dbalschi
Sr Member
yeah this is the new link for them and when you order you get this message
Unicorn Electronics PHI 311 DC Power Jack 1.1mm/3.5mm Chassis Mount Connector
While we are recovering from flood damage, there will be a $25 minimum order.
Farnsworth Discussion
- Thread starter Gordon Gekko
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- warehouse 13
yeah this is the new link for them and when you order you get this message
Unicorn Electronics PHI 311 DC Power Jack 1.1mm/3.5mm Chassis Mount Connector
While we are recovering from flood damage, there will be a $25 minimum order.
Interceptor6
Sr Member
Send them $5 and a sponge!:lol
Ok ,I have stayed away from this thread ever since, the last round of folks telling us what we can, and can not talk about. (Man I miss the old days around here when folks could actually talk about stuff. 
)
I really don't think I will ever get the project together. I mean, usually when I have all the parts for a project, it takes me years to get it together, but this time, I can't even get the parts I need. I have every thing but the box, and the faceplate. I may either give in and settle for the nock off box, or I may give in and spend the crazy money for the right box, but that still leaves me needing a faceplate.
I have looked and look for a plastic, or brass faceplate, to no avail.
I have had a "Want to buy thread" up for 6 months or so that a bump from time, to time that has got me now were.
If I post my need in this thread we all have to here, how there is no more freedom of speech on these forums, and to take my search elsewhere.
I have PMed folk to no avail.
I looked in to etching places locally to no avail.
I have looked at home etching, but I live in a small apartment, don't have access to a work shop, and don't have a laser printer (or good laser copier) and don't have access to either else were.
I'm pretty much ......... creak without a paddle, and am not even supposed to be talking about it here.
I guess I'm going to have to shelf this project, for the foreseeable future.
I'm so very glad there are so many prop licenses out there now. Now those with tons of money can get just what they want, and the rest of us can go to hell. We can set around and study every prop to death, and when we get them all figured out, we can just set one it, because unless it's ALL found items, then we can't do a thing. (Even then you may get a C&D. ) I So miss the old days, when this was an underground thing, and wall not all the stuff was cheep, but a lot of it was, and what wasn't you know the money was going to friend, and not "the man". Oh well. welcome to the new age of prop collecting, you don't have to do the work (if you don't want too) you don't have to have passion, or know who, you just have to have a HUGE bank account, and hi speed Internet connection. Ant it grand.
) I really don't think I will ever get the project together. I mean, usually when I have all the parts for a project, it takes me years to get it together, but this time, I can't even get the parts I need.
I have every thing but the box, and the faceplate. I may either give in and settle for the nock off box, or I may give in and spend the crazy money for the right box, but that still leaves me needing a faceplate. I have looked and look for a plastic, or brass faceplate, to no avail.
I have had a "Want to buy thread" up for 6 months or so that a bump from time, to time that has got me now were.
If I post my need in this thread we all have to here, how there is no more freedom of speech on these forums, and to take my search elsewhere.
I have PMed folk to no avail.
I looked in to etching places locally to no avail.
I have looked at home etching, but I live in a small apartment, don't have access to a work shop, and don't have a laser printer (or good laser copier) and don't have access to either else were.
I'm pretty much ......... creak without a paddle, and am not even supposed to be talking about it here.
I guess I'm going to have to shelf this project, for the foreseeable future.
I'm so very glad there are so many prop licenses out there now. Now those with tons of money can get just what they want, and the rest of us can go to hell. We can set around and study every prop to death, and when we get them all figured out, we can just set one it, because unless it's ALL found items, then we can't do a thing. (Even then you may get a C&D.
) I So miss the old days, when this was an underground thing, and wall not all the stuff was cheep, but a lot of it was, and what wasn't you know the money was going to friend, and not "the man". Oh well. welcome to the new age of prop collecting, you don't have to do the work (if you don't want too) you don't have to have passion, or know who, you just have to have a HUGE bank account, and hi speed Internet connection. Ant it grand. 
exoray
Master Member
Are you telling me that no one in your town offers 10¢ copies? Have you checked the library? Almost all commercial copy machines are laser toner based, print at home on the ink jet and photo copy = laser toner copy...
I think Gareee hit the nail on the head, you are over thinking this in some respects and rather then pursue the options that are available to you, you seem to seek or desire those that are not available to you...
This hobby can be frustrating at times but it's part of the hobby... I have spent years upon years tracking down a single 'part' for a prop, and I have also spent lots and lots of money contracting companies to make a single part for me because I wanted it and couldn't find anyone offering it... I have also spent a ton of money investing in tools and equipment to make stuff myself, it comes with the territory when you seek what is not easily obtained it takes time and sometimes money... And you don't have to be rich to obtain the above in most cases, but instead you need to be diligent and devoted...
The Farnsworth is one of the easier props in this hobby, it's been well documented for the DIYer and for those that desire not to DIY, they can obtain a licensed version that is as close to the originals as can be expected...
I know how the copier thing works, and yes there are lots of places that do cheep copies around here, and I can't get to them. Plus, even if I did, that still doesn't salve the problem of not having a place to do the etching. (Little apartment, cold, cold cold out side. and even it it wasn't they watch us like hocks at this complex. )
Besides, I'm not new at this. I have been at this hobbie for a long time. I have parts that I have been looking for, for over 10 years. That's not the point at all. In the past a run would be done, when there was interest another, and another, and another. and another. Now, maybe, a run, or two happen, if your looking for them at the right time, then a license kicks in, and no more runs, for good prices, from people you truest. Folks act like there weren't a few different runs of these dam faceplates, but there where, there were options just a few years ago, but now for those that are late to the party. everyone acts like they never happened. No more runs, fine, I get it (It really sucks, but I get it, I guess) but Don't tell me there are none floating around from those old runs.
Besides, I'm not new at this. I have been at this hobbie for a long time. I have parts that I have been looking for, for over 10 years. That's not the point at all. In the past a run would be done, when there was interest another, and another, and another. and another. Now, maybe, a run, or two happen, if your looking for them at the right time, then a license kicks in, and no more runs, for good prices, from people you truest. Folks act like there weren't a few different runs of these dam faceplates, but there where, there were options just a few years ago, but now for those that are late to the party. everyone acts like they never happened. No more runs, fine, I get it (It really sucks, but I get it, I guess) but Don't tell me there are none floating around from those old runs.
PeterLC
Sr Member
I don't think anyone here is denying that there were faceplates and screens made and sold. The guy who made the screens decided to stop making them (his choice) and the couple of runs of faceplates were just that - runs which had to end at some point. There were limited numbers of them and yes timing was the key to getting one. To make more of them at any sort of reasonable cost there would have to be a sizable run of them and no one wants to invest in that. The unfortunate thing about coming in late on some things is that one loses out. That's how it is. The "etching thing" could be done in a small room as I have done it many times with circuit boards. Whether or not there are some unused faceplates floating around is irrelevant if the owners don't want to part with them. I bought two of them and one is still unused and untouched but I do have a plan for it.
PeterLC
Sr Member
You did a fine job on that Farnsworth. Well done.
exoray
Master Member
Why not? Isn't there someone local that can help you?
There are etching solutions (Ferric Chloride) that give off minimal fumes, certainly low enough levels that can be done in your bathroom with the exhaust fan running... Just don't take a big sniff of the liquid or take a drink, use some common sense and wear gloves while treating it like any other chemical... When you are done, dump some sodium carbonate (aka soda ash found in the laundry isle of the grocery store, or 'PH PLUS' booster for pools in the pool supply area, or check the fabric dye area of a fabric store as it's used to aide dying some fabrics) into the mix to help detoxify the copper ions before flushing, if you want to be more environmentally kosher...[SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1]odium carbonate [/SIZE][/SIZE]
I doubt there is any complex that is that strict, and highly doubt anyone would care if you placed a small plastic plastic tub on your stoop or deck for a few minutes, especially if done at night... If so simply crack a window and place it on the window sill...
Again you are simply over complicating the process, and making excuses of why it can't be done vs actually trying it...
Of course they are out there floating around, there have been several pop up in the Sales forum here over the year(s), and heck I even have one that I will probably never use now that the QMx version is out, but I'm not ready or going to sell it just because... I might get a bug up my butt to knock one out when I'm bored one day in the distant future...
Last edited by a moderator:
dbalschi
Sr Member
Oh well. welcome to the new age of prop collecting, you don't have to do the work (if you don't want too) you don't have to have passion, or know who, you just have to have a HUGE bank account, and hi speed Internet connection. Ant it grand.
I don't have a huge bank account and I'm in the process of building mine for about 60 bucks. It can be done it just takes some digging around.
Look, when I got here over TEN YEARS AGO, I would have never made posts like I have lately. Not just in this thread, but all over these forums. I would has a person that never made waves, or spoke up in such a manner. Over the years, I have found around here that the squeaky wheal is often the one that gets the grease. So I have become a bit of jerk. (I really hate to say it, but it's try and I'm man enough to say it.) However, I don't get the same replay that most squeakers get round here.
I either get dismasted, this an immature crack on my spelling, and punctuation. (thanks to those in this thread that did not stoop to that level.)
Or, I get talked down to like I have here. Everyone sees my post and thinks "This guy is winning, and using the same challenges we all face, and using them as excuses." "He is just not willing to do the work, he is a lazy winner". Then you all go on to explain things, as if it's my first day here. Like I don't know what licenses are, or what "runs" are, or that I don't know that some times you have to do it all yourself, or wait years for the part you need. I have been here over 10 years, I know very well the work involved in this hobby. I know how things work around here now-a-days, and hoiw they used to work as well.
Here's the thing that. I AM LEGALLY BLIND! And despite my best efforts, I have not found one person locally that likes this hobby, and is willing to help me in any way. So, yes I'm pore, and monay of you may be pore. Yes, I have limited space in my small apartment, and so may many of you, but I have much more to over come then you do.
I have always believed the old adage "You can do anything if you set your mind to it". When I got into this hobby over 10 years ago every one told me I should pick something else, more suited to my limitations. And just like I have done my whole life, I said "NO, I can, and will do this" I will not let this define me. And over the years I have done many, many, things many said a blind person could never do. There are some skills I have now that I am quite prowed of. I have learned a lot from this hobby, and met a few (very few) nice folks around here, that have given me a lot of online help. I have probably done more actual leg work then any one here.
I have fought an up hill battle on every project I have touched on this forum.
I'm a 35 year old mostly blind guy, living in a tiny, one bead room project with no budget, no credit card, no dial up Internet, and have taken on, and concerned, projects, that some folk with out any of those limitations, could have not around here.
But, after all these years, I still get talked to like it's my first day, and like I have no right to complain. Well, fine, your all right, these are my problems not yours. "it's a me problem, not a you problem" as the cold dismissive youth of today would say.
I'm sick and tired of fighting up hill battles. No one asked me to be part of this hobby, and few have given me reason to stay. (other then my own love of props.) And few have done anyting to help me. (though I truly thank those that have, you are true friends, and I'll never forget what those few have done.)
Well, as usual this is a post about me, in a thread that is not, so on with the talk about a prop, that I know see is out of my range, and probably always will be.
But do me a favor. When this blind guy says that he can't do something, just know that it is not out of laziness. If I say I can't get to a copier, or laser printer, I mean, that I can not do those things. Because if I could have, I would have never posted here that I could not.
Good luck with all or your builds. it's a nice prop, and I'm happy for all of you that get to have one, and I'm happy to see that there are so many that love the hobby, and this prop.
I either get dismasted, this an immature crack on my spelling, and punctuation. (thanks to those in this thread that did not stoop to that level.)
Or, I get talked down to like I have here. Everyone sees my post and thinks "This guy is winning, and using the same challenges we all face, and using them as excuses." "He is just not willing to do the work, he is a lazy winner". Then you all go on to explain things, as if it's my first day here. Like I don't know what licenses are, or what "runs" are, or that I don't know that some times you have to do it all yourself, or wait years for the part you need. I have been here over 10 years, I know very well the work involved in this hobby. I know how things work around here now-a-days, and hoiw they used to work as well.
Here's the thing that. I AM LEGALLY BLIND! And despite my best efforts, I have not found one person locally that likes this hobby, and is willing to help me in any way. So, yes I'm pore, and monay of you may be pore. Yes, I have limited space in my small apartment, and so may many of you, but I have much more to over come then you do.
I have always believed the old adage "You can do anything if you set your mind to it". When I got into this hobby over 10 years ago every one told me I should pick something else, more suited to my limitations. And just like I have done my whole life, I said "NO, I can, and will do this" I will not let this define me. And over the years I have done many, many, things many said a blind person could never do. There are some skills I have now that I am quite prowed of. I have learned a lot from this hobby, and met a few (very few) nice folks around here, that have given me a lot of online help. I have probably done more actual leg work then any one here.
I have fought an up hill battle on every project I have touched on this forum.
I'm a 35 year old mostly blind guy, living in a tiny, one bead room project with no budget, no credit card, no dial up Internet, and have taken on, and concerned, projects, that some folk with out any of those limitations, could have not around here.
But, after all these years, I still get talked to like it's my first day, and like I have no right to complain. Well, fine, your all right, these are my problems not yours. "it's a me problem, not a you problem" as the cold dismissive youth of today would say.
I'm sick and tired of fighting up hill battles. No one asked me to be part of this hobby, and few have given me reason to stay. (other then my own love of props.) And few have done anyting to help me. (though I truly thank those that have, you are true friends, and I'll never forget what those few have done.)
Well, as usual this is a post about me, in a thread that is not, so on with the talk about a prop, that I know see is out of my range, and probably always will be.
But do me a favor. When this blind guy says that he can't do something, just know that it is not out of laziness. If I say I can't get to a copier, or laser printer, I mean, that I can not do those things. Because if I could have, I would have never posted here that I could not.
Good luck with all or your builds. it's a nice prop, and I'm happy for all of you that get to have one, and I'm happy to see that there are so many that love the hobby, and this prop.
You should look and see if there is a 'maker' group in your area. I don't really know much about them, one of my friends is connected in with one of the local groups, they're like the masons except with power tools and stuff.
Radio Shack has lots of useful stuff. Home Depot has more useful stuff. There is stuff out there if you look. Keep good beer on hand, and if someone from the apartment complex comes around, offer them one or two. Claim it is an assignment for school, and really boring... ...Nother beer?
Many problems with neighbors and apapartment management can be solved with free beer.
The first prop I made was god-awful by my standards today; however, I still have it because "I made it!"
So look around, stock up on beer, and just dive in.
Senjak
Radio Shack has lots of useful stuff. Home Depot has more useful stuff. There is stuff out there if you look. Keep good beer on hand, and if someone from the apartment complex comes around, offer them one or two. Claim it is an assignment for school, and really boring... ...Nother beer?
Many problems with neighbors and apapartment management can be solved with free beer.
The first prop I made was god-awful by my standards today; however, I still have it because "I made it!"
So look around, stock up on beer, and just dive in.
Senjak
Made some progress tonight. Drilled the holes and added the side jacks. Bunch of prep work for etching the plates; however, I've the wrong style of bolts to properly attach to the etching pan and plate. Decided to eat rather than soldering onward.
I still have time till Christmas.
I still have time till Christmas.
Post #131
It was warm out, okay, wet and dreary, but above freezing, so I did my first etching today.
About half a bottle of root kill and a gallon of water.
I'm using a 10 amp battery charger for a power source.
Not sure I'm all that happy with the etching pan, I may try to make something like what I've seen elsewhere.
Learned a bunch from etching today.
The results were pretty good. The side that was up didn't really etch at all. The side that was down etched fairly well. Next plate I make I'm going to aim at two hours minimum.
And it may be better to just plan on two passes, rather than attempting to etch both sides at once. Will have to experiment with the wonders of tape.
I didn't really have enough time to cleanup the plate -- real world activities got in the way. Fine grit sandpaper blocks and nail polish remover did a pretty good first pass.
I think I need to take a careful look at some of the other electro etching videos online. I think the circuit protection in the battery charger was slowing down the etching process. It may be worth my time to get something else for etching, depending on how much I end up doing it.
No pictures, but that's because I can't get a picture out of my phone that I like, and I don't feel like dragging out my real camera (two photo-shoots this last weekend!)
Next I'm going to drill out the holes and get the bits ready. I talked to an old guy at Home Despot who had lots of good tips for drilling brass.
Oh, and I won't be having any root problems in my plumbing. Ever.
About half a bottle of root kill and a gallon of water.
I'm using a 10 amp battery charger for a power source.
Not sure I'm all that happy with the etching pan, I may try to make something like what I've seen elsewhere.
Learned a bunch from etching today.
- use stronger solution. Much stronger. Really much stronger. It took forever.
- best etching results are downward, towards the negative. Much better results.
- the correct set up was red attached to object, and black attached to etching pan.
- about 2 gallons of etching fluid would be best.
- Drill holes afterwards.
The results were pretty good. The side that was up didn't really etch at all. The side that was down etched fairly well. Next plate I make I'm going to aim at two hours minimum.
And it may be better to just plan on two passes, rather than attempting to etch both sides at once. Will have to experiment with the wonders of tape.
I didn't really have enough time to cleanup the plate -- real world activities got in the way. Fine grit sandpaper blocks and nail polish remover did a pretty good first pass.
I think I need to take a careful look at some of the other electro etching videos online. I think the circuit protection in the battery charger was slowing down the etching process. It may be worth my time to get something else for etching, depending on how much I end up doing it.
No pictures, but that's because I can't get a picture out of my phone that I like, and I don't feel like dragging out my real camera (two photo-shoots this last weekend!)
Next I'm going to drill out the holes and get the bits ready. I talked to an old guy at Home Despot who had lots of good tips for drilling brass.
Oh, and I won't be having any root problems in my plumbing. Ever.
Interceptor6
Sr Member
Glad you've gotten to the "root" of the problem!
Excellent tutorial, just waiting on the pics!
Cheers, Jeff
Excellent tutorial, just waiting on the pics!
Cheers, Jeff
