iGaging Scale for the Bridgeport Mill - Part 2

[@Steve_Just_Steve]

Great tip on the copper pipe! I've cleaned many old files that way and it works very well.

[@jonludwig8233]

I've found that a piece of wood works pretty well too. Sort of tedious work though, especially for a fine file. I haven't found anything that works well for really fine double cut files...

[@petermurphy3354]

@@jonludwig8233 Or a piece of bamboo

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

Your professional skills as a fine teacher really shone during this episode. Thank you for the clarity of your verbal and practical explanation of witness marks when doing draw filing. Fabulous stuff. 👏👏👌👍😀 The final setup looks flipping marvellous.

[@Preso58]

Wow, thank you! Regards, Mark

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

@@Preso58 No need to thank me. You’re channel is top notch. 👏👏👍😁

[@wyohman00]

That anodizing is a spot-on!

[@Preso58]

William, the back is not so brilliant. I didn't spend quite enough time on prepping the reverse side but who's going to know except you and I. Regards, Mark

[@yvesdesrosiers2396]

Very nice Mr. P. Thanks you for sharing the filing technic. Looking forward to the next video.

[@jimbrizendine6188]

Thanks for the great tips. I have never seen the witness marks used for filing like that. I have been using the copper pipe file cleaner for years. My shop teacher back in the 70s taught us that. He had one difference though. If you heat the copper with a torch and quench it it will soften the copper. Copper work hardens and becomes less effective as time goes by. Thanks again, Great video

[@Preso58]

I forget where I saw the copper method. Maybe I read about it in the Model Engineer magazine. There is a wealth of knowledge in those older magazines. Regards, Mark

[@ronslaughterandalice1018]

Great idea on the witness marks , in the past the only witness marks I used was to be sure to leave a bit of discoloration on opposing sides of any heat treated parts I was grinding in to verify I hadn't mis-ground the part in any way and there was not enough grind stock left before heat treat.

[@mikemichelizzi2023]

This is my first time seeing the prick punch technique for marking out a part for filing - I'll have to try that next time. Thanks!

[@Preso58]

Mike, it's not something that I have seen much on fitting or fabrication videos either. It was a fundamental part of the high school metalworking curriculum but it is less common now we have CNC, wire EDM and surface grinding to take care of precision work. Regards, Mark

[@mr.t.807]

Hi Mark You have done a wonderful job. Thanks

[@DavidKutzler]

Mark, I recently upgraded my mini-lathe with similar magnetic DRO scales for the carriage and crossfeed, and use a 7-inch Android tablet with TouchDRO for the display. I'm very satisfied with it. I nice feature on my lathe DRO is that the crossfeed can be set for either radius or diameter. I've always loved the finish that I can get with draw filing, but the witness-mark technique that you demonstrated was new to me. I also liked the file cleaning method that you demonstrated. The old machinists used to rub a piece of chalk on their files before using it. The soft chalk didn't interfere with the file teeth, but it prevented most dirt, oil and swarf from accumulating in the teeth and made any that did collect in the teeth easy to remove with a simple file card. A week ago I finished making a demagnetizer based on your design, and it works wonderfully. I used six neodymium button magnets rather than four in the demagnetizer head, only because there were six in the pack when I bought them.

[@Preso58]

David, you won't regret making the demag tool. It's so simple and doesn't need batteries. Something to think about for when the zombie apocalypse happens. 😁 Regards, Mark

[@MattysWorkshop]

Gday Mark, I didn’t know about the witness mark idea, I really like that, thanks for sharing more great tips, take care Matty

[@Preso58]

Matty, I must say I don't think I have ever seen it done on any other KZbin videos that I have ever watched. However it was a part of the metalworking curriculum at high school level when I started teaching. I was also required to hand file two mating parts when I was training at college and we were assessed on how accurately we split the witness marks. Like i said.... old school. Regards, Mark

[@ke6bnl]

I have been using the touch dro on the lathe for a few years. good cheaper alternative. I made the transmitter from the plans on the internet BUT with my limit knowledge of programming I had someone on the Touch dro site walking me through the programming of the transmitter device. that has been in service for maybe 8 years. you will enjoy it, got a cheap bluetooth tablet on ebay.

[@Preso58]

Yuriy seems to be doing a great job with the app. He has been working on a new version which addresses a few bugs and I like the idea that you can incorporate a tachometer. The Varispeed indicator on the Bridgeport is a bit inaccurate so I am keen to get this working on my mill. There also seems to be a good deal of community support for the TouchDRO platform. That's something you definitely don't get from import DRO manufacturers. Regards, Mark

[@tomthumb3085]

Top work Mark. Professional standard modification, as usual. Great videos.

[@boblasley5640]

Thanks for another great video Mark! I've draw filed many times, but making the witness marks with a prick punch was a new one for me. I'll definitely give it a try. I very well understand the arthritis and eyesight issues. Getting older is certainly not a cake walk!

[@lrakschmidt2880]

Tom might like his filing - but you taught teach it well. Thanks for letting us look over your shoulder - quite a treat. Picked up a couple gems.

[@joshuaharlow4241]

I always enjoy your videos! Thank you for posting! Looking forward to the next chapter of the Bridgeport!!!

[@brianstyrczula9466]

Nice job Marky!

[@testyourdesign233]

The witness marking technique looks like a great way to control the hand filed shape of parts. The CNC'd inside scribed outlines could be used to define the tangent of a hand-filed edge radius as well. Thanks for sharing this great little old gem. I enjoy hand-filed bench work just as much.

[@jonnafry]

I've now nominated a copper tube off-cut as my new file cleaner - good tip! Nice layout and filing demo - cheers Preso.

[@Preso58]

Glad it helped. Regards, Mark

[@BuildFixCreate]

The mill looks amazing!

[@CapeCodCNC]

Hey you bit the bullet! The Touch DRO works surprisingly well you will like it. I used an old Amazon tablet you just have to sideload the app. They even have a version that works with cheap glass scales.

[@Preso58]

I must say I am a sucker for anything with a graphical interface. I think it was the step and repeat function and the bolt hole pattern interface that hooked me. My two iGaging scales arrived for the X and Y axis today so I will be fitting those while I wait for the bluetooth adaptor to arrive. The 36" scale I bought for the X axis is way too long but I can cut them shorter which is not so easy with a glass scale. Thanks for the tip off. Regards, Mark

[@Just1GuyMetalworks]

Lol, yeah we don't use pennies anymore here in Canada either. I do however still have an over abundance of them. They still come in handy as crude washers on occasion 🤣. That's some very good looking bracketry 😊. I would never know you made it, good thing you've got video 😁. Also, the bandsaw table bling looks great! Cheers 👍😁👍

[@TheKnacklersWorkshop]

Hi Mark, Good video... thanks for the copper pipe tip, that will come in handy... Take care Paul,,

[@matthewhelton1725]

Wonderful video series! If you haven't already, try wet-sanding Aluminium (WD-40 works fine for this, but even water works well) and finer grits (320/400 Grit Wet or Dry). I guess I'm not a nice guy, because I have a '67 Vintage South Bend Vertical Milling Machine... :)

[@Tule54]

Hi Mark! Nice installation of the DRO on the mill. And thanks for the lesson in draw filing with witness marks, that was new to me. Must try it soon 😊. Using a copper tube to clean the files is also new to me, I have always used a piece of chalk to prevent any material to stuck in the file. Stay safe Sir. 🖖

[@Preso58]

Copper or brass work really well. Probably a close grained wood might work too. We used to use file cards at school but I never liked the fact that you were rubbing hardened steel bristles along the teeth of the file. Regards, Mark

[@wh0tube]

I just need to say thank you! I learnt so much 😊

[@CraigLYoung]

Looks good Mark. Thanks for sharing!

[@TomMakeHere]

Good stuff Preso Manually making the parts (rather than CNC) makes for a more interesting and educational video too!

[@Preso58]

I like to do things the old way now and then. I am finding it more difficult though with failing eyesight and arthritic fingers. There was a time when I could have done all that marking out with a pair of dividers, a steel rule, a square and a scriber. Regards, Mark

[@gregfeneis609]

You seem emphatic on the importance of the strength and durability of the hardware for the linear encoder. But, usually, encoders are a bit sensitive and on the fragile side. It seems risky to make things so strong and durable. It might be beneficial to have it mounted just rigid enough to remain accurate and precise, but if it accidentally takes a knock, the flimsy mount could let it break away, but survive. You'd just have to mount it with a couple more American postage stamps. Just a thought 😉 All that black anodized hardware looks great and fits in nicely with the machine appearance 👌

[@Preso58]

Greg, the iGaging scales are a bit notorious for instability which you might have noticed in the video. They can jump around between digits if the read head is spanning two adjacent nodes on the capacitive scale. This can be made worse if the scale itself is bent or twisted. The aluminium backbone of the scale is quite flexible so I was keen to make the mountings stiffer than the acrylic mounts were. I take your point though. The acrylic parts were easy to mass produce and could have been replaced easily if one fractured. Regards, Mark

[@lv_woodturner3899]

The new mounts look very nice. The woodworker in me would have used sandpaper to clean up the edges of the parts. Often several methods to achieve a result. The quill DRO's can drift as yours showed, also mine often does not return to exactly zero so I sometimes need to reset zero. Dave.

[@Preso58]

Dave, I had noticed the zero doesn't always reset. I guess you have to accept the limitations of the capacitive scales. I did read a very lengthy article on the TouchDRO website which set out the pros and cons of the three main types of scales. Glass scales are the most accurate but also the most bulky and they require much more accurate setting up and they are prone to damage from metal dust, chips and coolant. I may end up regretting the iGaging scales but the initial cost is attractive compared to something like an Accurite system. We'll see... Regards, Mark

[@ianbertenshaw4350]

Thanks for the tips Mark ! I used to use witness marks to mark the outline of a part that i was free hand oxy cutting ,- they show up like cats eyes because when the flame starts to heat the little ridge at the top of the centre pop crater it glows red . We also called them idiot marks as it stopped some idiot rubbing out your chalk lines ! Have you run the mill with the new dro ? I had a set similar to those that would play up when the mill motor was running and i ended up mounting the scales on insulating blocks ( electrically insulating ) and that fixed that but i then tried powering them with a power supply and they went nuts . I tried everything -even a custom built linear supply with extra filtering - i tested this with an oscilloscope and the power line ripple was almost non existent. Ended up being the power cable was picking up noise from the mill motor so i had to do some shielding work . They worked ok after that for about a year and then the display died so i converted to one of the cheap dro sets from China and never looked back !

[@Preso58]

Ian, there is a lot of information on the TouchDRO website relating to the capacitive type scales. They recommend avoiding ground loops, insulating the ends of the scale (as you have already tried) and using an older style transformer isolated power supply for the scales. I must say I haven't actually done any actual milling with the iGaging DRO yet. Hopefully I'll have some follow up information soon. Regards, Mark

[@ianbertenshaw4350]

Mark Presling I will be watching with interest with the touch dro . I would like a dro on my mini lathe and taig micro lathe but getting the standard glass type scales to fit is impossible .There is a system from optimum that Hare and Forbes sell which uses a magnetic tape and a read head but a 2 axis set up is almost as expensive as an Easson 3 axis set up , the tape and read head aren’t to expensive ( damned display is though !) and might work with the touch dro system . The touch dro system looks a lot like the one designed by a guy named yuriy .

[@garagemonkeysan]

So great to see a master at work. The reference marking tip is a great technique. Great video. Results are flawless. Real hand crafting. Mahalo for sharing! : ) PS - I see a CNC plasma cutter in your future...or water jet? : )

[@Preso58]

A water jet would be the holy grail! Regards, Mark

[@kenny5174]

I understand the method of draw filing, was wondering why for a bracket, that grinding to the line with a belt sander wouldn't work. Love the color of the aluminum.

[@Preso58]

Ken, for what I was trying to achieve, belt grinding would be perfectly fine, especially if you could finish off with a fine belt. I was just demonstrating a technique that might work for someone who doesn't have a lot of equipment in their shop. Regards, Mark

[@scruffy6151]

Nice information more data to store.

[@theromihs]

Just saw the bit where you removed the tape from the laser. What you could do is offset the laser so that it would align with the scribe lines while cutting, and that way you could make fairly close cuts to the scribed lines. Not sure if it would be of any use, just sharing the thought I got when watching that bit... :)

[@Preso58]

You can adjust the offset of the laser fairly easily but I concluded it was a bit of a gimmick and not really necessary. It certainly looks cool but I soon grew tired of it. Regards, Mark

[@garydavo07]

Great stuff presso

[@johanea]

Ah yes, the problem solving flow chart you have on your left side at the video intro... Every second workshop I work in would have that exact same flow chart hanging. 👍🏻

[@Preso58]

Erik, my sister gave me that chart. She got it from a workshop where she worked. I have to keep reminding myself to abide by the sentiment of that flow chart. "If it's working, leave it the f**k alone". Regards, Mark

[@bobvines00]

@@Preso58 I had one right next to my desk for ~37+ years. ;) When I retired, I brought it home. I guess I need to frame it in my shop!

[@chattonlad9382]

25:05 A little bit thin, but I was able to fix that, as he slides the evidence to the side :-))

[@KarlBunker]

Thanks for explaining that. I was too dim to catch it. 😄

[@Preso58]

Yes, I thought I would just put a bit of black ink on the bare patch and say nothing about it but some eagle eyed viewer would have picked it up so I thought it was best to own my mistakes! 😁

[@DCT_Aaron_Engineering]

Preso, I feel you’re itching to get back into the high school workshop 😂. It obvious to see that you trained at Mt.Gravatt campus like me back in the day 😉 Next time send me the CAD file and I’ll CNC the parts for you if you like? Paul from cape cod CNC is a mate of mine. He’s a good bloke. I’m itching to get over there as he’s promised to take me to a lobster/crab shack place for an all you can eat buffet when I’m in town next 😊

[@Preso58]

Aaron, I didn't know you trained in Brisbane! I went back there for a conference back in around 2011 and was saddened to see that the workshops had been turned into lecture rooms and store rooms. The machine shops had been moved into and adjacent building and mothballed. I am not sure if Arthur Till was still teaching there when you attended but he put the fear of God into us if we dropped anything or left the tiniest bit of swarf on a lathe. I do still drop in at my old school (Noosa District SHS) and I get asked to fix the odd machine now and then but it's disappointing to see the slow decline in support and the erosion of the budget allocated to Industrial Technology in Queensland. Regards, Mark

[@DCT_Aaron_Engineering]

@@Preso58 Hi Mark. Yes I'm a born and bred Queenslander mate. Grow up on the Gold Coast and hinterland. I went to Mt. Gravatt campus 2002-2005 under Dr. Ivan Chester. We were the last year of the traditional program, until Pavlova (the Russian) got a hold of it and stuffed it. Griffith was the best Technology teacher training facility in Australia. It saddens me to see the decline Mark, and it's happening across the nation. I think you retired at a the right time mate. One day I'll catch up with you over a beer and have a good chat about everything. I still keep in contact with both Ivan, and also Dr. Tony Pugatschew. Cheers, Aaron.

[@34k5]

There would be rioting in the streets if we had that 9¢ taken away. Great video, thanks!

[@Preso58]

Australia did away with 1 and 2 cent pieces quite a few years ago and prices were supposed to be rounded down to the nearest 5 cent unit where possible but it's surprising how many items now cost $X and 99 cents. I spent some time in the USA and couldn't get used to the amount of change one accumulated in a day. Regards, Mark

[@dougseag67]

@@Preso58 I once had a newsagent that tried to round the price up when I was paying with an Eftpos card. He must have really needed that 2 cent.

[@34k5]

@@Preso58 Yep that sounds about right. Like traveling to Asia.

[@swdweeb]

Yeah, we get change back on he dollar but it costs us three times as much to mail things outside our boarders than it does to bring things in. I'm shocked that you were able to get an envelope for a mere $1.23 :-D

[@Preso58]

Perry, I just sent a letter to the USA today and it cost me $3.20 plus GST! Australia Post charges $1.10 for a standard letter within Australia and they cannot guarantee delivery times. They only deliver four times a week too. The former CEO sacked hundreds and hundreds of staff, drove up prices and cut back on services but he took a performance bonus when he left in the region of several millions of dollars. Go figure! Which reminds me. I must send you some of my stickers. Regards, Mark

[@swdweeb]

@@Preso58 I've got to figure out a place to start putting up stickers I receive and plaques that I've made. :-)

[@jonludwig8233]

I used touchdro for a while on a small mill, but in general I found I prefer to have buttons over a touch screen. Just preference, I suppose. I also didn't have a great adjustable arm, that did not help.

[@Preso58]

Jon, one thing that I didn't mention in the video is the problem associated with touch screens when your fingers are inevitably covered in dirt, coolant and oil. I recall reading about a guy who converted his computer screen to a touch screen for Mach3 and a CNC mill. He complained that jogging the machine was fraught with danger since sometimes he would leave a dirty fingerprint on the screen and the machine kept moving even when he had removed his finger. I have an older style Sino DRO on my lathe and it has one of those clear covers over the face panel. It is grubby and dirty but at least the buttons keep working. I do like the idea that the software can be updated for the Touch DRO app though. It does mean that new features can be added and the bugs can be sorted. Evidently there are bugs in the bolt hole circle function but Yuryi is working through those at present. Regards, Mark

[@glennstasse5698]

Considerable talk about getting rid of the one cent coin (penny) so the US will round up to 45 cents for the stamp! No doubt bitter complaints piling up as we speak. Not about your DRO, though. Nice clean install.

[@Preso58]

When I was in the USA a few years ago I asked a local about why the small coins were still used and the explanation was that the copper lobby had been at work to keep them in circulation. Regards, Mark

[@glennstasse5698]

I seriously doubt the copper lobby theory. A while back economists argued dropping the penny would be inflationary by raising the price of everything. At this point only coin collectors would care. BTW, the US is experiencing “a coin shortage” at the moment because people are staying home and because nobody wants to handle coins during the pandemic. When I was a kid people often paid for things using stamps like they were currency. Unlicked, I presume!

[@stephensimpson5283]

Great work. Now...... get the small turbine in that glass cabinet out and run it for us! :-P

[@Preso58]

Absolutely, it's on the to do list but the list gets longer and longer. Regards, Mark

[@chrischapel9165]

I was garbage picking ...and there was a bunch of old fuses in the garbage ( about 1 1/2 diam x 8") anywho there are big square chunks of copper on the ends...now i know what i can do with those ends...

[@TAWPTool]

First time I've been first commenting on your video! Awesome!

[@DCT_Aaron_Engineering]

Stop watching videos Guy and get back in your new shop making stuff 😆

[@TAWPTool]

Design Creativity & Technology Channel Aaron, I am out there every day enjoying the ac. Lol

[@DCT_Aaron_Engineering]

Guy Lopes I call the cooled air from the AC “The Precious”. Especially when I was in Vietnam 😂

[@shirothehero0609]

You have a CNC mill, so I'm curious, why did you not simply mill these parts out vs. simply scribe the outlines? If you left tabs for part retention and a few thou at the edge, you have significantly less overall filing to do, if you wanted a file finished edge. I'm sure there's a specific reason, I just didn't catch it.

[@Preso58]

I could have milled the parts on the CNC. However workholding is always an issue with small parts. In the past I have used tabs but more often I will just drill any holes first and use those to hold the stock down for the profile cut around the outside. My real reason for scribing the lines was to demonstrate the method of witness marking and draw filing for people that might not have heard about it. For just a few parts it's sometimes just as quick as setting up on the CNC, generating a tool path and cleaning up the part afterwards. CNC is great for churning out hundreds of parts that all have to be made to close tolerances but for one offs it's not so efficient. Regards, Mark

[@Steve_Just_Steve]

Awesome Preso! How come you don't angle the punch and tap it to push the botched marks over?

[@Preso58]

You can do that but it's probably better to put an accurate mark alongside the botched one and then look for the accurate one when you are filing.

[@Vickwick58]

Is it ever not raining on your shop? I assume that's what the popping noise in the background is...

[@Preso58]

Yes, we have had some cold and miserable rain over the last month or so however I won't complain. We are on tank water and the bushfire season is just around the corner.... Regards, Mark

[@ronevans4772]

Mark, i have a full touch dro setup on my lathe/mill combo. I use a cheap amazon fire tablet for the display. You do have to install the google apk files to make the tablet full android but it is easy. I also built my own circuit board to link to an arduino and send the data bluetooth to the tablet. Google "yuris toys" he has the plans on his website. Once calibrated you will be surprised of the accuracy! Contact me if you have any questions!

[@Preso58]

Ron, Yuriy has agreed to send me the fully assembled 4 axis adaptor for the iGaging scales at the same price as a kit. I took delivery of the two remaining iGaging scales today so I will have time to get them mounted while I wait for the TouchDRO adaptor. Regards, Mark

[@ronevans4772]

@@Preso58 Fantastic!! You will love it!

[@petermurphy5138]

What bread/model bandsaw is that one Mark??

[@Preso58]

Peter, it was originally a GMC wood bandsaw that was given to me in pieces. One of the wheels was broken and the blade guides were missing. I retrofitted it with a reduction gearbox and cast new wheels for it and later cast a new solid table to replace the flimsy pressed steel table. There's a playlist for the build here kzbin.info/aero/PLbPzkHRZCQB9l_VMiDJEurR5siGSnEAtm Regards, Mark

[@petermurphy5138]

Thanks Mark, I did search and watch one of your earlier videos about it. Job well done

[@dougborrett3566]

I try to avoid buying anything from the states because of the postage rates, you buy something for say $15.00 and up paying $20.00 or more for shipping.

[@Preso58]

Doug, that is a familiar complaint for me too. Having said that, at least the shipping time from the USA is more reasonable than anything coming out of China at present. I waited for nearly two months for some titanium wire. I actually forgot I had ordered it. Regards, Mark

[@iteerrex8166]

Hey Mr Presling, if you ever wana sell it, I call dibs :)

[@MrFastFarmer]

OMG... no way the missus would let you inside.... Get some hand cleaner! The orange stuffs good.

[@jimmya4217]

I was always told never touch the work with your fingers as the oil on the skin would make the file slip and you might cut yourself.

[@Preso58]

I haven't heard of that. I have found that a file which has "pinning" or embedded metal chips will tend to slip rather than cut. Some people rub chalk into the file to stop it absorbing oil and to reduce the tendency for pinning. Regards, Mark

[@TomMakeHere]

Robin Renzetti talked on a podcast once that if you touch a part in the lathe and then file it, it will no longer be round because the file will slip and cut differently on the oiled areas So there is something to what you say

[@pstewart5443]

Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, if you don't have exact change then they round up now. In my opinion there was no coin shortage; this was simply to push the US to be more like other nations in the world. When we go to the metric system as our standard, then I will know we have died. :) Even though I prefer metric.

[@youcoulduseit7492]

All we can do is hope that the Government uses the money to foster a sense of peace and brotherhood in the world.

[@youcoulduseit7492]

Also do a show on the dro set up. like the CPI counts per inch mine is i think 2559 or 2557 I get what i figure to be .0003" inch increments my machine is not ridgid enough to use all of it. start in the center of your bolt circle #1 is 12'o clock clockwise or somthing is off on screen push button the next hole position I just ignore the XY number it puts on the screen button my comes out to jibberish just push the hole button and steer it to zero the yuri's toy mixed scale might be good for you, you can use glass scales the 5 volt square wave deals for long scales way better for loooong scales in my opinion love the finished tool with the anodize just done!

[@codefeenix]

can someone link? or ask this brit to link?

[@smitmachinale8281]

What was that APP called please?

[@CapeCodCNC]

I think it is Touch DRO, the boards are from Yuris Toys dot com

[@Preso58]

Try www.touchdro.com/ and www.yuriystoys.com/ Regards, Mark

[@smitmachinale8281]

@@Preso58 Oké, thank you, interesting!

[@AlbiesProductsOnline]

You didn’t put it on upside down you can just swop the + and - in the set up

[@Preso58]

You can do that in TouchDRO but not on the original iGaging LCD, or am I missing something? Regards, Mark

[@wyohman00]

We pay $0.41 but it really costs $0.89 but no one wants to pay that so the government pumps in tax dollars from everyone to make it look like it costs $.041 but now it costs $1.31 and then we brag to the European's how cheap our postage is. That's the capitalsocialism system we have in America....

[@Preso58]

William, that's interesting but don't get me started on Australia Post.... Oh well. Might as well have a rant! I sent a few stickers to an address in the USA and it cost me around $3.50 with no insurance or tracking. A letter sent just a few suburbs away will cost me $1.10 and when you go to the post office to buy your stamps you will need to stand in a line while people pay their bills, do their banking, fill out and process government forms, have their photos taken for passports etc etc. The former CEO of Australia Post sacked about half the workforce, reduced delivery days, increased charges on just about every service and when he jumped ship he took a golden handshake of around $11 million as a "performance bonus". End of rant! I was in Washington DC back in 2016 and went to the US Postal museum. I also went to the Smithsonian museums and I must say the Postal Museum was right up there in terms of interesting things to do. Oh, and I got to put my photo on a stamp! Regards, Mark

[@wyohman00]

@@Preso58 The are more similar than different. If you go to a big city post office, you'll spend the day there. Two clerks who could care less and a supervisor on an all-day smoko....