Dear Fred & Dialists: Please excuse the large number of e-mails coming from me this week, but we are on a thread now that is close to my heart. I'm usually more of a listener than a talker on the sundial list, but now we are on a subject that I know about, and I can finally help the group as you have helped me. Also, I hope I haven't offended Fred Sawyer or any of the mathematicians. Fred does a damn good job in publishing a first rate magazine. The articles on basic trig, metal and stoneworking would add to and compliment the current format of the Compendium. Just more icing on the cake.
Now, down to business. Metal working is not my forte, but the articles should probably describe the different metal working methods of: casting, lost wax method, welding, cut and bolt together (like an erector set), hand and machine engraving and photo engraving. Tony, have I left anything out? I don't think Kate Moss and Robert Adzema are suscribed to the list, but if we contacted them, I'm sure that they could help us out with an article on beginner's metalworking. Tony's metal workng techniques are so advanced that they are probably out of reach for the average dialist, but I bet he could come up with simplified versions of his or other methods. As for stone and similar media, there could be separate articles on the different methods of stone working, ceramics, and aggregates (like terrazo or cement). For example there are four different methods to engrave stone that I know of: sandblasting with stencils, lazer cutting, hand-held high speed tools, and all hand hammer and chisel. Of these techniques I am only qualified to discuss the hand-held tool method. I have already written an article on how I work stone and passed out copies at the Conference. If anybody else would like a copy then let me know and I'll send you an attachment or post. Maybe we could talk Roger Dignard into an article on sandblasting. The slate sundial and EOT graph he made for the church that we saw in Wethersfield were beautiful in style and execution. Is there anybody else out there who is familiar with any of these techniques and who might like to help out with an article? Fred told me that at the BSS Conference, everybody went to a shop at the university for an actual hands-on session to make sundials. I can't remember what media was used. Maybe we could do something like this in San Francisco at the next NASS Conference. As Martha would say: It's a good thing! John Carmichael http://www.azstarnet.com/~pappas
