Why Do You Think People Quit Model Railroading?

[Chris333]

I have no plans to quit, but sometimes I do get fed up! Like right now I just don't feel like doing a thing. It all started when I was drilling #80 holes for grab irons and broke a bit. I went to grab another one since I recently bought about 40 #80 bits on e-bay. Well come to find out they are cheapies from China with no tip at all! They are flat at the end and I can't get a hole going with them.
Arrrrgggg!!!!!! So I go to Drill Bit City's site and order a 10 pack of #80's. The shipping was pretty fast and about 2 days later I was able to drill a hole again. But their drill bits use a 1/8" shank with a big plastic collar so I can't find a way to bury the bit in the pin vise with only 1/16" sticking out. Instead the tips stick out about 5/8".  Here goes, I'm drilling a hole now. First hole going slow, hey it worked. Second hole SNAP. Took 2 bits to get 5 holes done. After the second bit broke I quit, shut off the lights and went to watch TV.  I am left with a crap load of bits with no points and a nice set of super brittle bits. I either have to run down to the LHS or place another order of regular bits.

MODEL RAILROADING SUCKS  ;D

[up1950s]

Aren't those with no tips router bits . I have 2 boxes of those from Micro Mart . Those plastic collars can be cut off , but the shanks are a larger diameter then the bit which defeats the advantage of choking it up . But the bits have uses , not for drilling in brass though . I use mine as router bits in plastic and wood and still snap them often .

[Chris333]

I haven't heard of a router or bits that small.

[RockGp40]

Because we little guys have to compete with layouts like this:   

http://dvice.com/archives/2009/03/astonishing_mos.php


5,000,000 visitors annually.

[TiVoPrince]

Nobody
ever quits.  You are permitted to go on hiatus, take a break or pursue other interests.  But you will always be tempted to return.  Even if you dispose of everything, the day you see an interesting loco or freight car go by the temptation will be there and eventually be drawn to the sirens of model railroading...

[FrankCampagna]

Nobody
ever quits.  You are permitted to go on hiatus, take a break or pursue other interests.  But you will always be tempted to return.  Even if you dispose of everything, the day you see an interesting loco or freight car go by the temptation will be there and eventually be drawn to the sirens of model railroading...

Better stop talking like that or the government will ban model railroading as addictive, or tax it.  ;D ;D ;D.

Frank

[sizemore]

Cause they fry two decoders and fear a third.

[Walkercolt]

What's wrong with playing with trains???? That's all any of us are really doing, no matter how much we protest. I know of alot of guys who have had a 2X4' plywood oval of track for 25 years and run thier trains more than I do. BTW: the post of EVERYTHING should have this and this and this, I don't want ANY of those things, and the mainstream doesn't either. Should every vehicle be a Ferrari? Should every body unzip their pants with their right hand? Oh well, I can see why many people that have computers stop model railroading.....

[ryourstone]

A full time job in the IT business. The standard 80-90 hour workweek this field has devolved into edges out almost everything else.

Ironically, computers were supposed to save us so much time.

Back in 1930 Keynes wrote that within 100 years technological advances and efficiencies would increase so much that people would only have to work a few hours a week. The biggest problem he saw is how people would adapt to all the free time on their hands.

The average American has now bypassed even the medieval serf in hours worked and gets less vacation time. And there is a huge incentive to not take the vacation time you're given because of the punishment you have to endure catching up when you get back.

This trend has got to have a negative impact on all hobbies, not just model RR'ing.

[tom mann]

  I am left with a crap load of bits

Put 'em back on ebay! ;D

[up1950s]

Chris , these look pointed though not cheap . I usually buy 12 packs from Walther's of #79 and up in size . I don't bother with the #80 . These are HSS , I think the ones you have are Carbide , and are unforgiving to side flexing or over torquing .

http://drillcity.stores.yahoo.net/6new80hssdrb.html

[sizemore]

I have no plans to quit, but sometimes I do get fed up! Like right now I just don't feel like doing a thing. It all started when I was drilling #80 holes for grab irons and broke a bit. I went to grab another one since I recently bought about 40 #80 bits on e-bay. Well come to find out they are cheapies from China with no tip at all! They are flat at the end and I can't get a hole going with them.
Arrrrgggg!!!!!! So I go to Drill Bit City's site and order a 10 pack of #80's. The shipping was pretty fast and about 2 days later I was able to drill a hole again. But their drill bits use a 1/8" shank with a big plastic collar so I can't find a way to bury the bit in the pin vise with only 1/16" sticking out. Instead the tips stick out about 5/8".  Here goes, I'm drilling a hole now. First hole going slow, hey it worked. Second hole SNAP. Took 2 bits to get 5 holes done. After the second bit broke I quit, shut off the lights and went to watch TV.  I am left with a crap load of bits with no points and a nice set of super brittle bits. I either have to run down to the LHS or place another order of regular bits.

MODEL RAILROADING SUCKS  ;D

I too feel your pain.

[asciibaron]

Compare it to this.

I want to collect coins.
I get a coin I want.
I put it in an album.
Repeat.

How boring is that!?!

you know i collect coins too, right? 

good luck tracking down truly rare coins in high grades at reasonable prices.  one could easily spend more on a single coin than one would spend on a lifetime of train hobbying.

just saying.

-steve

[wm3798]

That doesn't make it any more exciting...

Lee

[Chris333]

.79 cents each here:
http://www.biscotoolsupply.com/home/bis/page_1799_75/numbered_drill_bits_numbered_drill_bit.html