Friday, January 18, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Saturday, January 12, 2013
If you don't use it you lose it.
I used to weld for a living but now that I only strike an
arc every once in a great while I always have to weld 6 or 8 inches before I
get back in the swing of welding.
When I was a kid making go-carts with my first welder I
found that what we called bird s**t welds were caused by not having enough amps
to melt the rod. The rod would stick and melt off but left the welds on the
surface with no penetration. It looked like a bird dropping. I learned to
increase the amps to ...... wait for it.....the settings on the box of rod and
then it worked a lot better.
In the garage there is a 120 amp wire welder, a 200 amp
stick welder, an acetylene torch, a propane lead melting pot, propane torches,
and enough blow torches to burn down Chicago. I haven't struck an arc in the
year and a half since we moved.
I installed a new service in the garage last summer. Got to get the garage wired up for 220 volts to the welders soon.
I installed a new service in the garage last summer. Got to get the garage wired up for 220 volts to the welders soon.
Best laid plans.
The intent was to move and unload the truck, move the tractor into the garage, and replace the ignition switch on the tractor.
So much for planning. The truck won't start so I put on the charger. No truck means I can't jump the tractor so that won't move. I don't want to change the switch outside in the rain so I'll have to wait until tomorrow.
When the truck wouldn't start I went to Plan B. After straightening out the garage I cut down 2 scrub white maple trees in the front yard next to the driveway. After bucking them into 6 foot lengths I drug them around to the back yard near the compost pile by hand. Right no truck and no tractor.
Went shopping with SWMBO and when I got back it was raining.
Went out to the truck and closed the hood down to keep it dry while the battery charges.
There's always tomorrow.
So much for planning. The truck won't start so I put on the charger. No truck means I can't jump the tractor so that won't move. I don't want to change the switch outside in the rain so I'll have to wait until tomorrow.
When the truck wouldn't start I went to Plan B. After straightening out the garage I cut down 2 scrub white maple trees in the front yard next to the driveway. After bucking them into 6 foot lengths I drug them around to the back yard near the compost pile by hand. Right no truck and no tractor.
Went shopping with SWMBO and when I got back it was raining.
Went out to the truck and closed the hood down to keep it dry while the battery charges.
There's always tomorrow.
Plan for the day.
January 11, 2013 4:14 am.
It's supposed to be 55 degrees today.
The plan is to unload the 1/2 ton of crushed limestone from the back of my old pickup. The last 1 ton load I picked up in Richland sat just a little too long and ended up frozen to the bed of the truck.
Since I usually go to work at 5:30 am. I'm sitting here planning my day for when the sun comes up. Sadie is planning her day also. She thinks I should be playing with her instead of typing.
She's right.
It's supposed to be 55 degrees today.
The plan is to unload the 1/2 ton of crushed limestone from the back of my old pickup. The last 1 ton load I picked up in Richland sat just a little too long and ended up frozen to the bed of the truck.
Since I usually go to work at 5:30 am. I'm sitting here planning my day for when the sun comes up. Sadie is planning her day also. She thinks I should be playing with her instead of typing.
She's right.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Hand Crank Grinders
Posted to Youtube and elaborated on here.
Hand grinders are cool. When I was a kid our neighbor Mr. Russel had one on his work bench. I loved to crank the grinder every time my Dad and I went to visit. Now I have a few of my own.
One of my hand grinders had lash in the spindle that let the wheel rattle back and forth. A couple of quick adjustments and a little oil and it's working like a champ.I recently purchased a little hand crank grinder because of it's unique design.
After posting a quick repair vid on Youtube http://youtu.be/FFpl-vYX8Oc I received a comment from McQualude (yes that's the name) that it was a Luther 51 grinder. While researching the name I came across this thread on Sawmill Creek http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?169813-Luther-Grinder-resurrected-Thanks-George! In addition I found this catalog on Toolemera http://toolemera.com/catpdf/luther1920CAT.pdf
This is a really cool little grinder. Until I read the catalog I had no idea that it could be set up as a tool grinder, milk separator, and even a breast drill. I especially liked the foot treadle on page 19.
The inventor must be Luther McGiver.
One of the things people comment on in most of the articles and videos I've seen is that the wheels are out of balance. Most think they need to install a new wheel.
If you dress the wheel by holding a diamond point, star wheel, or even a piece of grindstone as a dresser, against the wheel so that it just touches the high spot as it turns then slowly advance the dresser until as the high spot wears down it ends up touching the whole surface of the wheel it can be brought back round.
The other advantage is, the wheel will be sharp and square so it will cut much quicker and not heat the part as much.
Hand grinders are cool. When I was a kid our neighbor Mr. Russel had one on his work bench. I loved to crank the grinder every time my Dad and I went to visit. Now I have a few of my own.
One of my hand grinders had lash in the spindle that let the wheel rattle back and forth. A couple of quick adjustments and a little oil and it's working like a champ.I recently purchased a little hand crank grinder because of it's unique design.
After posting a quick repair vid on Youtube http://youtu.be/FFpl-vYX8Oc I received a comment from McQualude (yes that's the name) that it was a Luther 51 grinder. While researching the name I came across this thread on Sawmill Creek http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?169813-Luther-Grinder-resurrected-Thanks-George! In addition I found this catalog on Toolemera http://toolemera.com/catpdf/luther1920CAT.pdf
This is a really cool little grinder. Until I read the catalog I had no idea that it could be set up as a tool grinder, milk separator, and even a breast drill. I especially liked the foot treadle on page 19.
The inventor must be Luther McGiver.
One of the things people comment on in most of the articles and videos I've seen is that the wheels are out of balance. Most think they need to install a new wheel.
If you dress the wheel by holding a diamond point, star wheel, or even a piece of grindstone as a dresser, against the wheel so that it just touches the high spot as it turns then slowly advance the dresser until as the high spot wears down it ends up touching the whole surface of the wheel it can be brought back round.
The other advantage is, the wheel will be sharp and square so it will cut much quicker and not heat the part as much.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Just about Christmas
I'm going to be a man of leisure for the next 9 days.
Christmas shutdown at work and I'm looking forward to getting caught up on all the things that slide away at the end of the work day.
I have a:
pegboard panel to install over the basement workbench
new kitchen sink faucet
sparkplugs to install in the truck
new shut off switch to install in the tractor
finish installing the power panel repairs in the basement
post to this blog.
One done :-)
Christmas shutdown at work and I'm looking forward to getting caught up on all the things that slide away at the end of the work day.
I have a:
pegboard panel to install over the basement workbench
new kitchen sink faucet
sparkplugs to install in the truck
new shut off switch to install in the tractor
finish installing the power panel repairs in the basement
post to this blog.
One done :-)
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