It has also been a long time for me. I have not made one in 10 years. I stopped about the time you did. Kids, moving, work, life, old boats, old cars. All the excuses of mid life I guess have gotten in the way. I still have all my supplies and a small stash of plates. Someday.
Just read your instructables.com article. Thanks for going into detail on the process. I’m currently at the 1 year mark of the “couple of years worth of idle research” you mentioned. Will be working out of Dallas area.