Todays Project - What did you do today?

[Mayhem]

Very fitting and very nicely made Ken.

[doubleboost]

Very well done
A fitting tribute
John

[wrustle]

Awesome job Ken! I am sure he is quite proud of what you have done for him.

Best Regards,
Russ

[DaveH]

Very nice Ken.

DaveH

[aametalmaster]

Made a small pulley...Bob

[Rickabilly]

(09-12-2013, 06:59 AM)PixMan Wrote: I would always recommend that even a beginner learn to measure threads. The reason isn't just to get a conforming pitch diameter, but also to spark an interest in learning about thread form, limits, class of fit and tolerance.

Thread wires are just one way to measure, and there are dozens of different way of holding the wires.

I couldn't agree more that a knowledge of thread form and measuring techniques is very important

I accept that measuring over wires is a very useful (but flawed) method, but still a method that I use often for measuring splines as well as threads and a method that "can" be taught to beginners.

My original point was more about the expectant questioning of method when someone has proudly reported that they've just learned a new skill, It's the "Expecting" a beginner to do it in a particular way, A way that in my experience, isn't necessarily the norm, in either Hobby or even professional turning circles that I don't see as "Metalworking fun".

I'm trying to clear up my previous post, not make a fuss, I am happy to debate opinions re measuring and quality assurance techniques, but this probably isn't the forum to do that in.

Best Regards
Rick

[Rickabilly]

(09-13-2013, 09:20 PM)PixMan Wrote: The urn was my tribute to my dad, made in his shop with his tools by me."

Ken,

Having not so long ago lost my Father I can appreciate the emotion involved in doing such a job.

You have my best wishes and respect, I'm not sure I could have done that job at the time it needed doing.

Best regards
Rick

[LJP]

This is the urn I made for my Uncle. He asked me to make it, and we had more than a few conversations about it while I worked on it, regarding material, size and finish. He told me he wanted to see it before he died, I told him he would have to wait, he did. I traveled to Florida, carried it on the plane in my carry on to give it to him. That was the weekend he gave me 2 Kennedy boxes full of his machinist tools. I told him I would learn how to use them correctly.
Here I am, learning to use them. Larry

   

[PixMan]

Nice work Larry! And thanks for all the compliments guys. It really was a work of love, though a battle in some respects because I had problems with the power in the shop. Several times the main breaker on the house tripped.

The house has only 100 amp 220v single phase service. The shop is fed via a 60 amp circuit breaker for the RPC, to separate 20 amp breakers for each machine. Instead of tripping the 20 amp or 60 amp breakers, the whole house main 100 amp breaker is tripping. I've got an electrician coming this morning to quote an upgrade to 200 amp service and move the out-of-code weatherhead (connection at the side of the house from the utility pole.)

In my dreams I'd be tapping the 14,400 volt three phase power that is right there on the same pole. Russ knows the battle to get it from the power company.

P.S. - I learned from the funeral home director that only all-metal and stone urns can be buried in Massachusetts cemeteries without encasing them in a concrete "vault". Mine qualified, though it's going into a "columbarium."

[stevec]

Ken, first let me say you have honoured you father well, I'm sure he's smiling down.

On the subject of shops and power distribution.
Although we have a 200 amp. entry, I tested the distribution with change from 40A to 60A for the shop.
After a while (2yrs +/-) I would notice a buzzing sound from the main panel when I was near it and eventually the main breaker tripped a few times.

Fortunately my wife's friend is married to a retired electrician and he came over to have a look.

We ended up changing the entry panel and were able to eliminate one of the subpanels.

We unhooked the feeds at the panel and insulated them one at a time to withdraw the panel and insert the new one. I was nervous about 200 amps just ready to grab us but he wasn't.

All is good now and he "owns me" and my machine shop, I have gladly committed my tools and skills for some of his needs.

I notice when I disassembled the main breaker tie to the old panel that one of the two bolts that secure the breaker to the buss bars
had been threaded into the buss bar without going through the breaker buss! One leg of our 220 service had been making contact with only the tension provided by the other leg's proper installation and the mounting screws!
It might have been improperly assembled at the factory, most panels come with the main breaker installed.

Carbon tracking and a bit of pitting cleaned up well with some emery cloth and I was able to sell the panel on the net and recoup some of the costs.

Power distribution is better balanced now and although we could have re-assembled and re-installed the original panel I'm satisfied with the new higher quality panel.