<![CDATA[Hobbies]]>Finished up a few hobby projects.

This one took up far too much space in my garage all winter because I was trying to find a used manifold for it because a new one costs more than I paid for the whole grill. Finally gave up and bought the new one and it works!

Behold the glory of the 2007 Weber S-650 Summit Grill!

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Nicest grill I’ve ever cooked on. Reminds me of the restaurant grill I ran for part of a summer when I was in high school.

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Built in smoker box and an infrared burner attached to the lid. Not sure what that is for - rotisserie?

]]>https://wtf.coffee-room.com/topic/3713/hobbiesRSS for NodeSat, 06 Jun 2026 22:26:26 GMTSat, 06 Jun 2026 18:37:05 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Hobbies on Sat, 06 Jun 2026 22:22:47 GMT]]>My Lithuanian mom had an oven in the basement that she used during the summer. But it was just an oven,; there was no kitchen setup with tables and other workspace.

]]>https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25798https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25798Sat, 06 Jun 2026 22:22:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Hobbies on Sat, 06 Jun 2026 22:08:10 GMT]]>

@ShiroKuro said:

@Steve-Miller When I was a kid my Italian grandma has a kitchen in her basement (in addition to the main kitchen). She had these huge tables down there, we used all the surfaces when it was time to make pasta or bread. Whenever I was there, I "helped" but most certainly not in any way that was useful! 😄

Anyway, I always associate a second kitchen with that. 🙂

There is a large Portuguese population here and my best friend growing up was a Portuguese immigrant so I spent a lot of time with her and her family. Every Portuguese house had a second kitchen in the basement!

]]>https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25797https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25797Sat, 06 Jun 2026 22:08:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Hobbies on Sat, 06 Jun 2026 21:05:12 GMT]]>@Steve-Miller When I was a kid my Italian grandma has a kitchen in her basement (in addition to the main kitchen). She had these huge tables down there, we used all the surfaces when it was time to make pasta or bread. Whenever I was there, I "helped" but most certainly not in any way that was useful! 😄

Anyway, I always associate a second kitchen with that. 🙂

]]>https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25794https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25794Sat, 06 Jun 2026 21:05:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Hobbies on Sat, 06 Jun 2026 20:55:10 GMT]]>Not familiar with either of those brands. Mark knows a lot more than I do and maybe he’ll chime in. I will say that I prefer analog components because digital stuff can be impossible to repair if it breaks.

What do you want to do with your new system? Is SW short wave?

]]>https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25787https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25787Sat, 06 Jun 2026 20:55:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Hobbies on Sat, 06 Jun 2026 20:41:49 GMT]]>Wow.
Well radios, I've had a few, Toshiba with cassette deck as a kid, Bush, Sony cd ghetto blaster, Sony micro system, small Roberts digital.

For many years I've wanted a good quality SW receiver.
Yesterday I went to a local shop, old guy in a small room filled with shelves of used stuff like yours, of all ages, many of which he was repairing. Loads of transmitters too.
I was way way out of my depth 😆

I'll take any advice & recommendations.
Currently on my shortlist are
Tuscon H501x (for SW)
Ruark RS3 (digital)

]]>https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25785https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25785Sat, 06 Jun 2026 20:41:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Hobbies on Sat, 06 Jun 2026 20:50:58 GMT]]>Another project. Finishing a little section of the basement as a kitchen. Already have a nice kitchen in the house but it makes Sharon nervous when I cook stuff in it even when I clean up. I also like to cook odd things that no one will eat but me. The second oven will be handy during g the holidays for large gatherings.

This is where the sink will go. Not the ideal location but it’s where the plumbing is.

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The cabinets came out the garage at an AirBnb house two years back. Not great cabinets but too good to throw out. Nice enough for the basement. That house is under contract right now -wish us luck!

The freezer will stay but move to another wall to allow for a smallish cross top freezer/fridge.

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This is the long wall across from the counter. Drywall work is done now, waiting for texture/paint. It will have the range, a little counter, the freezer and some shelving.

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Added lighting because at my age I need plenty and I had some fixtures I moved here from CA. Felt good to use my tools again. Haven’t decided on flooring - might just polish the concrete but I have my eye on some commercial (airport grade) carpet tiles at Habitat for Humanity going for cheap. I’ll not be frying anything and the basement stays very dry so they should work.

Lots to do and I’m busy enough in retirement that I can’t imagine how I ever managed to find time for work!

]]>https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25784https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25784Sat, 06 Jun 2026 20:50:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Hobbies on Sat, 06 Jun 2026 19:56:28 GMT]]>

@Steve-Miller said:

I plugged a little Bluetooth adaptor in to the receiver and stream to it from my phone. It’s like having the largest record collection ever!

Brilliant!!!

]]>https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25781https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25781Sat, 06 Jun 2026 19:56:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Hobbies on Sat, 06 Jun 2026 19:45:48 GMT]]>Grandkids coming!

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]]>https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25780https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25780Sat, 06 Jun 2026 19:45:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Hobbies on Sat, 06 Jun 2026 19:40:19 GMT]]>Gave away the vinyl years ago and I don’t miss it. Cant be bothered to get off the couch to change records.

I plugged a little Bluetooth adaptor in to the receiver and stream to it from my phone. It’s like having the largest record collection ever!

]]>https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25779https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25779Sat, 06 Jun 2026 19:40:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Hobbies on Sat, 06 Jun 2026 19:33:39 GMT]]>Are you trying to put us to shame? Just kidding. I installed Pong on my phone again today. There was a void in my life.

Love your hobby projects.

]]>https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25778https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25778Sat, 06 Jun 2026 19:33:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Hobbies on Sat, 06 Jun 2026 19:01:46 GMT]]>

@Steve-Miller said:

1975 Marantz 2220b receiver.

When I first saw your photo, I wondered if we were supposed to be looking at the receiver, or the vases! 😄

When I was growing up, I loved listening to records.... But I don't have any of the stereo equipment I had in days of yore. Nor do I have any records.

What will you be listening to? Do you have a big record collection?

]]>https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25776https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25776Sat, 06 Jun 2026 19:01:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Hobbies on Sat, 06 Jun 2026 21:18:10 GMT]]>IMG-6089.jpg

1975 Marantz 2220b receiver. As receivers go it’s nothing high end but it’s very similar to the one I bought new when I got my first real job. Sounds like I remember. Cleaned it up and fixed a few issues. AM radio section doesn’t work but I don’t listen to AM radio anyway.

I even got the original box!

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Scored a pair of equally geriatric HH Scott speakers for $40 from a guy cleaning out his barn. They’re actually nicer than the ones I had back in the day.

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Bet you guys had a setup like it at some point. What was it? Do you still have it?

]]>https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25775https://wtf.coffee-room.com/post/25775Sat, 06 Jun 2026 21:18:10 GMT