What did you do today?

[chipmaker4130]

If the tank is steel, put a strong rectangular neo magnet at the lowest point on the interior tank floor and put the whole thing back to work.

[I make chips]

I got a set of Yuasa telescoping gauges in the glob of tooling I recently obtained. They were gummy and notchy so being bored I took them apart and gave them a good cleaning and ultrasonic bath. All good now. A total success as I managed to not launch the guts into the never to be seen again vastness of the workroom.

[Bob Engelhardt]

I got a Canon printer at the dump and took it apart for that nice rod that the print head travels on. Man, those things are way more complicated than I thought. Also way more effort to get apart - I wouldn't have done it if I'd known beforehand. I did get that nice rod - straight and precise for a static wheel balancing rig. Unfortunately, the rod is 12mm so I have to remake those adapters that were made for a 1/2" (12.7mm) axle.

[The Metal Butcher]

Went out to look at at mill. Supermax YMC-2GS. Identical to this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veeJFzUsNcQ

Horizontal/vertical, 5hp both, cat 40, powerfeed X and Y, rapids in all axis. 11x52, 40" xtravel.

Good mechanical condition it seemed. Wasn't under power but the table, saddle and knee were all really tight and showed no wear. The spindles had no runout. But it was filthy. Grit inside of it, crunchy to turn. Way wipers immediately disintegrated when moved, so they hadn't been moved in 20 years. They had painted it green, right over the grease, tags, and even got a little overspray on the ways. He was asking $1950. I offered $1800 and walked away. Not too offended. Great machine, exactly what I'd like to have someday. But I really don't need a project that big right now. I could probably have cleaned it up externally and used it, but I can't use filthy machines where the guts are grinding themselves up. I guess it will get destroyed by it's next owner. I'll bet money it'll never see way wipers again.

If I had a tall ceiling, more room, more time, and more need, I'd have gotten it. If I didn't have my Daewoo project, I'd have gotten it. If I was Doozer, I'd have gotten it. Maybe another time. Hopefully I didn't make a poor choice haha.

[I make chips]

Today was a fail. In my glob of tooling is an old Lufkin inside micrometer set. It's a # 680A set circa 1930 something that goes from 1 1/2 inch to 8 inch via various add on extensions.
I can't calibrate the mic and it's off by .016. It seems someone else maybe 60 years ago had the same problem and soldered the screw into it's holder to immobilize it. Well ya immobilized it wrong!

[Cenedd]

In my extremely spacious *cough* shop, I often hit the carriage and cross slide wheel handles as I squeeze past. At the moment I've got a sawhorse set up in the gap trying to work on something else while it's not possible to do that outside. So I've put the handles on backwards for now but it's hardly a good long term solution. I did find a folding handled wheel that should fit the cross slide but the carriage wheel isn't keyed to the shaft, it has the dial built in and a short spline to connect to the shaft. Found these screw-on folding handles though so I reckon I can make those work when the boat gets here

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B09C252D45

[bill jones]

---here is how I fixed my handles Free spinning feed knobs - The Home Machinist! (chaski.org)

[Bob Engelhardt]

I have a belt grinder that I use for shaping and deburring. But a coarse belt for shaping leaves ugly when deburring. So when I found a belt SANDER at the dump, I knew what to do with it. Make a stand:
and use it to deburr:

Crazy noisy & I need to put a toggle switch somewhere more convenient than the trigger. We'll see.

[Cenedd]

---here is how I fixed my handles Free spinning feed knobs - The Home Machinist! (chaski.org)

Nice. Core component isn't one I'm familiar with. Is it a case that the shaft goes through an unthreaded hole in the wheel, the ball detains it so it doesn't just fall out and pressing in the end of the handle releases the ball much like some ratchet handles?

Bob Engelhardt Good find. Foot switch that powers/unpowers a mains socket that the belt grinder is plugged into? I did one of those for my portaband when I have it mounted vertically. Just a switched single extension really - means no actual mods to the tool.

[Dan Dubeau]

My shop heater is all hung and vented, just waiting on my buddy to show up and connect the gas line (we're not allowed to run gas ourselves in Ontario.....). He was supposed to show up last night, but said he can't come till Sunday night now. Damn, I was hoping to have the shop put back together by then. Oh well. I have a few other projects I can occupy my time with while I wait.....

[Bob Engelhardt]

...
Bob Engelhardt Good find. Foot switch that powers/unpowers a mains socket that the belt grinder is plugged into? I did one of those for my portaband when I have it mounted vertically. Just a switched single extension really - means no actual mods to the tool.

Good idea! I just happen to have a foot switch in my I-might-be-able-to-use-that box.

[Ironbearmarine]

I have been missing in action, so to speak. Just buried under a lot of projects. Creating a lot of product for the latest enterprise. Fun things like having my sailboat sink and then the fun of refloating it. All within my abilities, but burning my most precious resource: time.
in my younger days i was a jeweler. I have started up again, but not in making fine jewelry, like gold and diamonds, but a rather rough hewn handwork from bronze, brass, German silver, steel and stainless steel. I call it a brutalist style of wearable sculpture. Here is a pendant i completed today. The cabochon is a piece of Damascus steel with bronze “clips” to hold the elements together.

[nickel-city-fab]

Took the plow frame off a 20-yr-old dodge truck (going to the crusher)
put the same plow frame on a 14-yr old dodge truck.
Both are "yard trucks", never going on the road again.

Tooling involved torch, sledge, 7-ft pinch bar (made of 1-1/4" octagon stock)
floor jack, drift pins, and new words. Boss wanted it today, was given the job at 9 AM.
The snow is melting tomorrow, but that doesn't matter: I'm already drenched from rolling around on the shop floor while it melted.

Job is done, BTW. I'm soaking in a hot bath. Laters.

[reggie_obe]

The snow is melting tomorrow, but that doesn't matter: I'm already drenched from rolling around on the shop floor while it melted.

Job is done, BTW. I'm soaking in a hot bath. Laters.

Tell your boss you want a wide floor squeegee for Xmas.

[Dan Dubeau]

Took the plow frame off a 20-yr-old dodge truck (going to the crusher)
put the same plow frame on a 14-yr old dodge truck.
Both are "yard trucks", never going on the road again.

Tooling involved torch, sledge, 7-ft pinch bar (made of 1-1/4" octagon stock)
floor jack, drift pins, and new words. Boss wanted it today, was given the job at 9 AM.
The snow is melting tomorrow, but that doesn't matter: I'm already drenched from rolling around on the shop floor while it melted.

Job is done, BTW. I'm soaking in a hot bath. Laters.

Working on plow trucks is fun.....if you are a sadist. Look on the bright side, At least you got paid to work on it.

For those of you in warmer climates who don't know what a plow truck is, it's a vehicle that should have went to the scrap yard 5 years ago, but was spared the crusher because it runs ok enough, and the frame contains just enough weldable metal to attach a plow to. . It lives out the rest of its days being beat to death with zero regard for maintenance, and every repair thereafter is completely cobbled together to get it through the next snowfall until it is forgot about. It's used and abuse until there is just not enough metal left to weld together or a rod goes through the block, then the plow is cut off and welded to a new victim.

If the radio works it's a bonus. If the heater also works you just might have the most luxurious plow truck around and neighbors might consider you yuppy city folk. .