Seán T. McBeth 🍻📷
@seanmcbeth.com
Topics:
🌳 Wood working
⚒️ DIY
📷 Photography
💻 Software Development
🗺️ West Springfield, VA
🌐 https://seanmcbeth.com
🌳 Wood working
⚒️ DIY
📷 Photography
💻 Software Development
🗺️ West Springfield, VA
🌐 https://seanmcbeth.com
It's working great. There have been no smoke clouds around the pit. It seems to redirect the air flow just enough to keep all the smoke in the back.
November 9, 2025 at 10:32 PM
It's working great. There have been no smoke clouds around the pit. It seems to redirect the air flow just enough to keep all the smoke in the back.
Made a chimney for my firepit
November 9, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Made a chimney for my firepit
How you should be labeling your dick pics
November 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
How you should be labeling your dick pics
At the Maryland Renaissance Faire
October 19, 2025 at 3:04 PM
At the Maryland Renaissance Faire
I'm getting better at this. Cup #4 is the 75% fully processed clay step in my experiment. I managed to make this one much straighter than any of the other ones, and I did it in only 2 hours.
October 12, 2025 at 7:26 PM
I'm getting better at this. Cup #4 is the 75% fully processed clay step in my experiment. I managed to make this one much straighter than any of the other ones, and I did it in only 2 hours.
Raccoon skull, found by my children in our forest.
October 11, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Raccoon skull, found by my children in our forest.
And don't worry, I remembered to mark them
September 30, 2025 at 12:21 AM
And don't worry, I remembered to mark them
#3 done. Either the 50/50 blend was significantly easier to work than the stuff with the higher sand content, or I'm just getting better at shaping these things.
September 30, 2025 at 12:19 AM
#3 done. Either the 50/50 blend was significantly easier to work than the stuff with the higher sand content, or I'm just getting better at shaping these things.
Experimental clay mix #2 done. Left is clay straight from my ground, filtered through a window screen (call it 1000 microns). Right is 75/25 that same clay/clay I further refined to 200 microns.
Also, I didn't do the rope layering method to build the walls on #2. Instead, rolled out a sheet.
Also, I didn't do the rope layering method to build the walls on #2. Instead, rolled out a sheet.
September 29, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Experimental clay mix #2 done. Left is clay straight from my ground, filtered through a window screen (call it 1000 microns). Right is 75/25 that same clay/clay I further refined to 200 microns.
Also, I didn't do the rope layering method to build the walls on #2. Instead, rolled out a sheet.
Also, I didn't do the rope layering method to build the walls on #2. Instead, rolled out a sheet.
Spent a long time cleaning up the rim, then kissed it with the blow torch a few times and that made it much more stable.
Note: this is my first time doing any kind of pottery. I'm just trying to figure things out as I go.
Note: this is my first time doing any kind of pottery. I'm just trying to figure things out as I go.
September 26, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Spent a long time cleaning up the rim, then kissed it with the blow torch a few times and that made it much more stable.
Note: this is my first time doing any kind of pottery. I'm just trying to figure things out as I go.
Note: this is my first time doing any kind of pottery. I'm just trying to figure things out as I go.
There's the first one. It's getting too hard to keep straight, so I guess this is all the taller it will be.
September 26, 2025 at 3:06 AM
There's the first one. It's getting too hard to keep straight, so I guess this is all the taller it will be.
Starting with the minimally processed clay, first impressions are: it is kind of pleasant smelling, like, well, clay and not baby poop. It's difficult to keep it from cracking.
September 26, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Starting with the minimally processed clay, first impressions are: it is kind of pleasant smelling, like, well, clay and not baby poop. It's difficult to keep it from cracking.
From left to right, 100% fully processed/0% minimally processed, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75, and 0/100.
September 26, 2025 at 1:35 AM
From left to right, 100% fully processed/0% minimally processed, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75, and 0/100.
It's ready!
For reference, here is the same lump on top of the rest of my minimally processed clay that still has a lot of sand in it. I'm going to make some cups with varying blends of the two clays to see if there is any difference.
For reference, here is the same lump on top of the rest of my minimally processed clay that still has a lot of sand in it. I'm going to make some cups with varying blends of the two clays to see if there is any difference.
September 26, 2025 at 1:26 AM
It's ready!
For reference, here is the same lump on top of the rest of my minimally processed clay that still has a lot of sand in it. I'm going to make some cups with varying blends of the two clays to see if there is any difference.
For reference, here is the same lump on top of the rest of my minimally processed clay that still has a lot of sand in it. I'm going to make some cups with varying blends of the two clays to see if there is any difference.
The juice was 125F after I strained it, far too hot for my yeast. Using ice cubes cooled it down quickly and previously, about 2 cubes per degree, and got exactly my target of 95F. I ended up with a little over 4c of juice. I use Red Star Premier Cuvée yeast.
September 26, 2025 at 12:57 AM
The juice was 125F after I strained it, far too hot for my yeast. Using ice cubes cooled it down quickly and previously, about 2 cubes per degree, and got exactly my target of 95F. I ended up with a little over 4c of juice. I use Red Star Premier Cuvée yeast.
A little sugar helped the juicing process along. I cooked it down to about half volume. Used another bowl to press the juice out of the pulp. Saved some of the pulp and added juice back in as homemade apple sauce.
September 26, 2025 at 12:57 AM
A little sugar helped the juicing process along. I cooked it down to about half volume. Used another bowl to press the juice out of the pulp. Saved some of the pulp and added juice back in as homemade apple sauce.
Some research indicated I should make a new yeast starter using pure juice. We keep a large supply of extra apples for the kids lunches, so I chopped up a dozen of the most bruised ones, cooked them down, and have started new yeast.
Also, I made that cutting board.
Also, I made that cutting board.
September 26, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Some research indicated I should make a new yeast starter using pure juice. We keep a large supply of extra apples for the kids lunches, so I chopped up a dozen of the most bruised ones, cooked them down, and have started new yeast.
Also, I made that cutting board.
Also, I made that cutting board.
What I didn't notice is that my usual brand of apple juice has switched from potassium sorbate to glycolipids as a preservative. With potassium sorbate, I usually just whipped a bunch of air into the must, let it sit for a day, and had no trouble. No dice for glycolipids.
September 26, 2025 at 12:57 AM
What I didn't notice is that my usual brand of apple juice has switched from potassium sorbate to glycolipids as a preservative. With potassium sorbate, I usually just whipped a bunch of air into the must, let it sit for a day, and had no trouble. No dice for glycolipids.
I've been making apple wine this time of year for years, though it's been a couple of years since I last did, due to all the upheaval in our lives.
This is the first time I've had a stuck ferment. After a week, I've pitched yeast three times, doubled the normal amount of yeast nutrient, still no.
This is the first time I've had a stuck ferment. After a week, I've pitched yeast three times, doubled the normal amount of yeast nutrient, still no.
September 26, 2025 at 12:57 AM
I've been making apple wine this time of year for years, though it's been a couple of years since I last did, due to all the upheaval in our lives.
This is the first time I've had a stuck ferment. After a week, I've pitched yeast three times, doubled the normal amount of yeast nutrient, still no.
This is the first time I've had a stuck ferment. After a week, I've pitched yeast three times, doubled the normal amount of yeast nutrient, still no.
I don't know why my wife looks at me like I'm insane
September 24, 2025 at 11:53 PM
I don't know why my wife looks at me like I'm insane
I am a man of taste
September 24, 2025 at 11:52 PM
I am a man of taste
I found a concrete bench buried in my back yard.
It is extremely heavy. I could barely lift the edge to get it moved.
I'm guessing it fell over on the previous owner and it was too heavy for them to put it back together, so it just got left and the vines grew over it year after year.
It is extremely heavy. I could barely lift the edge to get it moved.
I'm guessing it fell over on the previous owner and it was too heavy for them to put it back together, so it just got left and the vines grew over it year after year.
September 21, 2025 at 11:23 PM
I found a concrete bench buried in my back yard.
It is extremely heavy. I could barely lift the edge to get it moved.
I'm guessing it fell over on the previous owner and it was too heavy for them to put it back together, so it just got left and the vines grew over it year after year.
It is extremely heavy. I could barely lift the edge to get it moved.
I'm guessing it fell over on the previous owner and it was too heavy for them to put it back together, so it just got left and the vines grew over it year after year.
It is the consistency and smell of baby poop.
Really excited to have gotten to this point. Having pure clay now, I'll be able to make some experiments blending different proportions of the minimally processed clay which still has a lot of sand in it.
Really excited to have gotten to this point. Having pure clay now, I'll be able to make some experiments blending different proportions of the minimally processed clay which still has a lot of sand in it.
September 21, 2025 at 1:16 AM
It is the consistency and smell of baby poop.
Really excited to have gotten to this point. Having pure clay now, I'll be able to make some experiments blending different proportions of the minimally processed clay which still has a lot of sand in it.
Really excited to have gotten to this point. Having pure clay now, I'll be able to make some experiments blending different proportions of the minimally processed clay which still has a lot of sand in it.
It's a little easier to see just how much gold there is in video. Moving the camera around, the light glints off of the gold at different angles.
September 14, 2025 at 7:35 PM
It's a little easier to see just how much gold there is in video. Moving the camera around, the light glints off of the gold at different angles.
I live in the Northeastern corner of the area marked in this map, which is apparently called "The Virginia Gold Belt"
September 14, 2025 at 7:29 PM
I live in the Northeastern corner of the area marked in this map, which is apparently called "The Virginia Gold Belt"