Really obscure (and often expensive) hobbies

[Aeolius]

You want expensive? Try getting hooked on saltwater aquariums sometime.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I am amazed at my fathers hobby, the building of peanut scaled model planes and other small planes. This is not buying a kit and putting it together, this is taking the plan and cutting balsa wood to spec to fly for time and distance. He creates some that are call microfilm planes that are less than a penny wieght, powered by rubber bands (purchased in rolls), the film looks like and is the thickness of soap bubbles.

 

[der_kluge]

I also play clarinet and have for 13yrs, though I have not played in any band or ensemble for the past 5 yrs. I mostly play the Bb variety, I actually prefer the Bb Bass Clarinet, it one of my favorites. As for mouthpieces and such have you tired the Woodwind and Brass Wind Company yet? From one of their catalogs I use to order my reeds [at really good prices... I use Vandorens, size 4)] It is also where I got my Nobelt Bb Clarinet from. You might check them out. If I remember right they defiantly had mouthpieces, but as for the barrels and such for sale as individual pieces I am not so sure about, but it may be worth a look. Anyway, it is good to know there are still a few band geeks left out there. Take care and keep playing.

~Lady Shatterstone

wwbw.com is a dangerous website that I try to avoid. I could end up spending way too much money there otherwise. And yes, they pretty much have every off-the-shelf mouthpiece and ligature imaginable. Barrels are less common, and Eb are unheard of. So, no they don't carry them. I'll have to find someone to hand make one probably.

 

[der_kluge]

You want expensive? Try getting hooked on saltwater aquariums sometime.

We have an aquarium that we were intending to make into saltwater. Our neighbor sold saltwater filters so he had a lot of knowledge in that area. So, we bought a lot of his old filter stuff since they weren't using it. So yea, one day I'll be right there...

 

[der_kluge]

A grand total of about $440 or so doesn't sound too expensive to me. I play the saxophone (mainly baritone) I've paid between $450 (my first sax, an alto) and $3500 (my black & gold Yanagisawa baritone). Maybe this kind of stuff is a lot cheaper over there? I'm from Sweden and wind instruments aren't really that popular these days.

I also play the guitar and when it comes to that stuff it is cheaper in the States... Well anyway, I hope you get an Eb clarinet you're happy with. And really... money isn't that important, right? It's all about the music. And the chicks you get playin' it.

Well, you can spend thousands of dollars on an instrument if you want to buy a new one. I bought an older one off Ebay, and found a pretty good deal. I may have to put some maintenance into it, and after I put on a barrel and a mouthpiece, I'll have about $600 tied into it.

Yea, chicks dig a guy playing the clarinet... I wish that were the case.

 

[Dark Jezter]

Obscure and expensive?

Three words: Faberge Egg Tennis.

 

[Piratecat]

We do dog agility. Great fun, but not cheap; my back yard looks like an obstacle course.

The photo above is my older dog finishing a qualifying run in a recent trial.

 

[Tetsubo]

I collect reference books on arms and armour. Frequently these books are written by academians to be read by other academians. Which means very small print runs and very high cover prices. Very annoying.

Other than that I'd say gaming. I spend about $75 a month on gaming books. I've been doing that for about twenty years...

 

[Treebore]

My wife and, by default, I do dog shows and dog coursing. Thousands per year.

We also collect gemstones, we go for non-standard colors and cuts, so it is a little cheaper than going for exclusively top color and standard round brilliants. However, rare stones are expensive pretty much no matter what. Plus opals are our favorite, good opals are never cheap.

The internet has really helped with our gem stone collecting, in terms of finding rare stuff and for getting it at as low a price as is possible.

 

[der_kluge]

My wife and, by default, I do dog shows and dog coursing. Thousands per year.

We also collect gemstones, we go for non-standard colors and cuts, so it is a little cheaper than going for exclusively top color and standard round brilliants. However, rare stones are expensive pretty much no matter what. Plus opals are our favorite, good opals are never cheap.

The internet has really helped with our gem stone collecting, in terms of finding rare stuff and for getting it at as low a price as is possible.

Treebore, do you just collect the stones, or do you make jewelry with them?