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

That's some exciting stuff, wachuko. I'm really kicking myself for not bringing an anvil back from Europe, I guess I got so used to seeing listings for 100 kg Peddinghaus anvils for EUR 200 and figured I could pick one up anytime- that was a dumb thing to assume, especially here on the west coast. But that's not why I'm posting.

Over the years, I have made do with limited space. I operated out of a cargo container in my back yard for a long time, and have had two places with single car garages in the mean time. I found the key to making tools useful was to make them mobile. My best pedestal tool is a vise. I also have pedestal grinders, belt, disc, and stone type on moveable pillars. My band saws come out and get slid back when they're done, and I even had a pedestal mount arbor press at one time...

Pedestal tools that aren't bolted down can be dragged around the shop, or out into the driveway. Metal fab is dirty work, so I like being able to move to a place where shooting sparks and grit everywhere isn't an issue for my nicer indoor tools. Plow discs welded to the bottom of the pedestal work best, but 3- or even 4-legged feet work too.

Years of doing this have changed the way I work. Moveable tools get used more than fixed ones, ceteris paribus.
 
pontiac428 said:
That's some exciting stuff, wachuko. I'm really kicking myself for not bringing an anvil back from Europe, I guess I got so used to seeing listings for 100 kg Peddinghaus anvils for EUR 200 and figured I could pick one up anytime- that was a dumb thing to assume, especially here on the west coast. But that's not why I'm posting.

Over the years, I have made do with limited space. I operated out of a cargo container in my back yard for a long time, and have had two places with single car garages in the mean time. I found the key to making tools useful was to make them mobile. My best pedestal tool is a vise. I also have pedestal grinders, belt, disc, and stone type on moveable pillars. My band saws come out and get slid back when they're done, and I even had a pedestal mount arbor press at one time...

Pedestal tools that aren't bolted down can be dragged around the shop, or out into the driveway. Metal fab is dirty work, so I like being able to move to a place where shooting sparks and grit everywhere isn't an issue for my nicer indoor tools. Plow discs welded to the bottom of the pedestal work best, but 3- or even 4-legged feet work too.

Years of doing this have changed the way I work. Moveable tools get used more than fixed ones, ceteris paribus.
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Thank you.

In the new garage, yes, everything will be on wheels. Moveable tools get used more than fixed ones, I agree!!!

That post and cheap vise stays there in the main garage. Next to the workbench. I just needed something fixed and sturdy. Installing the vise on the bench was not going to work... The 20-Ton press and the 3-Ton arbor press are not staying there, those go into the new shop space. Remember that I promised my wife that she would be able to park the car (after 30 years) inside the garage... So the double side of the garage is for her (well, minus the space where the two workbenches are... )

Already put it to use for holding the flat stock while drilling the holes... and for bending those to shape.
 
pontiac428 said:
Especially when you factor in the cost of the single-use epoxy, or the frustration of trying to clamp a long piece of work that the wall or neighboring tools are preventing.

Friends don't let friends use junk.
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My biggest reason is that I load everything in and out of a tractor trailer for each film I‘m employed on, sometimes 3x a year! Even when we do get set up the shop is very fluid, the key tools get moved to the work!
 
Back to the silver brazing, I've done a bunch with 45% silver braze and black flux. It's super strong, but you have to get both parts glowing red before the braze melts.

Here's a project I've had in my list for a long time - a 4" riser block for my 6*26 Grizzly knee mill
IMG20230726185541.jpgIMG20230727112139.jpgIMG20230727112342.jpgIMG20230727132538.jpgIMG20230727132517.jpg
And the full thread is here
Riser block
 
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