The Home Machinist!

Impast extensions are covered in ANSI/ASME B107.2, possibly in DIN 3129. There are a few free download sites out there, but I did not attempt to dowload a copy of this.

I did a quick search for ANSI and it popped right up. Went to their home and searched for impact sockets; got a result of ISO 2725. The ANSI home wants $ for a copy but a bit more searching might find a free copy.

There is a Gorton group on Yahoo; most of the manuals are posted there. Should be able to find what you need.

We just ordered 14 k# of structural for about $.75/lb plus delivery so that is about as good as it gets.

Per Machinery's Handbook(p 448), the modulus for most steels isd 30,000,000, and the modulus for stainless is 28,000,000, so essentially no difference. Phosphor bronze is listed as 15-17,000,000.

Just a guess, but I suspect a CNC lathe could crank those out while you were having coffee and thinking about making a pattern.

You could try 5/8" square key stock, or get 5/8 hot rolled stock. Some specialty bolt outfits still handle square head bolts, we buy lots for restoration work. If you only need a few and have any type of indexer, making them from round stock might be the fastest and most economical.

Thanks for the posting; I can see where that source could be handy one of these days.

If it has been mentioned above, I overlooked it, but I find that listening to the arc can tell you a lot. Not were it is headed, but if you have a good steady arc then the sound is uniform too. If the sound is not uniform, then there is probably a problem.

Not sure even a welding engineer could give you all of the settings first pass (pun not intended).

I suggest you set up a few test pieces. Pick a middle of the range setting to start, make a weld and reviewe the results; then adjust as necessary.

For details and pictures of my modifications, look under "cutting 3/16" steel", General Discussion, reply dated Jan 14, 2011.

Here's a link: http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/vie ... 0&start=30

Look down to the 5th post.

I have one of the import 14" saws and 90% of its use is for cutting metal. It has been in periodic use for 15+ years and still on the original tires. I built an added stage of belt drive reduction in the base cabinet and use quality metal cutting blades. The frame might not be as ridgid as a me...