The "Whatever" Project

[dave.g.in.gansevoort]

Go online and order up some stripping wheels for your 4 1/2" grinder. It's the easiest way to strip that sheet metal.

I beat you to the punch. A couple of years ago I bought one of those Eastwood surface conditioning thingies. And a few of the various types of drums. They had a sale and another incentive that made it affordable (I'm glad HF has a similar one hopefully the drums interchange). I've used it a few times and it works for me to remove paint and rusty areas. But like all metho, it's messy, so I'll be waiting for better weather.

[DanStokes]

You all have a much better opinion of my abilities than I do. I'm planning on making a lot of bent metal first. The neighbor has a lot of stuff like old metal shelving, that's 18 or 20 gauge. And I can use up as much as I like. Unfortunately it needs to be stripped of paint and rusty areas, but the price is right. So as soon as I have destroyed some, I'll show you just how bad I am.

On the brighter side, there's enough metal in one shelf to make a grille for the track nose on the whatever project. And I have a good picture in my head on what I want the surrounding edge to look like. I think it will be a good first attempt to build something using the English Wheel. And I don't even have to make a template. I can make it fit the nose, cause that's what it needs to do...

So now I have 2 new toys for making good metal into scrap!

Go online and order up some stripping wheels for your 4 1/2" grinder. It's the easiest way to strip that sheet metal.

[dave.g.in.gansevoort]

You all have a much better opinion of my abilities than I do. I'm planning on making a lot of bent metal first. The neighbor has a lot of stuff like old metal shelving, that's 18 or 20 gauge. And I can use up as much as I like. Unfortunately it needs to be stripped of paint and rusty areas, but the price is right. So as soon as I have destroyed some, I'll show you just how bad I am.

On the brighter side, there's enough metal in one shelf to make a grille for the track nose on the whatever project. And I have a good picture in my head on what I want the surrounding edge to look like. I think it will be a good first attempt to build something using the English Wheel. And I don't even have to make a template. I can make it fit the nose, cause that's what it needs to do...

So now I have 2 new toys for making good metal into scrap!

[Russell]

Here it is, the latest addition to the garage!
I've been watching videos on the care and feeding of the English Wheel, looking for ones that include the Harbor Freight wheel or the equivalent from other suppliers. This one is from Jeg's, because it included the lower anvils, as I found out that people call them. They're rollers to me...

I have spent a lot of time looking at Wrey Shelin's videos. He uses a bunch of the Harbor Freight wheels for his classes, and a lot of the videos show him using, modifying, tuning up, or in some way altering them. You can see the first change in the above pictures. He turns the bases around, putting the wide double foot to the rear. It helps the balance and gets the big leg out of the way. He also adds a 6x6 cross under the legs to raise the machine up and add more stability. The neighbor has a 6x6 so that is next...

The engineer in me likes the concept of his further modifications, however I feel there might be a better way to get to the endpoint. So that's all for now...

I need more room now!

My shoulders hurt just looking at it! I am looking forward seeing what you make.

[SuperBuickGuy]

whoa, a professional metalworker in our midst.

[dave.g.in.gansevoort]

Here it is, the latest addition to the garage!
I've been watching videos on the care and feeding of the English Wheel, looking for ones that include the Harbor Freight wheel or the equivalent from other suppliers. This one is from Jeg's, because it included the lower anvils, as I found out that people call them. They're rollers to me...

I have spent a lot of time looking at Wrey Shelin's videos. He uses a bunch of the Harbor Freight wheels for his classes, and a lot of the videos show him using, modifying, tuning up, or in some way altering them. You can see the first change in the above pictures. He turns the bases around, putting the wide double foot to the rear. It helps the balance and gets the big leg out of the way. He also adds a 6x6 cross under the legs to raise the machine up and add more stability. The neighbor has a 6x6 so that is next...

The engineer in me likes the concept of his further modifications, however I feel there might be a better way to get to the endpoint. So that's all for now...

I need more room now!

[dave.g.in.gansevoort]

It's here!. Now where do I put it? 1st step, assembly. Then, where will it fit in? I have to stop adding stuff to the garage...

[dave.g.in.gansevoort]

"Some college" - basically, trade school. No certificate in anything.

Okay so I'm the freak here! I didn't start out as an engineer. I spent 10 years turning wrenches on paper machinery.

Yes, Loren, it's gotten at least twice the mileage doing the 2 round trips. The Mini probably only got 1300-1500 miles total autocrossing, limited street use, and a couple of track events. And 650 miles on the trailer going to upstate New York from Ann Arbor. 1 round trip plus the 2nd trip out is at least 9000 miles. It looks good on that toolbox.

So today was a good day in the garage. Got the concrete in the weight pan of the lathe stand! Mark McCullough of This Old House doesn't have to worry about losing his job anytime soon, but being it's just a bottom mass, ehh!


And I got the drive belts on! Only cut myself once in both of those projects. Don't know which one...

And Wednesday I'm getting a new, new tool! from Jeg's yet! And the price was good. Should I tell you all what it is? Or wait until it's in the garage? Oh, I'm just going to tell you what it is. An English Wheel! And theirs has the lower anvils included in the price. Unlike Harbor Freight.

But the garage is still a little bit of a mess. , whom am I kidding? It's a pigsty! I'll take pictures when it gets here... of course it needs some assembly. At least no batteries are needed.

[DanStokes]

I barely got through high school (seriously) so don't worry about me...

"Some college" - basically, trade school. No certificate in anything.

[Loren]

I'm just trying to fit in with the bunch here....
Engineers, Lawyers, 2 time Dr. of Nuclear Physics.....

I barely got through high school (seriously) so don't worry about me...

[DanStokes]

Good to see a "Normal" Shop Tool Boxes of Organized Chaos!!
I do like reading Dan's MG posts.....
But I am getting a Narcosis from his
TV Show Shop Cleanliness......

I'm just trying to fit in with the bunch here....
Engineers, Lawyers, 2 time Dr. of Nuclear Physics.....

Please , Not to Hurt yours or anyone's feelings Dan

Believe me, my shop is a mess. I try to spiff up the area where the pics are taken but really - it's a pit.

[Captain]

Got the plate a while back, THX. Two trips across the country, it probably has more miles on it in the box than it did on a car...

Good to see a "Normal" Shop Tool Boxes of Organized Chaos!!
I do like reading Dan's MG posts.....
But I am getting a Narcosis from his
TV Show Shop Cleanliness......

I'm just trying to fit in with the bunch here....
Engineers, Lawyers, 2 time Dr. of Nuclear Physics.....

Please , Not to Hurt yours or anyone's feelings Dan

[Loren]

Got the plate a while back, THX. Two trips across the country, it probably has more miles on it in the box than it did on a car...

[dave.g.in.gansevoort]

Got some Link Belt today, enough for the lathe and some extra just in case... And holy batcrap, Robin! That stuff got spendy! $86 for it. Looking at the brighter side however, using it means that I can put the belts on without taking the headstock apart. And that's a good thing! Now for some wiring stuff...

[dave.g.in.gansevoort]

With my monster hanging heater I shut it off and turn it on about an hour before I plan to work. Things heat up pretty quickly.

That's what I do also. Just forgot about it when I was done . And I have it set on continuous, so the thermostat didn't shut it off. You'd think I'd have heard the fan running.

So now that I have the lathe on the stand, there's a little bit of walkabout room in the garage. Next on the list of things to do is tidy up and get stuff out of the way and off of the floor. And I'm going to make a concerted effort to rearrange the garage and make it more usable.