Refurbished, Renewed Anything

When I did a project on a phone caddy/stand (shown below) a while back, I pondered, "What happens if and when I get a newer phone later (like the real 5 G version) which will likely not fit this one?  It will be another project!", I said.  Well, the time has come.  The old one still worked but it won't be long when 4G will no longer be supported by the service providers.  In fact, LG - the manufacturer of my phone - got out of the phone business entirely.  Time to get a new one and re-do the caddy/stand.

It turned out I did not need to make an entirely new one but to repurpose/refurbish the above with just a few modifications.  And, like the old phone above which I purchased used, I bought another used one.

Before we dive into the project, let's talk about "used anything" - the antithesis to the throw-away society that most developed countries have become.  However, everything "used" has gone through some face-lifting labels from marketers where used cars have become pre-owned, modern day devices are now called, "refurbished" or "renewed".

But, you know what, in today's inflation travails and the yearly release of the latest and the greatest gizmos, it makes a lot of sense to go the "refurbished/renewed" route.  To me, I find more satisfaction and joy from the "used" tools and devices over the years that I've had them which served me well.  Don't get me wrong.  I will not hesitate to purchase a new anything, even high ticket items, if warranted.  Part of the reason I needed a newer phone  is that the new truck I just bought has wireless charging and the old phone will not work through the truck's audio to make phone calls and take messages.  I've purchased high-end woodworking tools but I don't hesitate to scour the flea markets for hidden treasures among used hand tools.  Some I renewed and refurbished, which today continue to perform at the level they were designed for.

Above all, I am merely taking advantage of the fact that people who opt for the latest and greatest are getting rid of perfectly great and still working devices to get the newest one.  More so following the holiday season, which is the best time to keep our eyes open for the jewels of a purchase.

So this is not just so much about the project as it is about waking up to the idea that we do not need to buy the latest and the greatest of the smart phones every time the manufacturers roll out a new one; which is every year.  And not everyone needs the top model, the flagship of any phone. 98% of the users do not need them; same percentage is not likely to use much of what the high end phones have up their sleeves. In fact, the lowest end model of any smart phone will let you make a call, read your email, check the news, the weather, will let you text, calculate your tip, listen to music, navigate for you, wake you up, reminds you (appointments and when to take your medicine), etc.  The difference between speed and everything associated with how quickly you get the information are all within the span of a second difference from low end to high end.  Photo quality, video games, movies, are where the big differences are. Now, 98% of us don't really care about watching movies on the phone when HD TV offer far better viewing experience, and 35 mm DSLR cameras have superior capabilities if photography is your thing, and isn't full console gaming, and surround speakers not the best way to play video games?  

What should I get?  I decided it will be in the mid-range price bracket.  It will have everything that is useful to me.  It will be a Google phone.  Why?  Google is the king of information search and it has the lion's share of the most visited app or internet source, and a far superior navigation algorithm.  But, in the past, as great as their software had always been, they depended on hardware from existing makers.  It is only lately that they have developed their own - the Tensor chip - a custom built chip for Pixel phones.

The Pixel 6 is the mid-rage version.  Brand new, it is $600.  I scoured the refurbished/renewed world and found one for $276.  It was renewed (inspected and tested, "refreshed" to its original standards by a company in Des Moines, Iowa, via the Amazon renewed program.

It came in a brown - not its original - box, with a charger, cable and sim card key.  It was unmarked by even the slightest scratch and looked brand new!

Below, next to the old phone it will replace.

The "renewed" Pixel 6 is just what I need.  Not basic, just a notch below the flagship Pixel 7, but it has all that I need.  The camera is awesome and as a navigation aid - GPS is dominated by Google maps - is so much better than the the GPS that came with my new truck.

The woodworking part is straight forward, except for the latest modification for the car caddy.

I trimmed and added a spacer for the thinner new phone.

Below is the other caddy for the car/truck, on a friction grip pedestal.

Below, I incorporated a thin piece of flexible hardwood that will act like a leaf spring to hold the phone tight to the cradle. 

As shown in the next photo, the phone is held fast even upside down.

Why a phone stand/caddy?  Same reason that I did the projects below - caddies for my wallet and car keys.  I know exactly where they are every time.  Well, 99.99 % of the time 😇 

By the way, my old phone, even without its SIM card, still works at home, for as long as my new phone is in the house and the wi-fi router is on.  I don't know if it has to do with my carrier but the old phone can receive and send emails and text and search the internet, etc., send photos (the camera still works, of course) except to make phone calls.  But it can call 911!  It is still a great standby phone.  Try that with your old phone.

Remember, never shirk from searching "refurbished/renewed" items.  I purchased a planer (for woodworking) at a heavily discounted price even though it was new.  I found it at a corner of the store.  The manager was planning to return it because the packing box was ripped and torn and he could not sell it new.  The machine was untouched.  I'm still using it more than twenty years later.  A throw-away society has its silver lining.

Hanging an Orchid Indoor (One Method)

I must admit I'm one of the millions out there who failed in so many ways to keep an orchid or two alive past its bloom (so many I lost count, in my case) but  they're still our favorite to mark one special occasion or another. It is a yearly multi-billion dollar industry worldwide and I must say it is one of the most successful feats of adaptation by a plant that insures its survival and widespread existence, using humans as its most ardent patron and promoter. That might require some explanation, but not in a woodworking blog 😎!

 

What to do after an anniversary, birthday, or any reason to spend the dollars on a single plant?  This one here was part of the breakfast ensemble I prepared for our wedding anniversary two months ago. I decided to hang this one by the kitchen's bay window while there are still blooms left.

Since we bought the home there were already two hooks at the ceiling by the kitchen that I had meant to use but never got around to doing it. I guess the excuse was that I have always been waiting for a part - "that part of me that wanted to do it" (I stole that expression from somewhere).

Well, this is it, but one hook at a time.  Commercial orchids come with a base, usually plastic with drain holes enclosed by a non-draining exterior display container.  I drilled three equidistant holes at the rim; carefully, because this one here is made of ceramics. Through those holes three "ears" will be attached for the hanging strings.  Why not just tie the strings directly to the holes?  This is a woodworking blog, plus the extra work is more fun 😊The container has a conical slant of 9 degrees, so one side of the "ears" must be cut to a 9 degree angle.

One screw from inside and an epoxy with instant hardener sprayed on makes for a secure and permanent attachment.  Instead of using nylon fishing lines, I used nylon strands used on blinds.  They're a lot easier to manipulate and they are just as strong.

Clear 1/4 inch plexiglass rods will make up the rest of the support all the way up to the hook. They are so transparent that they are barely visible on top of the table below.  There are three of them there to the left of the measuring tape. The clear rods will make the planter seem like floating in mid air.

The hanging strands are tied into a spring hook.  Available at fishing supplies.

The clear rods only come in 24 inch lengths.  Shown above I drilled a 1/4 inch hole into a dowel, later cut to the desired length, below.

Using epoxy and hardener, two rods are joined together.

At one end capped by another dowel rod allows for an eye screw and connector for the hook at the ceiling.

One down, one more to go.  But I think I will do it a little differently.  Another project coming up.  Hopefully, this orchid will recognize the effort and return the favor by surviving and re-blooming at some future time.

Web Of Cards

My wife has progressively limited several of the physical activities she used to be able to do since she was diagnosed with Parkinson's. However, the occasional card game that we regularly play with two other couples is one of the few exceptions.  The name we have for it in Filipino is awkward to pronounce for native English speakers, so our seven-year-old grandson came up with an alternative name for it.  He calls it the "Web of Cards" game. He and his older brother and their parents visited us a couple of weeks ago.  We introduced the game to them and they enjoyed it. And now we call it, "Web of Cards".  But, what has woodworking got to do with it?  

I came up with a woodworking project to make playing the game a little easier for her physically even though it is pretty much a mental game. (I will touch on what we know about Parkinson's at the bottom of the blog). Now, I'll have to say that seniors, retirees and those "high rollers" in nursing homes may benefit from this because not all can comfortably handle multiple cards fanlike as I demonstrate below. And "Web of Cards" requires handling 8-13 cards at the start of each game, depending on the number of players. I count my fortunes to still be able to fan the cards like so, all throughout the game.

The game, which will be explained later, requires that each player  must play a playable card when it is his or her turn. Every now and then, with that many cards in one hand, a player inadvertently skips playing a  card and "pass" simply because he or she misses spotting a card in a hand.  Well, a card stand shown below will present the cards in clear  "panoramic" view.

I started with some leftover 2 X 4 stock lumber and flattening one edge at the jointer.

I ripped 1-1/2 X 1-1/2 workpieces

The Prototype

"High rollers" that we are, I envisioned incorporating coin receptacles for quarters, dimes and nickels.  After determining the appropriate sizes I proceeded to drill. 

With the table saw set to 15 degrees off the vertical, I cut a  saw kerf a half inch deep which will slot the cards like so (below).  Before cutting to final length, I showed it to my wife.  She decided the coin receptacles were way too fancy, yet not too helpful with maneuvering the coins in and out.  In other words, her message was, "Keep It Simple S .." (referring to the popular acronym, "KISS", the last word being six letters, not four, just to make sure no one strays into the gutter)

And so it is that I decided to make a few more for her to pick from.  Each ever so slightly different from the next one.  But I decided to finish the prototype, anyway. 

Shown below, gluing up the end caps.

Sanding ..

Below, routing the channels from two opposite sides which, critically for seniors' hands, serve as finger hold for a secure grip when moving or carrying the stand.

.. finishing with polyurethane

  

Fanning the cards might seem easy but not when trying to hold them all together while picking one card to play, and resetting without dropping any of them.  Better than setting dominoes?  Or Mahjongg even. Also known as Mah Jongg, or alternatively, Mahjong.

She now has few to choose from, including the prototype, in case she changes her mind.

Rules of the game:

1) Cards are shuffled. The dealer, picked initially as having drawn the highest card from a pile, distributes equal number of cards. For six players, remove the King, leaving 48 cards (52-4).  48/6, means each player gets eight cards.  If only four players are playing, each one gets thirteen cards, using the full deck, of course. For odd number of players, remaining cards, face down in the "kitty" will be drawn by players  who pass, one at a time, until all the kitty cards are gone.  See Rule 2 on the "Pass".

2) At the initial start, player with the six of clubs must play it face up on the table. Player to the left (in a counter clockwise rotation) may play either a five or seven of clubs or another six of the remaining three suits.  Not having any card to play means to "Pass" and pay a penalty.  Did I mention we are "high rollers"? The penalty is a dime for every pass.  And, before I forget, the ante at the beginning of each deal, is a quarter. "High rollers", you can tell, by now. 

3) All the cards must be played.  The first one to finish wins the pot.  Which by then could be a staggering $3.75, or thereabouts. Quite a windfall, even for high rollers.

4) However, if the winner ends up playing his or her last card as a six, the player gets an extra two quarters from each of the other players. This is rare because the stars and planets must line up just right for it to happen, not the least of which is having that last six by itself in his or her hand to begin with (the only way for that to happen). But, in every game, there is a strategy involved as each player must think of every possible advantage to be the first to finish. 

5) Subsequently, after the first deal, the winner will serve as dealer (shuffler and distributor of the cards).  The person to the left of the dealer must play first.  That person must have a six (of any suit) to start the play. If that person does not have a six, then the rule of the "Pass" applies and therefore must pay the hefty penalty of a dime.  The game continues per the rest of the rules.

Several years ago all of us three couples started getting together with potluck lunches that typically extended all the way to dinner (there is always so much food).  What started as a July 4 potluck (first couple hosts it because their backyard and pool allows for an IMAX view of the fireworks in their city).  The second couple then decided to host a crawfish boil that would also begin with lunch and then on to dinner.  My wife and I host the Superbowl party, which also starts at lunch until kick off time at after five p.m., followed by dinner at half time.  This would include the inevitable football pool, at a "High Roller" exorbitant standard of $1 per square, all the squares divided among the total crowd of six people.  Later, we incorporated this card game to fill in the hours between lunch and dinner, after we realized there is only so much we can talk about - our lives now an open book to each other.

That is the origin of the "Web Of Cards"

Now, to the not-so-ecstatic subject of Parkinson's.  My wife does not have the external tremors that are the typical symptoms of Parkinson's, notable in Michael J. Fox, who by the way is doing an incredible job, as a high profile celebrity, of focusing the spotlight on this disease. My wife, however, has what is described as internal tremors. It comes and goes in the course of the day, everyday, when what she feels is akin to anxiety but not really. She does not exhibit the typical trembling or shaky hands or legs, which are common external symptoms of Parkinson's. The trembling is effectively inside, felt internally that is, so that if she's sitting down or just standing still, no one can tell she has Parkinson's.  However, from sitting down, she would make very short, jittery steps at first until she can walk steadily and normally, but slowly, of course. 

She has chronic pains that are associated with Parkinson's by way of muscle-skeletal spasms. Long walks are difficult to do.  Obviously, she no longer drives - something she did since her early twenties.

The good news, we might as well have one, is that Parkinson's does not seem to affect longevity and mental acuity.  While it is mostly associated with  ageing, Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with it at age 29 (now 61); so are a few other high profile personalities.  My wife's doctor told her that her oldest patient is over ninety years old and many others in their eighties.  Our dentist tells us he has a ninety year old patient who still comes for his dental needs and check ups. 

Obviously, it is a progressive malady but there are medications to alleviate the symptoms.

We're crossing our fingers and pray and remain hopeful that she will continue to enjoy the "Web of Cards".  I am happy to shuffle and deal the cards for her; her win record is right about where everyone is.

Grow Light Redux -Another Scrap Wood Project

Early this year, this  project was for an LED, full spectrum RBG - "red, blue, green", grow light. Well, there was one tiny bit of a problem. It was too low. It could not swivel.  So .. let's re-do! 

Let's increase the height, allow for a limited swivel, just so the light can be adjusted to the true vertical orientation.  Keep the arm and lamp holder, change the base, using some scrap wood, old lumber, and  some of the leftover plexiglass from an earlier project. 

Scrap from tips of raw but seasoned lumber

Even the tree barks will be used ..

..including old and faded red cedar fence planks

I was going to use the jointer; might as well run a few more boards for later use

A combination of the old scrap and bark

Drill the necessary connecting holes

Marking the 15 degree, 1/4 X 3/8 groove near four corners of the base

Bronze set up blocks make for an accurate depth and width cut on the table saw; miter gauge at 15 degrees.

The arm from the old base had to be cut, using a thin-blade Japanese saw

Smoothing the saw marks from the edge of the cut plexiglass on diamond sharpening stones

Glue up of the legs - 2 walnut, 2 plexiglass, using CA glue and spray-on hardener 

Using the same illusionary effect, at quick glance the base would seem to stand only on two legs.

 

Finished component parts; rewiring for the RBG grow lamp

The marble table came from a dear neighbor. I needed only to construct the base and legs, which was the subject of an earlier project.

Now, let me make sure the reader is aware that RBG light bulbs are commercially available, economically priced, and using only ordinary desk or free standing lampstands/holders will allow for lighting up corners for houseplants where bright light may not shine sufficiently.

However, this is a woodworking blog, so it is that the reader may be inspired to use his or her imagination to create something else.  A camera tripod, perhaps?  Or just the bottom of a shelf to hold a grow light over what's below?