Post Recession Shop Rehabilitation Project

[Lyndon]

Chris

Shite - I hope all is well there.

I don't need anymore bad news today.

Stay safe.

Lyndon
Watching

 

[jbmatth]

Best of luck to you and the fire, hopefully they are getting it under control and things will get back to normal in short order. The base looks great and that will be one very **** mill when you are done.
JB

 

[jon_beer]

Looking great, Ned! That is some serious care you are putting into it.

Hope that fire stays in the distance.

 

[dhubbard422]

Chris,

I hope the fire crews get this fire contained very quickly and with minimal additional loss! Based on the latest fire maps I could find, the fire is less than 2 miles from my old house... many homes and lots of great trees in that area. Lots of topography too, which makes fighting a fire there challenging!

I hope your property is safe. I did see that a small fire jumped Boulder Canyon... but I hope that it is contained!

Best wishes that you can soon return to an unscathed home!
Don

 

[Mr. Roboto]

Yikes! Best of luck with the situation at hand. Stay safe, and I hope everything is there waiting for you safe and sound when you return. Has this happened before in your area? Hopefully you're not displaced for too long.

 

[pitterpat]

When I saw the fire on the news I thought immediately of you. Hope all goes well.

Pat

 

[shortykorte]

Hopefully no baked enamel finish. Keep us posted!

 

[BBChevro]

Wow, I hope that fire keeps away from your place Chris.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Chris, stay safe.

 

[Duker]

Chris, I just got back from a trip visiting clients that live near Boulder from Longmont to Lyons down to Nederland and I couldn't remember from your thread exactly where you were in relation to Nederland but the folks near there had to meet us in Boulder as they had been evacuated or fire crews were blocking access to some areas. I hope you and your place are safe!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[NedNorton]

Pig In A Poke, Lyndon, JB, jon_beer, Don, Mr. Roboto, Pat, Shorty, Mark, 1/2 Cup and Duker - Thanks for checking in on us. After a couple of days at Mom's in Boulder, we were allowed back in. The Firefighters did one hell of a job getting the fire contained. Those folks are real life heroes to the people up here. Even with those efforts 8 families lost houses. Over 600 acres burned.

They arrested the people responsible. Two guys (kids really) from Alabama who failed to put out their camp fire. Piled rocks on it and walked away. They were camping/trespassing on private land. We have a continuing issue with transients camping during the summer up here. It wouldn't be such a big deal but they are responsible for a lot of trash and, as is evidenced here, the potential to do a lot more harm. If you can believe this, even with a fire ban in place there was another smaller fire at another transient camp today.

Anyway... Jen, the pets and I are home. Happy and thankful to have a home to come back to. Thanks once again for you guys checking in. Special thanks to all the Firefighters out there. You make a huge difference in real peoples lives.

Last coat of paint for the base! (And, no baked enamel! Thanks Shorty, that one made me laugh!)

We had been gone for a while so before painting the base with the last coat I scuffed it with a little 320.



Hit it with a tack cloth and then shot it. This time I went with a little more harder and thinned it with xylene to try and speed up the drying process. The enamel didn't shoot or lay-down as well as it did with the mineral spirits but it still looks good and I'm calling this part of the project done.


Just for kicks, this is what the casting looked like once I got the 4 layers of paint off of it.


As it sits now (after all the filling, sanding, priming and paint)...

Looking at it, there isn't that big a difference. What the hell have I been doing all this time?


Just kidding... I think?


After this thing is all put back together I'm going to do a post-project wrap-up with all the materials and tools used so it will work as a reference better for the next guy.

Well... On deck are the knee and head castings. Maybe by the end of next week I'll have some parts on that shiny green base.

Thanks for checking in. As always, I appreciate it.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[PatStroud]

Chris – First (and most important), so happy that no bad was put upon you, your family, or home (especially that shop) and all is good.
I spend about 4 hours of my day going through this thread (while attempting to look like I was actually doing something productive). In short, you got some crazy skills and from what I’ve seen there’s nothing that you do in that shop that is less than awesome. You are definitely an inspiration to any DIY’er. It looks as if you “Work” at nothing because enjoying the accomplishments with such passion as you have shown us is called Life Enjoyments. Keep up with the outstanding projects and thanks for sharing!!

 

[rmack898]

Chris, I'm very much relieved that the fire was contained and no harm came to your place, my sympathies to those that lost their homes.

The Index looks great. When I have sprayed the HS enamel in the past I have always thinned with xylene, perhaps the next time I will try using mineral spirits, thanks for that thinner comparison. I have a Brown and Sharp horizontal mill that is working it's way up on my project list so I may be back to a machine restoration this coming fall.

Looking forward to seeing more green parts in a pile waiting to be assembled.

 

[ODIS]

So happy to read you and family are safe.

Ody.

 

[dhubbard422]

Chris,

Glad to read that you and yours are safely home. I was surprised to read that the fire did cross the canyon, but was happy to read that it was quickly contained. It made me sad to read that 8 homes were destroyed in the neighborhood that I once lived in.

Getting back on a positive note, the mill base is looking great! Looking forward to the next posts on it.

Don

 

[HCNDM]

Pig In A Poke, Lyndon, JB, jon_beer, Don, Mr. Roboto, Pat, Shorty, Mark, 1/2 Cup and Duker - Thanks for checking in on us. After a couple of days at Mom's in Boulder, we were allowed back in. The Firefighters did one hell of a job getting the fire contained. Those folks are real life heroes to the people up here. Even with those efforts 8 families lost houses. Over 600 acres burned.

They arrested the people responsible. Two guys (kids really) from Alabama who failed to put out their camp fire. Piled rocks on it and walked away. They were camping/trespassing on private land. We have a continuing issue with transients camping during the summer up here. It wouldn't be such a big deal but they are responsible for a lot of trash and, as is evidenced here, the potential to do a lot more harm. If you can believe this, even with a fire ban in place there was another smaller fire at another transient camp today.

Anyway... Jen, the pets and I are home. Happy and thankful to have a home to come back to. Thanks once again for you guys checking in. Special thanks to all the Firefighters out there. You make a huge difference in real peoples lives.

Last coat of paint for the base! (And, no baked enamel! Thanks Shorty, that one made me laugh!)

We had been gone for a while so before painting the base with the last coat I scuffed it with a little 320.



Hit it with a tack cloth and then shot it. This time I went with a little more harder and thinned it with xylene to try and speed up the drying process. The enamel didn't shoot or lay-down as well as it did with the mineral spirits but it still looks good and I'm calling this part of the project done.


Just for kicks, this is what the casting looked like once I got the 4 layers of paint off of it.


As it sits now (after all the filling, sanding, priming and paint)...

Looking at it, there isn't that big a difference. What the hell have I been doing all this time?


Just kidding... I think?


After this thing is all put back together I'm going to do a post-project wrap-up with all the materials and tools used so it will work as a reference better for the next guy.

Well... On deck are the knee and head castings. Maybe by the end of next week I'll have some parts on that shiny green base.

Thanks for checking in. As always, I appreciate it.

Cheers,
Chris

Glad you, the family and property are safe.

Where's the big difference? You went from a crummy casting to a perfect finish that would put any modern machine fresh off the factory floor to shame!

Respect!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bob Heine]

Chris, like most natural disasters, coming out the other side unscathed is wonderful but it also makes you appreciate what you have that much more.

 

[shortykorte]

All is safe, great news. I agree, the forest firefighters are definitely some heroes.

Now time to shake n bake on the other pieces.

 

[NedNorton]

PatStroud - First off, thanks for all the kind words and taking time to read through the thread. It has been fun to document the progress on the "Life Enjoyments". Life is way too short and filled with many things that we all have to do... I feel lucky to have time in my life to do some of the things that I want to do! The shop, and all it's projects, defiantly sit squarely in that corner.

Mac (rmack898) - I hope that I have the mill done before you start on the Brown & Sharpe. Kind of like the opening band coming on before the main show! Your machine restorations are terrific and I hope the you do thread on the next one so we all can get inspired and learn a few things.

Ody (ODIS) - We appreciate you checking in. Family is the important thing and we feel very fortunate. Even though it would be a huge pain and take a tremendous effort, the house, cars, bikes, etc. can all be replaced. How is the new project going?

Don (dhubbard422) - I was having lunch at the Whistler (Now Ned's cafe) today and overheard the folks one table over... They lost their place. Devastating. The community up here is rallying behind them and with a little luck they should be rebuilding soon.

HCNDM - Thanks for the good words on the family. Looking at the mill base, it got me thinking about why I didn't see much of a change... I guess it now looks like it should. Funny how all the work fades into the background and now it looks like it is supposed to. Like it just came off the production line. (There should be a support group for people like us. Oh wait, this is it.)
Anyway... The goal is that it works as good as it looks. There is a guy that does a scraping class in Michigan. I'm thinking of taking a week off and going. I need help.

Bob (Bob Heine) -

Chris, like most natural disasters, coming out the other side unscathed is wonderful but it also makes you appreciate what you have that much more.

Isn't that the truth! It makes you think, when you have to leave quickly and only get to take a few things... What is most important. We loaded the the pets, pictures (taken before digital), her wedding dress, a few clothes and one bicycle each (we have over 15). Not much else made the cut. Now that we are back... As much as I hate to think that "things" are important but if we had lost the house, maybe not the memories themselves would have been lost, but a part of our life would have been lost. Like a wise man said, "makes us appreciate all we have even more."

Shorty (shortykorte) - Getting after it as fast as a can. That pesky work thing has been showing it's ugly head again. Speaking of getting after it, how is the MaxJax install progressing?


Mill progress update

I've been working on some of the small castings whenever I can sneak a few hours in, as the knee is currently sitting in the degreasing bath for its finial clean before I tackle it. I said that the little parts should go faster. What I should have said is, one would think that the little parts would go faster. In reality it has been slow going filling and sanding in all those little hard to reach places.

All the castings are pretty rough and will need a coat of filler on every surface before they are ready for primer...


I'm using the Metal Glaze for this stuff. It goes on much more liquid than the regular filler and is ready to work in less than 5 minuets. You can feel the heat from the chemical reaction once you add the hardener.


Then the real fun begins. Sanding all the little spaces nice and smooth. Look at how sad that durablock looks knowing it is never going to be of any help.


On a more fun note... I talked to my buddy Michael (Tig welder from Mom's stairs) about a mobile base for this thing. He's got some time and he's in! (Didn't hurt that I'm building the leveling feet and making an extra set for his drill press ) I've been working on a design and think I'm getting close so we may have a little "Miller" time soon. Plus the feet will require some lathe action too. Should be fun.

Well... Thanks to all you guys who chimed in and checked on us during the last week. You not only keep me going on the shop but it was terrific to hear from you then also. Probably even more so.

On that note.

Thanks, as always, for reading the ramblings. I appreciate it.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[E12-535iTurbo]

I'm not posting much but I'm reading along with every post. I'm very glad the fire didn't reach your family or property and you're really doing an excellent OCD job on the mill. I'm a happy reader here.

Keep on posting!

 

[Huxley]

I might have stumbled upon a mobile base for you today. I was looking at a tool box from Craigslist and the guy has this machine mover. He was asking $300 for the pair. He dropped his price on the tool cabinet by 1/2 after I left so he seems motivated to negotiate / sell.

Let me know if you want it.

 

[NedNorton]

E12-535iTurbo - Thanks for stopping in and the good words for the family. Moving at my normal glacier pace, but it is showing signs of progress.

Huxley - Thanks for the link. I noticed that one on my almost daily scan of Craig's List. The base I'm building will be bolted to the mill. Thanks for thinking of me though. Nice to see that I'm not the only one who scans CL frequently!

Cheers,
Chris

 

[NedNorton]

Downhill Mountain Biking and Hockey Puck Machine Feet…

This last weekend was my wife and I’s wedding anniversary. How do you know you married the right one?

Me, a few weeks ago…“Hey babe, what do you want to do for our anniversary?” Her… “Lets go downhill mountain biking in Steamboat!”
Who am I to argue? So, we loaded up the bikes, packed up the car, and headed to Steamboat for a little us time. The weather was terrific and the riding was fun as always. If you have a chance I highly recommend it. Rent a big travel downhill bike, don the pads and pretend you’re in your 20’s (we are in our mid 40’s). If you are in your 20's... Ride it like you stole it! To the 40+ crowd... Drink lots of micro beer for the sore muscles. An added bonus (for the 40+)... The Bodeans were playing a free concert on the mountain.

Since I was still smiling from the weekend I figured why ruin the moment and decided to skip anything resembling sanding. One thing that has been on my mind lately is that getting the mill onto a mobile base will aid in well, moving the thing around. (Duh, captain obvious.) More to the point, having it mobile will make things easier during the rest of the refinish and assembly mostly by freeing up space to work. My buddy Michael and I are planning to weld that up later this week. The design has adjustable feet to level the mill and take the weight off the casters.

Sanding bad… Lathe work good...

I guess I could have just bought feet but what fun is that? Plus, I’m working on an easy way to level the mill with these using some shop made threaded adjusters with a couple of thrust bearings. First thing is first… $8 in hockey pucks (4@ $2 each).


Cutting off a chunk of 1045 Cold Rolled 3.5dia bar. I forgot that that all my band saw blades were shot so I had to finish this one the old fashion way.


Truing up the blank. Cold Rolled usually requires less than Hot Rolled. This was no exception. Plus, the CR finishes great with the carbide insert.


I did get myself a new parting tool holder recently that I was anxious to put to use. Just an FYI… The AXA (Small) sized parting tool isn’t great on 3.5dia steel (my technique is probably lacking to so YMMV). The blade is just to extended to be ridged enough. So much for that idea. Live and learn (I did mention that I am the equivalent of a kindergartner in the machinist world, right?). I’ll cut the rest of the blanks on the band saw.



Foot turned and ready to do the tapped holes.



I’m using 7/8-9 threaded rod for the shaft. It needs a ¼-20 threaded hole in the bottom to secure the hockey puck foot.



7/8-9 threads are at the size where I start to think about cutting the threads on the lathe but I have a set of good Greenfield 7/8-9 taps so I went that route.


The base also got a ¼-28 set screw hole.


In goes the 7/8 rod, threaded just a bit proud.


I chucked up a hockey puck in the lathe and drilled it for the ¼ bolt and relieved it just a bit with a 1” bit to accept the end of the rod.


¼ keeper-bolt in…


Attached to the foot. The ¼ bolt is there just to hold the puck when the foot is retracted.


Snug everything up and tighten up the set screw…


Quick comparison of the prototype foot compared to the factory foot on the lathe.


That is where the prototype sits now. I’m going to pick-up some more steel round bar (2 ¼) so I can work on the treaded adjusters tomorrow evening. McMaster tells me that the bearings will be here mid-week. I’m also kicking around the idea of getting some of the Caswell black Oxidizing liquid so these will be “finished” parts.

This falls squarely into the theme of “One Leveling Foot” at a time. Good thing that I find machining parts fun because if this one was any indication, I have a lot of "fun" ahead of me before all four are done.

Thanks as always for reading the ramblings. I appreciate it.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[bj383ss]

Wow that is overkill against the factory ones. But I like it. I need a metal lathe. HA.

Bret

 

[Huxley]

Huxley - Thanks for the link. I noticed that one on my almost daily scan of Craig's List. The base I'm building will be bolted to the mill. Thanks for thinking of me though. Nice to see that I'm not the only one who scans CL frequently!

Cheers,
Chris

I scan CL occasionally these days. I setup alerts for anything that I really want to buy. It usually e-mails me within minutes of someone posting a match to my search. Pretty helpful but dangerous. I picked up the Vidmar cabinet from that guy.

Warning - Good deals are guaranteed to pop up as soon as you travel out of the area.

We should go biking or get a beer sometime.

 

[NedNorton]

Wow that is overkill against the factory ones. But I like it. I need a metal lathe. HA.

Bret

Bret,
Watch out, making stuff on the lathe is addicting!

I scan CL occasionally these days. I setup alerts for anything that I really want to buy. It usually e-mails me within minutes of someone posting a match to my search. Pretty helpful but dangerous. I picked up the Vidmar cabinet from that guy.

Warning - Good deals are guaranteed to pop up as soon as you travel out of the area.

We should go biking or get a beer sometime.

I'm always up for a beer. Just let me know.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[Guster]

Anyway... The goal is that it works as good as it looks. There is a guy that does a scraping class in Michigan. I'm thinking of taking a week off and going. I need help.

Yeah help and lots of practise! I'm glad to see you are reconditioning the functionality and not just the cosmetics. A pretty girl... erm... I mean a pretty mill with lots of issues is only fun the first time.

I am slowly learning scraping myself. No 'classes' this side of the world. The hardest part is measuring and dimensioning wear against a reference. Scraping itself is rather easy. Unlike a crooked 2x4 were you can spot the deformity by eye it is often quite difficult to interpret the remediation of a casting by micrometer/DI readings and keep two working surfaces mating from a reference surface. Especially with these older mills which may not have been all that perfect to start. Heavy castings are also a lot more flexible than you may think.

 

[NedNorton]

Slow progress on the mobile base front but, I got the leveling foot prototype DONE!

I will apologize now; this post is going to have a “This is how it all goes together glacial-step-by-glacial-step” feel. It takes me so long to make these parts I figured I would take the time to document it. These adjustable feet have had me using a bunch of techniques on the lathe and I’m having fun doing it. I’ll be back to sanding filler soon enough.

This is an example of the base I’m going with(taken from PM). Mine will be out of 3x2-3/16 and will have a few small design changes to accommodate the leveling feet and 4” casters rated at 800lb each.


One complaint that this guy who built one of these had was that leveling the mill after moving it was a huge pain. My guess is that just using a few nuts and washers to adjust the feet, with the weight of the mill, wasn't working so great. My solution was to add some thrust bearings to the mix. With this design, I can turn the adjustment nut with a 1 ¼ wrench and the bearings should make raising and lowering a weighted foot easy.

The inside of the shaft/nut was threaded with a 7/8-9 tap to match the threaded rod. The exterior diameter of the shaft is 1 1/8 so I threaded the top of the shaft and bearing cap on the lathe (1 1/8-18).

Shaft chucked up… (the Aloris threading tool makes life easy)


A few passes later at 55rpm (Gotta love HSS. Carbide would not have been happy, too slow) …


The bearings and hardened washers came in from McMaster-Car. Each is good for 3500lbs +. Having all the parts in-hand got me motivated to put in a late night after work.

After a little more time in the shop last night I have all these (6 hours to be exact, 2am. Man, I'm slow at this stuff. ) …


Lower bearing and two hardened washers… (My thumbnail is just now growing back after I mashed it while working on the Cruiser frame. )


Cap/Bearing housing lower…


This next section sandwiches the 3/16 tube base. These will also have some holes drilled and tapped for some small screws connecting the top and bottom.


Upper bearing and washers…


Upper bearing cap with those cool lathe cut 1 1/8-18 threads…


Snugged up finger tight...


DONE!!!!!


I have to admit, it’s sitting on the corner of my desk and I’ve been spinning it every once in a while during work. It spins so Smooth!!!! I really do love making stuff.

There are still a few set screws to drill and tap for but I’m waiting until I have them in-hand so I don’t use the wrong tap. Because at this point, remaking a part due to a 1/4-28 when it should have been 1/4-20 would be a huge bummer and par for my luck as things go.

I'm kicking around the idea of finishing these with Caswell's black oxide kit. Anyone with any first hand experience using it?

If you are still awake, thanks! Next on the list is to make a few (3) more of these and find some time to go to my buddy's and weld up the frame.

Thanks for reading the ramblings.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[AZpilot]

You are all set for that Land Cruiser now!! Get on it!

 

[Grumblebum]

Chris, each of your posts is basically telling me I need to make room for a lathe, but I know there will have to be a mill in my future too at some point. Or maybe one of the combo units.

In the meantime please keep up your detailed posts, they are interesting to me at least so I can get a feel for the use of the tooling.

So now you need to make up another 18 hours to get the other 3 sets finished, that's a good bit of sanding procrastination at least

Mashed my thumb the same a while back and it's only just back to normal not long ago.

Thanks for sharing. GB.

 

[250]

Those are great looking feet. If the project turns out the way you're planning, perhaps you'd share the plans... You know, to enable the rest of to purchase more machinery.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Chris, fantastic work and attention to detail..

Regards

 

[dhubbard422]

Chris,

The machined foot was nice. Then you went and created an even nicer adjustable assembly for that foot ; after seeing the threads you cut, I think you may have been understating your machining skills...

I'm looking forward to seeing the finished dolly! Please let us know if the thrust washers appear to solve the friction problems!

Don

 

[ODIS]

What Don Said! There is some serious talent going on here! Beautiful!!!!!!

 

[NedNorton]

Yeah help and lots of practise! I'm glad to see you are reconditioning the functionality and not just the cosmetics. A pretty girl... erm... I mean a pretty mill with lots of issues is only fun the first time.

Guster - I hear ya. My intention is to get her back into a "Ready" state. A pretty machine tool that doesn't hold tolerance is nothing more than a paper weight; a very big paper weight. Before stripping the mill down, it did hold tolerances tight enough for the work I do but things weren't working properly. Mostly due to neglect. All the power feeds were in-op for one reason or another. Realistically, the old INDEX was headed to the scrap pile before I got it. Before hauling it home; I had cleaned a few things, made a few test cuts, and measured the wear on the ways. All came out well within acceptable limits.

I'm nervous to dive into any scraping until I've had some experience and some instruction. There will be new nuts for the x and y axis that, funny enough, I will need access to a mill to build so they will have to wait until its back together. Great when a tool can help fix it's self.

Thanks for stopping in.

AZpilot - Have you been talking to my brother-in-law? He has been prodding me to get the cruiser done so we can do some camping. It's looking more like the winter project since the mill is taking so much more time than expected. But, who knows? I may have tons of free time all of a sudden. Ha! Probably not!

Grumblebum - Thanks for the good words and taking an interest in the machine work. I'll continue to detail it knowing that someone is reading it and that I haven't been putting everyone to sleep. I'm hoping that it doesn't take another 18 hours but... I'm pokey on the lathe and there isn't much to do about it. Good news is that the parts are coming out +/- .001. All for machine feet. Not exactly the most dimension sensitive parts. Great practice though. When it comes to taking the plunge and getting machines, I'm in the buy used camp. Here in the states you can, if you are patient and with a little luck, get much more for your money buying used. I would also be very careful with most of the combo machines as they don't have the best reputation for accuracy. The lathe I use is an EMCO Maximat11 from Austria. It's a good machine. Lighter than the big guys but very accurate and my only wish would be that it was a 13 instead of an 11 for that rare time I need the added swing. If shop space is at a premium, quite a few of EMCOs came with a very good and usable mill head. When you start your search, I'd be excited to see what you guys have for machines in AUS.

Those are great looking feet. If the project turns out the way you're planning, perhaps you'd share the plans... You know, to enable the rest of to purchase more machinery.

250 - Once they are done the design is free game to all who may want it. Anything I can do to "help" with the addiction!

1/2 Cup - Thanks. It means a lot coming from someone with your attention to detail. I can only hope that the rest of the project measures up.

Chris,

The machined foot was nice. Then you went and created an even nicer adjustable assembly for that foot ;

Don

Don (dhubbard422) - Always great when I hear from you. On the feet and adjusters... I was taking lead and advise of a former Nederland resident currently residing in Texas, "If it's worth doing, it's worth over doing." Seriously though... Once the mill is in the base, the hope is that my heirs (hopefully a long time from now) will be rolling it out of the shop and the new owner will be using the same feet to level it in their shop.

ODIS - As always, I'm humbled. When work becomes challenging, as it always does, I pine for the days where I was actually building things instead of managing the build. Then reality sets in and I remind myself that with enough time and resources just about anything is possible. For me, that means that all the extra time makes great parts but there is no way I could survive on them. The mill will be back together when time permits and I'm enjoying the journey, immensely. Knowing that folks with as much talent and drive take time out of their days to read and follow along means a lot.

Thanks, everyone.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[BBChevro]

Hey Chris, I just caught up on the last page - that is mighty nice work on the hockey puck feet and the levelling legs.

You are a craftsman.

 

[Lyndon]

^^^^^^

+1 to what Mark said.

And - thanks for the package that arrived today. You sir, are a gentleman! (Oh, and a fine craftsman too).

I'll post about it on my thread in 15 minutes or so.

The stuff you're turning out is just magnificent! (And I hesitate to call it "stuff".... - it's brilliant).

I wish I had a tenth of your talent, and energy!

Lyndon
Blown away!

 

[NedNorton]

Mark (BBChevro) – Thanks for the compliment. I’m getting there on the machining front. Funny how making something a specific dia. really takes a lot of work. I’m just happy if my parts come out +/- .002.

^^^^^^

+1 to what Mark said.

And - thanks for the package that arrived today. You sir, are a gentleman! (Oh, and a fine craftsman too).


Lyndon
Blown away!

Glad that they made it! Enjoy. The NY and NJ plate came from my buddy. When I mentioned that you were collecting them and that I was sending a care package, he brought the others over.

Getting faster… Kind of like, 2nd to last turtle in the running race fast…

I put a little time in the shop last night after my wife went to bed.

I’m lacking a big horizontal band saw and am using my Milwaukee porta-band on a SWAG stand. It works ok and doesn’t take up much space. After this project I’m on the lookout for a used horizontal saw with coolant on Craig’s List. Folks here in Colorado aren’t giving them away so it may be a while for the right deal to come around. With my luck a great old, good quality saw, will come up that needs "just a little work". Just like the mill.


Cutting the blank from some 2.5” cold rolled 1018…


Truing up the blank and getting it to 2.25”… (live center keeping things spinning true)


One thing I haven’t touched on are the settings for the cuts. If anyone is interested: Carbide insert, 1100 rpm, .02” depth of cut- .04 dia change on the dial.

Carbide requires (for me at least) a higher RPM. At 1100 the finish is great. (the next step on my lathe is 2200, too fast for over 2") Check out the reflection of the tool!


The hole in the center of these parts is 1.128. I start with a 5/16 bit and progressively increase the drill size in steps to 1”. Once that is done I start working on the first part.

Turing the shoulder, work supported on both ends (I need to get a larger live center)...


After finishing the shoulder I cut the part of on the band saw then return to the lathe to finish the bore and finial dimensioning.




Fruits of the labor!!!


Only 6.5 hours combined to produce these… (yep, still glacier pace!)

Parts still to do…


I’m off to eat dinner with the wife and probably have a beer. For me, machine tools and beer fall into the accident waiting to happen category so…. I’ll try to sneak a few hours in tomorrow night.

Thanks, as always, for reading the ramblings.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[1/2 Cup]

Chris, slow and steady wins the race every time.

Likewise, I find electrical work and beers don't mix either.

Top job.

Regards

 

[Lyndon]

Glad that they made it! Enjoy. The NY and NJ plate came from my buddy. When I mentioned that you were collecting them and that I was sending a care package, he brought the others over.

Chris

Well thank your buddy for me. Most appreciated. Now I just need to get my **** organised to get them mounted. Then I'll post up pics.

(That'll get Simon (Hotfr8) off my back too).....

Lyndon
Wine o'clock here, and no shed to make chips in - even if I had the energy....