2017 POTD Thread Archive

[BGHansen]

Been meaning for a while to make a catch pan for clearing the area under the table of my 4-ton sheet metal notcher. I've usually pushed debris out with a chunk of stock, time for a better solution.

Pretty simple sheet metal tray made from 26-gauge galvanized that was on hand. Cut the blank to size on my Tennsmith shear, notched the corners with the aforementioned 4-ton notcher and folded up the sides with a Diacro brake. Clean up is a snap, just slide the tray out and dump.

Bruce

 

[hman]

Ain't it fun using a tool to make its own accessories?

 

[pstemari]

Finished up the die holder for my lathe tailstock. Damned knurler gave my quad-tracked knurls on the top roll, although the bottom roll worked correctly.

 

[T Bredehoft]

No fair, showing off your Gerstner tool box. I had to get along with Kennedys, couldn't buy Gerstners and food for the children too.

Die holder looks great, though.

 

[BGHansen]

POTD was making an adapter for a Strippit die for my Roper Whitney #218 punch press. Roper Whitney dies are 1 ¼”, 2 1/8” and 2 ¾” diameter (for the #218 press). I have a project that needs a 1/16” x 3/8” rectangular punch. I’ve done the work in the past using a 1/16” x 0.325” but it requires two hits. A seller on eBay has a large selection of Strippit punches and dies for $10. They had a 1/16” x 0.395” punch which will work perfectly, so for a total of $17.05 including shipping I was an owner.

The Strippit die is 1.875” diameter, punch is ½” diameter. So the die requires an adapter to use it in the R-W press. Grabbed a mystery metal 3” round, faced and turned it to 2.75”. I was getting a bright, shiny finish while turning so I suspect the metal is 4140 or something similar. Lots of blue chips, was worried about hardening the round while machining so turned on my Grizzly G0709 coolant. I like the coolant feature, but it is messy!

Cut off the round once to proper diameter on the band saw, then back to the lathe for facing and boring. Then to the mill to drill/tap a set screw hole to lock the die into the adapter.

The punch was about 4” too long. So on to the chop saw. I wrapped a wet rag on the punch’s working end to protect it from heat. After cutting to length, dressed up the cut-off end on the belt sander.

The punch and die work like a dream! My project will be punches slots in chipboard about 0.050” thick, so getting clean holes in 0.036” sheet metal tells me it’ll work fine.

Bruce

 

[Tony Wells]

New project about to start. This is the carcass I have to build on:


It is all manual at this point, and not sure it runs. The idea will be to set up a PLC control to make it at least semi-auto. One of many projects that are starting to stack up.

 

[extropic]

Tony,
I imagine you know what it is (besides a project carcass). Is it a secret or do you plan to tell us?

 

[JimDawson]

New project about to start. This is the carcass I have to build on:


It is all manual at this point, and not sure it runs. The idea will be to set up a PLC control to make it at least semi-auto. One of many projects that are starting to stack up.

Wood Splitter?

 

[f350ca]

Don't know what it is Tony but I like it. Who can't like anything with a diesel in it.

Greg

 

[Tony Wells]

Firewood processor, cut to length. Building a splitter to go along with it. Sorry for the bad pics, only had my phone and the lighting was not too good. Will get some better shots as the project goes. Has hydraulic conveyor, hydraulic clamps, hydraulic motor for the chainsaw. That's what the diesel is all about.

No pics, but have a diesel water pump at the shop too. Used for bulk water transfer, often for frac-water, but this is going on a farm for irrigation. Just going through the pump and resealing it. Runs fine, John Deere industrial engine. A little loud, so hunting a muffler for it today.I think it has a 6" inlet and 8" outlet. Or could be both 6".....have not measured. When I get it done I have a couple of ponds I will move back and forth for a day or two before sending it out for the summer.