BaitMaster’s (Work) Bench

[DPittman]

Just in case anyone was thinking that I suggested @BaitMaster was spending too much on his grinder....that was no way what I was suggesting....I just hadn't gone through in my head all the costs and materials. It will be a great build thread!

 

[Susquatch]

I guess I could have skimped on my buddies grinder and gone cheaper but I was thinking along the lines of do unto others what you wish they would do unto you….. and I know he’s going to keep the thing for years and have it as a shop tool, so I didn’t skimp either way. He’s also a body guy So I know for a fact he’s going to be sanding and grinding different materials so I can’t trade him a tool that I know won’t work great for anything….

^This

All a man really ever has is his name. My name is important to me. Your statement above tells me that yours matters to you too. I like to say, "Always leave the park a little cleaner than you found it." Your buddy is doing you a favour and you are doing the right thing by making sure he is happy plus. That's the mark of a good man!

I also like to wind the clock ahead a few years and then ask myself then what I'd be wishing I had done now. Just picture his thoughts when he comes over some day and sees that you made yours nicer than his.....

I'd also make yours first so you can make sure his doesn't have the mistakes in it that yours does!

 

[TorontoBuilder]

^This

All a man really ever has is his name. My name is important to me. Your statement above tells me that yours matters to you too. I like to say, "Always leave the park a little cleaner than you found it." Your buddy is doing you a favour and you are doing the right thing by making sure he is happy plus. That's the mark of a good man!

I also like to wind the clock ahead a few years and then ask myself then what I'd be wishing I had done now. Just picture his thoughts when he comes over some day and sees that you made yours nicer than his.....

I'd also make yours first so you can make sure his doesn't have the mistakes in it that yours does!

Always treat your friends and acquaintances better than you treat yourself and you can't go wrong in life. If I impose on someone for a favour I always plan to pay if back tenfold if possible.

 

[BaitMaster]

Doing what you say your going to do, and doing the right thing when no one is watching are two things I try to do.

It’s really easier that way. If you try to live above reproach then when there is reproach, it’s falsely attributed, and everyone in your life will have your back.

You can’t buy good will and trust. They take a lifetime to build, and seconds to lose.

Better to have the reputation of being a solid man.

 

[Susquatch]

I always used to take a contractor to dinner before awarding a big contract to them. Then I watched how they treated the waitress and other strangers - people they would never see again. If they treated them poorly, they didn't get the contract.

 

[BaitMaster]

Well some small progress tonight. Got a couple pieces drilled and tapped, and a section of the required “DOM” tubing made…. I couldn’t find any locally so Im using some scrap sucker rod and odds and ends to make the tubing with my lathe.

It’s just one outer diameter and a hole drilled in the middle, not super hard for a guy with a nice old lathe.

 

[BaitMaster]

Some pictures of the nights work….

It’s funny, I’m always envying over nicer lathes/mills…. But I get talking to my co-worker today who is a friend, also into archery like myself and marksmanship…. And he apparently bought himself a small lathe after hearing about myself, and a mutual acquaintance who happens to be the local tubular lead delivery machine smith.

He bought two tiny 8x16 China specials that both didn’t work, and made one good machine, he says it doesn’t weigh 100lb.

He’s turning a tiny piece of steel, a custom brass sizing mandrel, and can feel his lathe flexing under load and chattering and overall not doing an acceptable job. But he’s having a blast and couldn’t be more excited.

And here I am with an awesome old lathe that needs a bit of work, and an RF30 perfectly functional and also UNGRATEFUL for my relative machining richness. Sometimes a reality check is needed for me to remember I’m quite blessed.

I’ll post when there is more progress.

 

[BaitMaster]

Got my 1” x 0.5” “DOM” tubes done.

Did I ever mention I love my new parting tool?

 

[DPittman]

Did I ever mention I love my new parting tool?

I think you did but "a joy shared is a joy doubled".

And besides, it's a good reminder what's working.

 

[YYCHM]

I think you did but "a joy shared is a joy doubled".

And besides, it's a good reminder what's working.

Post in thread 'BaitMaster’s (Work) Bench'

Sep 27, 2024

I’m rebuilding my steady rest currently and need to part pieces off. I have had 0 luck with the accusize carbide parting tools off of Amazon….. I’ve broken 4!!!

Stupid me kept buying them.

I finally bucked up and bought a hss parting blade holder and blanks, learned to grind, and tried it last night.

WOW is all I can say. Best parting I’ve ever done. Bar none. I should have done it long ago. Maybe now I can turn my pathological fear of parting into a healthy respect…..

• BaitMaster

• 

 

[BaitMaster]

Well here’s some progress shots.

I got done all the “DOM” tubing that I made from scrap solid bar on my lathe. The new parting tool made it a joy to accomplish.

I’ve drilled and tapped a few more pieces, as well as started the welding by making the leg assemblies for both grinders.

I have a new Lincoln Powermig 211i, it’s working fantastic as far as I’m concerned.

Stay tuned for more.

 

[BaitMaster]

Ok fellers, public service announcement:

Jer does note in the project that removing the square bar from the tacked up flat bar can be a bit of a trick.

I’m here to tell you: it is indeed a bear. And I know bears. It is worth considering before taking on this grinder build how you personally will remove the square bar from the tacked up flat bar receiver.

After failing to slide hammer out the bar using my vice and 500lb welding table, I had to resort to using my hydraulic press to remove it.

If you beat on the end of the square bar you will mushroom it. If you can’t slide hammer the bar out like Jer shows in his video, please insure you have a hydraulic press capable of the task. I would have been hooped without mine.

Also of note is to use on the larger end of Jers recommended shim size as the receiver does shrink significantly. I had to grind out a full side of welds on my first attempt as once I started welding out the tacked up bar, it shrank to where the square bar didn’t fit. Also recommend keeping a piece of the square bar handy and fit checking after each weld to make sure you don’t have to do the same.

Here’s some pics.

 

[johnnielsen]

I used to wrap thin cardboard around the mandrel before clamping the flat bars on it. I would tack it all together extensively followed by full welds. Usually the mandrel comes out easily as the cardboard burns away.

 

[BaitMaster]

I used to wrap thin cardboard around the mandrel before clamping the flat bars on it. I would tack it all together extensively followed by full welds. Usually the mandrel comes out easily as the cardboard burns away.

It sounds nice. Maybe I’ll have to change out my brass shims for cardboard…..

It certainly could be easier then the way I did it. Any time you need to resort to the press it’s a dire situation,
Minus of course normal bearing work.

 

[Bandit]

What is the square tube size you are making? A press can be very handy!

 

[BaitMaster]

What is the square tube size you are making? A press can be very handy!

It has a 1.5” square internal to accept 1.5” solid bar.

 

[BaitMaster]

If I ever built one of these grinders again, and I see why Jer did it with the flat bar, is I would design some pieces and have them laser cut with slots and tabs that you could just clamp together hard and weld at the exact right dimension. Unable to shrink, goes together square, definately an improvement if you are getting pieces laser cut anyway.

Would definately add some cost as you are now buying laser cut plate instead of flat bar stock, but after the struggle snuggle I had with it yesterday, would be 100% worth it.

 

[BaitMaster]

A picture of the clamping setup I had to use to get the receivers made.

All 4 of the receivers are built after tonight, and I just went straight for the hydraulic press rodeo instead of messing with beating the bar out. At least it’s all done.

On to the next steps in the next few days….