The Home Machinist!

Us lefties wish there were more tools built for us... Yeah, it would be nice if there was such a thing as a good-quality, left-handed micrometer. The Roman Catholics tried to beat the lefty-ism out of me, but weren’t entirely successful.  :D :evil:  I was young enough when exposed to them to learn ...

I don’t use air to clear chips while cutting.  It’s darn near impossible to get them to go where you want them to land.  I do use a hand-held blowgun to clear chips after stopping the machine.  Been doing that for as long as I’ve been making chips, which is about 65 years. Yikes!  Is it that long???...

Unfortunately, designing a reliable timing belt drive is not a simple engineering exercise.  In another life, I did such design work and can attest that there are quite a few variables to be considered.  Also, timing belts are best used in moderate torque, elevated RPM situations.  Low RPM and high ...

Some possible ideas here and here.  I opted to use incandescent flashlights, as LEDs’ color temperature is unnatural for all but the most recent generation of locomotives.

Here is an image of a twist drill dulled for cutting brass/copper alloys. I use a diamond file to carefully dull both edges. The drill might squeal some during cutting, but I know it is drilling correctly. I don’t do much work with brass, but when I drill it, I usually use a little WD-40 to get rid...

tornitore45 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 20, 2024 7:39 pmDo not tell me you never licked a 9V battery.

I have never licked anything that is electrically energized.  I value my taste buds.  They are some of the few parts of my aged body that are still functional. 

I understand MIG is not an option. The problem is not in the process.  A skilled weldor can produce sound welds on pressure vessels using almost any process. Properly-made welds using the GMAW (MIG) process are as strong as welds produced by other processes.  Note that most ASME-rated air compresso...

Any photos?

I am opposed to using Github for this sort of thing.  Github is a confusing mess and I can never find anything on it.

rmac wrote: ↑Mon Jan 15, 2024 12:19 pm I guess this is where us obnoxious bastards from Arizona are supposed to gloat...

Yes, but how’s the “migrant” situation in sunny Phoenix? 

The “atomic” clock in our family area says it’s -11° F right now, and it’s 11:07 PM as I write this.  Supposedly, temps will go down at least another five degrees before the night is over.  Cold weather didn’t used to bother me...until I got old. 

Blame it on global warming.