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Huge list of unfinished projects for the new year

TorontoBuilder

TorontoBuilder

Sapientia et Doctrina Stabilitas
Well the new year is almost upon us and I reviewed all the outstanding projects I have with no small amount of horror.

So many hinge on getting internal tool post grinder, or a straight edge and scraping tools finished.

I'm almost done my chipmaster lathe, except for the sand blasting and refinishing. I'll scrape it in later.

I just picked up a vintage mill that was disassembled and mid-restoration. No manual, no online resources and I need to get it all reassembled.

I also need to get a w12 to er16 adapter made so I can use my mini swiss mill.

I hope that by completing these three machines and installing them at home I can get to more projects no matter how my health goes this coming year.

My friend Dave is making mock ups of my view camera design to test with cheap wood before I buy some ebony and other hardwoods to make parts from. I hope to get a few made this year so I can take them out this summer to shoot film.
 
I'm reluctant (afraid?) to count, but I'd hazard a guess at a dozen to 15 projects currently hanging over my head, ranging from the relatively simple (making a mill saw arbor) to difficult for me (mill DRO, also the most expensive).
 
ASAP I need to swap locations of two surface grinders, between Campbellville and Pickering.

I need to pick up the column of my Jackson No. 2 mill from a condo in Waterloo.

I need to build this storage cabinet and workbench asap too. It will have 18 drawers, and drawer fronts to keep dust out of the drawers, and a long sheet storage space behind.

I started it by ripping out the existing worktop but got waylaid. I'll have to make my own parf guide system tools now to make the top as well.

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TorontoBuilder said:
ASAP I need to swap locations of two surface grinders, between Campbellville and Pickering.

I need to pick up the column of my Jackson No. 2 mill from a condo in Waterloo.

I need to build this storage cabinet and workbench asap too. It will have 18 drawers, and drawer fronts to keep dust out of the drawers, and a long sheet storage space behind.

I started it by ripping out the existing worktop but got waylaid. I'll have to make my own parf guide system tools now to make the top as well.

View attachment 56732
Click to expand...
Let me look for a video of a fellow drilling a grid of holes on his welding table.
Found it.
 
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Another project high on the list is cnc router build.

That means I need another 24" x 36" granite plate.

That means I need to make a flatness gauge. So I may as well buy myself another dial indicator 0-1" with increments of 1/1000" because I also need one to tram the gantry etcetera etcetera.

This also leads into a project I've been wanting to do for many years which is a super solid indicator stand with minimal deflection. Of course I've seen robin renzetti's stand and stefan gotteswinter's design based on robin's stand. Recently I saw Michel Uphoff's further take on indicator stands and I want a base in his style
 
TorontoBuilder said:
Another project high on the list is cnc router build.

That means I need another 24" x 36" granite plate.

That means I need to make a flatness gauge. So I may as well buy myself another dial indicator 0-1" with increments of 1/1000" because I also need one to tram the gantry etcetera etcetera.

This also leads into a project I've been wanting to do for many years which is a super solid indicator stand with minimal deflection. Of course I've seen robin renzetti's stand and stefan gotteswinter's design based on robin's stand. Recently I saw Michel Uphoff's further take on indicator stands and I want a base in his style
Click to expand...

Got a photo of what you are after?
 
That's often the case with me as well. I might get an exciting idea of something that wouldn't be too difficult or costly when doing research and end up loosing all the attention I had on the original project I had been working on which sometimes leaves that project incomplete. When you're someone creative it's easy to think of ways to replicate a machine or tool with modifications to stay within your budget.
Unexpected Requests from others who know me also add to the list, which obviously take priority over personal projects. My multitool is still going alongside another set of kitchen knives, a set of 12 laser engraved stainless steel coasters, and a replica of a popular fantasy sword.
I'm also starting to gain interest in investing in a rigid manual mini milling machine that could later be converted to a cnc machine instead of using my drill press as a mill. My custom 3d printer project makes me think that would not be too difficult.
 
TorontoBuilder said:
Another project high on the list is cnc router build.

That means I need another 24" x 36" granite plate.

That means I need to make a flatness gauge. So I may as well buy myself another dial indicator 0-1" with increments of 1/1000" because I also need one to tram the gantry etcetera etcetera.

This also leads into a project I've been wanting to do for many years which is a super solid indicator stand with minimal deflection. Of course I've seen robin renzetti's stand and stefan gotteswinter's design based on robin's stand. Recently I saw Michel Uphoff's further take on indicator stands and I want a base in his style
Click to expand...
Ah, a router would definitely be easier than a milling machine, though they basically work the same way. I tried building a milling machine, and the gantry worked just fine but the spindle was definitely not powerful enough to work metal. I didn't have as much knowledge of how the spindle on a mill rather than a router is often driven by a belt or gears powered by a much larger motor. I don't think I tested it on wood but I don't doubt that it could work wood.
 
I have a question. What answer do you give someone who isn't into the hobby, or mostly people who are not into any hobby, when they ask "What are you going to make with it". When I say "Mostly tools for the machines" they give me a puzzled look. I actually can count on one hand the number of times I have made anything useful other than for the hobby. I'm in a small shop in the city, so I don't have farm equipment or cars to repair.
 
Maker Mike said:
I have a question. What answer do you give someone who isn't into the hobby, or mostly people who are not into any hobby, when they ask "What are you going to make with it". When I say "Mostly tools for the machines" they give me a puzzled look. I actually can count on one hand the number of times I have made anything useful other than for the hobby. I'm in a small shop in the city, so I don't have farm equipment or cars to repair.
Click to expand...

While I do have a farm and many other interests that I use my machines for, I can sympathize with your question.

My suggestion would be to ask them why they collect stamps, coins, have a telescope, read books, have a boat, fix up cars, shoot at targets, watch TV, play or watch sports etc etc

People need hobbies to satisfy that basic human need to learn, to be creative, to enjoy life, to be happy, to have an identity, and to keep busy.

You don't have to justify your hobbies. They don't need to make sense economically.

In my view collecting tools or making tools for your tools are perfectly legitimate hobbies. It's also a hobby that will usually outlast other less technical hobbies because there is so much more to learn and do.

It's also true that metal working is one of those rare hobbies that also facilitates a plethora of other hobbies like fishing, shooting, clock making, art, photography, etc etc.

Last but not least, it's a hobby that everyone can appreciate when they break something or need something fabricated for friends and family.

Let's not forget that it's a field in which some people make their entire living.
 
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