Recent content by 682bear

The ones with the pilot on the tip are used extensively in the aircraft industry to countersink for rivets and screws. -Bear

Thanks- I appreciate it! -Bear

I spent a couple of hours today taking the Reed apart and cleaning it up good. I had an issue getting the dynamic jaw to slide out... I had to stone the top of the slide where it was slightly mushroomed from being used as an anvil. @KMScott ... the split nut appears to measure about 1.825"...

I'm thinking there is two ways to do this... either machine it as a solid piece, then break it in half or start with two half-round pieces held together with dowels or screws. I'll probably try a solid piece first. I'm thinking the most difficult part will be getting the threads 'just right'...

I just found another clamp in a junk store... it's a Chicago Boiler Co. Redhead 4303... I've never seen one like this... anybody know anything about it? -Bear

I just picked up a Reed 103½R... It's in decent condition except for missing half of the split nut that adjusts backlash on the screw. I can machine a new one fairly easily, I think. -Bear

You might call Wildfire and ask... their customer service is top notch. I'd measure mine for you, but I'm 900 miles away and won't be home for two more weeks... -Bear

I picked up a few clamps in a junk store... A pair of 2½" Cincinnati No. 56 Super Jr... A 3" Jorgensen No. 103... A J.H. Williams 2"... And a matched pair of shop made parallel clamps that are really nicely machined... -Bear

I have a rusty one... -Bear

I finished the swivel pad this morning... I made the retaining ring by cutting one coil off a spring... The ring goes around the neck of the screw... between the threads and ball, then snaps into the internal groove in the pad... I did leave some scratches on the top of the pad...

A while back, I bought a Cincinnati/ Hargraves No.43 8 inch c-clamp with a missing swivel pad... I began machining a new pad for it today. I chucked a piece of steel in the lathe and drilled a 31/64" hole, then used a 1/2" ball nose end mill as a boring bar to finishe the hole to 0.605"...

I'll steal that idea... -Bear

My better half came home from work yesterday with this... -Bear

I found two 3 inch vises at yard sales this weekend... First is a Columbian... a little rough and the locking handle is missing. Also, it looks like a repair has been done on one of the base bolt holes... The second is a Rock Island... this one seems to be in pretty good condition, but does...

I put that set on my watch list... I was just curious whether they would offer a discount... ...and they just did! I can buy it now for $16,999.95...! Tempting, isn't it? -Bear