The Home Machinist!

You may notice it still sits on rickety casters. Making a good pallet jack suitable base is "on the todo list"...

Sorry, I'm terrible about taking pictures. And just didn't have time to try to make them small enough for the site to allow them. But, here you go. Not real interesting, but you can see the machine and the platen removed. I included a 123 block for scale.

pete: Thanks. That's not something would ever have crossed my mind! Exactly why I posted. Mr Ron: Yes, it's quite heavy, particularly when attached to it's massive casting. And I realize that the platen isn't a precision surface, but the grinder angle is to deal with it's rather extreme hardness. I ...

I have a 5 HP Porter Cable G8 belt grinder that was manufactured 80 years ago. After all that time, it's in amazing condition, except for wear on the platen, which is something I would like to improve. The platen itself is a piece of 18.75" x 9" x 1/2" hardened steel bolted to a beefy...

I've heard it said that anvils typically run between $1 and $4 per pound depending on location, condition, brand, and style. So, maybe, depending. That's a big fellow, but you're getting close to the range of new anvils from blacksmith supplies , so it would have to be pretty premium to be any kind ...

Something of a tangent on this thread is the reality of moving those heavy boxes, as well as machines, tool boxes and so on around the shop, inside a trailer, or storage facility. My last shop move I was fortunate enough to have a friend with a fork lift to help, but I wanted the ability to move thi...

Patio: Thanks. I like the ideas for a better way to handle that top profile (end of rod). That may be my next path of attack. I've also got a 1/4" carbide ball EM and rotary table, and that may also be my next attack, perhaps polished on lathe before (and after?) HT? I'll have to shake the eigh...

Bill: Thanks. The jack was made in the late 40s to somewhere in the mid 50s. The second version likely took the same bearing and was made until (I think) the early 60s. It's definitely standard, not metric. And definitely doesn't exist in any form I could find, including metric options. And that inc...

Good point, thanks.

I'm a little less frustrated with it now, and considering trying again with the HSS round. Is it very likely that flood oil will make the difference? If so, I have a small portable pump/tank that I could setup with a rigged catch/return that might work well enough for the 2 pieces. My lathe has prov...

Fastenal LTL is surprisingly inexpensive (the only thing at Fastenal that is). I bought some tractor tires and had them shipped there. But the deal is, you wait till it finds space needing filled. I think it took around 3 or 4 weeks for the tires from northern state to AZ.

They are pretty easy and cheap to find for turrets. Then easily modified or adapted to a tool post or tailstock