What are some hobbies you have always been meaning to get into but have not yet?

A couple that I’m looking at are:

Beekeeping
Kayaking
Metal Detecting

What say you?

Knapping, fly fishing, being a lottery winner.  I knew how to canoe almost before I could walk but I started kayaking just a few years ago.  You'll love it, Morphy. 

Toki Pona
Magnet Fishing (we’ll just pretend the last attempt never happened)
Build a homebrew series-elastic actuator.
Phone app development
Wireless microcontrollers
Archery/home made longbow
Long range (1000+ yard) marksmanship

welding (main problem money )
archery (need to become a member somewhere, paperwork and human interaction stuff :P )
other than that not much, there are a lot of stuff that I should get over with
a recent idea was to learn blender to make 3d animations, looked a little into it and it's daunting, haven't brushed it off yet.

@Sarosh... welding is another one I forgot to put down... and blacksmithing

Sometimes my list of things to learn feels a lot like this:

https://youtu.be/4VbI5zcB8Ac

I'm almost ready to start my wood turning.  Just this week I received a 6 piece turning tool set that I ordered.  I have to move one more shelf in the basement, and then I'll be able to get my lathe set up.

I've also started getting interested in sword customization.  I've done a couple very small things.  I have a couple swords which I replaced the crossguard and pommel on.  They were just new parts I ordered, and the hilts are held together with a hex nut.  So again, very simple stuff.  I've recently been working on a new pommel for another sword.  This again is something I bought, but I had to drill it out and file the inside down to get it to fit.  It's still not quite ready yet (had to order a larger drill bit), but should be by the end of the week.  I think my next step is going to be making a new handle from start to finish.  Making a wooden core and wrapping it in leather is something I think I could do.

TOOLS tools are the problem. what would be awesome is to make a company like a gym/library/internet cafe that would have a membership and would be full of tools for welding, hammering, machining, woodworking, 3d printing , hydraulic presses, saws, sanding stuff etc
"if we can't have a lathe in every home let's have a lathe in every neighborhood " would be the slogan.

Sarosh wrote on May 7^th, 2020 at 5:01am:

what would be awesome is to make a company like a gym/library/internet cafe that would have a membership and would be full of tools

Look for makerspace or fablab.
More commercial would be a "coworking-space" with workshop.
Or contact an existing workshop for a course or similar. There is one woodworker in my vicinity who offers "make your own project" courses. Come with your idea, he will show you how to turn it on a lathe. For a charge, of course. I have seen the same with goldsmiths where you can sub-rent some space.

@ Teg

thanks! didn't know this stuff existed. I'm checking it out.

Well, slowly I am getting more into primitive selfbows.

My other goal, (not a hobby), but one I am fully focusing on and in the future, is
acquiring a homestead before my 30th birthday (I am 22 now).
It's become one of the main goals of my life and I am planning it all out. It's good to be sure of what one wants and work their way to it.

AncientCraftwork wrote on May 8^th, 2020 at 5:00am:

Well, slowly I am getting more into primitive selfbows. My other goal, (not a hobby), but one I am fully focusing on and in the future, is acquiring a homestead before my 30th birthday (I am 22 now). It's become one of the main goals of my life and I am planning it all out. It's good to be sure of what one wants and work their way to it.

Thats currently what i am doing. Building up my own homestead

Rat Man wrote on Apr 29^th, 2020 at 10:04pm:

Knapping, fly fishing, being a lottery winner.  I knew how to canoe almost before I could walk but I started kayaking just a few years ago.  You'll love it, Morphy.

What kind of kayak would you suggest RM? Ideally I’ve been looking at the kind you pedal with your feet because I would be able to fish while I’m moving. I think those are much more expensive than the more traditional kind though. Not sure if the trade off is worth it.

Most of my future hobbies i just needd time to actually do it. I am looking at learning how to tan hides, build a dugout canoe. Flintknapping.

Teg wrote on May 7^th, 2020 at 5:13am:

Look for makerspace or fablab

I haven't visited one yet and although there are many coworking spaces , there's only 1 workshop that  might have welding equipment. Most of them are oriented towards programming and 3d printing, they are interesting but what I need now is welding and a place to make noise all day!

Coworking spaces are more oriented towards IT guys, freelancers, startups and so on. It's unlikely that you will find a fit there.
Makerspaces and Fablabs vary a lot in what they offer. They are oriented towards rapid prototyping / digital manufacturing technologies (3D printing, CNC, ...), but open for the general public.
For basic woodworking / metal working I would look for a community center workshop / neighborhood workshop. At least some in my vicinity offer welding.
Depending on your age, a youth center might offer something as well.

Making butter, flavored butter !
I can already make plain butter (and it's quite easy) but next time, I may try adding some cocoa powder or honey in it...

Morphy wrote on May 11^th, 2020 at 6:54pm:

Rat Man wrote on Apr 29th, 2020 at 10:04pm: Knapping, fly fishing, being a lottery winner.  I knew how to canoe almost before I could walk but I started kayaking just a few years ago.  You'll love it, Morphy.  What kind of kayak would you suggest RM? Ideally I’ve been looking at the kind you pedal with your feet because I would be able to fish while I’m moving. I think those are much more expensive than the more traditional kind though. Not sure if the trade off is worth it.

     There are two basic types of kayak.  One is the kind that you sit down low inside of.  This is the type most people are familiar with I believe.  IMO these are the driest and easiest to use.  Also the most stable.  The other kind might be called an Ocean Kayak.  They're the type you sit on top of.  My two man fishing kayak is this type.  I like it but I think the former type is easier to use and more comfortable.  As far as Paddleboat type kayak, I can't comment intelligently because I've never used one.  I probably wouldn't buy one because it limits the kind of water you can kayak in.  Like you would never take it in rapids.  I'm not sure how it would behave in heavy weeds either.  If you wanted one just for fishing a calm, mostly weed free lake I guess it would be OK. Here's a couple of not so great screen captures of my big kayak.

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Ahh that looks so nice! See I haven’t even considered the two person aspect yet. I think I would like the kind you sit in better. Just seems like it would be more stable. And maybe even hold more. My ideal is to bring out my radio, my cooler a couple rods and never be seen again. Well, until Monday morning.

I need to finish my matchlock.  I made a stock, got a barrel and had a lock roughed in.  Then I sort of sat it aside and haven't messed with it for years.  I got it out yesterday and couldn't find the lock parts.  Guess I'll have to make some more.

Covid has ruined my chances at a “hobby” I’ve been working on for a while, at least until next season.
Plan on catching a Australian Salmon from the shore with a bow. Finally got the equipment but it was not ment to be this year.

I've been itching to get working on the springbow idea I have. I have 9 days (NINE!) off coming up and I'm hoping to get the parts I need then.

Since grocery store trips are more complicated, we’ve been doing a little more “urban homesteading” out of necessity. Two of the best experiments have been homemade tortillas (with real lard... absolutely the best tasting tortillas), and homemade yogurt. The yogurt process will also work for cream cheese!  These are two foods we may never buy in a package ever again because the fresh homemade versions are far superior.

   Making yogurt is surprisingly easy.  We used to do it at home when we were kids. 

NooneOfConsequence wrote on May 19^th, 2020 at 8:40am:

These are two foods we may never buy in a package ever again because the fresh homemade versions are far superior.

I've had that experience myself.  One thing I always make myself is ranch dressing.  I found it strange that if I ordered a pizza and got a little cup of ranch dressing on the side, it was always way better than anything bottled in the stored.  One day I looked up a recipe and found it was just mayonnaise, sour cream, butter milk and spices.  Granted, all these ingredients are just store bought.  But you can add herbs and spices as you want and it's so much better than any bottled ranch dressing.

I would like to get into falconry.  Huntingg with raptors. But the process is soo long. Maybe in the future i will. But just from reading , and watching tye hawks, falcons and eagles fly ooverhead and watch my chickens. It makes me want to catch one

a

I've been looking at stepping up from lead casting into zinc and aluminum casting. It'll have to wait til next year probably but it's on the to do list.

Think I would like to become a bowyer.  :)Working on it now.

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Thats an awesome bow. I do plan on starting my next one, soon. Birch

vetryan15 wrote on Nov 23^rd, 2020 at 7:02pm:

Thats an awesome bow. I do plan on starting my next one, soon. Birch

:thumb:

You are really coming along Walter! Nice bro. What's the stats on it?

@ Morphy

red oak, 65" n-n, 2" wide to mid limb, 45lbs @26".
with a whopping 2" immediate set :-/
But, it is a smoooth shooter :D

Just keep in mind a lot of the old indigenous bows either had similar amounts of set or were grossly overbuilt. Worked just fine to keep them fed.  The fact that you can tiller that well and make a good weapon out of a piece of wood is what matters most.

Have you tried your hand at shoot arrows yet?

No, not yet, but I plan on getting some juniper for both bows and arrows.

walter wrote on Nov 25^th, 2020 at 8:01am:

No, not yet, but I plan on getting some juniper for both bows and arrows.

I thought Robin Hood and all those chaps used Yew for their bows

Elm and oak were quite popular too.

a wrote on Nov 25^th, 2020 at 5:06pm:

walter wrote on Nov 25th, 2020 at 8:01am: No, not yet, but I plan on getting some juniper for both bows and arrows. I thought Robin Hood and all those chaps used Yew for their bows

Over in England Yew is very popular.  Were i am, its Maple, Ash, and birch. Depends on what grows local, and is available. Local tribes used a few thers, but i dont have access to any.. But i am still new to bow making. I harvest from my own land when cutting firewood.

Almost every indigenous wood species I’ve tried making bows out of has failed at brace, except one. Guess there’s a little reasoning why that particular tree was prized by indigenous Australians even if they were making different tools with it.

Best wood I’ve personally had is Robinia pseudoacacia

I try to avoid picking up new hobbies... seems like I have enough to keep me distracted as is.  I need to be spending less time with new hobbies and toys and more time working on writing!

I want to get into writing factual articles based on topics that interest me and already have some knowledge of.
Also I am working on some ideas that might interest the “Other primitive weapons” one day...