Shop Made Tools

[WmRMeyers]

Hahahaha Bill;

It get's very interesting trying to build handrails in my shop with all that 'extra' empty space

Eventually, I'll add an extra shop connected to the back, sorta forming an L-shape (due to property constraints), that should provide the room needed for a Vertical Machining Center. I even have the OK from the wife! That's always a bonus and hasn't always been the case over the years

Glenn

I've got about 600sq.ft. of an 1800sq. ft. house, and still have two kids at home. I have the "back porch" which floods when it rains hard, and what used to be the garage, and includes a laundry room. Using that to my advantage, too. Gonna have a utility sink (installed with drain) and someday running water without disconnecting a hose from the washer.

When I got the back porch about 5 years ago, it was literally wall to wall and floor to ceiling with boxes of stuff. Some of the stuff moved to one of three sheds outside, including my tablesaw. It's in the yard now while I'm cutting bench parts, then moves back inside. Cast-iron top will be my "surface plate" and assembly area. Bench legs are cut, gotta notch them, and rearrange things inside so I can start putting the bench together. Get legs and rails up, and I'll use an old steel door for a temporary top while I laminate the 2x4 top.

The "garage" was my eldest daughter's bedroom until she joined the Navy about a year ago. I've been paring down the crap, and getting some good stuff, building my strength. Got two of the bench legs semi-finished now, cut, notched, but not cleaned up. Two more to go, then a little cleanup with a chisel and/or surform rasp, then a little drilling and bolting, and I'll have the frame. May be next weekend before I get to work on the top. 18 2x4's on edge, glued on the long/wide side, and 1/2" all-thread at both ends and the middle to clamp things together. Plus a bunch of cheap clamps and a couple 3/4" pipe clamps while the glue dries. I'm looking at using some of the 4x4 material for the top rails, where the vises will be mounted, to give them more wood to attach to.

You know, I think workshops are like book cases. The space expands arithmetically, while the stuff expands logarithmically, or even exponentially. Been my experience, anyway.

Bill in OKC

Well, make that two legs are finished, and two I either need to learn how to weld wood, or remake. Dado's for one set of rails are on the opposite side from where they need to be. Fortunately, I've got a couple more 4x4's, but out of time tonight. Good night, all! Thanks for the inspiration. I have had a WONDERFUL day working on my shop.

[gdavis2265]

I hope I didn't already post this one, but dang, I love it so much.

It's super stout, so it basically gives me all the leverage I ever need (unlike the cheap-o Enco ones) and no need to use the original one.

Also, with the mass, it can be spun quickly with one finger and keeps momentum.

I was in a rush to build it a few years back and was quite sloppy when I did. I wish I would have spent more time on it because it's a guys main interface 90% of the time on a mill.

I'm really learning to slow down and take the time to make great parts. The surface grinder helps me with this mindset. Oh, and I just discovered how great Scotchbrite wheels are! Man, wish I would have found those years ago.

Thanks.

[gdavis2265]

Well,

I finally had a couple of jobs for 1/2" plate. I edge start it by drawing a small tail on the part to be burned. Finally got my settings correct - this was burned at 45 amps at 19 ipm. The curf looks really nice and the slag just knocks off.

My first try at cutting 1/2" I destroyed a brand new electrode, nozzle and shield! Dang, that cost a few bucks - The Hypertherm book said to cut 1/2" at 20 ipm, so in my wisdom I used 15 ipm and ruined the entire lot. :0

Here are some weld table clamps that I build this weekend:

[_Paul_]

You can never have too many of these, so made a couple more










Paul

[_Paul_]

Made a new thin parting tool today:









Paul

[Nightshift]

Very nice holders Paul. What thickness is that parting blade you show here? I need to make a holder also. Cheers, Bill

[RichR]

What thickness is that parting blade you show here?

Looks like it might have been made from a hacksaw blade.

[Nightshift]

Looks like it might have been made from a hacksaw blade.

Good eye Rich ... I saw the hole and wondered. Bill

[ezduzit]

Nice parting tool. Maybe good for lots of other uses, like snap-ring grooves, interrupting long knurls, ...

How far can it cantilever--how much unsupported blade--from the tool holder is possible, say, in aluminum or steel?

[_Paul_]

Not a hacksaw blade no teeth or signs of them, it looks & behaves like HSS it came with an old parting tool holder and is about 25 thou by 1/2"

[cameron]

Teeth not ground off? I make parting tools like that from all-hard HSS hacksaw blades, handsaw size, but leave traces of the teeth on the bottom . But they have become hard to find, my stock of broken blades is dwindling. The all-hard blades are handy for making many sorts of small specialized tools, though more for woodworking than metal. A 25 thou wide wood chisel has been useful on occasion.

[PJRitz]

Looks like a piece of Starrett Feeler Stock

[plunger]

How did you cut the vee? Did you use a dovetail or did you make a purpose made tool for this?

[_Paul_]

It's shape would ideally suit shaper work and I do intend to make the next one using one of my shapers but this time I used a tiny 1/4" 45* dovetail cutter.

[schor]

Well, it is sort of a tool I guess.

Wanted a new toolpost lock nut with handle. I started it with just the shoulder bolt but quickly made the stainless and brass handle after using the shoulder bolt for a few minutes.