Above 1200 Sq/FT Cleaning Up My Shop

[tym]

I never get tired of seeing photos of the broom-making.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy, you certainly did have a top day.

I really admire your work on the brooms..

I'm just having a string of great days. And praying for your full recovery, by the way.

I never get tired of seeing photos of the broom-making.

Thank you! I should be making more brooms but I seem to be focused on aluminum. I really enjoyed making that one, it is for the wife of a good friend.

Another great day today. I took this picture a couple of days ago, this is my view while feeding Hershey earl in the morning.

A couple of months ago I bought a new bale trailer. I left it at my custom baler's house on the way home but a friend wanted to borrow it, so I brought it home.

The rack where the bales set is 36 ft long, so the trailer is 42 ft overall.

You can take out a mailbox with it. (But so far so good)

This morning I went out early and made a trivet then cast some more clamps for the shelf. One more day and I'm done. The white bucket was burned through the side when I poured too much metal. It has a sheet metal shield now. But now I make a nice trench around the pouring cups so any spills do not burn the bucket.

 

[oldironfarmer]

My hot wire foam circle cutter. I needed some way to make circles and came up with a square with a nail in it to pivot the foam on.

I set the wire to the intended mark, then slide the white piece of plywood up against the square, aligning the marks on both pieces.

Then mark the center on the foam and put it on the nail.

With the wire hot, slide the assembly into the wire to realign the marks. That gives the proper radius. For the picture I let the foam sit so the wire melted a large hole, but if you slide it in and start turning you can get a clean cut.

And a circle cut (this was scrap and not big enough for the circle I chose)

Set for 2" and it's close to two inches.

My disc sander on the side of the belt sander was warped and has been since new. I've started using it more than I used to so today I took it off and trued it up on the lathe.

Back in place and ready for the table to be reassembled.

 

[1/2 Cup]

I'm just having a string of great days. And praying for your full recovery, by the way.

Andy, truly appreciated.

 

[bolensboneyard]

Andy I finally got enough sleep to remember to look for you answer to my inquiry about a ball turner. OK so I put this thing on my ebay watch list just to test my resolve to STOP buying tools. Price should be enough to help me out on that. THANKS PAL!

 

[oldironfarmer]

I'm just having a string of great days. And praying for your full recovery, by the way.

Andy, truly appreciated.

As your friendship is appreciated. And I haven't forgotten you have my DeWalts

Andy I finally got enough sleep to remember to look for you answer to my inquiry about a ball turner. OK so I put this thing on my ebay watch list just to test my resolve to STOP buying tools. Price should be enough to help me out on that. THANKS PAL!

Although you didn't post a link, making one seems to be the way to go.

But I'm worried. "STOP buying tools" sounds so final...

 

[drivesitfar]

Handy: can you describe the method you are removing the excess aluminum from your molds cause i'm guessing they are still pretty hot? any concern about the break off point being in your project area?

how are the cows and bull? are they making new cows and bulls?

you've been busy seeing old friends from your work days lately and sounds like you like them better now that you aren't telling them what to do or they are not telling you what to do.

have a great SATUR day!!!

 

[Guster]

Looks like a great spot of weather and a great view from the porch reminding you how great life is... and why you probably don't need to go to the shops for cream.

Thanks for demonstrating the use of your little jig.

I see you also have one of those combination disc+belt sanders. Do you use the velcro discs on yours?

You're a wiser man Bobby! I discovered the cost of lathe ball turners thanks to the cost of tube bend former machines and dies. One reason I considered getting a horisontal mill as it also made for easy coping of tube joints. All leading down a slippery path considering alternatives like a forge to heat steel enough to bend it and now also casting as another option. Now I still don't have the ball turner yet!

Then out of the blue I find this offer for a decent sized, good condition, decently priced fly-press not far from home. Some days, my fate openly mocks me!

 

[oldironfarmer]

Handy: can you describe the method you are removing the excess aluminum from your molds cause i'm guessing they are still pretty hot? any concern about the break off point being in your project area?

Pretty simple, I use an old pair of blacksmith pickup tongs. Same ones I use for loading the crucible. The castings are just below melting temperature so, yes, there is a lot of concern. If you wait a few seconds too long the sprue is getting hard, maybe harder than the buried metal so I carefully break off the top.

how are the cows and bull? are they making new cows and bulls?

They are doing quite well. The neighbor's bull has even come to visit...

you've been busy seeing old friends from your work days lately and sounds like you like them better now that you aren't telling them what to do or they are not telling you what to do.

Very perceptive. Of course away from the stress of work relationships change. There was even a gentleman there I had the displeasure of terminating his employment in 1978. He went on to have a very successful career and we had a nice visit.

have a great SATUR day!!!

Thank You!!!

My wife had a doctor's appointment today but I got a little casting in early this morning while it was still cool.

Made my first hammer in many months

And got four more trivets finished up in time for Mother's Day.

Thanks for looking in!

 

[oldironfarmer]

Looks like a great spot of weather and a great view from the porch reminding you how great life is... and why you probably don't need to go to the shops for cream.

We have had a long cool spring. Wonderful weather for living. Not so good for growing grass. It has finally warmed up and the grass is going gang busters, the cows can't keep up with it. I have been reminding them to not walk on their food!!!

Thanks for demonstrating the use of your little jig.

It is hard to describe. A circle cutting jig seems simple until you realize you can't load the foam in cutting position, you have to translate it and land accurately.

I see you also have one of those combination disc+belt sanders. Do you use the velcro discs on yours?

It's a 9" disc, I didn't know they had Velcro discs for those. It's currently PSA but Velcro would be nice.

You're a wiser man Bobby! I discovered the cost of lathe ball turners thanks to the cost of tube bend former machines and dies. One reason I considered getting a horisontal mill as it also made for easy coping of tube joints. All leading down a slippery path considering alternatives like a forge to heat steel enough to bend it and now also casting as another option. Now I still don't have the ball turner yet!

Then out of the blue I find this offer for a decent sized, good condition, decently priced fly-press not far from home. Some days, my fate openly mocks me!

Way to go!! Did you turn it down to give someone else a chance?

I think a fly press is one of those things that is difficult to both acquire and sell. The advantage of used is they just don't get used very much and it may come with some tooling.

Why are there no pictures?

 

[Guster]

We have had a long cool spring. Wonderful weather for living. Not so good for growing grass. It has finally warmed up and the grass is going gang busters, the cows can't keep up with it. I have been reminding them to not walk on their food!!!

We've had quite the mild autumn so far too. Just starting to switch to long sleeve shirts.

It is hard to describe. A circle cutting jig seems simple until you realize you can't load the foam in cutting position, you have to translate it and land accurately.

Looks like it does the job!

It's a 9" disc, I didn't know they had Velcro discs for those. It's currently PSA but Velcro would be nice.

Mine appears to be similar 9" disc with a 6"x48" belt. I got some 9" PSA velcro pads and velcro backed abrasives. My machine has the belt drive that side with a belt cover so it makes swapping pads just that little bit less tedious after having to remove the little table in front of it. I use a chisel to remove the outside 1/4" of 'hooks' to make it easier to pull the pad off without lifting the velcro pad *** well.

Way to go!! Did you turn it down to give someone else a chance?

I think a fly press is one of those things that is difficult to both acquire and sell. The advantage of used is they just don't get used very much and it may come with some tooling.

Why are there no pictures?

Sadly, yes. I'm not one to hog and I know well enough the wrath of spending over my allocated budget... especially given such tensions could mess with mothersday proceedings! That's a definite wrath multiplier.

If it is still there next payday I will strongly reconsider and then there will be pictures of this rare beast in my shed.

 

[bolensboneyard]

As your friendship is appreciated. And I haven't forgotten you have my DeWalts



Although you didn't post a link, making one seems to be the way to go.

But I'm worried. "STOP buying tools" sounds so final...

I am so up for that idea; making one that is. Problem is time and a set of working drawings. Could do the same thing I am doing with the kayak but that would take more time to dope out the dimensions than to make the pieces. I would like to see one in action. Let's look at some you tube videos, if there are any good ones, and try to come up with some ideas of our own on something relatively simple that would work just to cut a basic ball of varying size? The hand wheel manipulation technique is getting old. STOP was not a literal interpretation but more of a "my visa bill every month is killing me" cry for help. Self help, like self discipline, would require, well, discipline; I tool purchases are already years ahead of my opportunity to bring the whisper of a sharp plane, the ring of a hammer, the crackle of a fine tuned mig machine and the "answer in the wind" into a symphony that complements my final performance.

 

[bolensboneyard]

I will try this again. I searched for a good idea for a ball turner home made and came up with this youtube vido. www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnt2DlcrWYk
Uses a boring head to turn the ball. I would have to buy the fancy tool holder but it's cheaper than the factory tool.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Check Vieux' Youtube, pretty sure he made his own

 

[Guster]

Just depends on what you want to achieve Bobby.

For smaller balls and concaves using a boring head is great and has very fine adjustment meaning you can sneak up on critical sizes easily. Otherwise it has size and setup limitations.

This is why I prefer the Holdridge style - http://www.holdridgemfg.com/ and its variants as it will let me set up well outside the carriage capacity to cut pulleys and in my case tube bending dies as large as my lathe can spin. Setup is a little harder but well worth the versatility. This one will definitely give you sticker shock!

Easy to fabricate a variant... basics are just tool on centre and observe any machine clearance requirements - Done.

 

[bolensboneyard]

Just depends on what you want to achieve Bobby.

For smaller balls and concaves using a boring head is great and has very fine adjustment meaning you can sneak up on critical sizes easily. Otherwise it has size and setup limitations.

This is why I prefer the Holdridge style - http://www.holdridgemfg.com/ and its variants as it will let me set up well outside the carriage capacity to cut pulleys and in my case tube bending dies as large as my lathe can spin. Setup is a little harder but well worth the versatility. This one will definitely give you sticker shock!

Easy to fabricate a variant... basics are just tool on centre and observe any machine clearance requirements - Done.

I would love to have it. That's the one Andy sent a link for. So far, I would have no where near enough need to justify the cost. That has not stopped me in the past but I am getting a little (lot) top heavy with what I have to find an excuse to use now? However, this line of thinking has gotten me to get more adventurous in my pursuit of what can be achieved. Thanks for the insight!

 

[oldironfarmer]

We've had quite the mild autumn so far too. Just starting to switch to long sleeve shirts.

We're finally having 32C days so my short sleeve shirts are seeing regular service.

Mine appears to be similar 9" disc with a 6"x48" belt. I got some 9" PSA velcro pads and velcro backed abrasives. My machine has the belt drive that side with a belt cover so it makes swapping pads just that little bit less tedious after having to remove the little table in front of it. I use a chisel to remove the outside 1/4" of 'hooks' to make it easier to pull the pad off without lifting the velcro pad *** well.

I should have figured you just made your own.

Sadly, yes. I'm not one to hog and I know well enough the wrath of spending over my allocated budget... especially given such tensions could mess with mothersday proceedings! That's a definite wrath multiplier.

If it is still there next payday I will strongly reconsider and then there will be pictures of this rare beast in my shed.

I'm shocked and saddened that the press did not fly to your home. But as I said, it will probably be there, they are as hard to sell as buy.

I am so up for that idea; making one that is. Problem is time and a set of working drawings. Could do the same thing I am doing with the kayak but that would take more time to dope out the dimensions than to make the pieces. I would like to see one in action. Let's look at some you tube videos, if there are any good ones, and try to come up with some ideas of our own on something relatively simple that would work just to cut a basic ball of varying size? The hand wheel manipulation technique is getting old. STOP was not a literal interpretation but more of a "my visa bill every month is killing me" cry for help. Self help, like self discipline, would require, well, discipline; I tool purchases are already years ahead of my opportunity to bring the whisper of a sharp plane, the ring of a hammer, the crackle of a fine tuned mig machine and the "answer in the wind" into a symphony that complements my final performance.

My intention is to make one from a boring head in a boring bar holder, I have an R8 mill chuck so my boring head needs an adapter to fit into a boring bar holder. I just need to buy a straight shank for it. Soon. The boring head should be able to turn a 4" ball.

I will try this again. I searched for a good idea for a ball turner home made and came up with this youtube vido. www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnt2DlcrWYk
Uses a boring head to turn the ball. I would have to buy the fancy tool holder but it's cheaper than the factory tool.

Check Vieux' Youtube, pretty sure he made his own

I need to look into his.

Just depends on what you want to achieve Bobby.

For smaller balls and concaves using a boring head is great and has very fine adjustment meaning you can sneak up on critical sizes easily. Otherwise it has size and setup limitations.

This is why I prefer the Holdridge style - http://www.holdridgemfg.com/ and its variants as it will let me set up well outside the carriage capacity to cut pulleys and in my case tube bending dies as large as my lathe can spin. Setup is a little harder but well worth the versatility. This one will definitely give you sticker shock!

Easy to fabricate a variant... basics are just tool on centre and observe any machine clearance requirements - Done.

The simple swivel mounted on the cross slide might be the ticket for bending dies. My buddy who has the Holdridge style commercial ball turner would probably loan it out, guess I'd better go see him. He has had it for years and has never needed it.

I would love to have it. That's the one Andy sent a link for. So far, I would have no where near enough need to justify the cost. That has not stopped me in the past but I am getting a little (lot) top heavy with what I have to find an excuse to use now? However, this line of thinking has gotten me to get more adventurous in my pursuit of what can be achieved. Thanks for the insight!

Remember this advice was from the man who was too tight to buy a fly press when he found one close to home.

I've been busy, not sure doing what. Had a friend want to borrow my field sprayer so I hooked it up and took it to him.

Remember this is the one that had the grass growing into the cord of one bald tire last year. The other tire was still holding air just fine so it made a 30 mile trip to his house at 35 mph, bouncing nicely at every tar strip.

I did get all the shelf clamps poured and desprued so I really need to get them on the mill.

The guy borrowing the sprayer had given me his 8 ft satellite dish, you may have seen it in a pile of scrap/trash. I got it fully disassembled yesterday so it's ready to melt. Lots of steel screws.

Stopped at the well driller on the way and got a bag of bentonite, I'm finally going to try making some green sand. Now that i know how it should act and feel.

And to that end I started lining my sand box with metal to give me a vapor proof storage area.

Galvanized flashing and it went in easily. I had been using a plastic container with a Snap-On lid but the lid didn't fit very tightly and I had outgrown it.

Thanks for the visits, and enjoy another Saturday!!

I have an auction to go to, an old friend's estate. He has a 200 lb anvil and I think I want it. To benefit his widow I'm willing to pay a ridiculous price.

Then it's off to my grand daughter's play in OKC so no shed time today!!

 

[dchance]

Andy with your progress in casting I would have to agree you have out grown your storage. On to bigger and better things.

Have a good trip to OKC.

Dwight

 

[drivesitfar]

Handy: your foundry expansions always seem to get bigger and better and keep up the great work.

I love the old tire stories on all your rigs and your adventures and with all the money you've saved over the years on tires and repairs it's great to see you spending your money wisely and helping out an old friend's widow if you can. if you don't get it make the guy that does spend an uncomfortable amount might be ok too.

hope you are bringing a trailer to the auction cause there might be other stuff to buy that needs to be bought while you are waiting to bid on the anvil.

I'm enjoying my Saturday are you enjoying yours??

cheers and hope you have a great Mother's day tomorrow!!

 

[1/2 Cup]

Andy mass production shelf clamps, they will look a treat..

Please excuse my ignorance as I may have missed something but I do have to ask about your signature line??

WW1/2CD?​

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy with your progress in casting I would have to agree you have out grown your storage. On to bigger and better things.

Have a good trip to OKC.

Dwight

What the sand storage amounts to is I only have enough sand to form up for one trivet (it's a large flask) or two hammers. Then after casting the sand has to be reconditioned. That takes time, so if I mess up a pour I need several hours before I can pour again (at least until I make a muller). So I'd really like to have three times the sand I expect to use in any one pour to give me flexibility. Having the sand requires storage to keep it moist. I may get a drum with a tight fitting lid to keep additional sand in.

We had a great time at the play. My granddaughter had a key part and did very well. Her timing on a few jokes was impeccable.

Handy: your foundry expansions always seem to get bigger and better and keep up the great work.

Thanks, Drives!!

I love the old tire stories on all your rigs and your adventures and with all the money you've saved over the years on tires and repairs it's great to see you spending your money wisely and helping out an old friend's widow if you can. if you don't get it make the guy that does spend an uncomfortable amount might be ok too.

hope you are bringing a trailer to the auction cause there might be other stuff to buy that needs to be bought while you are waiting to bid on the anvil.

The auction did not go well for me. I was saddened by seeing an old friend's stuff drug out for sale. And the anvil, though a nice one, was a farrier's anvil, not a blacksmith pattern. Then as bidding started the auctioneer was a young guy trying to talk so fast (I think to impress people) that I had great difficulty following what had been bid, or even when he actually had a bid. A few tools I would have bought, after he asked for $25 for several tries (I really couldn't tell if he had $25 and was asking for more) he suddenly took a bid for $15 and I had no opportunity to bid. Now I realize auctioneers try to make you bid impulsively but I saw one lady, when she wanted something, bid continuously. She didn't know whether they were letting her up her own bid (she and her friend didn't seem to know when they were high bidders).

I got aggravated and turned my number in. I am not new to auctions and have bought entire farms as well as lots of equipment on down to small items and have never walked out on an auctioneer. If it is not fun you shouldn't be there so I left. I had set myself a $4,000 limit but didn't get to spend a penny. What is worse, my deceased friend was an auctioneer and always conducted great auctions.

I'm enjoying my Saturday are you enjoying yours??

cheers and hope you have a great Mother's day tomorrow!!

My day did start off rather low but the play in OKC was great and we had a ice drive down and back.

Andy mass production shelf clamps, they will look a treat..

Please excuse my ignorance as I may have missed something but I do have to ask about your signature line??

WW1/2CD?​

Finally. No one except Guster has asked, and he did so privately. I checked with Bob and he knew. Hmmm. We agreed to wait until someone asked publicly. Maybe everyone understood. Maybe not.

So, thanks for asking.

In the US there is a logo WWJD, for "What Would Jesus Do?" Intended to make people think before they act. I've never been big on it, but it is pretty common.

So it comes down to my doing a little better job because I know I'm going to post pictures on GJ and know the average here does lots better than I do.

So I ask myself "What Would 1/2 Cup Do?" And I do a little better.

My signature line is just to honor an old man down under whom I have come to respect greatly.

And I was increasing the font regularly until someone asked. Glad it was you!!

 

[1/2 Cup]

Andy that is just awesome.
I sincerely thank you and am truly humbled

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy that is just awesome.
I sincerely thank you and am truly humbled

Naw, you're the guy who deserves thanks for all the new GJ members you coax along with kindness and caring.

OK, your $20 is used up, no more nice words until another payment.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Andy, payment on its way..

 

[drivesitfar]

Handy: I was happy you took off my ORGANIZING Quote in your sig line even though I'm far from Organized, but I did understand the WW1/2CD meant.

it's good to have someone talking to you about Safety, Quality or whatever and 1/2 is certainly a good role model.

1/2: well deserved and I think about you often while i'm trying to GET ORGANIZED.

Handy: so sorry the auction was a bust and maybe a nice present to the widow in the form of a trivet and if she might need a sizable donation that might find it's way in the package? that way the auctioneer wouldn't profit from your generosity.

have a great mother's day!!

 

[Guster]

I'm shocked and saddened that the press did not fly to your home. But as I said, it will probably be there, they are as hard to sell as buy.

Not sold yet... may still happen. Don't lose hope yet old friend!

My intention is to make one from a boring head in a boring bar holder, I have an R8 mill chuck so my boring head needs an adapter to fit into a boring bar holder. I just need to buy a straight shank for it. Soon. The boring head should be able to turn a 4" ball.

I need to look into his.

Here you go -

If you can get an R8 adapter sleeve you are nearly there too. That looks easy to make too.

Else many boring head shanks are screwed on so if you get that style head you can unscrew it and swap the R8 for a straight one either made or bought.

The simple swivel mounted on the cross slide might be the ticket for bending dies. My buddy who has the Holdridge style commercial ball turner would probably loan it out, guess I'd better go see him. He has had it for years and has never needed it.

By the time they arrive here they cost more than the lathe!

Remember this advice was from the man who was too tight to buy a fly press when he found one close to home.

Haven't missed out on it yet. Just chose my battles and avoid a possible divorce today.

I've been busy, not sure doing what. Had a friend want to borrow my field sprayer so I hooked it up and took it to him.

...

Then it's off to my grand daughter's play in OKC so no shed time today!!

Playing very productively! Clamps look great and so does the new sandpit.

That is a decent size... you may have to start looking around for a sand muller to keep up production. Wish you were closer as I have to large cast iron wheels that would be perfect for just that.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy, payment on its way..

Thank you!! I was getting quite used to the platitudes...

Handy: I was happy you took off my ORGANIZING Quote in your sig line even though I'm far from Organized, but I did understand the WW1/2CD meant.

I apologize if that quote made you uncomfortable.

it's good to have someone talking to you about Safety, Quality or whatever and 1/2 is certainly a good role model.

1/2: well deserved and I think about you often while i'm trying to GET ORGANIZED.

I seriously doubt he understands the impact he has had on so many lives (and the second payment has not arrived yet)

Handy: so sorry the auction was a bust and maybe a nice present to the widow in the form of a trivet and if she might need a sizable donation that might find it's way in the package? that way the auctioneer wouldn't profit from your generosity.

have a great mother's day!!

I have my ways...

Not sold yet... may still happen. Don't lose hope yet old friend!

Here you go -

If you can get an R8 adapter sleeve you are nearly there too. That looks easy to make too.

Else many boring head shanks are screwed on so if you get that style head you can unscrew it and swap the R8 for a straight one either made or bought.

I may not have been clear. My mill is an R8 so my boring head is an R8 shank. It is screw on and I just need to get a straight shank for it (they're cheap here). I have a nice heavy boring bar holder for my lathe which I think will work nicely to hold the straight shank as in the video you graciously posted. A Russian video next in line was an even better video. Interestingly he turned the lathe in reverse, cutting on the bottom of the work, throwing the swarf down. I realized you can see what is going on just as easily not seeing the tool.

By the time they arrive here they cost more than the lathe!

It is a pity...

Haven't missed out on it yet. Just chose my battles and avoid a possible divorce today.

Top job on that goal

Playing very productively! Clamps look great and so does the new sandpit.

That is a decent size... you may have to start looking around for a sand muller to keep up production. Wish you were closer as I have two large cast iron wheels that would be perfect for just that.

I have an old concrete mixer waiting to be mullified. Thought I'd go with one wheel.

Here's the wheel on the outside of the tub

I plan on the HT1 design with stationary wheel, turning tub, and entire muller rotates to dump instead of using a gate.

Thanks for the visits, guys!

 

[oldironfarmer]

I decided to increase my foundry furnace burner fuel orifice. I've been using an 0.035" MIG tip and changed it to 0.045". The only 0.045 I had was blunt end, and I wanted a tapered end because it works as an eductor to pull air into the propane stream. So I turned it down.

And I've needed all the air flow possible on occasion with the smaller orifice so I milled the 3/4" holes into oblong slots with 1/2" straight sides significantly increasing the air openings.

Reassembled and ready to go

I had been running 10 psi propane and now can go down to 4 psi to get the same or a little more heat. It is still stable at 10 psi, and higher so will provide plenty of heat for brass and bronze. I was able to make four melts of scrap in two hours resulting in 33 muffins.

Now I just need to get the butter and jelly.

 

[Guster]

I have an old concrete mixer waiting to be mullified. Thought I'd go with one wheel.

Here's the wheel on the outside of the tub

I plan on the HT1 design with stationary wheel, turning tub, and entire muller rotates to dump instead of using a gate.

Thanks for the visits, guys!

Of course you have!

I should have known you have large components put aside for a muller.

I'm just glad I found a supply of bentonite in fine powder that saves me getting in trouble using kitchen implements to grind up kitty litter for it.

I was surprised that was easier to find than clean fine sand.

 

[jbmatth]

Ya'll have mentioned the ball turner a few times, and someone even reccomended Vieux's. Here is the video link:
Viuex's Ball Turner in Action

And a link to the point in his thread where he uses it at post 913:
Photo's of it in action

He started the project on page 44.

Enjoy,
JB

 

[drivesitfar]

Andy: I don't think you'd actually try to OFFEND me or anybody here so having my name in your sig line was a gentle reminder that I DO NEED TO GET ORGANIZED.

of course as I think i'm making progress something shows up I need to make room for or LIFE CHANGES and it looks like I never got started.

great to hear you catching up with old friends and co workers cause without work involved I bet a lot of people would be nicer to know.

looks like the foundry is clicking on all cylinders too.

I hear it's getting hot down in your neck of the woods and it's 85 here today in PARADISE in case you ever want to see a summer in the PNW it really is special.

cheers and enjoy your SATURDAY while I GET ORGANIZED!!

 

[Guster]

Good upgrade on the burner. Have you thought of making some ingot trays like the angle iron ones or do you prefer the smaller muffins.

Now I just need to get the butter and jelly.

Like brass and copper?



Looked up the HT1 sand muller... looks handy! http://www.alloyavenue.com/vb/showthread.php?5420-It-s-Muller-time-(pics)

Also found another GJ members' thread on making a radius turner. Shame he never got the time to finish it(sounds familiar) but the thread makes good reading and gives some nice alternative options.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88034

 

[oldironfarmer]

Of course you have!

I should have known you have large components put aside for a muller.

I'm just glad I found a supply of bentonite in fine powder that saves me getting in trouble using kitchen implements to grind up kitty litter for it.

I was surprised that was easier to find than clean fine sand.

I did have several wheels to choose from. Should I be embarrassed?

But I had nothing set aside for a muller. I didn't know what one was until last year. But I do have stuff waiting to be purposed.

My kitty litter effort was sad. I thought it would soften and melt being submerged for a few hours, Nope. A few days. Nope. A few weeks. Nope. Then I forgot to keep putting water in.

My plan is to dig some fine sand off a sand bar in my creek. I'm hoping to wash the really fine stuff out.

Ya'll have mentioned the ball turner a few times, and someone even reccomended Vieux's. Here is the video link:
Viuex's Ball Turner in Action

And a link to the point in his thread where he uses it at post 913:
Photo's of it in action

He started the project on page 44.

Enjoy,
JB

That's the style I've settled on. Didn't know I was copying Vladimir. I feel better now!

Andy: I don't think you'd actually try to OFFEND me or anybody here so having my name in your sig line was a gentle reminder that I DO NEED TO GET ORGANIZED.

of course as I think i'm making progress something shows up I need to make room for or LIFE CHANGES and it looks like I never got started.

great to hear you catching up with old friends and co workers cause without work involved I bet a lot of people would be nicer to know.

looks like the foundry is clicking on all cylinders too.

I hear it's getting hot down in your neck of the woods and it's 85 here today in PARADISE in case you ever want to see a summer in the PNW it really is special.

cheers and enjoy your SATURDAY while I GET ORGANIZED!!

Cleaning up my shop was a joke. I knew I could never clean it up.

Foundry is getting lots of use. With it getting over 90F foundry work is relegated to early morning.

Good upgrade on the burner. Have you thought of making some ingot trays like the angle iron ones or do you prefer the smaller muffins.

I don't know. I want to make some angle ingot trays, but they need to be short. Muffing tins are so cheap and they make a nice size. About a third pound (is that about seven Shillings?). I plan to make dedicated ingot trays for brass, bronze, copper, and aluminum bronze.

Like brass and copper?

Bob's out of work and you're making jokes? Have some respect man.

Truthfully about the only thing you can butter the muffins with is lead, mercury, cadmium, or zinc. I think I just lost my appetite.

Looked up the HT1 sand muller... looks handy! http://www.alloyavenue.com/vb/showthread.php?5420-It-s-Muller-time-(pics)

HT1 happens to be the guy I made the Command at Sea pattern for.

Also found another GJ members' thread on making a radius turner. Shame he never got the time to finish it(sounds familiar) but the thread makes good reading and gives some nice alternative options.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88034

Yeah, wasn't he the guy selling fancy hammers from a garage stuffed with neat tools?

Sometimes the problem with an elegant design. I like to think I'm cheap and dirty. Or is it just cheap?

Thanks for the visits, guys!

 

[drivesitfar]

Handy: well you might have had good intentions of CLEANING UP when you started the thread and maybe you don't think you have, but you get STUFF STARTED and COMPLETED maybe better than anybody around here.

BTW can i hire your shipping guy cause i've got packages ready to ship that i can't find on my benches?

speaking of KITTY LITTER I found out my cat only like's a certain kind or she won't use it and she'll go outside. well that said i had the brilliant idea of spreading a batch of the bad smelling (yes new out of the package not used) on the side of my gravel parking area and it turned to a mushy clay that was a mess that i had to shovel into the trash a week later.

nice job getting all those trivets made and for sending them out to happy members. how's the health? still doing ZUMBA every week?

hope you have a great saturday.

cheers

 

[Bob Heine]

Also made a special request broom today.

I had a good day

My wife had a doctor's appointment today but I got a little casting in early this morning while it was still cool.

Made my first hammer in many months

And got four more trivets finished up in time for Mother's Day.

Thanks for looking in!

Andy, in your world the concept of spare time doesn't exist. I have difficulty finding time to use a broom but you find time to make one. I rarely use a trivet because it would mean opening a drawer and you make enough to fill a drawer.

The mail arrived yesterday and among the hearing aid and home improvement ads (and some Amazon bags and boxes), there was a box labeled 800LF Bury Yard Hydrant. I was pretty excited because I didn't remember ordering one.

The label was a decoy because the box contained more valuable things. The blue wooden handle was a giveaway the box contained your "special request broom." The box also contained a custom made trivet that has been kept secret as well.

I printed your photos of the process so Liane didn't have to expose herself to the computer.

After the ooohs and aaahs and the compliments (it's nice to know what those sound like) we had a reunion for all the AWM treasures that now live in my home.

Thank you doesn't really match my feelings but thank you it is, from Liane and from me. I'm not sure I can show the broom in action because Liane likes to sweep up the bird seeds on the front porch before she puts on her fancy clothes. The only photo of her dressed in her bird seed sweeping outfit is too blood-stained to make out much.

 

[Farmall450]

Andy,

That's a good looking bale trailer. Nice to have a designated tool for the job; although I'd have a hard time not just buying and using a deckover.

 

[Guster]

I did have several wheels to choose from. Should I be embarrassed?

But I had nothing set aside for a muller. I didn't know what one was until last year. But I do have stuff waiting to be purposed.

I can't judge... last night I found a box of electric motors I forgot I had after I just bought another last night. <sigh> In my defence(a weak one) I didn't have a small higher speed fan motor. Then there is the matter of the two large cast steel wheels in my own shed.

I don't know. I want to make some angle ingot trays, but they need to be short. Muffing tins are so cheap and they make a nice size. About a third pound (is that about seven Shillings?). I plan to make dedicated ingot trays for brass, bronze, copper, and aluminum bronze.

Just curious really. Don't think I'll be casting enough or keeping stock on hand to justify more than some muffin tins. The smaller format seems to be a handier size for judging how much is needed for small stuff.

Bob's out of work and you're making jokes? Have some respect man.

Truthfully about the only thing you can butter the muffins with is lead, mercury, cadmium, or zinc. I think I just lost my appetite.

Bob seems to be working hard enough in the last few weeks. Besides, I'm hardly competition on the humour front. I'm only here to assist!

You forgot magnesium, manganese, silicon, nickel, chromium, titanium, zirconium, lithium, bismuth, beryllium, iron, copper and a whole lot of oxygen... just to name a few.

HT1 happens to be the guy I made the Command at Sea pattern for.

Small world. I recognised the handle from spending a week on AlloyAvenue so I thougth I'd check.

Yeah, wasn't he the guy selling fancy hammers from a garage stuffed with neat tools?

Sometimes the problem with an elegant design. I like to think I'm cheap and dirty. Or is it just cheap?

Definitely can't be dirty. Sent you some strong cleaning solution afterall.

Otherwise elegance is a bit like art... its meaning is really dependent on the beholder. Simplicity, practicality and functionality just rate higher in some perspectives. Difference between a tool I dream about and one I can actually make and use. That is my excuse anyway!

Dunno about the hammers but his Do-All rebuild thread is GJ-**** and he has both machines and skill to make it. Just busy like most of us.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34928
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=148470

 

[Finallygotit]

****** PB has left those threads devoid of any pictures.

Like one of the posters that commented,

That post is internet Brail.

 

[Guster]

****** PB has left those threads devoid of any pictures.

Like one of the posters that commented,

Weird...

I can still see all the pics on the linked threads... just checked them right now.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Handy: well you might have had good intentions of CLEANING UP when you started the thread and maybe you don't think you have, but you get STUFF STARTED and COMPLETED maybe better than anybody around here.

I remember chuckling about the title. Because I know me. Of course, lot's of things I think are funny are not seen as funny by anyone else. Except for my deranged brother Bob. But we should discount his judgment when it comes to humor.

But thanks for the exceedingly kind words. Interestingly, getting started is sometimes the hardest part. The rest is just finishing up. Even harder is deciding what you want to do. That's really the hardest battle. After that it's just patience and perseverance.

BTW can i hire your shipping guy cause i've got packages ready to ship that i can't find on my benches?

Have you seen the eight hammers ready to ship that I can't find time to put handles into? Boxing is the toughest part for me, I love our Postmaster and look forward to going to see her. Sometimes I have to leave packages open so she can look at the stuff. She likes seeing me ship to far away places, like Texas. We're pretty much country around here.

speaking of KITTY LITTER I found out my cat only like's a certain kind or she won't use it and she'll go outside. well that said i had the brilliant idea of spreading a batch of the bad smelling (yes new out of the package not used) on the side of my gravel parking area and it turned to a mushy clay that was a mess that i had to shovel into the trash a week later.

I wish my kitty litter had softened like that. I can't imagine what I did wrong. It was cheap from the Dollar Store, so I'm pretty sure it didn't have hi tech anti softening additive. You've heard my kitty litter safety topic experience.

nice job getting all those trivets made and for sending them out to happy members. how's the health? still doing ZUMBA every week?

hope you have a great saturday.

cheers

Thanks, I did work hard to get them all cast (had one failure). And painted and ground. I think I made eight total. All in all I've made 15. Anybody else up for one?

Health is great!! I got my lower left molar crown in Monday so I can chew with molars now.

I do Zumba twice per week like clockwork. If I don't feel like it I go anyway. I had a good Saturday.

Andy, in your world the concept of spare time doesn't exist. I have difficulty finding time to use a broom but you find time to make one. I rarely use a trivet because it would mean opening a drawer and you make enough to fill a drawer.

Umm, hi Bob. Didn't know you visited here. You don't read all the posts, do you? Really no need to. Just stuff you would not be interested in. Actually I spend my spare time on GJ. Keeps me from getting bored. But I leave my trivet out all the time so it's ready when I take a hot pan off the stove.

The mail arrived yesterday and among the hearing aid and home improvement ads (and some Amazon bags and boxes), there was a box labeled 800LF Bury Yard Hydrant. I was pretty excited because I didn't remember ordering one.

HA! You don't know how dear those freeze proof faucets are. What I send you is just home made stuff that doesn't cost much at all.

The label was a decoy because the box contained more valuable things. The blue wooden handle was a giveaway the box contained your "special request broom." The box also contained a custom made trivet that has been kept secret as well.

I printed your photos of the process so Liane didn't have to expose herself to the computer.

i can't touch that comment but have several avenues it would have been fun to go down...

After the ooohs and aaahs and the compliments (it's nice to know what those sound like) we had a reunion for all the AWM treasures that now live in my home.

Thank you doesn't really match my feelings but thank you it is, from Liane and from me. I'm not sure I can show the broom in action because Liane likes to sweep up the bird seeds on the front porch before she puts on her fancy clothes. The only photo of her dressed in her bird seed sweeping outfit is too blood-stained to make out much.

Wow! What a nice response. I take back almost everything I have ever said about you.

Andy,

That's a good looking bale trailer. Nice to have a designated tool for the job; although I'd have a hard time not just buying and using a deckover.

You mean like this?

That's a 26 ft deckover I've had for several years. I used to haul my Bobcat on it, but it was just too exciting loading and unloading if I had to do it on flat ground.

The bale trailer is self unloading so you don't have to have a tractor at the the destination. Sometimes when delivering hay the customer only has a three point bale spike and can't take hay off the trailer. It can be a challenge to roll it off a deckover but I've done it.

My new custom baler is going to haul my hay home and rent it from me for his other customers, so it made sense to get one.

I can't judge... last night I found a box of electric motors I forgot I had after I just bought another last night. <sigh> In my defence(a weak one) I didn't have a small higher speed fan motor. Then there is the matter of the two large cast steel wheels in my own shed.

You keep teasing us but we keep not seeing any pictures of those wheels. I might just drive over and get them.

Just curious really. Don't think I'll be casting enough or keeping stock on hand to justify more than some muffin tins. The smaller format seems to be a handier size for judging how much is needed for small stuff.

Initially I was going to make some ingot trays but the muffin tins work so well. But I need something to differentiate originally cast stock. I was going to stamp them but realize I'll get lazy ad think I'll remember. Muffins just don't look as professional I've probably poured 300 muffins and have only wore out one cheap pan. But I have two more looking sad. Wore out is when they rust through.

I thought I would learn how many to melt for a job, but I'm so afraid of coming up short I always melt too much and remuffin the excess.

Bob seems to be working hard enough in the last few weeks. Besides, I'm hardly competition on the humour front. I'm only here to assist!

Thank you. I really didn't want to comment on your skill set.

You forgot magnesium, manganese, silicon, nickel, chromium, titanium, zirconium, lithium, bismuth, beryllium, iron, copper and a whole lot of oxygen... just to name a few.

Well, I guess I missed lithium, and bismuth. I figure the butter should melt before the biscuit. But it's just silly to think about spreading magnesium on on a muffin.

Small world. I recognised the handle from spending a week on AlloyAvenue so I thougth I'd check.

Definitely can't be dirty. Sent you some strong cleaning solution afterall.

Otherwise elegance is a bit like art... its meaning is really dependent on the beholder. Simplicity, practicality and functionality just rate higher in some perspectives. Difference between a tool I dream about and one I can actually make and use. That is my excuse anyway!

Dunno about the hammers but his Do-All rebuild thread is GJ-**** and he has both machines and skill to make it. Just busy like most of us.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34928
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=148470

Thanks again for the Handy Andy cleaning products. I may open them some day.

I'm trying to learn elegant but I'm slow and time flies.

****** PB has left those threads devoid of any pictures.

Like one of the posters that commented,

They were missing for me as well. A Pmech's thread has the PhotoBucket calling card.

Weird...

I can still see all the pics on the linked threads... just checked them right now.

Your computer probably has them cached from two years ago...

Thanks for all the comments, guys!!

I spent the morning in the blacksmith shop making some long reach tongs for putting charge into the crucible with my hands farther back. Fire!!

I have a hot fire underneath heating the work, but have piled green coal on top to coke it. Part of fire management is to create coke while you're burning it up. A good fire has little or no flame but most everybody likes looking at the flames. I forgot to take more pictures of the tongs.

I also started on a pouring shank for cast crucibles (instead of my pipe crucible). Used my cone for the first time. I've had it several years (new product sponsored by my blacksmith association, Salt Fork Craftsmen).

And lastly I need a more convenient hook to hang my dross spoon on. I also need a clamp above the arch lift arm pivot so thought I'd do double duty.

In addition an old friend (long term, he is also mid-eighties) is coming over tomorrow to look at the shop. He had borrowed my 3D router several years ago (like 10) and go *** to work when I couldn't. He does some home foundry work but I suggested we make his wife a trivet, and he a hammer, and he is eager to do those. So I also hurried up and made the foam pattern for my new clamp so we can do some lost foam tomorrow too.

I'll try to remember I've got my camera with me.