Todays Project - What did you do today?

[oldskoolron]

so i made my first tool using the enco an sieg .its nothing special to you experienced folk but to me im happy as cause now i can cut slots different widths in the mill .as ive staed b4 im new to all this tool stuff ect also the different makes of steel brass alloys ect so i made it from some mild steel round stock i got from scrap yard .but i need to know b4 i tap the hole do i need to temper it or just tap the hole 3/8 unf an start using it /cheers

[Hawkeye]

I made one some years ago, almost identical to yours. Same mystery metal. I didn't heat treat it - probably wouldn't harden with mild steel anyway. I've never had any trouble with it. Go ahead and use it. If it ever wears out, you'll have a better idea by that time what carbon steel to use and how to harden and temper it.

Nice job. You'll enjoy using it.

[Pete O]

It turned out to be a much more difficult job than I thought but I stripped pretty much every component from the parts mill. Getting the shafts and gears out of the gearbox was a right pain, I was tempted to leave the other shafts alone after I got the main spindle out but I figured this is probably the last chance I'll ever have to get spare parts for this mill so I persevered. The column and base will go to the scrap bloke tomorrow.

   

I'm glad I hadn't bought this machine as a going concern, it was pretty rough in a lot of areas, appears to have had a hard life and little maintenance. Given that I paid 10% of what my going mill cost, I'm not complaining. Interested to see what the scrap bloke will give me for the heavy bits. I'll probably come home with more metal and less money.

[oldskoolron]

id keep the base an make a power hammer man

[Pete O]

I thought about keeping the base and column for something or other but I think they would just sit around in the way for years. Too heavy even as it is for my engine crane to unload, the scrap bloke can lift it off and I'll move on.

[Mayhem]

Nice work on the slitting saw arbour Ron. I made one a few months back and have been surprised how many times I have used it. Mystery metal as well and no thought of hardening it.

That would be a good source of nice cast iron if you ever get the urge to go hotter in your furnace Pete. Depending on how thick it is, you may also be able to make some chuck adaptors, should the need arise.

[Pete O]

(11-16-2016, 08:24 AM)Mayhem Wrote: That would be a good source of nice cast iron if you ever get the urge to go hotter in your furnace Pete.  Depending on how thick it is, you may also be able to make some chuck adaptors, should the need arise.

I don't think I could fit it in my furnace Darren.

I was hoping there might be some nice thick parts in the column but surprisingly not, it is relatively thin-walled throughout with lots of gusseting.
The base is full of decades of filthy oil / coolant / swarf mixture which I have no interest in cleaning out, I'd like to keep the column but it is bolted from underneath and I have no safe way of turning it over and separating it. Just not worth the hassle at present, plenty of other things jostling for my time.
Got to get it off the trailer today, I've bought a walk-behind slasher that has to be picked up. Fire season preparation awaits.

[RobWilson]

Evening Chaps 


Well that's four more wall cabinets built up and fixed to the wall of workshop #2 




Things went smoothly for change , as I only had to remove an existing shelf ,no lights ,sockets or air line to move   .So that just leaves two more cabinets to find a home for . 


Cheers Rob

[EdK]

(11-16-2016, 03:50 PM)RobWilson Wrote: So that just leaves two more cabinets to find a home for .

If you can't find a home for them Rob, I can.

Ed

[Mayhem]

(11-16-2016, 03:16 PM)Pete O Wrote: I don't think I could fit it in my furnace Darren...

It would if you took to it with a sledge hammer