Other hobbies and money-pit obsessions...

[badger1666]

for me its
1, lasers the biggest sucker of money
2,rc planes ,big ole combat wings collecting dust at the monent

3, motor bikes my tl1000r sat in the garage for the last few years
4, scuba diving, off to eygpt in a few weeks to do my padi advanced open-water

[absolom7691]

Mark me for computers too. I have three boxes dedicated as a Lightwave/After Effects render farm, two i7 4770K's for gaming, two Lynnfield hosts as dedicated private servers, each for a different MMO and one older Conroe host as a L.A.M.P. server. This does not even count the obsolete computers that have been donated because I simply don't have room for them all. Oh and four laptops: One netbook which is my goto when on camping vacations, one for work and general use and two for gaming (my Qosmio was just replaced to make room for my MSI Stealth GS70).

Computers have been a source of great financial drain that is somehow easily justifiable!

[Galvonaut]

It's really interesting and reassuring to know that I'm not the only one

My hobbies too, have been expensive to start off but I've had a knack of turning them into businesses. I was a hobbyist photographer, then joined the RAF to do it professionally, then after medical retirement, eventually set up a business doing photography. At the same time I became a beekeeper - very expensive to start up both of these.

Thankfully, photography has paid for itself many times over (other than the health effects) as did the beekeeping.

Lasers have cost me quite a bit already and I've not turned it into a business yet. This year it has to start paying for itself. I've learnt plenty from my previous endeavours, so looking forward to being able to pay for this currently money pit of a hobby

One of the most important lessons I've learnt is to do what you truly want to do and it will succeed.

Keith

[Displaser]

I've had lasers as the longest hobby. I stopped all other hobbies many years back (R/C planes, photography/filmmaking, computers, audiophile gear, etc.) as I have little free time and wanted to focus my money and efforts to a single thing. Now paying for two kids going to college, so even the laser hobby is limited these days.

Greg

[bungy]

I collect giant wooden boxes with TVs in them. Not as expensive as you might think unless you're looking for something rare, or a pinball machine. I do every aspect of repair and restoration, though I don't restore them all. Woodworking, painting, artwork application, electronics repair (power supplies, logic boards, and CRT monitors), CRT convergence, you name it.

I have 17 arcade games in the basement, one in the living room, and about 7 more project games in the garage.

I love the vector games so it was a natural progression to move to laser projection for me.

[ekeefe]

Hello,

@bungy

Just curious, do you use a Fluke 9010A in any of your repairs?

If not, it makes chip level diagnosis much easier and quicker. I can explain further about the 9010A if you like. If you already have one, then you already know what I'm talking about.

I don't own any arcade machines (I do love Galaga though), but I do use a Fluke with some of the other projects I work on.

ED

[bungy]

I don't have (or have used) a 9010A, but I do know what it is - some other collectors use it in their troubleshooting. Logic board repairs are my weakest area, luckily they are the least common part of the game to fail in my experience.

[ekeefe]

Hello,

If you ever have any questions about the Fluke 9010A, just ask.

ED

[JRGixxerfreaK1]

Apart from laser

These are my other interest, nice to see many PL user have similar interest like Motorcycle and RC Heli

My old bike





My current bike





Used to own a Jets Munts Merlin 160 Gas Turbine for the fun sake of it







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdb7cLLlp_Q

Lastly my RC heli that I used to do hardcore 3D, sadly this hobby has come to a halt for a long time now



Cheers!

[Galvonaut]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdb7cLLlp_Q

That is utterly awesome and I want one!

How fast did the jet-scooter go and did you have to change your underwear?