To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

44 Bikes Frame Shop

To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
F

fortyfour

Well-known member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
537
Location
Lyndeborough, NH
I have been searching around and I can't find a "definitive" answer.
Does your drum switch have 6 contacts + ground?

If it does, would you be able to take the cover off and take a photo of how it's wired?

I'm in the process of wiring in my bridgeport and all that is left is to wire the drum switch.

Any help would be appreciated.

So here is what the inside looks like:



The wires off the top of my head are Positive, Negative, Neutral and Ground. 4 wires coming into that contact set up inside the switch. I'll take a picture of how mine is wired for you in the morning as I can't recall off the top of my head (it's been a while!)

And cleaned up:



Mine is a 3 phase motor running on a phase converter that also has a master kill switch between the power source and the mill (I wanted the ability to cut power without unplugging it if/when I need to work on the machine).

There were instructions on the head itself indicating how to wire it if your source was single phase vs 3 phase. It was pretty straight forward and I believe wiring of he switch needed to be changed slightly. I'll take a picture though!

And yes to the question regarding that stubby ratchet: It's a Snap-on.

Here's a closer image of it:

 
OP
F

fortyfour

Well-known member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
537
Location
Lyndeborough, NH
I went and read up on that Bender - Holy Swiss Cheese, its the Swiss army Knife of benders... Man that thing is cool. And you got the BIG boy...

As always your work is incredible and your photography more so...

Yes. I've been waiting patiently for one to pop up for sale so when this one came up... I snatched it up immediately. Listed on a Monday and I nabbed it on a Tuesday!

I'm really excited about this new tool. It will really help me dial in my process and add that little extra step of refinement to all my bends for chain stays and seat stays.
 

TGL

Member
Joined
May 3, 2014
Messages
13
[...]

The wires off the top of my head are Positive, Negative, Neutral and Ground. 4 wires coming into that contact set up inside the switch. I'll take a picture of how mine is wired for you in the morning as I can't recall off the top of my head (it's been a while!)

[...]

Mine is a 3 phase motor running on a phase converter that also has a master kill switch between the power source and the mill (I wanted the ability to cut power without unplugging it if/when I need to work on the machine).

There were instructions on the head itself indicating how to wire it if your source was single phase vs 3 phase. It was pretty straight forward and I believe wiring of he switch needed to be changed slightly. I'll take a picture though!

[...]

Thank you. I have a Vari-Speed 1.5hp head bridgeport. It's on a 3hp rotary phase converter with a fused lock out switch between the circuit breaker box and the phase converter (for the same reason as you - working on the mill/rewiring the phase converter, etc). My Drum switch however, has 6 contacts inside and a ground bolt on the end.

This is the style that is on mine:
61oxO1XtlUL._SY450_.jpg


I found this last night and I believe it's the correct way for mine:
Link to a pdf

It's on Page 5, Fig. 2, 2nd from the right in the bottom row.
 
OP
F

fortyfour

Well-known member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
537
Location
Lyndeborough, NH
Thank you. I have a Vari-Speed 1.5hp head bridgeport. It's on a 3hp rotary phase converter with a fused lock out switch between the circuit breaker box and the phase converter (for the same reason as you - working on the mill/rewiring the phase converter, etc). My Drum switch however, has 6 contacts inside and a ground bolt on the end.

This is the style that is on mine:
61oxO1XtlUL._SY450_.jpg


I found this last night and I believe it's the correct way for mine:
Link to a pdf

It's on Page 5, Fig. 2, 2nd from the right in the bottom row.

That would be it! My switch is different, correct. I want to say inside the cover there were diagrams like those you linked to.
 

Robey5

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 18, 2010
Messages
406
Location
North of Detroit, Mi
Kristofer:

I always love to watch this thread as it is updated. I do like to ride, but can not justify scooping up a beautiful work of art for my level of riding (mostly blue-square trail riding, with the occasional blue-black trail).

Your craftsmanship is incredible. Even the little (very minor by comparison to your bikes) tool-roll that I grabbed for a gift (for my FIL) was very well made with attention to detail. I only wish that some of the things that I spend a lot of time and effort researching were as well made. Kudos.
 

TGL

Member
Joined
May 3, 2014
Messages
13
That would be it! My switch is different, correct. I want to say inside the cover there were diagrams like those you linked to.

Thank you, you were as always helpful. My switch has the labels worn off.

And I didn't :shocking: which is good.
 

TGL

Member
Joined
May 3, 2014
Messages
13
[...]
Forgot this one. A much needed Quill-Feed Speed handle for my beloved Bridgeport:


[...]

While going through your awesome thread again, I noticed that your mill has a bigger oiler cup, do you know what brand it is? Does it have the part number/brand on the lid?

Thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:
OP
F

fortyfour

Well-known member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
537
Location
Lyndeborough, NH
While going through your awesome thread again, I noticed that your mill has a bigger oiler cup, do you know what brand it is? Does it have the part number/brand on the lid?

Thanks in advance.

I do not but I will say that every Bridgeport I've ever used has that larger cup at that location FYI. I can't recall seeing any I've worked on/with that did not have that larger cup.
 
OP
F

fortyfour

Well-known member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
537
Location
Lyndeborough, NH
Breaks over, time to get back to work.

I've had this idea in my head for some time now. I wanted to reorganize the west wall of the shop so it maximizes space a bit more and organizes a bunch of tools, tubing and etc. that currently doesn't have a home. Basic idea is to make a set of 3-4 wall brackets that will incorporate some shelves and drawers on top with a set of rails below that organize all my long lengths of steel and titanium tubing. I was debating making a tubing rack above the double doors but decided against that (i'll make a shelf to store some odds and ends up there however). I'm not getting and younger and intend to be building/fabricating as long as I can so I'm starting to think about things long term too. Kneeling down will be easier than lifting things above my head... So Saturday morning I got to work before having to head down to Mass. to visit family:



I managed to get everything across the shop and organized on the far end while I then needed to disassemble a long table I had built previously and then begin to chop it up. Up above is what's left of some of the long brackets of the previous table which I wasn't quite happy with.

Then Sunday morning was spent drilling lots of holes:



I tried to make as many common hole placements as I could to maximize efficiency. This was the only odd ball hole placement of the bunch x3.



And all finished up. 3 pairs needed 3/8-16 tapped blind holes so I did all that just by hand off the mill. Those will accept threaded pins to help organize tubing.



Of course, welding is my favorite part. So it was crank up the TIG welder to 115 Amps, floor it and walk the cup. (I first tacked all the parts FYI.)



Here's the 3 brackets finished up. I may end up making a 4th or another bracket that only is for the tubing organization. We'll see. Some things I haven't figured out yet and am waiting till I arrive at a certain point to figure some additional stuff out.



And 2 of the 3 mounted.



Started organizing a bunch of the tubing to see how things work and decide on some additional spacing/pin placement. The ends of the exposed brackets I'm going to make two different accessories. One will just be a part that creates a stop and another will be an extension if I ever need more room. The bolts are welded in place (need to get a few more - I didn't have enough). I'll take a picture in the morning of the whole set up. Things are coming together nicely and some things I didn't quite know how to tackle when I first built the shop have figured themselves out now that I've been working in the space long enough. I also gained some room too which was nice with this new set up.

More to come. Hope everyone's staying warm! It's cold here in NH and looks like we're going to get some snow this week...
 
OP
F

fortyfour

Well-known member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
537
Location
Lyndeborough, NH


Got some more finished today. Started in making the end stops. Four of six above.



Welded the remaining stainless nuts where they're supposed to be to accept stops and anchor the table top.

Here's a shot of the stops in place. I'm also going to make some extensions, hence the ability to remove these:





Backing up, here's how the table and rack wall mount is coming together. I'll be plaining/glueing those two large dimensioned pieces of lumbar FYI.



Next up will be making a tool board to organize a bunch of tools and templates I use. Also making some shelving and storage parts too. Finally feeling like this West facing wall is coming together. The table top is about 5-6" less in width than the previous one and it's surprising how much space it's opened up on this side of the shop.



Had to put some things back into place so I can continue to work on some client work but I'll slowly nip away at this all the rest of this week and weekend. More soon. Enjoy.
 

wmrra13

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 28, 2008
Messages
93
Location
PNW
I'm not sure if I've ever posted on this thread but, I've admired your shop and your skills for a few years now - very impressive!

The rack looks very nice but, why not slope the horizontals a bit instead of building the fancy end stops? Too simple?
 
Last edited:
OP
F

fortyfour

Well-known member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
537
Location
Lyndeborough, NH
I'm not sure if I've ever posted on this thread but, I've admired your shop and your skills for a few years now - very impressive!

The rack looks very nice but, why not slope the horizontals a bit instead of building the fancy end stops? Too simple?

Thanks for the kind words. Very much appreciated.

I considered giving the supports a slight slant but to keep things simple, I went with keeping everything at right angles for set up/tacking purposes actually. I had limited material for this one so I wanted to maximize material and the limited time I have with additional projects at the moment.

It's a good idea though!

Now that this corner is more cleaned up, and I'll most likely finish up the tool board and shelving additions, I then can move on to the bender stand. That I'll need to put in an order of new materials.

After those two projects i can then go to the biggest project which will be an alignment table to replace my large work table (which I'll repurpose as my table saw table in the back of the shop).
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

txusa03

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 16, 2011
Messages
479
Trust me I am enjoying looking at your shop and getting idea. The stop is very slick.

When you don't need the stop, you can backup the bolt/screw and the stop will fall 180 degree (gravity) but still attached to the support. Once you finish loading or unloading you can put the stop back and tighten up the screws. Not sure if you had designed it to work that specific way.

Also if you needed a place to store something wider than the support you can with this stop setup.

Very nice thought out design. I would never thought of such design and this idea could spawn into other idea/concept for me.:thumbup:
 
OP
F

fortyfour

Well-known member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
537
Location
Lyndeborough, NH
When you don't need the stop, you can backup the bolt/screw and the stop will fall 180 degree (gravity) but still attached to the support. Once you finish loading or unloading you can put the stop back and tighten up the screws. Not sure if you had designed it to work that specific way.

Also if you needed a place to store something wider than the support you can with this stop setup.

Yes, this is spot on and what I had in mind by using a removable/adjustable stop.

I'm going to also make a set of extensions if I require more space.

More improvements planned! But first to clear all that snow we just got so I can take delivery of steel...

 
OP
F

fortyfour

Well-known member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
537
Location
Lyndeborough, NH
Your photo makes me want to have a small shop at home.

It is really nice to have the shop/business just a short walk down our lane. When I work on a project around the house it's really amazing to have access to all that capability. I feel like I can work on a project without compromise now. Once the small wood shop addition is finished in the back room I'll be able to commence making cabinets for our much needed kitchen update. The previous owners really reduced storage space in the house. It's tough to put anything away because there is literally NO where to put it. I can't wait to get organized.

So the shop bench and some of the small updates to the shop in the coming month will help me problem solve and do a trial run for how I want to execute some details in the house. I'm going to make a countertop / storage unit similar to this shop bench for out kitchen on a south facing wall.
 

txusa03

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 16, 2011
Messages
479
Can't wait to see some of that shop's concept transfer over to the kitchen. I don't do frabrication but that does not mean I can't enjoy looking at them.
 

spychic

New member
Joined
Mar 16, 2017
Messages
1
Location
alexandria VA
read most of the posts and really enjoy seeing someone fulfilling their lifelong dreams. i enjoyed watching the shop come alive and learning about builds from your point of view.

i came her via the fortyfour bikes web site. like the idea of a drop bar bike with 2.1 or 2.3's haha. any way, in all that reading, never found why "44 bikes". you seem to embody your mission/vision and hands on approach so i'm curious how the naming came about.

thanks!




love these GIFs and just had to try a few...
:shocking:
:pimpflash
:dunno:
:willy_nil
 
OP
F

fortyfour

Well-known member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
537
Location
Lyndeborough, NH
<SNIP>

i came her via the fortyfour bikes web site. like the idea of a drop bar bike with 2.1 or 2.3's haha. any way, in all that reading, never found why "44 bikes". you seem to embody your mission/vision and hands on approach so i'm curious how the naming came about.

Thanks for the kind words.

The number 44 comes from my childhood growing up a town heavily steeped in high school football.. That was my fathers number so I heard all kinds of tall tales and stories. So that was my number but it also came to be a lucky number as it frequently pops up in things I do, places I travel, experiences etc. What put me particularly close to this past was the fact that my Grandfather, my Dad and then myself played football on the same field at the same school. All the kids around me that I grew up with were all the kids of my fathers generation and a bunch of my friends were sons of guys that he played beside. So that reach through time really left an impression on me and hence, when it was time to choose a name for a business that spoke to my background, "44 Bikes" was a natural progression.

Recently, I also just found out that my Mom's Fathers Brother ALSO wore 44 (and Ironically played on the same field). So there's that too!

In other news, we got more snow... And we had none. So much for an early Spring!

 
OP
F

fortyfour

Well-known member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
537
Location
Lyndeborough, NH
Sneaking up on this project. Tool board and new cork board all set up. Moving on to shelving next (which will be to the left of the tool board).

More studs:



Tools are now out in the open for quick and easy access. Brazing up a frame yesterday and already was seeing the increase in work flow:





I'll be moving my brazing set up across the room to face the tool boards actually so that area is separate from where I weld (want to keep that spot clean now). I'm going to make a "wing" that comes off of the end of the bench top which also doubles as a tubing shelf beneath it for all the bicycle specific main tubes which are currently in boxes. I can then have them organized by size and type finally.

Also finished up the long shelf that is mounted below the boards similar to what I have down in my basement set up for all my bike wrenching tools:

 
OP
F

fortyfour

Well-known member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
537
Location
Lyndeborough, NH
Continuing to chip away at the shop improvements. Shelving brackets are next.

Parts all prepped:



Using that middle finger for a perch:



Good enough for this guy...



Finished pair of shelving brackets:





And mounted. The braces were drilled to accept some screws so the shelf parts can be tied together. The faces of the shelves will have a lip so that will hide the open end of the tube FYI for a clean finish.



It's snowing. Again. So I can't cut some long pieces of ply to width just yet. So finishing the shelves will have to wait till it stops snowing.



Also got some new bottom bracket taps with handles to be a dedicated set up for Titanium. I'll be making some extensions for them as the handles are a bit short (hence one taken apart):



But this is a substantial tool so I needed to make a bit more substantial set of studs. Overbuilt but it does the job and uses up some scrap:





This is wall is close to being finished so I'll be able to move on (finally) to the bender stand which I'm quite excited about. I'm itching to get that thing installed, cleaned up and tooling addressed so I can get rid of my JD2 bender with all it's tooling. That will free up that corner so I can then go about making more tube storage and a dedicated spot to do brazing/finishing work.
 
OP
F

fortyfour

Well-known member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
537
Location
Lyndeborough, NH
That is ingenious! I'm stealing the idea.

Sure thing. I source the stainless tubing from McMaster-Carr FYI. It's 1/4" O.D. welded 304 Stainless tubing with a .21" wall thickness. I typically get it in 36" lengths for internal cable routing, and I have a lot of cut off's that I then can use for this type of stuff. It also bends REALLY easily/smoothly over forms if you want to make hooks and such.

It's McMaster Part No: 8989K191 if you want to know.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom