Recent content by macgyver37

I also learned with oxy fuel and had to weld up a water tight box in school. I think what I had trouble with was not getting to a 'real' job as quick as my high school brain wanted to. I know that practice is needed, but I would suggest to try and work some real world situations into the...

Do you have a power feeder? Either machine, I'd want one, especially with 12ft material.

I am just an hour and half west of you. Been here in SEK for 30 years now and I haven't considered leaving yet. The family and I were just in AZ and UT last week and I really enjoy visiting, but even as awesome as it is, I don't see leaving here for there. I've got 5 acres here in town and my...

Yep, at my old home shop I would have to turn on the little lathe and mill to get the big lathe to start. Once it was going I could turn the others off.

I personally baby sit my machines until I am confident in the process. That means everything from being confident in the hardware of the machine, my programming, the cutting tools, the dust collection etc. Once I feel confident in the system, I don't worry about it, it's a robot and it's going...

Assuming 2 hinges per door; I would just make a jig and hand drill the 48 holes. If you are looking to buy a machine and don't have a drill press I'd probably get one of those before a hinge boring machine.

In my past job I worked with an energy auditor and I helped do some of the data collection at a couple plants local to me. Anyway, I bring it up as he would run the numbers for the clients with actual power costs for them from their power co, not generic values, and give them real world savings...

Dad bought a Snap On KR1000 bottom box in the late 80's and used it full time as a mechanic up to his retirement app 8 years ago and it's still in his garage. He didn't abuse it but he didn't baby it either. It's pushing 40 years old and it has a few slides that honestly need replaced now, but...

While I agree with this most of the time, I have and will use more of the disc than that at times. I have a 30" disc/OSS combo and I have floated a part the full width of that disc even to the point of lowering the table to get more room. It's not something I would advise a newbie to do without...

I've got a Powermatic PM30 I think is the model. Mine's 3 phase but I know they made them in single phase as well. It has a dust collector in the base cabinet too. Been a good machine for me. It's got factory green paint so it's older than I am, I don't remember the year. I needed it...

The jaws stay set once you tighten it, like I said, it's surprising how nice it is.

I have a few Starrett and a General and an unbranded but likely US made, but the one I use the most is this HF ratcheting one. I ended up buying a few. They are actually well made and work well. https://www.harborfreight.com/t-handle-tap-ratchet-wrench-97633.html

My shop was remodeled for a grocery store in '62, so I have been redoing the lighting as well. It's similar to what you are finding. Whoever was replacing ballasts had more wire nuts than sense. I've also been insulating as I go. Same family owned it for almost 60 yrs, didn't put a lick of...

I don't know your potential use for the vac pump(s), but if you use one plumb the exhaust outside as those regenerative blower style produce a lot of heat. I'd also use metal pipe to extend the exhaust as the big one we have will melt pvc. They are also pretty loud.

That should be enough juice to power your forseeable needs. I am so thankful that my shop had 3 phase when I got it. Just made life easier and got things going quicker. Mine is 240v, so I have a step up transformer to 480 for a few machines. You'll probably have to go the other way. What is...