What Did You Buy Today?

[woodchucker]

If you need indicators for that tramming tool and can wait a few weeks until I get back to SC, I have some really nice Mitotuyo 0.01mm (0.0004") balance indicators that would be perfect for it for not much money

that's a good reminder for me to empty out some of the heavy stuff from my bench drawers before we move.

If you need some slides I have some ball bearing slides that might fit. Yours for the price of postage.

yep, the best way to move heavy stuff is to build a crate for it, and if you're having someone move you, put some skids on it so it can be forklifted or a pallet jack can get under it. But it should be tied down in the crate so it doesn't move.

Jamies drawers look bent heavily. It's a shame.

 

[682bear]

I took wifey junk store shopping today... the second store we stopped at had a fair amount of old tools. A few of them followed me home.

A Millers Falls corner brace...



This brace may not be something I'll ever use, but it was just too cool to pass up.

A Pexto hand shear...



A Starrett 013½ vise...



And a Keller-Jefferson power hacksaw...





It's missing half of the vise... I don't know if it runs at all, but it was cheap enough to be 'something to tinker with'...

-Bear

 

[Dhal22]

Recently picked up my first mill. A Bolton Tools ZX32GP (A ZX32G with a power feed standard) which is similar to a PM-727M. It isn't anything special, but the price was right and it came with a few accessories such as a stand, clamping kit, vise, set of end mills, two axis DRO kit (not installed), parallels, ER collet adapter. As I understand it, the previous owner purchased it years ago and passed away. This seems further supported by the fact the mill had no feet installed for the stand, and the vise only opens an inch or so due to the leadscrew being bent. That vise should have been returned.

Some notable items:

• The column to base connection was covered with Bondo when it was being finished. No seam is visible for tramming the column if needed.
• The leadscrews appear to be true inch.
• The ways are all flaked. Machining on the ways leaves a lot to be desired.
• It came with some plastic shield that flips out of the way when making tool changes. It has a safety switch that forces you to close the shield. I pulled that off and will see about disabling the switch. If anything, it may be a good spindle lock safety if I go that route one day.
• With the help of HM, I ordered a Tegara 440V vise as a replacement.
• I have some leveling casters on the way along with some collets, clamping bolts for the X,Y,Z axis (Y axis ones are missing), Edge Technology indicator holder for tramming,

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I don’t get the idea of using bondo at the factory.

 

[woodchucker]

I don’t get the idea of using bondo at the factory.

not sure why? my war time South Bend 9 had some kind of filler. I don't know if it was bondo, but it was bondo like. On the inside of the bed.
they are trying to make it look nice. Casting can be real ugly.

 

[matthewsx]

I don’t get the idea of using bondo at the factory.

Hate to say it but for a Bolton machine just be happy if the ways aren’t made from bondo.

And yes, very common for machine finishing by many manufacturers.

John

 

[Papa Charlie]

not sure why? my war time South Bend 9 had some kind of filler. I don't know if it was bondo, but it was bondo like. On the inside of the bed.
they are trying to make it look nice. Casting can be real ugly.

The manufacturers of old use to smooth out bondo for appearances. A product of the craftsmanship of the day. If you ever watch Vintage Machinery on YouTube you will see this when Keith is restoring old iron.

 

[rwm]

It is common for castings to have surface defects that are not structural. This could be due to sand inclusions, dross, or entrained air. After inspection, it is hard to justify scrapping a casting if the defect is cosmetic and that area will be painted anyway. Hence Bondo! I have used it in my castings.

 

[mmcmdl]

Couple things from my Uncle's shed . My son pulled out close to 300 lbs of copper wire , so he was quite happy . I'll put some time into these Lawn Boys but if no luck , I'll pull those magnesium decks off and throw them on the fire pit . They'll see it from space .

 

[JustBen]

If you need indicators for that tramming tool and can wait a few weeks until I get back to SC, I have some really nice Mitotuyo 0.01mm (0.0004") balance indicators that would be perfect for it for not much money

I appreciate it. I got the tramming tool that goes in a 3/8 collet and uses a single indicator for the sweep. I have a test indicator that should work for that purpose.

 

[Larry$]

The manufacturers of old use to smooth out bondo for appearances.

Long ago I redid a Dodds dovetail machine from the late 1800s. I took it to the local sandblaster to get it free of layers of paint. The casting had big holes, defects al over it. Took more than a gallon of Bondo to slick it up. I suspect one of the reasons old machines weigh so much is to make up for the poor castings.