The Home Machinist!

only if it's a non conductive coating of some kind of plastic compound like polyurethane. My wiring is atrocious, but it's a crude dirt floor shop and the dirt is pretty dry. Didn't want concrete in the foundry area anyway, and couldn't afford concrete when I built it. Only spent about $200 to build...

The recipe I have for core sand is 90% sand and 10% white flour, dampened with water that contains 10-20% molasses. Baked till dry and used immediately so it won't soak up moisture from the environment. I would think ceramic floor tile would work fine for baking plate. Long as it really is kiln fire...

Back in the 1800's there were many small foundries, and they figured out how to do decent quality work, as much by trial and error as anything. Combine the foundry with a machine shop and they had full manufacturing capability for most any kind of machine they might be interested in. It surely can't...

Jigs and rigs, clamps and braces, just have to invent something. I have found that the harder the wood the better it cuts on the metal lathe for pattern making. Soft wood turns up the grain in places with a metal bit. The last piece I used was just a random piece of firewood, decided it was sweet gu...

Haven't been around here much, just not that much to talk about. I think cell phones and internet have been as much a curse as a blessing. I hate cell phones myself and don't use one. Got one just for driving truck because it was necessary, but got it on monthly subscription and did not renew it soo...

It seems someone in town we know ordered one some time back, one of the 3 HP 2 cylinder versions. His life has since changed pace and he no longer wants it. But it's coming in anyway. So he's giving it to my neighbor, should arrive any day now. My neighbor lives back in the woods off grid, could use...

I use LSB4000 locomotive boiler water treatment, contains an oxygen scavenger to protect the boiler from rust. And distilled water is the best to use, rain water next best. It takes an extremely small amount to do the job. I think the treatment used for water stoves works too, cheaper but maybe not ...

Sorry if what I said was seen to be an attack on anyone, not meant that way. Once in awhile I see my German blunt nature pop up and realize it only afterwards. My momma taught me to never make decisions quickly, always make sure all the evidence is in before drawing any conclusions for or against an...

OK, no more on the theories. I guess I just know too much about stuff I'm not supposed to know about, I should learn to not talk about it because no one wants to hear. Can I report actual physical and electrical measurements when the device is operational and tested? or is that forbidden as well? It...

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by the way, what does it cost to have small single items done at a foundry nowadays? Just wondering if it's reasonable. I know it has to be way higher per piece than production work when 1000's of the same piece are done. I never intend to go into production, just do my own with occasional outside j...

Use as many tones as you like, as long as they are all tuned to harmonize. It's off harmony tones that clash. Like an orchestra playing hundreds of notes in harmony sounds wonderful, one instrument out of tune throws it all off. A trumpet has many doubled up pipes to get lower notes, with the keys c...