Introduction:
My name is Hamish (a.k.a. "Ham") and I'm a harmless, everyday irreverent "jack-of-all-trades" guy with coordination issues and an aversion to political correctness. That said...
I have helpful views on a variety of practical subjects listed on this site, largely borne from my own experiences as I tried things for myself.... often in less-than-ideal circumstances.
Call me wayward if you'd like! Don't take me too seriously, and you'll be fine. Yes, I'm a bloke with a manual, who'd have thought it, right?
This site merely shares my hobbies and interests that I actually engage in. I list what I try, what works, what doesn't, the progress of individual projects, as well as my growth as I expand my repertoire.
I just hope to inspire readers to try and/or make something new, no matter their origins or level. So there's a lot of stuff here aimed at saving money, time, and effort.
As always, I encourage you to do what you can to keep everyone there safe, keep your workspace(s) organised, abide by your local laws and regulations, and equally important, have fun!
The purpose of this site is to discuss my various hobbies and interests, some include:
Bread Making
Do you like good fresh bread?
Here, you'll find my bread making tips and experiences. My unorthodox views regarding equipment. I'll also do in-depth reviews of bread making books, complete with actual bake results.
Gardening
Want to start a veggie patch, or grow fruit to save money on your weekly shop?
I discuss topics like garden design, preparing the garden for extreme temperatures, composting, building net and frost cover frames, irrigation, and my experiences along the way.
IT & Tech
From PCs, Macs (and their software offerings), computer networking, to the occasional Raspberry Pi/Arduino project. Here I discuss my 3D printing tips and experiences, review both CNC and electronics books. I've included how to repair Dyson vacuum heads and other simple fixes I've done along the way.
Cheese Making
A hobby sure to please crowds and expand your culinary efforts. As far as I am aware, I have written some of the most in-depth reviews on cheese making books found on the Internet. I also briefly outline the pros and cons of doing a cheese making course. I also discuss and compare some... "competing philosophies" in the cheese making world and where the industry as a whole is headed.
I also discuss useful equipment, the affinage (cheese ageing) process and my approach to it. If that's not enough, I show some of my somewhat quirky/wayward journey.
Computer Aided Design
I've used TinkerCAD, Sketchup, Blender, Fusion (a CAD app). I started out with small and simple projects for 3D printing and it grew from there.
Whether it's designing our new laundry (shown above) or making parts for my latest projects, improving dust control in the workshop by making custom pipe adaptors, or helping my better half make cosplay models. This ties into several fields, from garden design, 3D printing, wood working, even industrial/interior/fashion design.
Barbecue & Smoking
I discuss barbecue types, review the barbecue books that I've read, and outline several different barbecuing techniques which each have a place.
I also discuss my hot and cold smoking experiences using my Kamado and various attachments.
I also discuss why I love my barbecue controller, and some of the things that have "upped my BBQ game".
Wood Working
Starting with the basics of wood, I then outline different tool types and the various options within them. I suggest two basic tool kits which should help to avoid unnecessary expenses, and discuss my projects/processes/wood working journey.
Photography
Just some general photography advice. I'll also include my tips and processes that I find handy when taking photos. I'll throw in some some stories of my experiences, and galleries showing a tiny bit of my work.
Moving forward...
Please note: Many of these articles are pretty in-depth. Feel free to skip sections as needed.