Recent content by old_smokey

Hi all, it's been a couple months. Due for an update. Over the past little while, I've been focusing on transforming the landscape around my shop from a giant mud hole into something a bit more enjoyable. If you remember back when I started, I excavated around my slab footings an additional...

Mondo Enduro for the real version!

I believe so, yes! I found the manufacturing date printed on the main circuit board, of all places. I don't remember seeing it printed on the box somewhere, but I'll have another look...

I may have seen that actually! I've got a list of a good dozen different ways people have parked bikes on a second level, ha. Some are basically full-blown freight elevators. I would love to have a platform as that would be so much more versatile, but it's much more complicated, heavy, and...

Happy one-year anniversary of the demolition of my old shop! So much has happened since then, it's a bit crazy to think about. Time for a quick update. I've been working on a ton of different projects in and on the shop, but none of them are finished. This seems to be a constant struggle for...

A bit of a side-quest update today. A friend of mine is helping his neighbour fix up an old two-stroke scooter or something. The engine was creating zero vacuum through the intake. Pulling the alternator cover revealed an open hole into the crankcase, where an oil injection pump drive should...

I started working on window trim this week. If you remember a few posts back, when I was putting up the wall plywood panelling, I used some red oak for baseboards. I thought that looked pretty nice, so I wanted to match the trim to it. Trouble is, I wasn't sure I had enough on hand. And if I...

What. How did I not know this was a thing? Now I need one!

Nice! Crazy how bad the oil gets with a little water in it. Nice job flushing that out.

Thanks so much! I've really been enjoying spending time in the shop, in a t-shirt, while it's freezing cold out. Feels like such a luxury ha

I've been spending a lot of time working on my lathe over the past two weeks. Truth be told, I hadn't really looked at it closely when I bought it, other than looking for any signs of wear on the ways. Now that I had some time to dedicate to the machine, I saw some obvious signs of neglect...

Just finished my new bench. It's made from 2" steel square tube, 3/16" wall. The top is 3/16" stainless steel over 1.5" of MDF. Laser cut and bent by a local supplier. I have two somewhat beat-up Snap-On KRA boxes nested inside. 2" hitch receiver for future accessories. Top is 30” deep, 10’ wide.

Part 2 - After getting the base figured out, I decided to add a 2" hitch receiver to the frame. My thinking is that it would be nice to make a few accessory mounts. Maybe a vise mount, porta-band table, bicycle work stand, etc. I'm not really sure yet, but given the weight of the bench, it...

Time to pick up on the workbench project. I needed a way to mount levelling feet in the square tube. I could have just welded in a plug, but I decided to use this as an opportunity to practice on the mill. Starting with some 3/4" stock, I cut some plugs roughly to length on my dry-cut saw...

Lots of cool tools and stuff here, looking forward to seeing where it goes!