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Souped-Up Tools/Machinery: What have you done?

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-Brent-

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Joined
Dec 23, 2009
Messages
4,709
Location
Utah
Some of us cannot leave well-enough alone. Others have a need to make things better to fit their needs, etc.

This is a thread I'd like to showcase that type of stuff.

For me, I'm small potatoes.

As I've posted elsewhere, I've reduced the speed of my 1935/36 Atlas/Craftsman bench-top drill press and outfitted a bench grinder with a Jacobs 33BA chuck.

Drill Press Side 2 RS.jpg

IMG_20140324_194823.jpg

An acquaintance I've got in Utah outfitted his drill press with an annular cutter to MT3.

Annular Cutter to MT3.jpg

So, what have you done? Post 'em up!
 
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Packard V8

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Mar 16, 2009
Messages
7,380
Location
Spokane, WA
I usually bump up the horsepower on any machine I build and the electrics are all run on 220V. One of the 14" Delta DPs has a 3/4hp motor, the 14" Delta bandsaw has a 1hp, the pressure washer has an 8hp Wisconsin.
 
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Unmarked Bill

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Joined
Dec 20, 2012
Messages
290
Location
Northeast Los Angeles
I will have to get some photos when I get back to the shop, but...

Did you use the threads on the grinder to put the chuck on or did you turn the shaft and press the chuck on?
 
OP
B

-Brent-

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 23, 2009
Messages
4,709
Location
Utah
Unmarked Bill said:
Did you use the threads on the grinder to put the chuck on or did you turn the shaft and press the chuck on?
Click to expand...

I just threaded it on. The threads are 1/2-20. I found a chuck to match. They're cheap and plentiful.
 
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countryroad82

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Joined
Mar 18, 2011
Messages
3,447
Location
Kentucky
I knock out the annoying guard thingy on the handles of my die grinders because I hate having to push up on the handle then down to actually use the tool. Does that count?
 
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Grigg

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Jul 31, 2010
Messages
268
Location
Lexington, VA
Kubota single cylinder water cooled diesel engine for a Super Split wood splitter.
IMG_20140310_185041_024.jpg

IMG_20140310_185012_944.jpg
 
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Stephenw

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Dec 21, 2006
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1,911
Location
Utah
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hznufmtxHAU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 
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machine_punk

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Joined
May 14, 2011
Messages
2,540
Location
Napa Valley, California
I build a lot of new custom stuff, but I cannot think of a lot of things I've modified to make it better. Here's a couple of modifications to make things more like I want them:

I changed the center of my shop fan to something a little more inspiring:
View media item 22549
I wanted my portable bandsaw to be be a vertical bandsaw, so I built a bracket to hold it...
View media item 24133
View media item 24132
View media item 24131
Kev
 
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retrobuilder

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Joined
Oct 18, 2012
Messages
408
Location
Alpharetta GA
nothing radical, Delta DP with much better German Rohm chucks and economy vertical digital scale for drilling depth control and a Mastercraft USA small cross slide for simple slotting and plastics prototypes and careful fitment of moving pulleys, lube + custom stand..Ive added additional gooseneck lamps to all the saws, sanders and such and a few "lemans stripes" to cabinets.. My router table and bandsaw all have Kreg micro adjust fences and fixturing miter slots plus safety paddle switches. What ever makes it work better for me.
 
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techenthusiast

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Joined
Jan 20, 2014
Messages
486
Put a quarter inch drive pin on a 1 inch drive impact gun... Just kidding


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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Provincial

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Joined
Sep 21, 2011
Messages
6,855
Location
Near Salem, OR
I have an older Hitachi 18V ni-cad cordless 1/2" drill. I have picked up a couple of 14V 3/8" versions, and discovered that these have a nub in the battery compartment that fits a corresponding groove in the 14V battery pack. By cutting off the nub with a sharp wood chisel, I can use the 18V batteries. I've been doing this for about four years now, and haven't had one problem. The 14V drills have a lot more power! The 3/8" drills have a faster spindle speed, which makes them better for smaller bits. I have standardized the battery packs this way.
 
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Zeke

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Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
17,176
Location
Long Beach CA, the sewer by the sea.
alwaysFlOoReD said:
Back in the day... used a 9Volt battery in a 7.2Volt Makita cordless drill.

Richard
Click to expand...

All the time. I still have 9v tools and a 7.2v angle grinder. No 7.2v batteries or charger left but the little grinder makes a hell of a nice drill bit sharpening tool out on the job. Just gotta wedge it in there as it sticks out and will easily fall out.
 
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