In a message dated 6/15/2003 12:28:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org writes:
> Maybe it's not too far fetched, one of my close friends did industrial
> controls for years, and began by troubleshooting circuit boards for
> chromatographs. He got to the point of
> finding bad chips by feel, and actually measured the temp. difference. he
> could differentiate about 1 degree F by touch on a good day. He actually
> demonstrated this when I thought he was making it up. A frame tube wqarming
> might be tougher to feel due to paint etc but maybe not impossible.
> I won't describe how his dad troubleshot 480V electricla boxes- it still
> makes me nervous!
>
>
> Steve Birmingham
> Lowell, Ma
>
>
>
> NortonMarg@aol.com writes:
> " I knew one guy who said he could tell a gauge by how
> fast it warmed up in his hand."
> He'd wrap his hand around the thin portion of one of the butted main
> tubes.
> Stevan Thomas
> Alameda, CA
>
I had forgotten all about this until you mentioned the computer chips, but back when I was developing Ektachrome (process E-4) a few times a month I got to where I could tell water temp within 1 degree F. by dipping my hand in it... I still used a thermometer, especially to check first developer since that had to be within 1/2 degree. But all the chemical bottles would sit in a sinkful of water that you constantly had to add hot water to to keep it the proper temp (85 degrees if I remember right). I'd add water until the temp felt right and then check the thermometer... after a year or so of doing this, my guesses as to when to stop adding hot water would be right on the money.
After all these years, I can still get within a degree or two when mixing up water to add to the aquarium. So I guess I'd definitely have to say I believe the story about the guy with the frame tubes.
Bob Hovey
Columbus, GA