The adventures of a Jeep and its driver.
A machine shop near home closed up shop. I happened to score this truck load of steel from the place today. Had to be close to 1,500 pounds. My truck was squatting a bit. I think I have enough material to last the remainder of my days on the planet. Still going through it. I need more shelves. 😳 And then went spelunking at Lee’ Machinery with @foxbergsfabbercobblin looking for tooling. Great way to spend a Saturday but my back is roached!
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I think I have finally figured out the porosity issues I am having with my @hobartwelders 175 MIG welder when using ER70S-6 solid wire and C25 gas. That aluminum block in the second photo is the gun connector. It and the brass fitting on the gun, third and forth, had corroded so badly that I am sure there is an air leak. Trouble is, that part is no longer available. So until the Bridgeport is up and running so I can make a new one, going to have to resort to E71T-11 flux core. It welds nice, but the smoke and fumes is a pain when welding indoors.
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A little for your Friday. I bought these two height gauges along with two others at auction. They were pretty filthy. Nothing a little elbow grease can’t solve. Still need to get the crystal for the one. But they are both accurate and working. Money well spent. Now, I just need to decide if I want to part with any of them!
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Picked up this Kennedy 11 drawer tool chest off CL last weekend. It’s not in perfect shape, a little rust here and there. But still a steal at $55 for it. I do like the thin drawers on these, but I’d never pay full price for them. The current version of this tool box with improved drawer slides is $650+ 😳
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Lates auction score. 18” x 24” grade B surface plate for less than $40. Might need to build a cart/stand for this one. Debating on if I should keep the Starrett 12” x 18” since my shop is on the small size.
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First two pieces of the jib crane! Scored this I beam and trolley off Fakebook Marketplace for a great deal. I’ve been thinking of putting something like this in the workshop to help move chucks, vises, and such on and off the lathe and mill. The older I get, the harder it will be to move these things around. Plus, if I get it built in time, it’ll help with the rehab of the mill.
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A couple local scores from FB and CL. So now that I have two Kennedy tool boxes, I almost feel like I might become a mediocre amateur machinist. 😉
I did find out the Craftsman chest was made by Waterloo. It’s missing the front cover, unfortunately.
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Need a tool. Make a tool. Didn’t feel like spending $100 on a seal press. So I spent $12 on a piece of steel and 5 hours on the lathe. 😂
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