2015 POTD Thread Archive

[Pontiac Freak]

I needed to make some of my new tools capable of moving around for space saving so I started installing casters on the shear and finger brake. Had some 1/2" angle iron that was left over from another project so it got used for the shear. Installed some 7/8" bolts to use as stabilizers if I needed. I only raised the working height of the machine 1/2". Had to build a electrolysis unit to fit the large scale items I was working with. For the finger brake I shorted the original legs to match the height of the casters. I made new base plates that weld to the legs and bolt to the casters. Now I need to get the press on casters......

 

[MattM]

View attachment 108551 View attachment 108552 Been doing a few things this week, SWMBO is gone for a month to help out her Dad so I can do things with out her complaining.
Built a Politically correct flag pole and a Ham Radio Bench. Now I need to clean up the mess I made in here.

Ham radio? Is that still around? I gave up on it about 20 years ago.

 

[Round in circles]

Pontiac Freak , you'll now often wonder why you didn't " wheelize " your machinery years ago , I certainly did.

One thing I've mused on over the years is how to make a simple over centre device that can be operated with a 3/4 bar type extendale car wheel nut brace or such so that to move the machine the bar brace is inserted & rotated ACW , the over centre foot lifts up off the ground letting the corner settle on to a welded or bolted on castor .

Once you have set it on all castor, move it about to where you want it and then reinsert the jacking bar and reset the over center device to put the machine back on its feet.

( A flash though has just occurred to me ) Possibly making the device on an axle so that each end is raised evenly, so both over centre jacks on the axle are operating at the same time .

What do you think ?

 

[Cadillac STS]

Ham radio? Is that still around? I gave up on it about 20 years ago.

WW III will be countries turning off each other's internet and other communications as a major method of attack and control. Maybe then you will regret letting go of the Ham license?

 

[mws]

WW III will be countries turning off each other's internet and other communications as a major method of attack and control. Maybe then you will regret letting go of the Ham license?

I was going to say something similar. When the lack of Internet reduces all the SmartPhones to drink coasters I'll be in my ham shack firing up the old tube gear to keep the neighborhood informed. It wouldn't be the first time either. Katrina, Mexico City, ...
Who knows, we may even have need for some home machinists to fix stuff by making parts instead of buying new stuff! Can you imagine?

And in keeping with the thread; my POTD is getting an old Bridgeport cleaned up and back together. Picked it up last winter and and stopped re-assembly when school let out. Can't wait to get back to it and get my pile of projects moving again. If I do anything worthy of posting here I'll let you all know. Love this site!

 

[Pontiac Freak]

One thing I've mused on over the years is how to make a simple over centre device that can be operated with a 3/4 bar type extendale car wheel nut brace or such so that to move the machine the bar brace is inserted & rotated ACW , the over centre foot lifts up off the ground letting the corner settle on to a welded or bolted on castor .

Once you have set it on all castor, move it about to where you want it and then reinsert the jacking bar and reset the over center device to put the machine back on its feet.

( A flash though has just occurred to me ) Possibly making the device on an axle so that each end is raised evenly, so both over centre jacks on the axle are operating at the same time .

What do you think ?

If I am understanding your idea correctly I have something similar to it. If you look at the side view of the shear you will notice the 2 large bolts that are upside down. That is my version of your idea. they will turn down and adjust the height and level of the machine when it is where you want it.

 

[MozamPete]

Finished re-varnishing a wooden chest for my wife. Wish I had taken a before photo as it was pretty beat up and covered in paint so quite impressed with how well it turned out. Probable not worth the effort put into it to anyone else, but it came home with us from my mother-in-laws last month when we where there visiting so has priceless sentimental value to my wife. Was stripped, had cracks filled, made a new set of feet for it, new hinges, lined the inside with felt and three coats of varnish.


Only machining I managed to include was a couple of brass pins/mushrooms for a leather strap to hold the lid open.

 

[roadie33]

Nice refinishing job Pete. Got to keep the wife happy.
Happy wife means more tools for me.

 

[Round in circles]

WW III will be countries turning off each other's internet and other communications as a major method of attack and control. Maybe then you will regret letting go of the Ham license?

You won't bother with a licence if that happens .
Preppers often vac pack and bury such radios in sealed lead lined tins or glass containers under several feet of earth or deposit them in bunkers or caves to in the hope of them escaping the massive electrical component destroying EMP produced by anti communication devices & nuke bombs . I can see that EMP devices may be used at regular intervals after a Nuke strike so that they are taken up by the hundreds of ham radio aerials etc. that have been put up.

Maybe deep trenched fibre optics are the solution and direct line of sight colour coded pulsed lights are the solution instead . Similar to some countries communications to their embassies, government & military installations around the earth.

 

[Round in circles]

If I am understanding your idea correctly I have something similar to it. If you look at the side view of the shear you will notice the 2 large bolts that are upside down. That is my version of your idea. they will turn down and adjust the height and level of the machine when it is where you want it.

having a bust up body my idea is to be able to lift the wheels as easy as possible so it can quickly sit on its feet

If I am understanding your idea correctly I have something similar to it. If you look at the side view of the shear you will notice the 2 large bolts that are upside down. That is my version of your idea. they will turn down and adjust the height and level of the machine when it is where you want it.

That's not quite what I meant .. Yes I did see and know what your doing with the levelling bolts .
Having a bust up wreck for a body, I need to be able to get it on & off the wheels or onto its feet as quick and with the least effort possible , for bending down buggers me up me for days at a time. As I get older I doubt it's ever going to improve and see me doing gymnastics like I did when I was 26 yrs old as I'm also soon to have a plastic knee joint fitted .
Currently most days , I struggle to take the top off my boiled breakfast egg .