BTW, Lock&Lock containers are made in China.

The ones I got directly from Lock 'n Lock are made in Vietnam. It is an interesting theory that quality varies based on where it was manufactured.

If it is mentioned on an AQ board, is it not true....

Google and Reddit will help you check to see if the master balls are an urbane legend. ;-)

LB

I use the laser print with acetone transfer method. One thing I found recently is that success also depends on the carving material. I replaced my printer several months ago and could not make transfers with the new printer. Both are lower cost HP laser printers. Then I purchased a slab of Inovart Karve Majik (which I like a lot) and the prints from the new printer transfer to it just fine.

I get my acetone at the hardware store in a quart can. It is a lot but I use it for other things also.

Yup, and they used to be $1.25 for the size that fits a logbook, 75 cents for the little round one that's a good size if you don't have a logbook. Maybe this is one reason there are so many boxes in New England.

That's an excellent point, Tessie! I doubt I would have planted as many boxes if I'd had to pay for real LnLs. And I wouldn't have been as likely to replace other people's failed boxes if I were paying LnL prices.

Or Bell Motel.

Austin will be nice and cool in Feb - a great time to visit.

This article captures some of the best museums to check out https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2012/oct/17/austin-10-best-museums-galleries

I'd definitely recommend Harry Ransom, Bob Bullock, and LBJ. One thing not on the list is the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, which is a lovely place to visit if the weather is nice. You should also make a visit to Texas State Capitol, which is very worthwhile to see.

As for restaurants - so much depends on what you like, but you should definitely plan on breakfast tacos. Tacodeli, Taco Shack, Torchy's Tacos - all are very popular. BBQ is also a big thing. Google "Austin breakfast tacos" or "Austin BBQ" and you will get loads of info.

I do have a lot of drive by boxes in case you are interested. I'm particularly proud of "Taco Prayer" - which is a drive by and you could combine with a visit to Tacodeli. Your family could eat while you grab a box. :)

Hope you have a great trip!

I really like heat transfer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wIEAVGVujQ

I've seen people do it & it looks so easy, but I just can't get the knack. Maybe it's my eyes.

I'm so sorry to hear this and will pray.

Please also pray for my husband who is going blind. I'm having a hard time dealing with the reality of it even though it's been a long time coming. He's now down to "light & dark and shapes" as I heard him tell the Dr.'s office this morning.

Maybe I fall into the same boat.

I will check Rite Aid out sometime. Mine came from Wally World for .97, but it was hard to locate.

I mean it feels smooth on the outside surface, but when I gouge it, it skips. Looks being deceiving.

You need a laser jet, but some don't work as well. The best option is to visit a library. They may have some older laser jet printers. One library that I used had the old laser jets that provided excellent results. A year and a half later, they replaced them with a new model and the acetone transfer stopped working.

I have the locket, the snake, and the ring already carved for something else, but I'd be more than happy to send them your way to use for your event!

I second Torchys!

Also, there are a lot of restaurants with live music. We went to one a fewe years ago that was great tex mex food and sat on the patio and listed to a live brand. Ther are lots of choices! Not native, so I can't recommend , but know there are many!

Have fun!

I just put my name in for borrowing the stamps from the Hogwarts event in North Carolina.
There are a few people ahead of me on the list, including the host, who will be using the stamps at an event in a different state early 2017.
Hopefully we will get them sometime in 2017?

I know Koalacat went to the event, so I will be asking you about how it went.

I can't wait to start planning. If anyone has suggestions for parks that would be Hogwarts appropriate let me know.

Heather

Hey Koalacat, let me know when you will be in the area again and let's see if I can do a better needle carving demonstration, the last one was a bit short.

I would definitely make a trip to MI for a Hogwarts event.

Hey everyone,
I just wanted to share a new company that makes dehydrated meals for hikers called Sporkables. You can check out the website at http://www.sporkables.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

I'd love to hear what you think if you try it.

This one is now closed.

The only difference form the video, is I use a smaller craft iron. It is much easier to work with then a full size iron. You can also touch up light areas easier with the small head.

Have any of you gone to the North Shore is search of my HEKI box at their store? It was planted early March and no finders yet. Just trying to figure out what the problem is.

Thanks.
Zoe

Hey Ryan,

Have you seen this??

https://www.fitbit.com/challenges/adventures

And us locals are VERY glad that you did!!!! Happy AQversary!

I second that. Happy AQversary (although a few days late!)

sun7flour

That makes the image bigger but not clearer. You need to select the "Large" to see the full-resolution version of the photo.

Zooming in on the "Large" image even further by holding down the "ctrl" key and hitting the "+" key allows a closer look at the nib ranging in magnifications from 110% to 500%. Agreed that the edge resolution gets noticeably softer over 250% (magnifying over twice as large as the "Large" image), but it does allow a closer look at the nib to get a better appreciation of your sharpening angles, honing and adept skill.

You're just blowing up a low-resolution copy of the photo.

When the "Large" image is no longer an option (only "Normal") try holding down the "ctrl" key and hitting the "+" key. You can then zoom-in on the "Normal" (smaller) image in increments enlarging/magnifying it as large as the former "Large" image (and even greater magnification). I've been going back and forth comparing one of your current "Large" images (Rabby V Mods Photo Album) with a "Normal" image zooming-in (magnified 250%) without any significant image degradation when compared to the resolution of the current "Large" image.

If I could have gotten higher resolution yet I would have; I have trouble getting clear photos of things as small as gouge nibs.

Even if your camera's digital sensor was 20 MP and you used a Carl Zeiss Planar lens your closeup images are still converted to jpeg. What you NEED to do is get even CLOSER so we can really get a good look at the business end of the nibs. The following two macro close-ups (AQ Public Photo Album) were taken with my recently purchased $70 used Canon G10 (with battery and charger). In dedicated macro mode it allows focusing as close as 0.4" (1cm) to the subject. The two handheld (manual focus setting) photos in AQs Photo Album were shot at 15 MP, 4,416 x 3,312 pixels, ISO 80, f/8, 1/200 sec at a distance of approximately 1 inch. Then cropped even tighter (about 50% of original full frame) as seen in the Photo Album. The G10 is not a DSLR, but its dedicated macro mode does permit manual focusing. A feature which i found useful for 'critical focusing' at 1 inch from subject matter. The distance scale switches from feet to inches when focusing on subjects from 20 inches to as close as 0.04 of an inch (1cm) ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKmTPEjKcMI ... and... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOybg4HSPvA

Photo Album entitled ... SPEEDBALL NIBS XPOSED (macro/closeups) ...
http://www.atlasquest.com/gallery/viewalbum.html?gAlbumId=4482

Thank you :)

That is the hardest part for me in planning an event...picking the location.
If you plan it tbey will come.

~Aurora

Let's go to Roper Mountain Science Center.

I just read tere was a 7.1 earthquake in nortbern New Zealand. Not sure how far that is from Christchurch but I know another earthquake is not what you need after all the misery of the last one. I hope you and all fellow boxers in NZ are ok. Prayers to those affected

~Aurora

ditto

deniserows
abbr.