The Home Machinist!

190W is pretty disappointing... Thanks for working that out for me. The engine compartment is steel sitting in water; the whole thing is a radiator. Air temp in the engine compartment will be close to outside water temperature. But the small physical size of this motor means air cooling alone will n...

I recently bought a 12 HP forklift motor, 48VDC and 240A. To power my heavy workboat in the inner city Amsterdam canals, which has declared the city will be emissions free only for all transport in a few years. This is not the right motor for the job, it's the motor I can pay for. There are lots of ...

because you tall guys can easily raise a short machine, but us short guys can't easily lower a high machine.

Dentists use rotary tools; if you want a good one and you're willing to pay, that's what to look for. Otherwise, get on Craigslist / ebay and buy 4 or 5 used Dremels [or whatevever]. I think many people buy them and never use them. Bearings? Order from a bearing stockist. Those tiny ones can be expe...

I do a fair amount of threading, I do not have a threading dial or a quick change gearbox.
I just reverse the tool back before the next pass.

Change gears are tedious; I sure would prefer a quick change gearbox.
I'd also prefer lots of other things I can't afford...

Belts have moved on in the last 40 years... I have some experience with V-belt problems. Basically, they slip; a couple of percent and they last a long time, a couple of more and it all heats up and wears out fast. As chaprboy did, I went to double belts, which solved my problem. Today you can get c...

I agree; huge and old is better than small and new.
Mine is really ancient and fairly huge; it does a lot of work for me.

I have to jiggle the joystick to keep them reasonably level. You can imagine what it would be like, trying to keep a top-heavy machine balanced using the joystick. I don't have to imagine, my tractor FEL pallet forks are the same. Yes, of course you're right that hanging the tool is safer; I lifted...

SteveHGraham wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:03 am

The weight was no problem. I nearly ran out of height, though.

That's because you're using your pallet forks the wrong way around.
You need to put hem UNDER the load!

A friend of mine has a large wood planer with a star / delta start switch. It's a manual 'star-delta' rotary switch, which is a standard item on this side of the pond. I used that machine a LOT. made cabinetry and furniture, doors and windows. The procedure is to switch it on start mode while it spe...

My bandsaw was too tall for the doorway; so I strapped it to the pallet fork on the FEL and tipped it forward until it was nearly horizontal, and took it in head first.
When you pull too hard;

When you pull much too hard;

SteveM wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 08, 2019 2:57 pm

Jim Rozen has a saying:
"Hiring a professional will cost less than the emergency room visit".
Steve

Perhaps; but if I hired 'professionals' to do my work, I'd have no work and no money.
No doubt, there are times when you just can't do it yourself; but it's all in the details.