The Home Machinist!

Mike, If you can, take a voltmeter and check for voltage between the welding lead plug-in sockets (if you have plug-in leads). This should tell you if your primary side is working. You may be having trouble with your leads and/or stinger and ground clamp. Loose or corroded or just plain dirty. If yo...

Hello Dave, I would like to make a suggestion. While not as readily available as 12 lb. rail, there are both 8 lb. and 10 lb. rail around. 8 lb. rail being more common and last I checked still available new, might serve better on a dual gauge/dual scale railroad. Both would be plenty strong enough f...

You're Welcome. I built mine exactly as the article detailed with two major exceptions. First, mine is all-electric, and second, the crossing arm is shorter than the article. I made this one just long enough to reach across the sidewalk. I forgot I added two more lights on the back side to make it a...

Hello Dean,

Were you able to locate a copy of Live Steam? If so, what did you think?
My Crossing signal (portable) we set up for Christmas.

Good Luck,
Terry

Dean, I found one in an OLD Live Steam magazine. I thought I had filed the info on this computer but I can't find it now. I have found the drawings and photos of the one I built. I am very impressed with the design. I made my electric powered but the original was AIR powered. The author did a very n...

wahtg0 If you use the link above, drop down to the S-322 hook, go to the chart for the 2-ton Alloy swivel hook, it's 7 3/4" total height. These hooks swivel but not the greatest since there is no bearing. If you drop down to the next group S-3322B hook, the 2-ton hook is about 7 5/8" total height AN...

Warmstrong, Your statements are correct for TODAY, but not for all of history. At one time, it was ok to tie a knot in the end of the cable through the eye of a hook and hoist all you could until the cable or hook broke or you just couldn't lift anymore. That's exactly why it's illegal today. In loo...

That hook is set up for an overhead hoist most likely. The tapered section with the small ring on top is probably for a special swedge crimped on the end of a cable. It would fit in the tapered area with the ring to prevent abraiding the cable. There should be an SWL or WL -Safe Working Load or Work...

earlgo, I know EXACTLY how you hurt/feel. BTDT! I have since practiced a new procedure for putting on gloves that have been in the garage: First, take the gloves one at a time and shake them out as if you were emptying dirt from the fingers with the cuff down. Second, throw the on the ground and sto...

Please look at the NUMBER of deaths and the number per day. These are the most important numbers. I agree the percentages are not equal since I do not have the total number of suicide attempts versus the actual deaths. I have been unable to find any respectable source that cites the number of attemp...

Liveaboard, To address your comments. The numbers I quoted ARE the ACTUAL DEATH numbers reported by the appropriate agencies and NOT the total accidents or cases of illness reported. The number of cases and accidents are both significantly higher, as one would expect and is being shown to be true wi...

Please understand I support the COVID-19 precautions and preventive measures. This is my attempt to bring a little perspective to the whole situation. The CDC is reporting current (3/21/2020) COVID-19 U.S.A. total cases at 15,219 with 201 deaths in 61 days (first case reported on Jan. 20th) These nu...