"Pete S" wrote in message
...
Realizing that so many of you with nothing else to do can turn anything
into political rant, I took a long time composing the subject for this
post.
It is NOT of a political nature.

I do a lot of blacksmithing at historical reenactments and threshing shows
to show the visitors "how things used to be done". I really enjoy getting
the visitors interested in what I am doing, but I realize that mostly,
their attention spans are limited and what I am trying to portray may not
be high on theirs list. There is always that "it's like watching paint
dry" issue if I try to do a project that takes a long time, so I try to
choose things that move along quickly and produce items which which the
audience can relate.
----Been doing this for many years and I think I can do it pretty well.

----But, we are in the process of setting up Machine Shop sections within
two of the venues that I attend annually. So we are in need of projects
for this part of the shops that will "wow" them and at the same time teach
a little.
What do you folks do?

Pete Stanaitis
---------------

Most people like to watch other people exercising their expert skill. They
are usually not as interested in a machine doing something by itself. So, I
do not have any specific recommendations on what to make, just that it
should have a lot of quick operations with a lot of operator intervention.
Maybe use a lot of fine metrology tools. People are usually amazed that you
can make something to a couple of 1/10000" without ultra hi-tech equipment,
especially when you explain that is about 1/20th of a human hair.