Quarantine Projects!

[C-Bag]

I finally got a metal project done, since COVID-19 is keeping the building inspectors away and has left my shop project at a standstill. This is a stand for my Lagun mill. It is 1x2 CRS that supports big 3/4 thread poly mounts. Should keep the mill level.

That sux your shop is on hold. Does that mean you have nowhere to work or you are just no supposed to be in there yet? Jealous you are having a shop built.

 

[pontiac428]

My tools are in storage units, except my RF30, Atlas lathe, band saw, and tool grinder, which are shoehorned into the basement. I can't wait for moving day into the shop! It's been a long time.

 

[GoceKU]

Pontiac 428, having to wait to move in a shop is the worst, hope you find a secure dry spot to store your equipment and honda parts, any pictures of the new shop?

 

[FOMOGO]

Been working on my $500 zero turn mower. Had a new 20hp Kohler motor installed the year before I bought it and all three blade shaft and bearing assembly's replaced, so I figured it was worth a little effort to get the rest of it up to snuff. It had 5 cracks in the pressed steel frame, so time for a little welding. Stripped all the paint with a flap disc, drilled the ends of all the cracks and welded them up. Was supposed to be 11 gauge steel, but the forming process made it considerably thinner in some areas. Once I had the cracks welded up, I took some 5/16" rod, and formed it to fit the area where it flares out at the lower part of the frame and welded it in top and bottom. Now we all know how one thing leads to another, and while the welds were okay, I decided to do some build up and blend it all in like I do on motorcycle frames, but it is a lawn mower, so not quite to that degree of finish. Have a short list of other things to fix and upgrade on it, but pretty happy that this part is done. Mike

 

[GoceKU]

Part 3 of Quarantine project No: 2, Today i started with mounting the top and bottom boards, i had to cut the corners on the top one a bit more because the sliders are in the way, i used some screws and some glue to secure them, then i looked around to find something to wrap it in. I did find a thin sheet of galvanised sheet metal but it was a foot too short, so i went to the steel place, had to wait in line for half an hour because of the epidemic they are only allowing one customer at a time, bought me a sheet of galvanized sheet metal 0.8-0.9mm, also bought couple of lengths of square tubing, for a future project. Got it home and wraped the cart in it, i used pop rivits and scrows to secure it. Last thing i did is to mount the drawers, i still need to find and make the drawer faces and handles. At first i was thinking just to cut some whiteboard but with it looking this good i may invest some time in making good looking wood ones.

 

[C-Bag]

Been working on my $500 zero turn mower. Had a new 20hp Kohler motor installed the year before I bought it and all three blade shaft and bearing assembly's replaced, so I figured it was worth a little effort to get the rest of it up to snuff. It had 5 cracks in the pressed steel frame, so time for a little welding. Stripped all the paint with a flap disc, drilled the ends of all the cracks and welded them up. Was supposed to be 11 gauge steel, but the forming process made it considerably thinner in some areas. Once I had the cracks welded up, I took some 5/16" rod, and formed it to fit the area where it flares out at the lower part of the frame and welded it in top and bottom. Now we all know how one thing leads to another, and while the welds were okay, I decided to do some build up and blend it all in like I do on motorcycle frames, but it is a lawn mower, so not quite to that degree of finish. Have a short list of other things to fix and upgrade on it, but pretty happy that this part is done. MikeView attachment 322450View attachment 322451View attachment 322452



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Nice work Mike. What a job welding and blending that all in. I'm in awe of you restoration guys. I don't even try to go that deep down the rabbit hole because I'll go crazy with how it snowballs or I'll give up. Are you going to paint it? I loved the little Ariens I had because it was a square tube frame and all powdercoated. Killed me to get rid of it.

 

[matthewsx]

Back in January I was looking at Craigslist free stuff ads and there was a guy in Watsonville who wanted some scrap metal hauled away. In with the old washing machine and bed frames was this guy.







Well, I beat feet down there and picked up everything he wanted to get rid of including this little Italian beauty. She'd been abused and neglected but I just knew she had a heart of gold and wanted to get back to work.....

So, I stripped her down and started cleaning.



Gears turned



Motor tested good



A little elbow grease and some paint and I have a nice hobby shop sized cold saw....





She goes through steel and aluminum like butter at 50rpm, I even have a spare blade

John

 

[hman]

Fantastic save!

 

[FOMOGO]

Thanks for the kind words. Did another round of buildup and blending on the frame, and a quick squirt of paint. Also built a battery box to replace the rinky-dink setup it had from the factory, and welded it in for a little additional frame stiffening. Made the hold down from some threaded rod and part of the old battery retainer. Had a leaking axle seal on one side, so I replaced both of them. The two hydro-static drive units are supposed to be non-serviceable (no drain plugs), so I decided to yank them out. Drained them from there fill plugs, and flushed them out with some diesel. The oil in one was like new, and the other was filthy. Looks like one must one had been replaced, or repaired at some point. While I had the welder out I did a little cosmetic surgery on my 25 year old chop saw. At some point in the distant past I had a major oops moment, and cut a nice slice in the base. Also did a quick and dirty rack for my welding table to hang my grinders. Always just kept them on the shelf underneath, and every time I would pull one out, half the stuff on the shelf would come out with it. Something I should have done years ago, but just never seemed to get to. Back at it tomorrow. Cheers, Mike

Quote: Nice work Mike. What a job welding and blending that all in. I'm in awe of you restoration guys. I don't even try to go that deep down the rabbit hole because I'll go crazy with how it snowballs or I'll give up. Are you going to paint it? I loved the little Ariens I had because it was a square tube frame and all powdercoated. Killed me to get rid of it.

 

[GoceKU]

matthewsx , A friend of my has the same saw slow turning HSS blade, when the blade gets dull it starts to snap the roll pin in the spindle, i'll advise use it for softer materials.