Recent content by My Old Tools

We lose power often enough and long enough that we put a 12kw Generac stand by on our shared well. During the deep freeze when it was -12 for 3 days we had to drag the portable generator in my shop and put a heat gun on it to get it started, then drag it down to the well. The alternative was...

How about a dead ZTR? Motor is out the back, belts run everything.

in to watch

I make a few parts for obsolete machines. I love an excuse to use my South Bend 13. I make these replacement arbors for old Millers Falls hand boring machines. I make them in two parts with an interference press fit. I also make the square key for locking in the bit. After 100+ years of use...

Whatever you do, double it on the roof. I used roll fiberglass on the frame of my red iron building, then had 8" fiberglass strapped on the roof. It makes a huge difference in heat gain.

I started with a little Logan 210, about the size of the import stuff. My next lathe was a government surplus Sheldon 10"x54". Very nice little lathe. My keeper is a 13x72 South Bend. It has done everything I need. I have acquired a lot of tooling for it (the lathe is just the beginning)...

If you put your subpanel on a 90 amp breaker, you can run AL 2-2-2-4 mobile home feeder wire. Now all the experts can come tell you why you can't. Will you require a permit and inspection?

From an old timber framed building of some sort.

You can brick anything. Look at red iron for clear span. Lofts are easy too.

Yes, sir. I restore them, make new parts, sell to timber framers. Www.myoldtools.com

I deal mostly in these...

Also available in other brands, but they are all the same.

https://blog.dakecorp.com/en-us/the-dake-guide-to-arbor-presses

But that won't get stuff up in my loft....

My solution. By the time I built my third shop, the loft and the hoist were requirements. Bridge crane would be even better, but would require a lot more headroom.