To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

from the commonwealth

250

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 16, 2014
Messages
537
Location
West of the Sierras
Greetings, long time lurker, first time poster. I'm a californian that freezes for a good third of the year in new england. I'm sure it was on some long winter night that I was going a bit crazy that I stumbled onto this site. Anyways, I've decided to take over the basement for an impromptu work area since the garage is getting full. So here's the intro before I go off on another hair brained idea. :willy_nil
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Shadowdog500

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 7, 2009
Messages
9,903
Location
Down the shore
Welcome to the forum from South Jersey! You guys had a bad winter this year. We were cold ( had the coldest day in 47 years) but didn't get the snow as bad this year.

Chris
 

drivesitfar

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 23, 2013
Messages
36,175
Location
Pacific Northwest
250: if you were in New England this winter i'm surprised you had power with all the snow that they had. any pictures you want to post of the garage or the basement please do if you have some.

otherwise enjoy the reading and post on the threads you find interesting. lots to learn here.

welcome
 
OP
2

250

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 16, 2014
Messages
537
Location
West of the Sierras
Yea, thankfully we had power all winter. We seem to have more issues in the summer, either from thunderstorms or accidents or...

Sure, I can post some pics of the basement. The first shot is sort of from the landing of the stairs looking into the proposed main work area. On the far left were you can just see the fridge is where I'm thinking of putting a stationary work bench. Various bench mounted things will go there; vise, miter saw, small drill press, etc etc etc. Over by the tire changer sits currently is where I'd like to put a little lathe some day. This area is where I envision cleaner projects, assembly of what not to happen.



Second photo is from the far end of the proposed bench. On the far side of the posts will be dirty work, major cutting of wood, equipment storage. I plan to put casters on most sizable items so I can rearrange as projects dictate. Those two craftsman tables will get some new tops and casters and will be the true multipurpose work spaces. The compressor lives under the stairs getting it set up is the next project on the table.



Looking long way down the dirty side. I'm thinking that the far end might make a good paint area eventually, something that can be partitioned off for spray containment.



And finally looking back into where the work bench and assembly area will be.

 

drivesitfar

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 23, 2013
Messages
36,175
Location
Pacific Northwest
250: thanks for sharing your pictures of your basement shop and your story. did you move all that stuff and those cabinets down the stairs yourself or do you have a level access to outside? i love the metal poles and if it were me i'd probably pad them because i should wear a hard hat around my shop.

i saw you posted up some clamps on the new clamps 101 thread i started and great that you are already participating.

ask questions if you have any or just catch up on all the reading and post when you can even if you just say "well done" to the poster to let them know somebody is there that cares.

cheers
 
OP
2

250

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 16, 2014
Messages
537
Location
West of the Sierras
It all came down by yours truly. Well, not the cheapo wood shelves in picture 2. Those remained from the prior owner and I haven't gotten around to replacing them. But everything came down through the bulk head. If I remember correctly for the cabinet/draws if I remember correctly I put them on a borrow appliance dolly and used a worm drive hand winch to let them down. Even with all the draws out they're heavier than the fridge down there. When I get my compressor thread up you'll see what the access looks like. Neighbor probably think I'm nuts, and they'll most likely be right when we move and I have to haul it all out again. :eek:
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
2

250

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 16, 2014
Messages
537
Location
West of the Sierras
I'm reading up on that VFD as we speak. The manual is 120+ pages. :eek: I know A_P says plug and play but 120 or so pages sure make me think otherwise.

I see you changed your avatar. Wasn't there some big commotion over the last time you did that?
 

Strouty

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 21, 2010
Messages
38,228
Location
Southern Maine
I'm reading up on that VFD as we speak. The manual is 120+ pages. :eek: I know A_P says plug and play but 120 or so pages sure make me think otherwise.

I see you changed your avatar. Wasn't there some big commotion over the last time you did that?

I am just a drama tornado.

There are tons of people that can help setup the VFD, so I would not let that scare you. There are tons of features that will not be used, you and I would just be looking at using it as a converter rather than a variable speed unit.
 

Strouty

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 21, 2010
Messages
38,228
Location
Southern Maine
I have used several, but I have not wired one up. I will say that the concept is fairly straight forward, but I am not an electrician by any means. Expensive components and wiring them kind of freaks me out. My compressor had two 7.5 HP 3 phase motors, I ended up buying another compressor that had a 10 HP single phase motor all set and running. I took the motor and starter off and sold the compressor for close to what I paid for it. Then I found out that the starter was actually rated for 7.5 HP, it will start the motor and it seems to run it fine. I still ended up getting a used starter, just have to figure out how it needs to be wired up. I was getting all motivated from your thread, but I messed my leg up and have to take it easy for a couple days. I may do some research in between my posting.
 

Strouty

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 21, 2010
Messages
38,228
Location
Southern Maine
To answer your question, they work well, but not great for instant reverse. I want to set one up for my bandsaw so I can have variable speed. My mill and lathe will get the rotary phase converter, then I have a iron worker that I need to test out before investing in a VFD for it. I got it for free, but the scrappers had cut all the plugs off it. My buddy has 3 phase at his shop so I plan on taking it to his place and trying it out.
 

Strouty

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 21, 2010
Messages
38,228
Location
Southern Maine
My first one will be for a smaller setup, so if I let the magic smoke out it won't hurt as bad.

I have the part number to replace it, but it actually costs more than the original part.

 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom