.Finished pics
Gorgeous work!
The Machine Work Thread
- Thread starter Hephaestus29
- Start date
Gorgeous work!
DocsMachine
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2006
- Messages
- 1,844
-Still doing all kinds of things!
Comics, machinework, muscle cars, photography... Oh yeah, and the paintball thing. Not that I want to, you know, brag or anything.
Doc.
EdT
Well-known member
Beautiful lathe!!! What did you refinish it with??
-Still doing all kinds of things!
Not that I want to, you know, brag or anything.
Doc.
Is paintball still really that big? Seems to me like it died down from what it was ~10 years ago.
Or is it that those that are really serious are still in it, but not too many weekend players are starting up?DocsMachine
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2006
- Messages
- 1,844
Is paintball still really that big? Seems to me like it died down from what it was ~10 years ago.
-Well, at the risk of derailing this thread, yes and no.
Like most businesses/industries, the sport took a pretty big hit in the Recession of 2007-2008. At least a couple fairly large companies went belly-up, and I'd bet general participation fell by at least a third.
But, that was a third of some 15 million players a year. A big hit, sure, but not fatal.
We're not yet back up to pre-Recession numbers (then again, who is?) but things are definitely on an (admittedly weak, but definite) upswing.
Speaking personally, prior to the Recession, I did basically nothing but paintball work, and had more business than I could handle, with months-long waiting lists. Post Recession, I had to branch out into general machining and repairs just to keep the lights on- hey, I make what are basically toys. It's one the first things a kid's gonna drop if it comes down to food and rent, or playing a game.
And since then, the percentages have varied widely- for a few years there, the majority of my work was general/repair, but at the moment, I'm probably back up to about two-thirds being paintball work.
More generally speaking, yes, there's more than a few companies that make several million a year in sales of just paintball gear, with at least three or four knocking on the door of $100M a year. It's no longer a niche market, and hasn't been for well over a decade.
Doc.
NewShockerGuy
Well-known member
Is paintball still really that big? Seems to me like it died down from what it was ~10 years ago.
I feel like it dropped off a LOT. Back when I was doing it say at least 10 years ago it was all about customizations. It was mind boggling what could be done/changed/modified so that your marker WAS one of a kind. Doc did some amazing things from Angels, Autocockers, Automagas, Shockers...etc. The list is unreal. He was one of the few that actually did awesome work and completely custom at a pretty affordable price. Then the industry started to change, well known and awesome companies went belly up. KAPP, Adrenalin, Cobra..etc. All awesome companies that had solid customer service and solid product. I noticed to that manufactures no longer really offered plain jane markers for the end user to customize, they were already coming from the factory with crazy anodizing jobs but the "aftermarket" type accessories were dying off quickly. At that point I lost interest, the whole industry changed and for me it wasn't worth it anymore. I like to look at it that I played when it was at it's greatest and highest point
I still own my Cobra Angel LCD that I bought and paid $2k for... now if you can find one they are going for 200 bucks, same with Adrenalin and LCD's... to me I'd rather keep this forever knowing the memories I had with it and my team than to sell it and have some jackass bastardize it by swapping boards and drilling into it...etc.
-Well, at the risk of derailing this thread, yes and no.
Like most businesses/industries, the sport took a pretty big hit in the Recession of 2007-2008. At least a couple fairly large companies went belly-up, and I'd bet general participation fell by at least a third.
But, that was a third of some 15 million players a year. A big hit, sure, but not fatal.
We're not yet back up to pre-Recession numbers (then again, who is?) but things are definitely on an (admittedly weak, but definite) upswing.
Speaking personally, prior to the Recession, I did basically nothing but paintball work, and had more business than I could handle, with months-long waiting lists. Post Recession, I had to branch out into general machining and repairs just to keep the lights on- hey, I make what are basically toys. It's one the first things a kid's gonna drop if it comes down to food and rent, or playing a game.
And since then, the percentages have varied widely- for a few years there, the majority of my work was general/repair, but at the moment, I'm probably back up to about two-thirds being paintball work.
More generally speaking, yes, there's more than a few companies that make several million a year in sales of just paintball gear, with at least three or four knocking on the door of $100M a year. It's no longer a niche market, and hasn't been for well over a decade.
Doc.
Yep agree for sure! I just went to your page and catching up on all the PB stuff you have posted... Still love your work so much!!! I like watching people mill and fabricate things because it blows my mind the attention to detail and skill level that is needed, but I think your stuff hits a special point with me because you were in the PB scene when it was at it's peak doing things no other person or company was doing.
Keep posting your stuff!! I miss seeing it all!
-Nigel
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Hephaestus29
Well-known member
DoAll Blade Guide Modification
How I saved myself 1100.00 dollars.
Yes I called DoAll and they said I could still buy the blade guides, but at 1100 plus dollars that would be considerably more than I paid for the saw. I told the guy that was more than I paid for the saw, he said somehow I knew you were going to say that. LOL
So I asked him if he could send me dimensions or blueprints so I could make my own he said no way. He did send me a drawing though but it didn't really tell me anything.
So I started looking at the ones I had and they all appear to be 3/16ths - 1/4 blade guides and then I looked at some I saw on ebay and compared them. There didn't appear to be much difference but I did see one or two that were considerably not as deep front to back as mine. So I decided to just modify mine.
I had to mill the face and the steps on the lower, I removed .200 but it wasn't quite enough, so I took about another .0625 off
by milling down/spot facing the area underneath the roller bearing "I did it this way because it was extremely time consuming getting these cast pieces indicated in upside down good enough to machine." the bushing sits way proud of the casting anyway.
Then I also removed .050 from each insert mounting location. I did this because even with a bolt holding them in place it just seemed like there wasn't enough side wall there to keep them securely in place on a part that was made for 3/16 or 14 inserts.
For the upper I did pretty much the same thing, removed .200 off the back, but I didn't have to remove as much from underneath the roller bearing or insert mounting locations. In addition, I had to redo to counterbores on the upper.
I also had to file a few flat spots to get them to stay in the vise a little better, even though I did use some copper wire.
One thing I forgot to mention was the reason for this modification. I got a 3/4" blade but I only had 3/16ths - 1/4" blade guides. I figured, how many of those do I need, I had an extra set.
How I saved myself 1100.00 dollars.
Yes I called DoAll and they said I could still buy the blade guides, but at 1100 plus dollars that would be considerably more than I paid for the saw. I told the guy that was more than I paid for the saw, he said somehow I knew you were going to say that. LOL
So I asked him if he could send me dimensions or blueprints so I could make my own he said no way. He did send me a drawing though but it didn't really tell me anything.
So I started looking at the ones I had and they all appear to be 3/16ths - 1/4 blade guides and then I looked at some I saw on ebay and compared them. There didn't appear to be much difference but I did see one or two that were considerably not as deep front to back as mine. So I decided to just modify mine.
I had to mill the face and the steps on the lower, I removed .200 but it wasn't quite enough, so I took about another .0625 off
by milling down/spot facing the area underneath the roller bearing "I did it this way because it was extremely time consuming getting these cast pieces indicated in upside down good enough to machine." the bushing sits way proud of the casting anyway.
Then I also removed .050 from each insert mounting location. I did this because even with a bolt holding them in place it just seemed like there wasn't enough side wall there to keep them securely in place on a part that was made for 3/16 or 14 inserts.
For the upper I did pretty much the same thing, removed .200 off the back, but I didn't have to remove as much from underneath the roller bearing or insert mounting locations. In addition, I had to redo to counterbores on the upper.
I also had to file a few flat spots to get them to stay in the vise a little better, even though I did use some copper wire.
One thing I forgot to mention was the reason for this modification. I got a 3/4" blade but I only had 3/16ths - 1/4" blade guides. I figured, how many of those do I need, I had an extra set.
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Hephaestus29
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Jim Johnstone
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Kind of a ****** picture, but this is a headset and bottom bracket bearing press I made for working on my many bikes.
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Hephaestus29
Well-known member
I make Ring Gears at work, but we're
not allowed to take pictures. You can
see some on ebay though. Just look up
P1 or P 2 or P3 ring gears for Allison transmission.
not allowed to take pictures. You can
see some on ebay though. Just look up
P1 or P 2 or P3 ring gears for Allison transmission.
OP
Hephaestus29
Well-known member
I just posted my first video on youtube. WARNING: it's a bit lengthy, I need to work on my narrating and editing skills but here it is, It's entitled: DoAll Blade Guide Modifications
OP
Hephaestus29
Well-known member
I bought this off ebay a year or so ago, it seems to be in good shape except for the box smelling like cat urine.
It was only about half the price of the Holdridge cutters and seems to be just about as beefy.
I'm just now getting around to setting it up and cutting with it.
The aluminum base it's mounted to will need to be faced about a 1/4" to bring it down to center line on my machine.
If anyone can identify this radii cutter you get brownie points.
It was only about half the price of the Holdridge cutters and seems to be just about as beefy.
I'm just now getting around to setting it up and cutting with it.
The aluminum base it's mounted to will need to be faced about a 1/4" to bring it down to center line on my machine.
If anyone can identify this radii cutter you get brownie points.
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Hephaestus29
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Hephaestus29
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Dennis Leigh Henry
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Another new-to-me thread I'll have to plow back thru... Sunny day here but cold outside... Hummmm...
OccupantRJ
Well-known member
I have a couple of 20" Delta bandsaws that each had a missing upper blade guide. I had several of the DoAll blade guide you pictured, so I also modified them and made mounts for the saws.
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Hephaestus29
Well-known member
Put up some pictures.
OccupantRJ
Well-known member
I have to wait until I am back in the shop, as for some reason I did not take any when it was done.
racer-john
Well-known member
@llp Re: post 223 and 242 pictures did not show.
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Hephaestus29
Well-known member
I'm in the market for a Swivel Base for my Kurt 688 I'm in Indianapolis IN.
If anyone has one they want to part with at a reasonable price, let me know. Thanks H.
If anyone has one they want to part with at a reasonable price, let me know. Thanks H.
mtechgunman
Well-known member
This thread is definitely relevant to my interests!
Leblond 15x60 Lathe
Kearney & Trecker No 2 Rotary Head Mill
I'm doing some gunsmithing work with the leblond. Or trying to! I chambered my first rifle up yesterday.
Subscribed!
Leblond 15x60 Lathe
Kearney & Trecker No 2 Rotary Head Mill
I'm doing some gunsmithing work with the leblond. Or trying to! I chambered my first rifle up yesterday.
Subscribed!
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raddksn
Well-known member
that's some nice work!My dad needed a new cable-drum for his antique clock. This is the old setup:
But the drum crushed and solder came apart:
I wanted the new one to be supported (contact the shaft) at both ends without relying on being soldered to the ratchet-ring to hold it up, but I also don't want it to be solid brass for weight reasons. My solution was two hollow ends pressed together:
Turned down as needed then for style points I put a radius in each end hill-billy style (big hss Weldon style ball-endmill held in a toolholder)
Drilled a couple 1/8" holes and tapped one so that a small set-screw acts as a cable clamp, and it's ready to solder on!
MUCH more solid.
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ez-duzit
Well-known member
At 72-years old, I'm only just now learning to be a machinist. Though I've used my ancient Index Super 55 mill on a few slots, this is my first complex fabrication done mostly on the mill.
It is an aluminum boom end fitting for a 30' sailboat. Corners have been rounded to minimize personal injury and protect against line chafe. For scale, the rounded feature fits inside a 4" OD boom. The 2" plastic sheaves were purchased (only 2 installed for photo)--everything else I fab'd, myself. Sheaves will handle out-hall plus 2 reef lines.
The sheave axle is 1/2" stainless bar whose end I turned down on the lathe for a press fit in the stainless end cap, before tig welding and then polishing. The cap sits partially in a shallow, milled slot to prevent the shaft from turning. The screw only prevents the shaft from falling out.
The project really pointed out some shortcomings in my tooling/setup and especially in my fledgling technique.
It is an aluminum boom end fitting for a 30' sailboat. Corners have been rounded to minimize personal injury and protect against line chafe. For scale, the rounded feature fits inside a 4" OD boom. The 2" plastic sheaves were purchased (only 2 installed for photo)--everything else I fab'd, myself. Sheaves will handle out-hall plus 2 reef lines.
The sheave axle is 1/2" stainless bar whose end I turned down on the lathe for a press fit in the stainless end cap, before tig welding and then polishing. The cap sits partially in a shallow, milled slot to prevent the shaft from turning. The screw only prevents the shaft from falling out.
The project really pointed out some shortcomings in my tooling/setup and especially in my fledgling technique.
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Hephaestus29
Well-known member
Nice work, post a picture of it installed.
MBfreak
MEMBER EMERITUS
ez-duzit.
Greatjob, looks very well made. Kudos
Good luck with the sailing.
Ola
Greatjob, looks very well made. Kudos
Good luck with the sailing.
Ola
Great job EZ, i thought i was doing good with my first complex fabrication on a lathe when i made the speed adapter for my drill press this week, looks like I need to aim higher!
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ez-duzit
Well-known member
Thanks fellas. It was a great challenge for me. And I made a lot of mistakes. But building it taught me a lot and filled me with satisfaction that I could teach myself these new skills, at my age.
Plus it gave me chance to try out my rotary table.
Edit to add that this will now likely go to the anodizer, for vapor hone and hard black anodize, before installation.
Plus it gave me chance to try out my rotary table.
Edit to add that this will now likely go to the anodizer, for vapor hone and hard black anodize, before installation.
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Wes J
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Wes J
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Hephaestus29
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Wes J
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Yes I am line boring the loader arms on the Bobcat. I built the line boring machine and you can see the components of it in one of the other pictures.
In the first post there are some parts of a camera rig, bearing spindles, and a small stainless part for a guitar slide. The other things are machining fixtures and assembly tools I designed and built.
The second post has a few tools I designed and built. The other thing is a winch drum I machine. I'm quite proud of those. The groove was a real challenge to program.
In the first post there are some parts of a camera rig, bearing spindles, and a small stainless part for a guitar slide. The other things are machining fixtures and assembly tools I designed and built.
The second post has a few tools I designed and built. The other thing is a winch drum I machine. I'm quite proud of those. The groove was a real challenge to program.
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Hephaestus29
Well-known member
Where do you get the miniature bolt down clamps ? I've seen other people use them, I'm wanting some for a project I might start in the future. Nice work.
Wes J
Well-known member
You mean the toggle clamps? Those are Destaco clamps and I probably got them from McMaster Carr. Carr Lane also has a nice selection but they don't keep very good stock.