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This would be nice to go with the bulb: http://cgi.ebay.com/Magnetic-Tool-Lamp-Lig...bayphotohosting

Whether I purchase another Dremel, which is unlikely, or purchase a couple of cheapos from Harbor Freight, Im looking at $50 to $60. The Foredom is too pricey for me right now, but there is a guy in Ebay selling something similar with a five-year warranty for about $60 to $80. http://cgi.ebay.com/1-3HP-DIE-GRINDER-Flex...n%3D7%26ps%3D48 I am tempted to pull the trigger but would like to know if I should think again. Is the speed of these devices easy to control with the foot pedal? I do like the idea of 500 to 20k rpm. Thanks, Ed

Among my list of obsessions, lighting is one of them. I was doing a bit of spring cleaning and came across a 23 watt/6500K full spectrum compact fluorescent daylight bulb that fits a regular incandescent socket. I would say this bulb out performs a 100 watt incandescent for amount and quality of light. Here are the specs: Company: Sunlite Manufacturing (in Brooklyn, NY, though the bulb is made in China) Model # SL23/65K Cat. No. 05454 I've bought daylight/sunlight bulbs in the past. This is the only one that has impressed me. ed

I have grown quite fond of the quick-change chuck I bought for my Dremel. Anyone know if this could be used on the less expensive rotary tools from Harbor Freight? ed

I do use the Dremel daily at the lowest setting of 5000 RPM. I think buying a few of the cheapos at HArbor Freight might be a very good idea. Plus I need an excuse for another excursion to America ( The NYC to Saddlebrook, New Jersey Harbor Freight Run). Now I realize that the Dremel is all marketing and very little of a well-built tool. The cheapos cannot be constructed any more poorly. I think it has been about a year. I'll double check and look into the warranty. I like the Foredom idea, but that will be over $300. I'm off to HF's website. Thanks for the responses. ed

Just read your post 30 minutes after complete disassembly and.... Wait for it....... .... ... ... wait for it... ... ... ... ... Successful REASSEMBLY . It had died completely. Happened to have the torx drivers on hand and just couldn't say no. I opened it up, played around with the parts, blew on it, put it back together, and Voila! However, I think it will die again in a week or so. Pictures are forthcoming. Yes, pictures of the innards of the 400 XPR. And to think all this on the same day I actually closed the case officially on the 22-watt circline lamps and returned them to full active duty. Ed I will definitely look into the Foredom. Thanks. ed

I think my Dremel is coming down with Swine Flu. It's lethargic, groggy, horse. Just doesn't have the same get up and go. Does this mean it's time to replace something? I've heard of brushes, but don't actually know what those do. Ed

And I thought I was taking risks with my lamp fixes. Thank you for this explanation. Thank you very, very much............Though now I'm quite curious to see what this will look like. Ed

After research and further deliberation, I'll go for a quart of the Matte Plus in black. If this works out, I'll order the dark brown in the future. Ed

It is precisely the health concerns that have been making me think of using a torch instead of boiling and pouring, my thinking being that the torch would be the quickest and most efficient method, requiring the least amount of exposure during setup and cleaning, especially for the basic needs of making a simple block. Are the health concerns serious even when using a cold, hardened lead block? I'm not going to be using the block daily, nor am I going to be smelting the lead more than a few times a year, if that. In my research, I came across the debate on whether a propane torch should be called a blow torch. Another thing I came across is the warning not to smelt lead over concrete and wondered why this is. Ed

Your replies are helping me think through this process. Thank you. I was thinking of getting an inexpensive propane torch, $20 sans propane bottle. I was thinking of using a 6" dia. pie tin of crushable aluminum and going about 2" thick. ten pounds seems about right. I was thinking of placing lead chunks in the pie tin and torching them there directly, obviating the need to pour anything. I always like to invest in tools and equipment that have multiple uses. It would be nice to have a portable camping stove on hand. Ed

I was just now experimenting with an edge paint from a Florida company, which has raised another question. How would you describe the viscosity of the regular matte in relation to the matte plus, watery being very thin, honey-like being much thicker. I prefer a viscosity between watery and honey-like, but like to be able to use a honey-like viscosity to fill in areas as needed and dilute when needed. ed

Perhaps my input here is biased, since I am very critical of health services in the U.S. The "care" in health care is a misnomer, and it should be called instead "health business", as that is what it is, a business that is set up to make the most profits and pay out the least in services. Many private health care providers will turn older people away as they are a greater risk. My guess is that to insure two people over the age of 50 will cost $1000 or more a month, and then you may still have a yearly deductible of around $2500 or more. Insurance companies vary by geography and local and state guidelines. I know that many people wait until they have to go to the emergency room, because supposedly they cannot be turned away in the event of an emergency. Though the hospital will try to collect payment for such services, perhaps there are some limits to their ability to actually collect. I may be naive in thinking this, but we may be two years away from universal health care in this country. Though all of Michael Moore's films do go a bit off the edge in their analyses, Moore nonetheless does raise significant points. With that in mind, go see "Sicko". PBS has also put out a good documentary on health care in this "company"... I mean country ("Sick Around America"). If you're interested I can send you these two documentaries. ed

I wouldn't mind buying a camping stove, but I was thinking that the blow torch would be the simplest method, especially for resurfacing the lead block periodically. My first idea was to use my backpacking stove but soon realized that that is a terrible idea as there is a good chance the pot would topple over and all the dangerous sorts of scenarios to follow. Even though the blow torch is overkill, is it a doable idea, especially considering the simplicity of operation and nearly absent cleanup required? I have kind of always wanted to get a blow torch. You, know just to have one on hand. ed

I was at a 99 cent store the other day and found the perfectly shaped aluminum pan for lead block. After looking at some You Tube videos on smelting lead and reading about the health hazards, I'm not terribly crazy about the idea of heating the stuff to boiling and then pouring. But I am intrigued by the idea of cutting lead bars into pieces that will fit in the aluminum pan and melting with a blow torch attached to a small propane bottle. The lead doesn't need to be taken to a full boil, just heated long enough so that it all flows together inside the pan. The whole process should take just a few minutes and clean up would be negligible. Is there any reason I shouldn't go with the blow torch? Ed

I like Campbell Bosworth for needles and thread. ed

Get some nickeled solid brass chicago screws and use blue loctite. They will not come off unless someone takes a screwdriver to them. Use the red loctite if you never want them to come apart, though I think you could use a small amount of red loctite for a happy middle ground. ed

If you already have stock of the regular matte finish in black,I will try that first before requesting the matte plus. If you think the matte plus is a better choice, then please order a case of it and I will start with one quart. If either the regular matte or matte plus works out well, I will next be in for dark brown. ed

Couldn't the matte plus or the glossy plus be thinned with water, if desired, to get the results of the regular finish? Ed

I've heard that horse hide is very tough wearing, and I thought it would be nice to make a bag out of it. I would need about 22 sq. feet. I'll try Zack White. Veg tanned horse hide in around 5/6 oz sounds perfect. ed

Anyone have a good source for horse hide? Thanks, Ed

Thanks for the picture. That is glossier than I want, so I will go for the matte. I'll try the regular matte first and go from there. Ed

Before you order a case I may try the regular matte if you have that in stock. Or if it's not too trouble, would you be able to do up a short sample of the glossy and the matte and post a picture? ed

Do you stock a matte plus finish? If so, I'll add dark brown and black to my thread order. Ed

Thanks for this follow-up. I need to order some thread from you guys soon and would also like to order a quart or two of this edge paint. I prefer a matte finish, but are you saying that the matte finish may not adhere as well to a variety of leathers as the gloss-plus adheres? Ed