"One Perfect Part at a Time"

machine

Dropping Some Acid

I had fun yesterday clearing up my workshop a bit and doing some silver brazing on some brass parts I made. I forgot how much fun that is, watching the silver solder suddenly melt and almost jump into the joint. The little joys of doing nice craftsmanship, I haven’t lost the touch after almost 40 years.

The Texas weather is cooler now, so I will be spending more time in the workshop. Someday I will have an air-conditioned shop but I can endure what I have for awhile longer. So now I will be getting more metal work accomplished

Hey, I just bought a 250 ml bottle of 96% pure sulfuric acid. How any folks can say they have done that! It was kind of fun, weird fun, huh? Perhaps you wonder why. Ask. 🙂

See What I Saw

Micro-Bandsaw MBS/EI added a new tool to my machine shop. I am getting one tool closer to being the winner. This time it is a micro bandsaw.

I have been using my really oversized Delta 14 inch woodworking bandsaw for cutting little strips of brass plate for my Penn A3 locomotive project. What I really needed was a very small slow speed metal cutting bandsaw. This smaller bandsaw could be dedicated to small sized projects and could also be used to cut steel and other special materials. The Delta with its present reduction drive is only intended for cutting wood.

This is a very small saw but of very nice quality. There is a full report posted on my The Hobbyist’s Machine Shop that will fill in all the details.

Rolled Away

The cheapo slip roll from Grizzly (written about previously) is well on its way back to the bear’s den. I received a reply back from another company that is offering a USA made 1″ x 12″ slip roll. They confirm that their product will not handle over 0.040″ thick material. Trying to roll thicker material the gears become too far out of mesh and may strip. Looks like I will have to explore using bigger rolls. The 1″x 12″ is a very good looking machine and will be good for light stuff. So some day I may have a need, but not now. I may put one in the store if I get a good price. ~ Dan’l

Slipping and Rolling

Uh… well not quite the same as rocking and rolling. The music is different.

Actually what I did today was order a new tool. It is a 12 inch (baby) set of slip rolls. Hence the title. What’s a slip roll? I know because I grew up in a family that always had a sheet metal shop… or two… would you believe three?

G7148A slip roll is used to form sheet metal into a slight curve all the way to a complete cylinder. It can also be used to form cones, scoops or funnel shapes. Most slip rolls have small grooves at one side to form rings from heavy wire. here is a picture of the one I ordered. Click on thumbnail to enlarge.

I never had one this small before. The ones I used in the business were at least 36 inches long. This one will be great for hobby use as I no longer do large sheet metal projects. I am planning some hobby work where I will need to form cylinders from sheet copper.

There is a clever 12″ 3-in-1 machine (Cut, Bend, Roll) available, but my experience with any combo machine is there is always a compromise.

Update 7/28/07!

I have just posted some pictures over in the THMSHOP along with a scathing review, now that I have this tool in the shop. It is a real P.O.S.! ~ Dan’l

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