Above 1200 Sq/FT Cleaning Up My Shop

[oldironfarmer]

Glad your feeling better. I never really thought about makeing wood template to help form the metal around nice work.

Thanks! I've seen a lot of people do that and it really takes the guesswork out. Wood is pretty cheap, too. The radius fit perfectly on the pipe, although I put one of them inside because of a spiral seam in the way outside.

The new hood looks good Andy. Out of curiosity, what's with the pile of dirt/(ash?) behind the flue?

Pile of dirt or ash in my shop? I don't think so. I just cleaned up. That's my coal pile. You'll notice it has rotted out the building siding making a nice door for rodentia. I need to move the pile (about a ton), replace the metal, and build a wooden box to hold the coal. Lots of the coal is very large pieces so I expect to be rolling coal.

Andy, I luv your approach to things.

[However, the key is to use what you have. I design around what I have, and sometimes that includes frustration of picking through lots of stuff looking for the best fit and then alter the design to match. ]

I am a bit of a bower bird and do much the same..

Have a great day..

I didn't know about bower birds. Thanks for the education

I fear my traits as a bower bird fails to impress the birds, however.

I often remember the guy on a tractor forum who said he had bought a shifter knob which came in a package of two, he would have given the other away but tossed the second one because he only had one tractor. WHAT?? I cannot wrap my feeble brain around that action. How could you throw away a spare? I buy extras to have spares and can't throw away the spares even when I dispose of what they fit.

And I cringe when I read how some members here throw away stuff I would go far and wide to collect in case I might need it.

It is great to see that you are doing so well.

This flu season has been insane with all the people being so sick for so long, flu or otherwise. I got over the flu and had an ongoing battle with sinus that kept me down for too long.

Take care and stay well.
Vince

Thanks! I wasn't very sick with the flu, but was concerned it would get worse if I didn't take it easy. I'm much better but still not well. Getting used to going slow.

Andy: thanks for all the great answers as per usual.

NO QUESTIONS TODAY CAUSE IT'S SUNDAY!!

hope you are enjoying your day while i'm ORGANIZING!!

No question it's Sunday!! I did take it easy today...

Thanks for the visits, guys!

 

[Farmall450]

Ah, didn't realize it was coal. Figured it was damp ashes/dirt, rotting away the siding. That was my next bit. Thanks for the insight.

 

[jbmatth]

Nice looking smoke catcher you have Andy. I had an interesting experience with my stove this morning. With all of the wind this morning it was pushing the smoke down and out of every crevice in the stove. I ended up snuffing out the fire and had to leave the doors open to get the smoke to clear out. Not a productive morning.
JB

 

[gordyy]

In a this story is a plus for those of us that save things!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One of my son's called looking for a specific electric motor for a furnace. Do to mounting brackets its kind of a one off motor and hard to cobble something else in to work in place of it. I had kept a used one off of a furnace I replaced for a customer, a few years ago while I was in a bed and recliner for 9 months for rehab my boys all got together and cleaned my shop, cleared room for their stuff threw away a lot of mine. Fast forward one of my sons needs a motor guess what he threw it out... No longer available!! his cost $900. to replace a furnace, My wife tells me its not nice to laugh at others misfortune..

 

[oldironfarmer]

Ah, didn't realize it was coal. Figured it was damp ashes/dirt, rotting away the siding. That was my next bit. Thanks for the insight.

Yeah I didn't think about the coal drawing moisture and rotting the siding when I piled it there. I also didn't think it would last twenty years. When I buy I tend to stock up, and apparently I bought a lifetimes worth of coal for me. My idea was to drive to a coal mine in SE Oklahoma, which I did in my new 94 Dodge. I found one that I could drive in to and asked whether they could sell me some coal. They said they could but could not load it in my truck. I saw a front loader with probably a ten yard bucket (the pickup would have fit in it easily) and said "sure you can, just catch the corner of the bucket in that pile, I'll guide you dumping then it's on me". So he did, but the coal was larger pieces than I thought. About 3 ft chunks. I got a ton of coal for $50. Pretty good deal for me and no truck damage. Took me forever to unload it and pack it into the shop. In retrospect I should have dumped it outside and carried it in as needed.

Nice looking smoke catcher you have Andy. I had an interesting experience with my stove this morning. With all of the wind this morning it was pushing the smoke down and out of every crevice in the stove. I ended up snuffing out the fire and had to leave the doors open to get the smoke to clear out. Not a productive morning.
JB

Sounds like you have a smoke catcher too. How far above the peak of your roof does the chimney go? The curved roof may be worse than a flat pitched roof.

In a this story is a plus for those of us that save things!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One of my son's called looking for a specific electric motor for a furnace. Do to mounting brackets its kind of a one off motor and hard to cobble something else in to work in place of it. I had kept a used one off of a furnace I replaced for a customer, a few years ago while I was in a bed and recliner for 9 months for rehab my boys all got together and cleaned my shop, cleared room for their stuff threw away a lot of mine. Fast forward one of my sons needs a motor guess what he threw it out... No longer available!! his cost $900. to replace a furnace, My wife tells me its not nice to laugh at others misfortune..

Was someone laughing at your misfortune of having short sighted sons?

I would be very unhappy if anyone ever tried to clean up for me. I figure he doesn't mind paying for the new furnace, believing in his mind that the motor you had saved probably would not have fit anyway.

When my shop burned down I saved everything remotely salvageable, and have used a lot of it. My wife wanted to hire a bulldozer and push it into a hole but my penance for failing to keep it from burning was go go through everything with a rake. I saved all my wrenches and sockets (they're the dark ones you see on the walls) hammer heads, drill bits, etc. I'm still using drill bits. I heat treated them and they are fine. But I lost a lot of good stuff, and a lot of antiques. I count it as a victory over fate every time I use something saved from the fire.

I spent all day today on real estate stuff so no shop work. And I'm off to Houston tomorrow for testing at MD Anderson (number one cancer shop) and back Wednesday.

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate each comment.

 

[jbmatth]

Andy,
The Chimney is about 4' tall where it exits the roof, it is odd that yesterday was the first day I've ever had that happen. I sure hope it doesn't become a habit, that was no fun with all that wind howling through there.
JB

 

[oldironfarmer]

I'm sure it was wind direction. You know the general guidelines is to be 4 ft above the ridge, even if it is several feet away.

And congratulations on your reprieve.

 

[BBChevro]

Hey Andy, just a quick visit to say "G'day" (I have made several attempts to comment, but my dodgy internet has said "no").

Sorry to hear that you were unwell, glad to hear that you're better now.

 

[dchance]

Andy hope the tests went well and the trip was good.

Dwight

 

[1/2 Cup]

Andy, all the best with your tests..

Regards

 

[bolensboneyard]

Andy will pray for your health returns. Bobby

 

[dreamingmuscle]

Hey Andy you ain't got enough stuff. So you better get down to this auction in Chandler this weekend.

https://www.ballauction.bid.

I missed the chucks paint and paper auction that would have been a good one.

 

[BUGTHUG]

Hey Andy you ain't got enough stuff. So you better get down to this auction in Chandler this weekend.

https://www.ballauction.bid.

I missed the chucks paint and paper auction that would have been a good one.

good thing I don't have any money, I see a lot of hard to find stuff.

 

[tinker rick]

Hope all is well Andy.

 

[Vieux]

Andy you have good forge coal.

 

[drivesitfar]

Andy: hope you are feeling ok and did tests give you the thumbs up?

Not to relive a bad subject but did you mention how the fire started that burned down your old shop? I’ve see rags with stain on them self combust into flames if not disposed of properly as one cause that we all need to be aware of and curious if you knew what caused yours? Good for you for saving some of your old tools

 

[oldironfarmer]

Hey Andy, just a quick visit to say "G'day" (I have made several attempts to comment, but my dodgy internet has said "no").

Sorry to hear that you were unwell, glad to hear that you're better now.

G'day mate! I'm really not bouncing back like I used to, this winter has been a struggle.

Andy hope the tests went well and the trip was good.

Dwight

Thanks! Everything went well. We had a good trip, but traveling tires my wife out so she is down for a few days.

Andy, all the best with your tests..

Regards

Thank you, Steve. I have prostate cancer but their advice is to watch it. This week my doctor said "don't take this wrong, but we expect you to die of something else". I am at a very low risk but it is always good to hear the good news "no change".

Andy will pray for your health returns. Bobby

Thank you Bobby. I'm feeling good but not 100% and I should be.

Hey Andy you ain't got enough stuff. So you better get down to this auction in Chandler this weekend.

https://www.ballauction.bid.

I missed the chucks paint and paper auction that would have been a good one.

i would love to go to the auction, and really want the KB5 dump truck. So I best stay away.

good thing I don't have any money, I see a lot of hard to find stuff.

I keep looking at the stuff...

Hope all is well Andy.

Thank you, doing well!

Andy you have good forge coal.

Thanks! It is good to have plenty. If I want to fire up the forge I don't have to think about whether I have coal.

Andy: hope you are feeling ok and did tests give you the thumbs up?

Not to relive a bad subject but did you mention how the fire started that burned down your old shop? I’ve see rags with stain on them self combust into flames if not disposed of properly as one cause that we all need to be aware of and curious if you knew what caused yours? Good for you for saving some of your old tools

Tests were

I think I mentioned, but it is worth telling again.

We had a brush fire a mile south. I drove around and saw a burn barrel fire had gotten out and it was burning our way. I got down into the brush and saw foot high flames in the woods creeping downhill toward a creek that is 20 ft wide and stands in water all the time. On my side of the creek is an 18 acre field which had been harvested, not much consumable material. Then there is a railroad with ballast about five feet high and 50 ft wide. Then a little more brush and a paved county road. Then my farm. Pasture with short grass which will burn, late summer.

My shop at the time was 60 ft by 60 ft 14 ft eave with 1x12 oak siding and a composition shingle roof. It was always mowed short around.

We had a wedding 100 miles away that day. My 80 year old neighbor was worried about the fire so I had gone down to check for her. I wasn't worried and after I looked at the fire I really felt good about it at least for that day. The fire would burn to the creek and die out. So my wife and I took off for my niece's wedding. When we got back after dark we could see our yard light through the trees and when we got to the driveway our friends were gathered waiting for us. Our house was there but the shop, a chicken coop, and our barn was missing.

I was told the wind came up and fanned the fire. After it passed our place a fire truck could not keep up with the speed of the flames going to our neighbors to the north. The fire burned around the shop, caught hay in the barn on fire and caught an old chicken coop on fire next to the shop. The fire department was working on putting the chicken coop put when it exploded. It was stacked full of used lumber (surprise!) and a half drum of creosote. The creosote was a gift from the auction when we bought the farm. It had not sold so they left it. I usually let the bung valve open but had used a little bit of it and had forgotten to reopen the valve when I set the drum back up. It exploded and blew hot burning creosote over the roof and side of the shop. The fire department had no way of knowing there was nothing else to explode so they backed off and let the shop burn. So my shop with 1937 Plymouth coupe, D2 CAT, seven Farmall tractors, welders, cutting torch, complete wood shop, and blacksmith shop and lots of supplies.

But I had a clean bed to sleep in.

Had I been there the shop likely would not have burned, but I might have died of a heart attack trying to save it. It was a trying experience. My wife wanted me to bulldoze it and start over. Instead I went through it with a rake and saved everything I could. It was three years before I rebuilt. I set up a wood shop on my back porch (enclosed) and did mechanic work out of an old shed and carport. I lost all my hay equipment but had no cattle so didn't lose any. Before I started building I stuck a crow bar under the upper of my in the ground floor lift. It came right up and was undamaged. I'm still using the damaged floor of the original shop. I had built the shop in 1985/86 so it was only about four years old.

I take great joy every time I use a tool saved from the fire.

Thanks for the visits!

 

[oldironfarmer]

I finally got back in the shop for a few hours. Welded in the passenger side floor pieces I made earlier. It's a start.

More floorboard fabrication tomorrow.

Thanks for looking in!

 

[don long]

Andy
With all that's been going on over your way it's nice to see you haven't lost your momentum on the truck

 

[drivesitfar]

Andy: great to hear you are taking the route of no surgery or cheemo to solve or deal with your cancer and i wish the best for you. also hoping your wife feels better or as well as she can soon.

thanks for the 411 on your barn and hope it wasn't painful re living or writing down the details.

Wow that had to be painful and sir you still have a good attitude and sense of humor so good for you for just pulling up your britches and moving forward.

my bride and i just celebrated our 30th anniversary on the Oregon Coast and just returned after 4 days of relaxing and eating. here's a few pictures in case you might want to wander over to our part of the world some day cause it is pretty cool to watch 10 to 20 foot waves all day.

cheers

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy
With all that's been going on over your way it's nice to see you haven't lost your momentum on the truck

Unfortunately momentum has been lost, but at least we're still crawling. I'm trying to pick it up, but we've got a busy two weeks coming up.

Thanks for stopping in!

Andy: great to hear you are taking the route of no surgery or cheemo to solve or deal with your cancer and i wish the best for you. also hoping your wife feels better or as well as she can soon.

thanks for the 411 on your barn and hope it wasn't painful re living or writing down the details.

Wow that had to be painful and sir you still have a good attitude and sense of humor so good for you for just pulling up your britches and moving forward.

my bride and i just celebrated our 30th anniversary on the Oregon Coast and just returned after 4 days of relaxing and eating. here's a few pictures in case you might want to wander over to our part of the world some day cause it is pretty cool to watch 10 to 20 foot waves all day.

cheers

Thanks Drives! I don't mind talking about the fire. Just like with girls you failed to ask out, it is best to not dwell on what might have been. The fire was a big deal but certainly not insurmountable, and not as big of a deal as my wife getting stage 3 brain cancer. And we've handled that fine.

I know the Oregon coast is beautiful, but we're not traveling much these days. Cows have to be fed, you know.

But I didn't see any pictures of 10 to 20 foot waves. I've watched 20 ft waves on Waimea beach. I have rowed in 4 ft waves but that's about it for me.

Since you're a realtor, I've listed three of my nine rentals, with the aim of getting out of the rental business after twenty years and some appreciation.

Thanks for stopping by

 

[Farmall450]

That's crazy what a fire will do. Hopefully the Docs take good care of you.

 

[tym]

Just like with girls you failed to ask out, it is best to not dwell on what might have been. The fire was a big deal but certainly not insurmountable, and not as big of a deal as my wife getting stage 3 brain cancer. And we've handled that fine.

I like that philosophy, Andy! I still don't talk much about "the one that got away," but in the end, we're all still standing and that's what matters...

Glad to hear the good health news. Prostate cancer's about the slowest growing one there is, so it'll likely remain a non-issue for as long as it might matter.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Andy, that's is absolutely fantastic news..

 

[BBChevro]

Good to hear about your results Andy.

Thanks for telling the story of the fire - the fact that you've accomplished what you have since is nothing short of inspirational.

Great to see some more progress on the Stude too.

 

[oldironfarmer]

That's crazy what a fire will do. Hopefully the Docs take good care of you.

I have the best doctors in the world, in my humble opinion.

Actually MD Anderson generally ranks first in cancer treatment and research, followed by Sloan-Kettering, the Mayo Clinic, and others. So it's not just my opinion. Intersting that you see a lot of people from outside the United States there seeking treatment.

I like that philosophy, Andy! I still don't talk much about "the one that got away," but in the end, we're all still standing and that's what matters...

Glad to hear the good health news. Prostate cancer's about the slowest growing one there is, so it'll likely remain a non-issue for as long as it might matter.

While some prostate cancer is aggressive, mine is as you say and should not be an issue. Still makes me notice when someone dies of it.

Andy, that's is absolutely fantastic news..

It is good news that you just love to hear!

Good to hear about your results Andy.

Thanks for telling the story of the fire - the fact that you've accomplished what you have since is nothing short of inspirational.

Great to see some more progress on the Stude too.

Thank you!

The fire was an opportunity to move forward or not. It's actually an excellent way to clean up

I had a better shop before the fire in some respects. My wood shop was 20x40 with an additional 10x10 finishing room and a 10x10 bathroom/furnace room over a crawl space. Wood shop had central HVAC. I had bought used hardwood flooring and had the entire wood shop area with hardwood floor. Makes for a nice working surface for a wood shop. Back then I had a shaper, two table saws, two band saws, and two planers. I was able to salvage the old Belsaw 12" planer but not the new Makita 15" planer although it's still sitting in a shed. I can't throw anything away, apparently.

I'm on the Studekota now!

 

[oldironfarmer]

Had a pretty good day in the shop today. I think JB is shaming me.

Studebaker passenger floor pan I was ready to do the rest of the toe plate.

Marked it out, made a paper pattern, cut out a piece of 18 gauge, shaped it on the home made die (I'm getting better at using the die) and it looks like it will fit.

Used the vacuum blaster to blast the inside seams prior to cutting, then cut out and rolled the cab over to sand the back side.

Rolled it back over and fit the patch plate in place.

Don't know whether I mentioned it, but I like the Harbor Freight panel clamps better than the good ones. The HF clamps have longer screws which makes it easier to get them installed, especially if you have to pull the panel some.

Used three more clamps than are in the picture. Then welded using a blow gun to immediately cool each tack. Metallurgically I don't like doing that but it sure helped keep panel warping down. Then did a little welding from the back.

And rolled it a little more so I could sit in the passenger doorway to grind the inside welds.

They ground down pretty well. The dark areas are where I sanded the welds after grinding and the light does not reflect as well.

I wound up with a gosh awful weld next to the kick plate (bottom of photo). I was having trouble seeing what I was doing but kept on anyway. Did I mention this will get carpet?

Next step will be the floor pan. Because of the deep roll at the edge I may make that in two pieces. I'm still trying to figure out what to do.

Thanks for stopping by. I just refilled the Coke machine so there's plenty of dimes on top.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Andy, you have had a productive day looking good.

 

[drivesitfar]

Andy: are your welding skills improving or was that just in an easier spot to get to with your rotisserie? in any case it's looking great. WELL DONE!!

so i'm going to throw this out there cause I see a lot of rusted out doors and floors in old trucks. do you think their design was faulty in removing or draining off the water or do you think it was maybe a plugged drain hole? or maybe just neglect that causes all this rust to eat until there isn't any more metal.

thanks for the 411 on your fire and good to hear you are still able to use a few of the old tools you rescued.

hope you are having a relaxing Sunday on my Bday.

cheers

 

[jimreed2160]

Andy--Watching this Stude rehab unfold step by step is just fascinating. It is great seeing the cab come back to life. But I worry about the future. Have you given any thought to preventative measures? Is there any durable finish for auto floors that slows down rust?

 

[tym]

^I'm betting it's going to get a good coat of POR15 or equivalent after all the metalwork is done.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy, you have had a productive day looking good.

Some of my energy has returned and it feels GREAT!!

Andy: are your welding skills improving or was that just in an easier spot to get to with your rotisserie? in any case it's looking great. WELL DONE!!

so i'm going to throw this out there cause I see a lot of rusted out doors and floors in old trucks. do you think their design was faulty in removing or draining off the water or do you think it was maybe a plugged drain hole? or maybe just neglect that causes all this rust to eat until there isn't any more metal.

thanks for the 411 on your fire and good to hear you are still able to use a few of the old tools you rescued.

hope you are having a relaxing Sunday on my Bday.

cheers

Happy Birthday!!

I was not welding very well with the TIG, and was putting too much heat in it, making the panels warp. I did build the rotisserie because I was having so much trouble getting to the floor pans. With the ability to turn the cab easily I can get each weld where I can reach it and more importantly, see it. The welds are not too good but are better.

I don't think the rust comes from faulty design. Cars and trucks are just not designed to last fifty years. Twenty years is a good lifetime for most vehicles, and 98 models are twenty years old now. Lot's of vehicles are galvanized now but they still seem to rust through.

We don't have much salt applied in Oklahoma, and the Studebaker is an Oklahoma truck. It was an oilfield truck and I'm sure it spent it's life caked with mud. That's hard on floor boards and running boards. Although you could say it was neglect, I think it's just pretty normal. This truck is 68 years old.

Doors rust out when the weather seals on the windows fail and rain gets inside the doors. Nobody is concerned with an old junker with rattling windows. And most people are not concerned when the doors rust through.

If you want to drive a really old vehicle which has lived outside you just have to deal with some of the effects of aging.

Andy--Watching this Stude rehab unfold step by step is just fascinating. It is great seeing the cab come back to life. But I worry about the future. Have you given any thought to preventative measures? Is there any durable finish for auto floors that slows down rust?

Thanks! I keep thinking nobody is interested in all the details, but I post them to motivate me. Glad you're enjoying.

I'm not to worried about the future. I don't expect the truck to spend a lot of time in muddy conditions, and it probably won't be parked outside like it's first 68 years (OK, I'm guessing here, but most work trucks don't stay in a garage). If the floor pans are left bare it will be many years before they rust through again, if ever. However I'm trying to paint the inside of each hidden part as I go. I'm using a rust binder product to seal rusty areas after cleaning. But I'm not painting accessible areas until after welding is done.

I may spray something like bed liner as undercoating on the underside of the cab. In any event, it will be painted all over.

All that being said, a well protected antique vehicle does not really need the protection it had when new. Lot's of guys seem to really stress over rust protection on vehicles which will seldom see rain or drive on wet roads when bare frames lasted for many years.

^I'm betting it's going to get a good coat of POR15 or equivalent after all the metalwork is done.

Yeah, what he said!

 

[Farmall450]

Andy, good point on the use it'll see now vs what it did see. Although granted, I wish manufacturers did as good of a job undercoating/sealing that guys do themselves now.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Another good day in the shop, even if it was a short day. I've been stressing over the curved part of the floor. Stuff is easier when you just go ahead and do it. It's a complex shape and would have been tough to make a form so I just decided to pound it out freehand. Used the profile gauge to measure the cross section at five places.

Then made cardboard profile guides

Laid out for the panel and cut it on the throatless shear.

I really like the shear and have been using it a lot. It's like having a pair of giant snips. Laid out the profile locations on the curve.

Test fit with the profiles where they will fit.

Then started shaping on a home made stake. This is just a 1" polished bar.

Because of the curve I had to take a break and make a 1" stake which is 1" long. The other one is three inches long. Also used the shot bag to shape the curve. It went pretty well.

It's warped but I think I can work it out. I'm going to wait until after I get all the depressions in before I straighten it.

 

[don long]

That looks pretty good Andy.
Please show me that shear you used. It looks like it worked really well for you

I've never tried a shot bag

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy, good point on the use it'll see now vs what it did see. Although granted, I wish manufacturers did as good of a job undercoating/sealing that guys do themselves now.

I think cars are better now than they were 40 years ago, from a corrosion standpoint.

I started on the reinforcement for the floor pan. Working outside toward the inside. Still have some work to do on the curved cone, then one more long one, and one circular depression.

This is the last panel for the floor pan. I have an area to shrink where a broken u-joint dented the floor then it's on to the passenger side running board and support structure. I'm feeling good about progress this week!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

[don long]

That looks pretty good Andy.
Please show me that shear you used. It looks like it worked really well for you

I've never tried a shot bag

 

[oldironfarmer]

That looks pretty good Andy.
Please show me that shear you used. It looks like it worked really well for you

I've never tried a shot bag

Thank you very much, Don. That means a lot coming from you

I believe the original is called a Beverly shear. Mine is a Eastwood clone, they call it a throatless shear. The only picture I could find is a recent one of the chipped blade.

Harbor freight sells the same one. I'm sure a new or old Beverly would be better. I did wrinkle the panel making the hard RH turn but it disappeared when I started forming.

I chipped the blade trimming some stainless door hinges. They were too heavy for it. Still cuts fine with the chip, it just leaves a very slight wrinkle. My combination shear brake is rated for 20 gauge. I feel comfortable bending heavier pieces if they're short, but shearing load is pretty much independent of length so I've resisted shearing 18 gauge. I do all my straight 18 gauge cuts on the throatless shear.

The shot bag is really handy too. I don't really know how to use it, but it supports everything except where you hit.

Thanks for the comments.

 

[BBChevro]

...The fire was an opportunity to move forward or not. It's actually an excellent way to clean up
...

I hope not to try that method...

Although that does remind me of a good friend many years ago that discovered (too late) that his brakes weren't working - just as he was coming in hot to park under his house.
There was no discernible damage to the car - all the "good stuff" was still there (just in a much more compact heap) and he had a heap more space.
Win, win.



Great work shaping that sheet metal Andy

.

 

[oldironfarmer]

I'm needing a new hobby so today I ordered a 3D printer. My primary goal is to print patterns and core boxes for the foundry. But 3D printing is a whole new world.

Even deciding what to buy was a real challenge. I'd rather pick out a cell phone for a sister in law. There are several dozen manufacturers and each sells several models.

Myfordboy who does foundry videos on the tube bought a new one recently and after lots of looking I decided to buy what he bought. He's got a nice video of making a small part with it.

Jgaurora A3S

He also has a 10% additional coupon under his video, and it worked.

I'm not an experienced CAD operator, but anything you can draw in CAD the printer will print, within reason. I'm pretty excited about getting the printer. The first thing I want to make (after some practice) is a pattern for a cast aluminum trivet for my Zunba teacher with her family name on it. Another thing I'd like to make is a form to press coasters out of green clay, similar to the way companies make tile.

Now I'll have something to occupy my time