in a certain area. As much as I have fallen out of love with many of my young, ultra left neighbors up here in the hill, they are the ones that will pay for a simple service like it without thinking about spending the 200 bucks for the couple hours for that guidance.

[Zeke]

The problem is I'm in Long Beach and not willing to commute. I've never heard of anything like that locally. That, and you're a cabinet maker turned GC. My background is not mill work but the careful dissection of significant older and historic homes and making improvements that don't stand out like a pimple on a clear face.

Long Beach went through some terrible times when 1000's of 2-3 bedroom craftsman bungalows were razed 2 x 2 to create a double lot onto which an 8 unit apt was built with little parking. The result has been overcrowding and as the units age they are an eyesore in themselves. Not to mention most of these areas are now considered ghettos.

In 1990 LB created a historical review board and designated (over a 10 year period) 16 historical districts which are controlled more or less by the rules of the National Trust for Historical Preservation. Unfortunately many other older districts were far too mitigated to try and bring them back due to wholesale unbridled renovations. One such district is comprised of 100% Cliff May homes that now don't look much like the originals.

Now we see more effort to appreciate and preserve. The roots of this movement goes back nearly 40 years when new owners of older homes wanted the wall to wall carpet out and the hardwood floors redone. Little by little people are 'getting it'.

But there is still a lot sihty work being done and owners btiching about contractors as if we are all used car salesmen. As you said, some forethought, education and planning is key to getting the best results with the fewest mistakes.

Too bad we have so many cowboys making trips to the box junk store and bringing crap back to the job. What's worse is that due to ignorance they think they've 'improved' the home. I've seen way too many Victorian entry doors on bungalow houses and just think how the fook can anyone not see how ugly that is.

But try and find a craftsman inspired door at the Home Depot. Especially in quarter sawn oak. Never happen.

Oh, what's quarter sawn oak? Is that the thickness of a quarter?

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by Zeke

The problem is I'm in Long Beach and not willing to commute. I've never heard of anything like that locally. That, and you're a cabinet maker turned GC. My background is not mill work but the careful dissection of significant older and historic homes and making improvements that don't stand out like a pimple on a clear face.

Long Beach went through some terrible times when 1000's of 2-3 bedroom craftsman bungalows were razed 2 x 2 to create a double lot onto which an 8 unit apt was built with little parking. The result has been overcrowding and as the units age they are an eyesore in themselves. Not to mention most of these areas are now considered ghettos.

In 1990 LB created a historical review board and designated (over a 10 year period) 16 historical districts which are controlled more or less by the rules of the National Trust for Historical Preservation. Unfortunately many other older districts were far too mitigated to try and bring them back due to wholesale unbridled renovations. One such district is comprised of 100% Cliff May homes that now don't look much like the originals.

Now we see more effort to appreciate and preserve. The roots of this movement goes back nearly 40 years when new owners of older homes wanted the wall to wall carpet out and the hardwood floors redone. Little by little people are 'getting it'.

But there is still a lot sihty work being done and owners btiching about contractors as if we are all used car salesmen. As you said, some forethought, education and planning is key to getting the best results with the fewest mistakes.

Too bad we have so many cowboys making trips to the box junk store and bringing crap back to the job. What's worse is that due to ignorance they think they've 'improved' the home. I've seen way too many Victorian entry doors on bungalow houses and just think how the fook can anyone not see how ugly that is.

But try and find a craftsman inspired door at the Home Depot. Especially in quarter sawn oak. Never happen.

Oh, what's quarter sawn oak? Is that the thickness of a quarter?

Personally, I really appreciate what you bring to the table, my father loved wood working and was a quality over quantity guy, one of my mentors loved to build his own homes, again no short cuts. I remember watching Floyd build his home here in town, another one I learned a lot from. Well, his last Florida home, all cedar, wrap around porches even the garage was cedar. The historic house at the end of his street, right on the river went through 3 sets of owners while Floyd was there, all were going to restore the home, one owner bought cedar to redo the house, a lot 9f it too. Well, they sold the house, the couple who bought it, wish all the materials to reside the home. For some reason, they chose to use vinyl siding on the vintage home and sold the cedar for next to nothing, Floyd and another neighbor bought it and used it. I still have a hard time comprehending why someone would use vinyl over cedar on a historic riverfront home.
I drove by Floyd's old home last month. The current owners have covered or replaced the cedar
I will try to find some pictures of what it looked like. This is what it looks like now.



One feature he built into the home was a Spiral staircase, with a cypress tree as the center, all wood steps and the rail was wood curved, it was a beautiful piece of work, I think you would have appreciated it.

[thor66]

sorry about your thread, Zeke

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

Seems like we have many geniuses here. Just ask them.

[craigster59]

I like your page over on FB Milt. I'm the guy who hates "popcorn" ceilings and loves "clinker brick" fireplaces. You do great work and have a depth of knowledge that is rapidly disappearing in the trades.

BTW, I like stainless braided hoses. Sometimes the juxtaposition of a classic plumbing fixture with modern, better accessories ain't so bad. But I know what you mean, some people's taste is all in their mouth.

[Zeke]

I like SS braided hoses too — on my brake lines.

They wouldn't look so cool at the Hearst Castle.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Zeke

...case in point.

Yeah, that guy does not contribute to many discussions. None as far as I can tell.


Amazing knowledge base here though

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by Kraftwerk

Ever see a monkey eat a banana? Sometime's they bite it in the middle and peel from the center to the ends. ... not saying it's wrong...

And what do ya do with all those banana peels??? Convert them into fuel using a Mr. Fusion? Bass-O-Matic? Random pranks to make people slip and fall?
007 made a "bunch" fall from a truck to make the bad guys car spin out in The Spy Who Loved Me.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by Kraftwerk

Ever see a monkey eat a banana? Sometime's they bite it in the middle and peel from the center to the ends. ... not saying it's wrong...

[speeder]

I'd say that's a contribution. ^^^

[look 171]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

I have always peel that banana from the stem. No one ever taught me, it just the way it is. My whole family does it that way, now including my kids. I noticed people from banana countries, they all peel from the other end. It is so much easier still, I like to peel from the stem. it just feel cleaner. I go as far as using a knife to cut a slit to get it started. Weird, I know.

[Jeff Alton]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I did have it removed. No point in asking a simple question here because the overall reading skills and comprehension are nil. Believe me, I have looked long and hard for a forum to join that maintains some level of intellect.

I like the diverse subjects here and I get some news before it hits MSM. But that's the extent of any benefit to wasting time here. I'm fully in tabs camp, this place is way too populated with morons. There are a few dozen members I wish I could take with me and start a new forum.

No one jumped on me that I know of. My question brought out all the wrong responses as no one comprehended the question. They just want to brag about how good they are. Bragging is OK but not what I was after.

So I had it pulled.

Zeke/Milt... when you find that forum, could you let me know? Will have less sugar posters and others that start with S.... Some just always have to be the smartest and win....

Cheers

[70SATMan]

Milt, I thought your question was properly framed and yes, I think there’s a huge market for that kind of service. Timely thread because my wife and I are front and center in our own decision making. What makes matters worse for us is I’ve done all of our work to date and have a solid sense of what we need but, aren’t sure of the best way to get there.

I have no real experience with hiring to do the work because I’ve never needed to. So, though I’m on the opposite spectrum of the customer base you are thinking of targeting, I would still be a prime candidate for your experienced guidance.

D&Bs seem to be looking for the next big marketing opportunity to showcase on Houzz. Been through three of those firms for quotes. Last firm gave me two consecutively increasing bids when we tried to de-scope work (balancing priorities against our cost ceilings). So, that was obviously the ‘I’m really busy but if you really want me to take the job’ quote. Half of the job really does need an Architect/engineering to convert our carport to a 2.5 garage. The rest I know I could act as the GC if not do much of the work but, my job just isn’t allowing me the time.

Think I’ve finally found a guy that is listening to me. We’ll see.

[wdfifteen]

"I asked if when considering a significant home improvement would you think you need an architect, a designer, and/or a design/build contractor. One, two, or all 3"

In my experience I want a designer, because they know all the latest materials and processes and they also know the good and bad contractors. I want an architect because they can do drawings that pass and get permits without a lot of delay. I want a build contractor because I've had a couple of bad experiences with contractors who really, really wanted to be a designer instead and sucked at project management.

[mb911]

It's very sad that people treat others the way they do. I have known Milt for over 20 years though only via email,and phone conversations and can't fathom how/why is it necessary to insult everyone on this forum. I haven't hung out here much but can share that Milt is one of the most sincere individuals I know that I have never met In person.

Milt had I seen the original post I would be happy to give input. Sorry sometimes people suck and can't give any real contribution

[1990C4S]

The entire forum has gone downhill over the last few years. If it were to shut down I would not miss it.

It used to be full of good, civil, reasoned, people. Those days are long gone. It's a microcosm of a bigger problem that no one knows how to fix, or even cares to, they just know who to blame.