What a journey, 1,186 mile in 36 hours. Started with snow; but as I drove south weather improved. And it was 55 degrees in Nashville. Boy do they have to endure tough winters! My new tilt-bed trailer and 3/4 ton Avalanche performed wonderfully. She went through 99.8 gallons of gasoline making 11.9 MPG. Not too bad for the weight I was pulling. The truck and trailer weigh almost 11,000 pounds empty on the way down. And over 17,000 pounds on the return leg. The way down I drove the speed limit, which is 70 MPH in Kentucky and Tennessee. With the added weight I went a modest 60 MPH. The hills were no match or my Avalanche’s 8.1 Liter engine and never slowed.
Arriving home at 3:00 AM Sunday morning, this is what the tarp looked like in the morning. It did its’ job, nothing got wet. Then backed into my garage for the unavailing...
Now isn’t she a beauty!! My new (old) Gould & Eberhardt Metal 16" Shaper. Made in Newark New jersey...
Off comes the tarp and tie-downs. On goes a nylon strap and my bridge crane lifts her off the trailer. And sets her in her place on honor next to my Deckel Copy Mill.
Talk about large vises! The jaws are 14 inches wide and can open to 14 inches. I'm sure I’ll find it handy around the shop. Think I can get enough leverage with that handle?
The metal shaper was one of the first metal working machines that I learned how to run when I was 12 years old. It operates somewhat like a lathe using a inexpensive single point tool bit. Rather than revolving the workpiece, the rams travels over the workpiece that is held tightly in a vice. Cutting only on the forward stroke. On the return stroke the clapper lifts the tool bit off the workpiece as it is advanced for the next stroke. It may be slow going to remove steel; but it can run by itself, freeing yourself to do something else. Additionally a single $5.00 tool bit can literally remove a ton of steel. Here’s a link to run in action...
Look what else came along for the ride! An Allen 16" press power tapper/drill press. The fellows down in Tennessee wouldn’t allow me to leave without it! Though I’ve used Allen drill presses, I’ve never seen a power tapper. Oh well just another toy..
I hope you guys aren't too disappointed.
Now that the adrenaline has worn off, I think I'll take a nap!