The www.mechmate.com baton has been passed on [Archive]

Gerald D

Thu 14 January 2010, 22:26

Over the Xmas break I got to thinking about the future and taking stock of the projects that occupy my time. MechMate started as a project to create a business tool for our son and that goal has been achieved. I no longer have a personal goal for MechMate and I think it is time to pass on the baton.

The contents and name of www.mechmate.com (http://www.mechmate.com) has some value and I would be interested in offers from individuals, groups or companies for taking over the whole website, my .dwg drawings and the PayPal donate account.

I don't have much emotional attachment to MechMate (I see it as a completed project) and I won't be putting any constraints on a potential buyer, nor would I commit myself to a future involvement (or restraint for that matter)

There is no urgency in this, and I might not reply to every question when you expect it. This is just a first statement from my side to test the reaction. Please don't try and drag me into the subject of motives and/or emotions - I really see it simply as a project that has achieved its goal.

Thanks

oopz

Thu 14 January 2010, 23:05

I wish you all luck with this decision.. You have done a lot for many. Im not one of those for taking over . This is more a relaxing hobby for me. I still hope to see you here in a continuum :) /oopz

Johannescnc

Fri 15 January 2010, 00:57

a bit sad but understandable. I am grateful for what you have done. I just hope that the next Admin will have your integrity...

Claudiu

Fri 15 January 2010, 01:08

I couldn`t believe the title...but it`s a reasonable decision.
You did far more than accomplish your mission. Thank you Gerald.

sailfl

Fri 15 January 2010, 02:58

Gerald,

You have given much to the MechMate community. I am very grateful for your design, plans, forum and the help that you provided me while building and learning how to use this great piece of equipment.

It looks like it is time for the other son to find it's legs.

The MechMate forum, I hope, will continue to be a useful tool for those of us that have built a MechMate but it will not be the same with out you at the helm.

I am also grateful for the friends that I have found because of my participation on this forum.

Thanks
Nils #12

KenC

Fri 15 January 2010, 04:25

Gerald,

Its a sad day for the Mechmate community, but I'm happy for you had achieved your goals.

I couldn't have thank you enough for your generousity, created this community & the effort to nature it tirelessly.

Its noble of you for this charitable act, and I am sure many life were changed for the better because of you.

The Mechmate world would not be the same without your leadership.

I am very glad that I have this opportunity to be a part of this community.

Thank you very much.

Ken

riesvantwisk

Fri 15 January 2010, 04:50

I would hate to see it bought by some commercial guy making it into something else and would rater see it continue the way it is. I wonder if it can be taken over by a small group of people here on the forum.

Ries

Johannescnc

Fri 15 January 2010, 05:02

I agree and like this idea... :cool:

Kobus_Joubert

Fri 15 January 2010, 05:13

Sad sad sad... I thank you for setting up this magic site for us normal okies to build this machine.

I am glad I got in early, finished my machine and is able to enjoy it. Like so many said .. if Gerald is not in charge the forum will most likely be DIFFERENT.

Thanks again...I HAVE MY MECHMATE...and it WORKS..

bradm

Fri 15 January 2010, 05:22

Gerald, I kind of think that this forum, the MechMate design and name, and you are inextricably linked. It is your judgment (and foibles, if few and far between) that have made it work. It's hard to replace a charismatic with a committee.

If it's time for an era to end, let's have it end. Stop further new postings to the forum, use the paypal$ to keep the site (monument) up as long as it lasts, and move on.

Since the design is too strong to just die, I'm sure that it will get mirrored (*), and discussions related to it will continue elsewhere, heck, the 'zone does enough talking about MM as it is already.

(*) Assuming you choose to allow that.

Notwithstanding the above, thank-you for the tremendous effort you've put into this. It's clearly a life accomplishment.

swatkins

Fri 15 January 2010, 07:01

Gerald thanks for all you have done... I have been reading everything I can on your wonderful design and I can see the "labor of love" you have given us. Whatever the outcome, of this new development, I want to thank you for your hard work.

I understand the time and effort involved in running a community like this, over the years I have been involved in many Forums and currently host 4 on my servers... Everyday you deal with hackers, spammers, difficult members, inappropriate content and so on and so on and so on... Gerald frankly I don't see how you manage by yourself!

Once again thank you for all you have done!

Robert M

Fri 15 January 2010, 07:15

Thanking Gerald is human and showing compassion, being civilized because he, as a human, involved and creator of this great community is….. after all a human with emotions !!
But as HE pointed out, it was business.
It was a business tool with a motive that is no longer, a tool that has achieved its goal as he says !….NO EMOTIONAL attachment. :rolleyes:

So, we should not try to convince him to stay as the captain of this ship, but wishing him all the best we can offer for his prosper future.
WE SHOULD ask his to support the future torch holder ( hoders), once passed, come visit and show a side of him we never had a chance to meet, come and be an active member of this great little community and continue to share & exchange…..that is what I see fit and hope for…and know very well many will miss !
Even if he as shown us, by many statements, past decisions & attitude, that he can have no mercy to those how cannot follow simple rules, that he can be very clear and cold to make certain those rules & policies are respected, assuring this group staying focus on the beast mission, shows no apparent emotions for someone not following some few balize….. he still & remains HUMAN…. He will be touched by all with all the thanks & whistles.

Great, honored and privileged to have opportunity to exchange with this gentlemen, wishing to continue so, but mostly wishing him all the deepest & honest best and health to come.

“Merci infiniment” Gerald to give me, and all others, the opportunity to be part of this selective group.
Please, come visit often and give your feedback, as so many appreciate….
Amicalement, Robert :(

hennie

Fri 15 January 2010, 07:40

Like all of the posts above I myself say thank you for the chance.Thanks Gerald for all the help and advice that you gave us and may whatever new adventure that you take on give you lot`s of joy.I for one know that I have made a lot of new friends.

MechMate Rules!!

PEU

Fri 15 January 2010, 07:47

I just wish there is a way to keep the knowledge base that this forum is regardless of the intentions of the owner to be of the mechmate.com domain.

By the way, Im curious of what amount of $$ you think you could gather, PM if you don't want to post in the open.

Thanks for all your efforts!

gixi

Fri 15 January 2010, 07:51

This is a sad day for me :(. Building this machine represent a boost for my business, the moment when MM start to move was incredible but the feeling to be part of a such big family it's incredible. This is not business... Nobody can buy moments like that...
What can I say...? Gerald your effort to keep this site alive was immense but I presume it's also hard to be split in such many directions.
Anyway, Gerald if you want to visit Bucharest you are welcome to stay at my home. Anytime.
I hope this site will be taken by a person with the same vivid personality like yours and that person will keep the same professional way of this site.
Marius.
P.S. I hope this is still a joke (is it first of April ?).

blakekoehn

Fri 15 January 2010, 08:05

Gerald,

I know you have, but please consider earnestly before you sell. This forum is your baby and I believe you will miss it greatly when you are no longer at the the helm.

You have put untold time into this project, I have been lurking here for at least two years myself and have been often amazed at what you have given here for free.

I am a member of a similar forum for sign making. www.letterville.com This man asks a fee of $50 a year, He makes his entire living from his website. I believe it is time for you to start to realize some return for your endeavors. I for one would be happy to paypal you $50 a year to be part of this sight. Also your drawings are awesome. I could not believe when I downloaded them... 157 pages :eek: They are worth something, It takes five or six thousand dollars to build a MM, the drawing download would have to be worth $200.00.

I believe you could easily make $10,000 a year from this website. Maybe you are flushed with cash, but an extra 10g a year would put the work of this website in a whole new light seems to me;)

Above all Gerald I wish you the best of luck whichever road you take. Thank you very much for this great place.

Sherman McCoy

Fri 15 January 2010, 09:10

I agree with Blake. I would have paid $200 for the drawings and another $100 for a step-by-step video on how to build the control box. I've built a couple of computers with an online tutorial, but this is the first time I've ever committed $5000 to a project I found online. I only did it because your site made completion seem not just possible, but probable.

riesvantwisk

Fri 15 January 2010, 09:15

note to gerald, I would pay 50USD/year to be a member....

sailfl

Fri 15 January 2010, 09:57

For those that are newer to the forum, you may not realize that Gerald does not need the money. He has a very successful business and started the forum and designed the machine because he wanted to. He now wants to move on.

isladelobos

Fri 15 January 2010, 09:58

:(

I hope that mechmate, remains.

max.elliott

Fri 15 January 2010, 12:37

I _just_ joined up and am considering building a MM. Having read my way thru most of the older posts, I have to say "Thank You, Gerald, great job". The entire community here is knowledgeable, friendly and supportive of new MM builders. I hope the site lives on, and would like to thank Gerald for it, and to thank all of you guys for being fellow members. It is truly a community effort and a wonderful site.

Now, I just gotta decide when I'm going to build....

Roadkill_321

Fri 15 January 2010, 15:12

I too would like to join in and say a big thank you to Gerald. Without his great generosity and donations of his time to this project I would not have the great machine I have today. Thanks again.

John

Gerald D

Sun 17 January 2010, 11:46

Hey guys, this was like reading my own obituary - - - - I don't intend dying just yet! :D. Thanks for the sentiments expressed, but I had hoped to avoid the emotional side and concentrate on business only.

Of course I have received a couple of messages basically asking "how much?" and I really don't know how to put a value on a web site. If I think of it in terms of a completed CNC router table, I think the sale is worth one or two completed MM's with quality components - (not the lumberjack jeff version ;))

Other than the "how much" messages (and some moral support ones) there hasn't really been much on want a potential buyer would want to do with the site. I realised during this past weekend that I would want some assurance that the site would continue to help worldwide builders for at least a year - ie. no drastic immediate changes.

In the long term, I realise that MechMate can earn the highest income if it becomes "Americanised", for the simple reason that Americans spend by far the most on internet business. If I had lived in America, I probably would have commercialised the site long ago. (Earning income from the internet to Africa is just too much schlep).

A thought is that a "MechMate" business based in America could be more than a website.....it could also supply hardware (components & kits). And this would be a new reason for not supporting "shopping lists" published on the forum. . . if a buyer wants to go into the component/kit business, he will try not to disclose his sources (and delete some threads)

The above are just some thoughts after a lazy summer weekend spent mostly enjoying too much scenery, food & drink. But I did take one firm decision; and that is to avoid any drastic decisions for a few weeks. :)

riesvantwisk

Sun 17 January 2010, 12:12

Gerald,

would it be a option for you that you keep own the mechmate.com website and the forum as it is right now?

You could assign 2 or 3 moderators in different forum sections that have the same way of thinking and mentality as you have so to keep the forum clean. You as a person could still manage the PDF/DXF files with changes, new ideas and bug fixing, you could even assign 1 or 2 persons to have 'SVN (but properly not like SVN) repository access' that can change the DXF files aswell, much like how this works in the open source world of software developments.

I understand that you don't have emotional attachments to mechmate, but still I think it has a lot of potential for you as a person, but also business whise, may be you can hook up with a trusted person in the US to create MM kids, this could be a/your new goal.

I cannot speak for the whole community here since I don't have a working MM yet (but sooooooo close :) ) , but I think that the community would hate to see you pull back completely, more important the MM forum, website, designs etc are not as good without you behind it...

Anyways, I support any decision you make and sometimes it's important to move on, wether it's on a personal level or business level.

Ries

Gerald D

Sun 17 January 2010, 12:35

Ries, if I leave everything as it is now, then I earn no money for my retirement. Your suggestion means I have to get deeper committed to a project that I have finished? (This was never an "open source" project).

If I can make it clearer, I want to spend less time on this project and move onto other things. There is no incentive for me to continue to spend time on MechMate.

riesvantwisk

Sun 17 January 2010, 12:58

Gerald,

my suggestion would mean two options:

1) get deeper into it and Americanise it,a s you called it.. then you will get some revenue out of it. - Allows you to make $$ out of it if you wish.

2) Still be part of the project, keep the MM name + forum as a owner, but assign moderators (your son??) with the same vision as you have to keep the forum clean. - Allows you to keep ownership, move on with other things and ultimately decide (much) later what to do, may be big company XYZ comes along and will be it for much more then two MM's you did in vision. IMHO the website+designs is much more then two MM's, even at this point.

If you go for option 2, then you can step back for a while and may be in 6 or 12 months you have a other bright idea, modification or whatever you like to share.

PS: I did say open source, because this project looks a bit like in the spirit of it.....

Ries

PEU

Sun 17 January 2010, 13:04

I just wish the knowledge base that this forum is is kept intact, at least as read only somewhere in the internet, I know the internet archive keeps the words, but the images if not hosted are lost.

[edit] I just realized that I posted the same 15 posts above... sorry for repeating myself, and about the price USD ~10K sounds attractive enough to give it some tought.

Pablo

swatkins

Sun 17 January 2010, 16:50

As I am really a newcomer to the world of Mech Mate I have only the information I have read on this forum to guide me in my thinking.. So please forgive me if I am out of line..

1. Gerald has created an awesome machine and the Forum is one of the keys to it's popularity. After all I would have never started building one if it had not been for the wealth of information available here. It would almost be a crime to let this place die if no one was able to create a business off of the Mech Mate website. ( More on this later)

2. I think "the genie is already out of the bottle" on the Mech Mate. Someone else trying to make money off of the Plans and website is going to be really hard as the Plans are already all over the world. If Gerald, or a potential buyer, were to start charging for them people would start selling copies on EBay at 1/2 the price.. I also think that because the plans are already out its going to be tough to try to protect yourself from anyone that just wants to start their own forum and sell their copies of his plans..

3. I think Gerald should really looking to become a Silent partner with someone who has the ability to manage the Forum as that is where the real value is now... Let that person take the Forum over and come up with ways to start an income stream and then give Gerald a percentage of that money for a set period of time... That would be a fair low risk way to do this. Because the plans and knowledge have already become " Open Source" you are going to have to make money off of the "Value Added Model" much like Red Hat does with Linux software..

Now for the more later part :)

If worse comes to worse and Gerald decides this is just something he wants to close I would make a gift of free hosting for the site for two years.. I run an internet website design and hosting service with dedicated servers in Houston and already host many Forums. One more is not that much more work and I would hate to loose the information...

isladelobos

Sun 17 January 2010, 17:10

Gerald, for me, you are free. thank you very much for guiding us and giving us hope. I have it clear, build a mechmate.

Yes, mechmate is like a woman, requires much time and learning, you're lucky, always will be the Gerald's project.

You can also open a thread in CncZone for Mechmate.

lumberjack_jeff

Sun 17 January 2010, 17:34

I think the sale is worth one or two completed MM's with quality components - (not the lumberjack jeff version ;)

Hey!

(but you're probably right, you wouldn't want anyone offering you the contents of their couch cushions and trading for a broken dishwasher) ;)

lunaj76

Wed 20 January 2010, 19:25

100 members paying $50.00 a year. Not bad? I would do it just for tech support.

Leko

Thu 21 January 2010, 21:38

...only if Gerald will stay on at his current salary and benefits....

Gerald D

Thu 21 January 2010, 22:16

Yeah, I probably will stay on at current salary (nil) and benefits (entertainment) . . . . :D

Jan de Ruyter

Thu 21 January 2010, 23:19

How about the abuse? You're not even able to pay for the blood pressure medication.

Robert M

Fri 22 January 2010, 04:38

Jan…That’s part of the perks & bonus :D

KenC

Fri 22 January 2010, 04:39

Today is a great day, I completed my 1st coat of paint & then to make it even sweeter, Garald has re-considered staying.

What a wonderful day!

Gerald D

Fri 22 January 2010, 05:06

Did I ever say that I wanted to leave? :confused:

Kobus_Joubert

Fri 22 January 2010, 05:14

You better not..I know where you live...:mad:

Gerald D

Fri 22 January 2010, 05:14

Maybe to clarify; I want to move away from carrying the responsibility for the MechMate project, the forum, its moderating and maintenance, the obligation to read every post, to check for spammers, to pay hosting company, etc., etc.

swatkins

Fri 22 January 2010, 11:09

If this is the case I would be more than willing to help out.. Running a forum is tough and I totaly understand how you feel Gerald. Running this one.. www.dmaxcentral.com takes 5 of us... How you manage by yourself all this time I have no idea...

The site managment, updates , hosting and fighting spammers I can handle.. .The expertise in the machine is where I fall short. maybe a few moderators that have " The Right Stuff" is the answer.... Let me think about some things and I will see if I can come up with a plan....

Gerald D

Fri 22 January 2010, 13:14

Guys, I am not looking for any new moderators at this stage, because the new owner of the site/forum will appoint his/her/their own.

KenC

Fri 22 January 2010, 22:21

Johannescnc

Sun 24 January 2010, 07:06

Ken, I would bet big money that your command of English is far better than most others here of your language... :D

max.elliott

Sun 24 January 2010, 18:44

His command of English is better then mine, and it's the only language I speak.

PEU

Mon 25 January 2010, 07:38

I wonder if G. already got offers, I just curious about how much this forum is worth in terms of $$$ to an interested party.

Gerald D

Mon 25 January 2010, 08:06

Offers were received and are being considered. The $$$ is a private matter.

Gerald D

Fri 05 February 2010, 08:42

A transfer of ownership is currently in progress, and expected to be completely concluded in about a week or two.

isladelobos

Fri 05 February 2010, 09:02

LOL!!

We can know the new Boss?

oddname

Fri 05 February 2010, 09:56

Sad but still understandable.

normand blais

Fri 05 February 2010, 10:35

Farewell to the king
le roi est mort vive le roi

Gerald D

Fri 05 February 2010, 10:44

The new owner will become known in due course. He has been a member here for a long time and I don't think that anyone will have any problems with the new management. I have committed myself to him for a changeover period and I really believe that there won't even be a ripple.

jeffa

Fri 05 February 2010, 11:41

Congratulations and thank you Gerald.

If I were a betting man ;), I'd bet that the legacy you've started will continue for a long time and will touch many people.

Best regards always,

Jeff & Erick

Gerald D

Mon 15 February 2010, 22:57

It is my pleasure to announce that Mike (aka MetalHead) of Alabama has stepped in to pick up the reins. Thanks everyone for the support in the past, and I trust that Mike will continue to enjoy the same support in the future.

sailfl

Mon 15 February 2010, 23:26

Mike,

Congratulations! Good luck.

vishnu

Tue 16 February 2010, 00:25

Congrats Mike :)

Nice to see Gerland waving hands and taking rest for all the support he has given us over the past years.

Wish Gerald & Mike good luck for a bright future.

The Story of the Big Blue Beast continues (Part II Director:Mike).........:)

KenC

Tue 16 February 2010, 00:47

Congrats Mike :)

We hope the community will flourish further under your helm.

Gerald,
All the best wishes to you. Please do let us participate in your future projects.

Gerald D

Tue 16 February 2010, 02:29

Ken, my future projects include Alam Flora - do you really want to get get mixed up with them? :)

riesvantwisk

Tue 16 February 2010, 05:18

Mike,

congrats, I think the community will be very happy with you as a lead.

Gerald, you have done an outstanding job building this site and plans and a lot of people all grateful for that.

Thanks!

Lex

Tue 16 February 2010, 06:18

Congrats Mike!
Eish, this is a sad day for us. Gerald I hope you will check in frequently, because who is going to k.. us out when you are gone. Hennie is always pointing fingers at me but he needs to be kept in line the most of the time. :D:D:D
Sorry ou Hennie.

normand blais

Tue 16 February 2010, 06:28

Hi Mike very good of you to take over this great site ,wish you great time as new owner.

Gerald making gold with crap !

Gerald D

Tue 16 February 2010, 06:39

Normand obviously googled Alam Flora - you must be bored!

normand blais

Tue 16 February 2010, 06:55

I dont watch tv ,this is like my best sitcom with my morning coffe .And you are my favorite actor ,been following your career closely, just wondering what the sequel will be. I think you are upfor an oscar

domino11

Tue 16 February 2010, 07:25

Good Luck to you Mike and best wishes to Gerald.

sailfl

Tue 16 February 2010, 08:12

Normand,

How can you live in Canada and not be watching the Olympics????

revved_up

Tue 16 February 2010, 08:22

I have been off of this site for a bit over a year for alot of reasons, this past week when I logged back on one of the first threads that caught my eye was this one. A bit apprehensive it made me as I have a couple of thousand in electronics and motors collecting dust and I am just now getting ready to resume and our leader is leaving. I have reread the entire forum in 2 days and must say I was confident before that plenty of people on here with successful builds could help but now even more people have completed I feel confident that even with Gerald leaving I should be in good hands. I do have to ask though Gerald, what ever became of the project to embed trashcans with microchips? Perhaps thats why Gerald is making gold from trash.

Gerald D

Tue 16 February 2010, 08:56

Trashcans with microchips have been very common in Europe - there is no novelty in that. Out here, we are applying a slightly different flavour, at much lower cost. But that is not what this thread is about. ;)

lumberjack_jeff

Tue 16 February 2010, 09:24

Congratulations Mike!

PEU

Tue 16 February 2010, 09:27

Lets hear from the new admin what are his plans, Gerald, I trully hope you keep checking the forum on a regular basis.

Best of luck on your other endeavours!

MetalHead

Tue 16 February 2010, 09:47

Pablo - I was giving folks a while to respond.

I plan on leaving this forum as is. Its great group of people and information was why I came here in the first place.

We will do a few things, but they will make the whole experience even better.

But for now I have just grabed the flag so Gerald can do other projects he is working on.

So I am looking forward to the future and I will ask all: If you like the content and knowledge in this forum as much as I do , please donate (Donate button at the top of the page) to help me keep the MechMate ship underway into the future !!!

Mike

sailfl

Tue 16 February 2010, 09:52

Mike,

I have a simple request. Could you make the build spreadsheet a stickey under the completed build and not allow users to add comments. I request this because there have been a number of times that I have wanted to look up a builders info for reference and I had to search the log thread. I think you should keep the log thread also.

Thanks

MetalHead

Tue 16 February 2010, 10:24

Great idea and done !!!

Travish

Tue 16 February 2010, 10:52

Congrats to you Mike!

I'm pleased to hear that the forum is being handed off to another member to keep the forum alive.

Best wishes to you Gerald and your new adventures you seek.

Travis

Robert M

Tue 16 February 2010, 12:36

Well, wishing MIKE as the new owner LOTS of pleasure with this bold move !!
To GERALD, hoping to have a chance to prove your patience with me was worth it. We shared some communication difference & difficulties, but I always respected your work & your involvement in this. Hopping this passing the torch will give you some easier time and more to devote to some other passion of yours.
Thanks you for your GREAT support and starting this superb forum.
Mike, I will try my deepest effort to behave and continue to be active and support this GREAT community. Soon I’ll be getting back in gear with my project which I had to put on hold for some obvious reasons.
Well, congratulation to both you guys….
Amicalement, Robert ;)

Kobus_Joubert

Tue 16 February 2010, 12:44

Well done Mike and all of the best. Thanks Gerald and have a nice rest from us..:p

max.elliott

Tue 16 February 2010, 13:26

Thanks for bearing the torch here, Mike!

isladelobos

Tue 16 February 2010, 15:02

Thanks Gerald for design the MechMate and make his sense (hard work)

Mike we are with you in this.
But remember, you are the boss and we need left hand with the order controll and spam.
Be hard with us :D

Claudiu

Wed 17 February 2010, 00:58

I can call myself lucky to have joined this unique Forum getting to know Gerald who has made possible this amazing Project, and all Members giving quality input.
Mike, wishing you fun with your new Project.

Greetings

Greeny

Wed 17 February 2010, 01:49

Many thanks to Gerald for all he has given.
Many thanks to Mike for taking over & best wishes going forward.

Cheers
Greeny

Sergio-k

Wed 17 February 2010, 14:37

My best wishes to you Mike for taking over this site.
I wish you strength and patience to bare all of us :D.

Thanks Gerald for sharing with us your remarkable project.

bolingerbe

Wed 17 February 2010, 15:07

I want to send my best wishes to Gerarld and Mike.

lunaj76

Wed 17 February 2010, 21:42

My best to Gerald, Thanks for making my dream of cnc a reality!
Thanks Mike for keeping the dream alive.

Justin Luna

69dblcab

Thu 18 February 2010, 14:56

Thanks Gerald.

Hello Mike.

jehayes

Wed 24 February 2010, 22:54

Gerald: After being away from the forum for a while I just saw the thread above that you have actually pulled the plug! I am glad you were able to achieve your goal but will miss your constant vigilant support. All the best and many, many thanks for the design and support you have given. If you are ever in the Seattle area I hope you will call and let me buy you dinner.

Joe on Whidbey Island

glintid

Thu 25 February 2010, 02:11

Mainly been a lurker with intent to build. Thanks Gerald for sharing your inspired design and elegantly simple approach to engineering. This Cape Town born, SA expat is a little regretful at having left that well known South African ingenuity behind him so many years ago. We've all become so used to having large corporations solve our problems for us and sometimes seem to loose track of our own abilities. It's been a really refreshing change. Mike, congrats and wish you the best with the forum.

liaoh75

Thu 25 February 2010, 08:34

Gerald, I completely missed this tread and I just finished reading it. I was shocked but I understand the reasons why you made this move. I just want to express my gratitude to you for putting with us over the years. Without you and the Mechmate community, somebody like me would never have dreamed of building something of this magnitude on our own.

Thank you Mike for picking up the ball. I look forward to continuing to participate in this wonderful community of supportive people. It's the people here that make this site different from a great many others.

Rad Racer

Thu 25 February 2010, 18:53

Gerald, thank you for what you have created and for what you have done for all of us. Perhaps now you will have some time to create and share some MechMate projects:)

Mike, welcome board captain, you have the wheel.

Leko

Thu 25 February 2010, 19:52

Gerald,
Thank you for all you have selflessly shared...may it return to you tenfold.

Mike, Shalom
You have made a wise investment...

I have a question....Does Gerald still have his finger on the 'ban' button?

I have something I've wanted to share for a long time but have not done so for fear of getting the boot again...

jessyjames

Fri 26 February 2010, 08:14

I think you have answered you own question. Figuring out when to speak your mind (or when to bite your tongue) is really an art that must be carefully crafted throughout the course of life. There are times when it works, and times when it does not. The trick here is knowing when and how it will benefit you.

If you were banned at one time than it might be wise to just bite your tongue because changing people is not up to you. I find that I seem to share a lot of my frustration talking to my little blue friend in the basement. He always makes things better for me. :)

Just my 2cents.

Gerald D

Fri 26 February 2010, 09:30

Okay Leko, I promise I won't ban you, but I can't guarantee that nobody else will :) Spill the beans!

MetalHead

Fri 26 February 2010, 14:40

Yes - tell us what your thinkin ;)

Johannescnc

Sat 27 February 2010, 09:18

come on Leko... we're all waiting in suspense... :D

Leko

Sun 28 February 2010, 21:44

Sorry, spent the weekend out of town celebrating my son's 6th birthday with cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents and everything that makes being 6 great!

You're right James, it isn't up to me to try and change people...nor is it my nature...and as for biting my tongue, that's not my nature either...but I managed this time. I do sort of feel that this thread is kinda turning into an honorarium to Gerald...a somewhat depressing one at times...

I think I would like to try and lighten up this whole transition thing! It's not like we're losing a Gerald, we're gaining a MetalHead! Actually, it's more like Gerald suckered someone into taking over all the crappy work so he can follow the interesting threads, ignore the rest, and comment at will!

But, it also allows us to venerate Gerald as is right and proper!

Long ago, (maybe a year or more, or so...) there was a series of cries for official MechMate wear...a uniform for the brotherhood, so to speak...one industrious blue fellow even fashioned himself such a frock!

This was ill received and elicited grumbling from the big man himself. Hence I tucked this little sketch far back in the bits and bytes so as not to further incur his mighty wrath! But, now I think it might educe a chuckle and a rosy blush. For, while being honorific...and silly, it caries a concept that I'm sure is appreciated by most everyone that lurks this board, especially those afforded the opportunity and ability to undertake this build!

So here is a little something that popped into my head late one night, and I hope will make sense to those outside the States (I'll explain later if need be)