Search found 77 matches

by jim314159
Sun Apr 12, 2015 8:34 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: How to tell if an old bearing is still serviceable?
Replies: 5
Views: 2473

Re: How to tell if an old bearing is still serviceable?

Thank you, Ken and Rich, for the thoughts! I'll just replace the bearings. They're not all that expensive and I'm not tearing down the spindle (it feels great) so it's not a lot of extra work either. :) Steve, believe it or not the original manual had survived with the mill! I made a laminated copy ...
by jim314159
Tue Apr 07, 2015 2:24 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: How to tell if an old bearing is still serviceable?
Replies: 5
Views: 2473

How to tell if an old bearing is still serviceable?

Hello All, I have acquired a nice old Tree 2UVR vertical mill. It is in place and the ways are in great shape, but it needs a partial rebuild of the head to get out 45 years of hardened grease and belt dust, etc. I'll post pics, etc. if anyone is interested. As I remove subassemblies I'm giving the ...
by jim314159
Thu Mar 19, 2015 8:47 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Costco LED shop lights?
Replies: 20
Views: 7528

Re: Costco LED shop lights?

It is also worth noting Costco's generous return policy. For most products (there are exceptions for computers, software, etc.) you can return them at any time, for any reason. I have returned items many years after my purchase just because they had worn out, and Costco happily accepted them and ref...
by jim314159
Wed Mar 18, 2015 8:39 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Jim's Rivera Gyroscope Build Thread
Replies: 10
Views: 4436

Re: Jim's Rivera Gyroscope Build Thread

Great thoughts, Russ. That's what I love about this hobby...seven years in and still no end in sight to learning new things!

--jim
by jim314159
Tue Mar 17, 2015 7:12 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Jim's Rivera Gyroscope Build Thread
Replies: 10
Views: 4436

Re: Jim's Rivera Gyroscope Build Thread

Excellent point on the soft jaws, Harold. My 4 jaw is an ooold Buck and I need to suck it up and spend the $$$ on a newer model that will allow me to bolt on soft jaws. Another entry in the shop to-do list!

--jim
by jim314159
Mon Mar 16, 2015 11:06 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Jim's Rivera Gyroscope Build Thread
Replies: 10
Views: 4436

Re: Jim's Rivera Gyroscope Build Thread

I had a learning experience this weekend. I turned the ID of the outer gimbal and was very happy with the result (although I don't have a micrometer that big and probably never will). I switched the chuck jaws around to hold the part from the inside using beer can shims to protect the lovely surface...
by jim314159
Wed Mar 11, 2015 7:51 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: How to prepare 6061 before using punch set?
Replies: 4
Views: 2614

Re: How to prepare 6061 before using punch set?

Also make sure you're doing your stamping with the workpiece on something that doesn't give...a soft workbench will absorb a lot of the force from your blows instead of the Al. Use a steel table or the anvil of your vise (but not your surface plate).

--jim
by jim314159
Wed Mar 11, 2015 7:28 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: How to prepare 6061 before using punch set?
Replies: 4
Views: 2614

Re: How to prepare 6061 before using punch set?

Are you sure what you have is 6061? Getting hardened steel stamps to leave good letter impressions in that material should be pretty darn easy. Unless you have an unusual temper of that alloy or its plated or something (I've never run into any that wasn't T6 temper) it should be cake to get nice loo...
by jim314159
Wed Mar 11, 2015 12:48 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Jim's Rivera Gyroscope Build Thread
Replies: 10
Views: 4436

Re: Jim's Rivera Gyroscope Build Thread

A weekend at a NASCAR event and another with a family illness slowed me down but I'm still making progress. The outer gimbal has an OD of 6.318 and an ID of 5.380. The only Al I could get in that size was a 6.5" disc, so I needed to figure out how to trepan. I did a lot of reading on PM and her...
by jim314159
Mon Feb 23, 2015 7:48 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Jim's Rivera Gyroscope Build Thread
Replies: 10
Views: 4436

Re: Jim's Rivera Gyroscope Build Thread

Thanks for the thoughts, guys! I considered brass, but a 4" x 0.75" puck of that was looking a little pricey. I suppose I could have gone with stainless but instead opted for ABEC 7 bearings which will hopefully give me a nice long runtime. We'll see!

--jim
by jim314159
Sun Feb 22, 2015 8:45 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Jim's Rivera Gyroscope Build Thread
Replies: 10
Views: 4436

Jim's Rivera Gyroscope Build Thread

Hi All, I was admiring Jose Rivera's gyroscope (see here ) some time back and he was gracious enough to share his plans with me, which are beautifully drawn. Some time (years!) went by and now I'm finally ready to take a swing at making my own. With a couple young kids I have very little shop time s...
by jim314159
Thu Feb 19, 2015 12:37 pm
Forum: Milling Machines
Topic: How much backlash is okay?
Replies: 2
Views: 2026

Re: How much backlash is okay?

As always, great perspective, Harold. Thanks. There is about .003 of backlash at the ends of travel. The machine definitely is not a virgin, but the head is nice and quiet and like I said, the rescraped ways are lovely. I think I'll keep shopping and try to find a local deal that won't cost me as mu...