Featured Member

Submitted to What's New

Creator's Studio is made so much more rich by the participation of our community members, and we like to take time and recognize our valued, long-term members. Our previous featured members have been Wild BillRustic Duck FurniturecookbookrecipesofloveHojitisuChunky MermaidSueHTraderGee, and Colors

Today, we are pleased to feature TheRoboticsNerd

Why did you join Creator's Studio?
I originally joined just because I had some questions on the right paint to use on some plastic parts in my old truck.

What's your favorite part of the Creator's Studio community?
That everyone does such a variety of things. I can't count the number of ideas I've "borrowed" from everyone else. Especially ChunkyMermaid and Wild Bill!

How would you describe yourself/occupation to a complete stranger?
I just think of myself as an old guy who putters. My wife doesn't care as long as my clothes match and they are clean. My neighbors think I'm some kind of mad scientist. The kids in the neighborhood think I make cool toys. As a matter of fact, I have to basically tell the neighborhood kids to go home, because I'm tired and ready for a nap.

What creative areas do you like to focus on?
Anything really. One day I might work on one of my electronics projects, the next building a cabinet for my wife, the day after, repairing a friend's car. I've been lucky to have a lot of people teach me a lot of skills. I always have to have a project going on. If I don't keep my mind busy and stretched out, I get too bored, too quickly.

What is your favorite Rust-Oleum product? How has it helped with your DIY projects?
My ultimate favorite is either the 2X spray paints, or the Varathane wood finishes. I use both all the time.

What interests you most about DIY projects?
Just everything about DIY really. Everything from planning the project, to shopping for supplies, (I'm worse than any women buying things when it comes to tools.) to making it the way I want it made. Sometimes it comes out kinda weird, but works well.

What's the best DIY project you have completed and how did you accomplish it?
Any of the cars my father and I have restored. Mostly Cadillacs, but we've done the odd British sports car too. The '59 Big Daddy Caddy was my favorite of all though. All the chrome was redone in gold cadmium, Laquer Black paint, with a deep red diamond tufted interior and red convertible top. It took me 4 months to make the seats alone!

What's the most difficult project you have tackled?
Rebuilding the motor in our 85 Cadillac Seville. That motor took more hours of labor than any 3 I've ever rebuilt, because Caddy's specs were so precise, and it was the 4-6-8 motor, the one that shut down cylinders that weren't needed for fuel economy. It's also the most complex thing I have ever worked on by far. Considering I designed drivetrains for super heavy construction equipment, that says a lot.


If you could create any type of project (with no limitations), what would you design and why?
My own all-terrain motorhome. It would have to float too. Just gas that bad boy up, and drive till we feel like turning around.

Tell us something about yourself that most people don't know about you.
I love off-Broadway shows. Usually community theater is my favorite to go to. I always wanted to volunteer to be a setbuilder, but the guys and gals who do it for ours have been doing it forever, and it doesn't look like any of them will hang it up soon.

What's the best advice that anyone has ever given you?
It's a close tie between, "Be who you are, not what they want you to be", and "Be the person your dog thinks you are".

What book(s) are on your nightstand right now?
I'm always too exhausted to read when I go to bed, but on my workbench where I sit and read quite a lot are, 7 Humanoid Robots Projects, The Definitive Collection of Phillip Dịck, and The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy.

What's your all time favorite food?
Tossup between General Tso's chicken, and Chicken Vindaloo. Believe it or not, the best indian food in my entire state is a little run-down truck stop not far from my house.

Photos: my lovely wife and I - one of my main partner in crime. 
My grandson Emiliano, and the rest of the photos are random things about rebuilding my house which I've been working on for 2 years now.