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karlenko123
·Say hello to my little friend
And What Did You Buy Today?(Not Watches or related)
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerThis is more like what did I buy back in January...
My wife and I were in Australia, and aside from seeing family we took a trip to Melbourne to attend the Australian Open. As some of you know, I am a fanatic for opals, and since I hadn't bought one in 15 years, I had to scratch the itch. My wife was not interested in the slightest in visiting either Coober Pedy or Lightning Ridge again, so I was left to look at full retail places in the heart of Melbourne.
In the past I've chased a lot of "red on back" opals, but this time I wanted a big, bright stone with a lot of flash. Not necessarily prioritizing red (the most expensive colour flash) just wanted it bright. I was looking for a nice big crystal opal as a result, and I found a couple of good candidates. Here's one:
This one has a dark patch in it - looks sort of dull green in these photos, and I knew that would bug me enough that I eliminated this one.
This one was high on my list:
Nice mix of colours, and good size and brightness. I had pretty much decided on this one, when we found one last store...
My wife spotted something half hidden away behind the counter, and said "Hey, look at that!" It was 3 times what I had budgeted, but my wife said that I really needed to get this one. The previous two are examples of seam opal, so a layer of opal in rock that is removed and polished. The stone I ended up getting is a fossilized opal shell - here it is:
It's a just under 19 carat shell that has been replaced with opal over time, so it's a shape that I don't have any examples of. I had this mounted in a very minimal fashion using platinum wire, and since it's very difficult to photograph, I took some video and made a gif...
The colours in this stone are so bright that trying to photograph or video it in bright sunlight, it sort of just blows out the colours. So I took this video indoors on a cloudy day, and it gives a pretty good reflection of real life.
My wife and I were in Australia, and aside from seeing family we took a trip to Melbourne to attend the Australian Open. As some of you know, I am a fanatic for opals, and since I hadn't bought one in 15 years, I had to scratch the itch. My wife was not interested in the slightest in visiting either Coober Pedy or Lightning Ridge again, so I was left to look at full retail places in the heart of Melbourne.
In the past I've chased a lot of "red on back" opals, but this time I wanted a big, bright stone with a lot of flash. Not necessarily prioritizing red (the most expensive colour flash) just wanted it bright. I was looking for a nice big crystal opal as a result, and I found a couple of good candidates. Here's one:
This one has a dark patch in it - looks sort of dull green in these photos, and I knew that would bug me enough that I eliminated this one.
This one was high on my list:
Nice mix of colours, and good size and brightness. I had pretty much decided on this one, when we found one last store...
My wife spotted something half hidden away behind the counter, and said "Hey, look at that!" It was 3 times what I had budgeted, but my wife said that I really needed to get this one. The previous two are examples of seam opal, so a layer of opal in rock that is removed and polished. The stone I ended up getting is a fossilized opal shell - here it is:
It's a just under 19 carat shell that has been replaced with opal over time, so it's a shape that I don't have any examples of. I had this mounted in a very minimal fashion using platinum wire, and since it's very difficult to photograph, I took some video and made a gif...
The colours in this stone are so bright that trying to photograph or video it in bright sunlight, it sort of just blows out the colours. So I took this video indoors on a cloudy day, and it gives a pretty good reflection of real life.
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ab613
·I’m actually late to the party and bought this , 2 days ago…hopefully close enough ?
1974 Super Beetle
1974 Super Beetle
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Dsloan
·Splurged on a nice airbrush
And timing the drying with the X-33
And timing the drying with the X-33
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ghce
·Something I have lusted after for many years, got off Facebook for a fraction of its worth.
Sony DT 2.8 / 16-50 SSM lens
An exceptional lens from Sony that could have retailed for thousands but they released it as part of a bundle deal for less than half of it's true worth.
Well pleased!
Sony DT 2.8 / 16-50 SSM lens
An exceptional lens from Sony that could have retailed for thousands but they released it as part of a bundle deal for less than half of it's true worth.
Well pleased!
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MRC
·
Next purchase: a bigger camera bag....
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dsio
··Ash @ ΩFDespite preferring high end hand tools in most cases, the bottom nut on these E46 engine mount bolts were not coming off even with a serious breaker bar. Went and grabbed a pile of Milwaukee M12 gear including the insider ratchet and new stubby which is a little monster of a thing. That all made light work of the mounts, still have some vibration though so might have to do some more replacing soon.
The next time I get a 321 Speedy with a stuck caseback, I’m going to find a Speedy to 1/2 inch adapter and ugga dugga the thing off I think
The next time I get a 321 Speedy with a stuck caseback, I’m going to find a Speedy to 1/2 inch adapter and ugga dugga the thing off I think
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JimInOz
··Melbourne AustraliaGood choice on the Milwaukee gear Ash.
Way back I was tossing between that and Ryobi, ended up going green and haven't been disappointed.
I had a flat on my GTI a while back and the tyre wranglers (gorillas) fitted the wheel back on.
Went to clean my rims on an annual deep clean and even a breaker bar wouldn't budge the nuts.
Got a Ryobi rattler out and it was done in a flash.
Way back I was tossing between that and Ryobi, ended up going green and haven't been disappointed.
I had a flat on my GTI a while back and the tyre wranglers (gorillas) fitted the wheel back on.
Went to clean my rims on an annual deep clean and even a breaker bar wouldn't budge the nuts.
Got a Ryobi rattler out and it was done in a flash.
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dsio
··Ash @ ΩFGood choice on the Milwaukee gear Ash.
Way back I was tossing between that and Ryobi, ended up going green and haven't been disappointed.
I had a flat on my GTI a while back and the tyre wranglers (gorillas) fitted the wheel back on.
Went to clean my rims on an annual deep clean and even a breaker bar wouldn't budge the nuts.
Got a Ryobi rattler out and it was done in a flash.
hmm... that high speed tyre inflator is pretty sweet...
hmm... that transfer pump could be really handy for oil changes
hmm... that detail sander could be really useful when dealing with corrosion around ground points
hmm... that butthole cleaner could really get it sparkling more than I ever could
They make damn well everything at this point. Last time I used cordless gear it was my dad's old NiCd gear and it was pretty garbage, this modern battery tech makes cordless gear amazing.
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ghce
·Was looking thru FB marketplace yesterday and chanced upon a Sony DMC RX-10 for an ask price of US$160 which in the current compact/ Bridge market is a considerable bargain. So I offered 110 which they accepted, amazingly cheap.
The camera was bought new 7 years ago, used not a lot then went into storage for the last 4 years so a pristine like new with pretty much zero use, major score.
The RX-10 first with it's 24-200 F2.8 constant aperture lens made it's debut in 2014 and was quickly updated to a mk II, III and finally IV in 2017 then looks like discontinued.
As a camera of this type, long zoom, 1 inch sensor camera these out shone everything else and were priced accordingly, close to double their rivals but people willingly paid as these gave exceptional results. When they were discontinued the price of old stock or second hand doubled so they were now up to US$3000.00 if you could find one! Even today if you could find one 2nd hand you would be paying 3K ( mk IV )
The compact camera 2nd hand market is batshit crazy price wise these days with 10 to 15 year old cameras being sold for the same as new or higher.
I bought a Canon G16 camera which dates to around 2015 last year in new condition for US$35 off FB but if I were to put it on eBay I could reasonably ask US500 even looking on AliExpress I see them listed at US1000. The world gone mad!
The reason why? I don't know but probably the advent of smartphones and traditional camera makers ceasing production in response, so all the camera enthusiasts are paying over the top for 2nd hand units.
The camera was bought new 7 years ago, used not a lot then went into storage for the last 4 years so a pristine like new with pretty much zero use, major score.
The RX-10 first with it's 24-200 F2.8 constant aperture lens made it's debut in 2014 and was quickly updated to a mk II, III and finally IV in 2017 then looks like discontinued.
As a camera of this type, long zoom, 1 inch sensor camera these out shone everything else and were priced accordingly, close to double their rivals but people willingly paid as these gave exceptional results. When they were discontinued the price of old stock or second hand doubled so they were now up to US$3000.00 if you could find one! Even today if you could find one 2nd hand you would be paying 3K ( mk IV )
The compact camera 2nd hand market is batshit crazy price wise these days with 10 to 15 year old cameras being sold for the same as new or higher.
I bought a Canon G16 camera which dates to around 2015 last year in new condition for US$35 off FB but if I were to put it on eBay I could reasonably ask US500 even looking on AliExpress I see them listed at US1000. The world gone mad!
The reason why? I don't know but probably the advent of smartphones and traditional camera makers ceasing production in response, so all the camera enthusiasts are paying over the top for 2nd hand units.
Edited:
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Spruce
··Sunburst dial fanTwo watercolours on Portobello Road market
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Mediocre
·
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerMy wife and I went for hearing tests recently, and mine was good, but hers was not so good over a few frequencies. I've had a few sets of molded earplugs from my days working in a factory setting, but since your ears change over time the last pair I have don't fit as good as they should anymore, so we both had new plugs made. I mostly wear them for mowing the lawn on the riding mower, but also for other noisy tasks...
They fit great and have replaceable filters that you can get. The filters in these are for being able to have a conversation with someone while wearing them, but you can get them to fully block noise, or specific filters for going to concerts, etc.
Protecting my hearing is important - I've spent too much on audio equipment not to!
They fit great and have replaceable filters that you can get. The filters in these are for being able to have a conversation with someone while wearing them, but you can get them to fully block noise, or specific filters for going to concerts, etc.
Protecting my hearing is important - I've spent too much on audio equipment not to!
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Emeister
·Single ticket for a 'Christmas party of one' 😁🤘
Spiderbait have put on some of the best shows I've ever seen; I can really lose myself!
Not a huge fan of 'Black Betty' but I'm trying to let go of my music snobbishness.
My last visit to this venue was a personal disaster. I think it was the dying days of The Zoo. Missed Regurgitator due to collapsing (no drinking involved) and leaving on a stretcher; massive heatwave and before they had air-con.
I should really go and see the 'Gurg at Roma St Parklands later this month, but $130 😕
Might just ride over and sit outside for their set and The Saints (well Ed anyway).
Spiderbait have put on some of the best shows I've ever seen; I can really lose myself!
Not a huge fan of 'Black Betty' but I'm trying to let go of my music snobbishness.
My last visit to this venue was a personal disaster. I think it was the dying days of The Zoo. Missed Regurgitator due to collapsing (no drinking involved) and leaving on a stretcher; massive heatwave and before they had air-con.
I should really go and see the 'Gurg at Roma St Parklands later this month, but $130 😕
Might just ride over and sit outside for their set and The Saints (well Ed anyway).
Edited:
