I almost got one of those, but resisted. When looking at those I kept coming across mini steam engines and tops made from cool metals. I must resist.

That’s an adorable dog.

I agree we really don't need these, but just got my machine last week, and it was completely worth it.

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here is the one i built

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I bought the set of the tops made out of different metals. I gave it to my son for high school graduation who was heading to engineering school. I thought it was a good way to show that things may look the same but can be drastically different based on engineering. He liked them.

Awesome to see those readout tubes guys!

You guys would have eyes popping out of your head if you saw how much nixie equipment and tubes I threw away at a previous job of mine....aging racks, test equipments, completed tubes, tube parts, assembly tooling, etc....

Think construction dumpster

that is hard to hear..... those large zm1040's go for 50 bucks each when you can find them

I have a certain idea I have been thinking about.... A pinball machine record high score indicator, made of Nixie tubes and controlled by Arduino or something similar. I have done some preliminary research and I think it is doable. But it won't be cheap that's for sure. It looks like the best way to get the Nixies is from those guys from Russia on Ebay. Then you have to sort out the high voltage power supply and then connect it to the Arduino for control. Another alternative would be to use a push button setup to cycle the numbers to set a new score when necessary. Combine it in a cool box with a backlit logo for the pinball machine and maybe even add in some alphanumeric Nixies for recording the person't name... still just thinking on this one. It would sit on the machine as a topper.

is this some sort of multicade?

Yeah, this was like 20 years ago, and there was a small market. They had stopped their production of them already and had a large imventory of new ones, so they got tired of storing equipment. Made me so sad, but I had nowhere to rehome any of it at the time...

Yeah, it is from a company called Dream Home Arcades. It not only has a MAME emulator for all the classic arcade games, but emulators for every other system you can think of as well.

Another pinball....outta space, but still looking for them !

I blame JMcDonald for his
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/ebay-20-discount-today-only
thread... So I go looking for expensive stuff to buy to make good use of the 20%. I go thru several ideas - landing on two items. The first; I really needed:
ebay.com link: itm
My homemade Carbon filter just restricts the airflow too much for my Laser Cutter... Leading to Laser tube overheating.
I did a completed listing search and found similar for sold $450 so offered $649.99, shipped via Freight (listing said 200).

The second thing was by the same seller - and this is the thing I didn't *really* need... but I have a modern version of by a different vendor at work and love it:
ebay.com link: itm
Agilent Infiniium 54832D 1GHz WindowsXP Scope
I have an newish, low-cost Rigol bench scope ( DS1102E - 2ch 100MHz) I bought new a couple of years ago... It works ok and got the job done... but capturing waveforms was not very good and looked like arse.
Rigol Capture
The new scope has all the probes and Digital Channel probes which makes me think it's a good deal! Again, I didn't pay asking price - I did another completed listing search and offered them the lowest bid. $2400.
Now I have a new problem; I don't think this scope will fit on the top of my electronic workbench... so now I'm considering rackmounting the scope and using a wall-mounted rack like this:
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71p%2BGOQu25L._SL1200_.jpg
but have concerns that it might not be deep enough. My plan is to wait until the scope shows up and re-assess the bench situation.

Love the flyer for the Stern book in a thread about throwing away money. Nice touch.

Yeah but you guys got 500 watts?
Louisville did.

As Pat Lawlor said during the Dialed In reveal: "Details matter".

$200 bathroom shower scrubber. Also makes quick work of polishing Mylar!

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Buying Pinball Machine number 11. When I thought 6 was a happy number of pins.

Or if you own a drill you can get these attachments...they work great! $17 and $15 on Amazon.

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The drill RPM's usually are not high enough. 0-2,800 or 0-8,300 settings on the purpose built polisher. Most battery drills max out at around 2000 RPM if you are lucky.

Not high enough for what? He already said they work great.

Here was something I didn't need but was way too nice for the price:20180317_152233 (resized).jpg

Bestech Lion from Massdrop. 3.5" D2 steel blade, frame lock; ceramic bearings flipper and G-10 handles. Ridiculous for $37. Showed up razor sharp also.

My collection of retired logo UPS pens...

Because I tried it, and had very different results than he did. I don't have all day to screw around with a slow drill... Sorry.

You guys must have some really strong grout. I tried one and it started eating into it.

I use it on a fiberglass shower surround, with a foam pad only.

I don't think the Holiday Inn was expecting this box (or you, for that matter!)

Nice foreshadowing....

For 2 bucks, I thought this motion activated color changing toilet led would be interesting....the cats love playing with it. It's actually kinda cool. I find all kinds cheap.goofy shit on this site.I

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/8-Color-Bathroom-Toilet-Nightlight-LED-Body-Motion-Activated-Seat-Sensor-Lamp-For-AAA-Battery/32761108292.html?spm=2114.search0604.3.9.7f4239204G7zA4&s=p&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2_10065_10068_10130_10890_5730315_10547_319_10546_317_10548_10545_10696_453_10084_454_10083_10618_5729215_10307_537_536_10059_10884_10887_100031_321_322_10103,searchweb201603_51,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=2d999aa8-9859-4921-af7d-f82cc36175c8-4&algo_pvid=2d999aa8-9859-4921-af7d-f82cc36175c8

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Shit that's awesome. My wife thanks you due to the fact that she will have allot less cleanings as a result of "late night urination target practice at 3:30 am.....in the pitch black bathroom."

QSS

Ouch, you make me seem like a knight in shining armor.

Had my family including my Mom riding a LIME scooter at Venice Beach a couple weeks ago and it was a blast. Now I want a nice scooter for the kids. I also now want an electric assist mountain bike for myself as well.

Looked around for some nice ones like the one we rented and found this...

Segway Scooter.jpg

Going Christmas shopping today with the bride. Pop up kiosks manned by foreigners and Sharper Image type stores creates a target rich environment for this forum topic !

Whatever happened to that guy?

My mother bought one of those when my grandfather had a lake house. I told her not to but she pissed away 20k and it was worthless. When he sold the house she had to give it away.

Stupid things I buying but don't need or don't want:
4 plane tickets to Disney world plus a weeks worth of hotel.... *wonderful*.

I put this on my stupid things list last year but bought it anyway. Turns out it was not stupid at all. I haven't mowed the backyard once this year and this little guy just keeps going and going. Best thing I bought last year.

G-P-E (Ed)

When are you going? DW can be a lot of fun. I'm heading in January, looking forward to it. Beering around the world with SIL at EPCOT is a favorite, along with finding the "hidden" Mickeys.

Make sure you get fast passes - if staying on grounds, you can get them 60 days before your trip. Avoid the new rides unless you have a FP or lots of patience.

You know the money's going to be spent, so make the best of it.

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Comes in two pieces and easier to load than a pin.

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Disney World is awesome. The rides are a tone of fun, ya just gotta be patient.
Having said that, I'm happy to say "been there, done that".
QSS

Just got back from a week at Disney (trip #6).
So much better weather-wise than going in the summer time. But note to self - next time, don't go during final week before Christmas.
Thursday was a rainy day so wait times were typically in the 20 minute range for rides like Expedition Everest and Avatar Flight of Passage. That was great. Saturday had waits for Toy Story Land kid's rides in the 120 minutes or longer range - wall to wall people. Used fast pass to Rocking Roller Coaster and Hollywood Tower & a few shows... that was it for Saturday.

... now time to get some long overdue sleep.

Stupid things I don’t need but are gonna buy?

Groceries.

Gas.

Heating oil.

Mortgage payments.

The savvy buyer stocks up on pinball machines!

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Purely for the investment!!!

Found another stupid thing I don't need, but I want to buy. 2019 Honda Monkey-would be a blast for camping trips...

2019 Monkey.jpg

^^^^^^
This. Wife, family and friends are always asking why I need another pinball
machine (or antique radio, Brit sports car, etc). There is a difference between
'need' and 'want just for fun'. A lot of people don't understand this.
Get what you want as long as you can afford it and enjoy life! Hobbies
don't have to make any sense.
Steve

Funny thing. I went to pick up this bike and the seller said "I'm sure your son will love this". I then had to tell her that I don't have any children.
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That is awesome-never grow up is what I say.

I just sold that exact same bike. It was a 1974 model and very reliable, but was not street legal and it made the garage smell like gas. What I like about the Monkey is it is a 125cc, and street legal. Most places I go camping do not allow un-licensed vehicles. With how small it is, it would be easy to transport and get in and out of the truck. It is pricey with a msrp of $3900

Wow! I'm an art book collector and I always wondered who bought those massive Taschen collector editions.