The Home Machinist!

Hi, Bill, I sent for the parts list and instruction manual from their web site. I'm thinking about a finer-grit wheel. The coarse wheel on it will cut faster and cooler, but it does not leave as smooth a finish as I would like. Yes, I understand the leading edges do the cutting and the area behind t...

Today, I picked up a Sellers 1G Drill Bit Sharpener off craigslist for $40. http://www.farmingtonmfg.com/images/1G-1_PHOTO-02.bmp It is definitely hell-for-stout. I hurt my back carrying it from the truck to the bench! It appears complete, operational and only a bit dirty. It needed a new toggle swi...

It is becoming more and more obvious to me that I was a moron to listen to the people who told me to buy an old American lathe. And becoming skilled enough to do this stuff would take a while. So it's not a good fast answer. I continue to be impressed with the patience, helpfulness and all-around n...

Since I've got the front post and the miter gauge, I could reverse-engineer the table and possibly make one from an antique small table saw or grinder table. Cutting the rack teeth on the rear 3/4" post would best be done on a horizontal mill, but I might be able to figure how to do it on my 7&...

Just send me a photo or a blueprint and I'll get right on it.

Hi, Moon. Good eye. There is a second table, but unfortunately MIA. The front post and bevel gauge you see is all which came with the unit. There is a horizontal shaft with pinions fore and aft which engaged two vertical posts with rack gears to raise and lower the missing table. The front post is i...

If you've been there, you'll understand why I just had to have this little jewel http://lh3.ggpht.com/_hjClShMv-nQ/SlulVWvSknI/AAAAAAAABgU/Eq9ZjYyj67E/s512/PICT0026.JPG http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hjClShMv-nQ/SlulUzwSRfI/AAAAAAAABgQ/5IfgRJ10W9w/s512/PICT0025.JPG The fun thing about playing with machinery ...

Having worked in a foundry, I can share other reasons to all the good ones above. Molten iron pours like water. It will run easily into thin sections, webbing, square corners. Conversely, molten steel pours like honey. It does not like to run long distances through complicated patterns, doesn't fill...

Since the 2hp is only 115# and the 5hp is 140#, there is no way to get the 2hp to come on first without losing performance from the 5hp. However, it costs very little to plumb them in series and turn down the 5hp pressure switch to 100# on and see what happens. Having 80gal of volume at 115# may not...

It's just been my experience, but a RPC system has as many possibilities for making an expensive mistake as does a VFD. I sold a RPC-powered machine, with careful instruction on operation. The next day, I got a call asking where to by the parts.

thnx, jack vines.

There is no effective operational advantage in a roller bearing in a low-speed application such as a vise screw. The disadvantage are: 1. Having to remove twice as much parent metal to make room for the larger bearing vs. using a bushing. 2. A machinist's vise is an inherently dirty environment. Rol...

I've got a small back-geared-head, manual clutch punch press, similar to a Benchmaster, but maybe even heavier build, of recent but unknown origin and manufacture. There is no name plate or numbers to be found. I'd like to know its approx capacity and if there is more tooling available for it. I've ...