POTD- PROJECT OF THE DAY: What Did You Make In Your Shop Today?

I used a vacation day yesterday, and spent some shop time.
I recently took a chance on a used wire welder, and found the chinees plastic pinch wheel lever wasn't up to the task. So I made up a replacement out of aluminum. Cut entirely on my Atlas lathe even. Discovered the limitations of the milling attachment. :)

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I think he is referring to putting a long fine point on it, versus a punch point. Fine might snap.

I bought four of these "IMT carbide scribes" from amazon. They have a superfine point that ends in tiny facets. The carbide tip is like a needle being held in a mechanical pencil, very little of the carbide point projects. They came with spare points, so I have eight good carbide scribe tips, and in four years of ham-fisted engraving with the things, I have yet to break one of their ultra angel-hair like points.

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pontiac428 said:
I think he is referring to putting a long fine point on it, versus a punch point. Fine might snap.

I bought four of these "IMT carbide scribes" from amazon. They have a superfine point that ends in tiny facets. The carbide tip is like a needle being held in a mechanical pencil, very little of the carbide point projects. They came with spare points, so I have eight good carbide scribe tips, and in four years of ham-fisted engraving with the things, I have yet to break one of their ultra angel-hair like points.

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Where the heck were you this morning!!!????

I could have purchase 6!! 6!!! of those for what I paid for the one I ordered... I need to stop with the impulse buys...
 
wachuko said:
Where the heck were you this morning!!!????

I could have purchase 6!! 6!!! of those for what I paid for the one I ordered... I need to stop with the impulse buys...
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Exactly! I figured I could buy ONE Starrett, or a dozen of these. Now I have one in every tool box in the shop. And this weekend, I was still cussing over having to walk across the room for one. Better order ten.
 
pontiac428 said:
Exactly! I figured I could buy ONE Starrett, or a dozen of these. Now I have one in every tool box in the shop. And this weekend, I was still cussing over having to walk across the room for one. Better order ten.
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I just buy them at the hardware store locally. I've been trying to saturate this place with tape measures, I buy two every time I think about it. I'm almost to the point where one is handy when I need it! lol.

This is my 'hand drawing' scriber. Wit the rounded end, it's easier to write or draw on a part without a straight edge.
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In the shop tonight, the old Sheldon is leveled out (mostly). Had a battle with the bed having a sag in it. After two days of messing around, and thinking about it, I realized the chip pan must be loading up on the bed somehow. So, lifted the tail end with a engine hoist, loosened the cabinet screws, and scraped the old paint away from the interfaces. Then with the tail end in the air, slowly tightened the screws until the cabinet was drawn up, pinching the chip pan in place. Set it back down, and the bow was gone! The bow in the bed was a couple of thou per foot. Now it's on the order of a couple of tenths per foot (as best I can interpolate the level to). I'll let it sit for a few days an attempt a final leveling. Things seem to be moving slightly yet.

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Cut a sample. It's the first time this lathe hasn't cut a taper since I've owned it! The rebuilder said the bed was worn about .015", and the carriage was worn about the same. 'Splains why I couldn't ever get it level. Decided against paint. It really isn't horrible, and I sort of like the patina. It's a working machine, so if it's too pretty I'd be afraid to use it! lol. Those scraped ways look so darn nice!

Next, I really need to get a lathe test bar. I believe the headstock is MT4. It measures ~1.23 inches on the big end. Import test bars are on the order of $50 or so for an MT4. Might just try one. (Probably a beg forgiveness from the wife sort of situation...)

Dan
 
At quitting time at work the fabrication manager says don't go yet I have a little job for you. That means overnight service. This is a tool use to push out 30" long pieces of thin wall tubing. The provided stock is 3/4" od 1018 (Yuk). I don't have an outboard spider, so I used a steady to get a centre hole, then used the live centre and the steady to do the turning. (Belt and suspenders) I have had this lathe about 6 or 7 years and can count on one hand the times I have been working out this far on the bed. I actually had a very serious incident; I was concentrating on setting up way out on the tail stock end (about 30 inches from the chuck) and when I thought I was ready I started the spindle .... Chuck key flies, work starts bouncing around not only was the key in the chuck, but the chuck wasn't nearly tight on the work, so the work is bouncing around in the three jaw. I was very lucky I didn't get hit or have the work start twisting.

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I did manage to get the job done. I put two "pushing ends" on each tool Bottom left of lower photo shows a sample of the pipe to be pushed out. Lousy finish due to 1018 and necessarily slow rpm. Smallest diameter at the end allows for some mushrooming before the tool becomes unusable. Couple of enjoyable hours in the shop and 3 seconds of terror. :) Be extra aware when you're doing unusual setups on your equipment.



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glad you were ok. A good rule of thumb is to only have the chuck key in the chuck when your hand is on it. Having a handy (ha!) place to put it when it's not in your hand is a good idea, makes sticking to the rule easier.
 
mattthemuppet2 said:
glad you were ok. A good rule of thumb is to only have the chuck key in the chuck when your hand is on it. Having a handy (ha!) place to put it when it's not in your hand is a good idea, makes sticking to the rule easier.
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Doug Gray.jpg

This is a perfect example of how it only take an instant of inattention for a safety hazard to result in a dangerous incident.
 
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