What Did You Buy Today?

Did you just pick that up to use for raw material? Sometimes it's fun to get creative in the search for materials. In the past I've found myself wandering up and down the aisles at Lowes looking for just the right product I could scavenge or modify for the widget I was working on. Like buying a cheap concrete trowel for a small piece of thin spring steel or whatever.

Yup exactly that. I saw it and thought “That’s a lot of aluminum!”
The square part is 2” x 8” with a 6” which is probably 1” thick and then the flat bit.

I also saw some tie rods but they had already been sold.


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Bought this Ingersoll Rand compressor to run my Hypertherm plasma cutter. It has enough CFM to run all my tools.
I got it placed in its final resting spot. It’s not as noisy as my old Craftsman 5 hp.
It’s a 3hp, 59E2B092-BDA5-4622-9198-F8BC3148C754.jpeg7A40FD95-002C-4322-B6ED-7AE4EBDD56CD.jpeg220 - 60 gallon tank, 11.3 CFM at 90 psi. Single stage.
It’s all I need. Paid $698. Got a sweet deal!
 
Today was replenish the stock day. My uncle goes to auction sales and buys metal. Lots has come from bankrupt machine shops. I then buy all mine from him. This is a retirement business for him that he started roughly 15 years ago to keep himself busy.
Today I came home with well over 600 pounds of various metals and have roughly another 1,000 - 1,500 pounds or so of various cut-offs put aside to pick up once the snow is gone. I pay for the brass, bronze, aluminum and stainless but it's at scrap prices. All the steel I get for free.
Here is what followed me home today;

Over 200 pounds of aluminum, 150+ pounds of SS, 200+ pounds of brass/bronze and I'd guess 150 plus pound of various steel. Most of this metal is marked what it is but some is not.

NcAfar1.jpg


There is just over 200 pounds of bronze and brass here. Not sure what to make with it yet but at least I have it. The 2 big rounds weigh 128 pounds alone.
NgK1v9o.jpg
 
Today was replenish the stock day. My uncle goes to auction sales and buys metal. Lots has come from bankrupt machine shops. I then buy all mine from him. This is a retirement business for him that he started roughly 15 years ago to keep himself busy.
Today I came home with well over 600 pounds of various metals and have roughly another 1,000 - 1,500 pounds or so of various cut-offs put aside to pick up once the snow is gone. I pay for the brass, bronze, aluminum and stainless but it's at scrap prices. All the steel I get for free.
Here is what followed me home today;

Over 200 pounds of aluminum, 150+ pounds of SS, 200+ pounds of brass/bronze and I'd guess 150 plus pound of various steel. Most of this metal is marked what it is but some is not.

NcAfar1.jpg


There is just over 200 pounds of bronze and brass here. Not sure what to make with it yet but at least I have it. The 2 big rounds weigh 128 pounds alone.
NgK1v9o.jpg
I wish I had an uncle like that. Good haul.
 
Well not exactly today, but a couple of Saturdays ago I picked up what I consider a bargain. A Moore & Wright micrometer set It does 0-1, 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4. I only got to take some photos yesterday so here it is. Also got a Moore & Wright toolmakers square and a fishtail thread gauge for BSW 55 deg. And a small booklet with all the lookup tables for british threads Total cost A$65.00. Needs a little cleanup but in fair condition. The threads feel a little gummed up but quite smooth. After giving a good clean and lube I'll check it for accuracy.
 

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First time tapping pipe threads.
There is a technique that is different from regular straight tapping.
Don‘t go in too far. I’ll have to make this block again.6666A82D-0502-429D-9F0B-7E6161A69829.jpeg
 
Please explain the consequences. I am fixing to do the same. Will it not be tight enough if you do? I have some 3/4" fitting blocks to make for my air system.
 
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Pipe threads or NPT threads are tapered. Thus if you tap too deep, the inner diameter can grow so much that the male thread will no longer seal properly.

As far as I know the best way is to keep tapping and testing the fit of your male thread. This will ensure you don't tap too deep.
 
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