The Home Machinist!

Apparently Autodesk is trying out new software: Fusion 360 CAD/CAM. Looks like a free license for a while. I am not a fan of theirs, but others may be.

http://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion ... 002=638413

--earlgo

For a permanent fix, some folks, gunsmiths included, used iodine. It causes the parts to rust and sticks them together.

I have used iodine on new parts to match the rusted patina of old parts. Works fast and, like blueing, multiple coats make a heavier rust patina.

--earlgo

Don't forget your friendly supply house:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#felt-packing/=wpy451

They list felt in various densities.

--earlgo

3/4 HP on a 6" belt sure beats the heck out of the wimpy ~ 1/4 HP that our favorite offshore supplier sends with their 6 x 36 BS. One can stall that with a popsicle stick, and on cold days it won't spin without a push start.. I'm guessing ~1/4HP because there is no plate on the motor and the si...

I, too, really enjoy the projects and problems that are presented here. Quite often it triggers a solution to a similar problem and then I forget to say thanks. My contributions are small and mostly puerile as my shop is made up of old (s)crap that should have been thrown away decades ago. As mentio...

The ancient Sebastian and May lathe that is a part of my shop(?) did not have a compound so this was sketched up and made and it turned out quite successful. The screw is a 1/2-20 UNF so it advances .050 per turn. Travel is about 1-1/2 inches, plenty long enough for even big threads. The mounting bo...

FWIW, there is a friend of mine who works at SPS tool company in the 'testing" department, and his job is to push end mill speeds and feeds until they break. He once commented that he only used EM holders and found the flat with the set screw and then cranked it in as hard as he could. No menti...

You might try to find a semi-inletted stock and forend from a vendor available on-line. A quick search for 'savage 99 semi-inletted stock blank' turned up several hits. One that was a possibility was: http://www.gunstocksinc.com/web_pages/Plate-pics/Stevens-stocks/Rifle-stocks.htm If this is your fi...

A chunk of material that is in my "inventory" is marked Monel K500 and we used it long ago for springs in Automatic Fire Sprinklers. It is entirely non-magnetic even with a modern magnet.

Does it spark when you hit it with a grinder? The piece I have is non-sparking.

--earlgo

We used to use that stuff a lot. If it is slightly magnetic it is hypermanurium, if not it is unobtanium.

--earlgo
(A prime example of why no-one sends donkeys to college.)

Metal cutting blades are Starrett from McMaster-Carr, but I pick them up at will-call.
Wood cutting blades are from the saw shop down the road where he welds them to length. Whatever he has in stock with 1/6 or 1/8 in pitch.

Work well in my worn-out 2nd hand 6" Asian saw.

--earlgo

Yes, count me among those. My Grandpa's horses, Prince and Lady pulled many hay wagons when I was a kid. He used a loose hay loader and a hay fork in the barn to put the hay in the loft. No bales for him. His Father was in the Civil War as a youngster, so that must mean I am 'over 50'. My adult chil...