My First Home-made Power Tool
The Bench Grinder!
So, I have Dave Gingery's books "Build Your Own Metal Shop From Scrap". I'd really like to make the lathe, and hopefully the mill. However, knowing my past history, it's not likely I'd ever complete such a project. However, I have already completed the first book, "The Charcoal Foundry". I made a simple charcoal forge out of a 5 gallon pail, some sheet metal and an old printer fan. See my previous post for the output. I am still having trouble with steam, which I'll need to solve before going on.
I started to get intimidated as I read ahead in the second book, "The Metal Lathe". One of the things they talked about was cutting threads on shafts for various reasons. I always thought you needed a lathe to cut threads. I had know idea about a tap and die set. So, I looked it up on the internet and finally it clicked. See this link for more info about that.
So, then I was trying to make a ball crank pattern to cast it to complete the metal casting book. I did it with some wood bead, but it was all crooked. Stevie-Shaky-Hands had struck again. I have terribly unsteady hands, my military marksmanship record to the contrary not withstanding. So, I had a dilemma. There was going to be a great deal of drilling and other carpentry involved in making the patterns for the sand casting. I really needed a drill press. Unfortunately the drill press wouldn't be built until book five. That's right, one of the books is how to make your own drill press.
I also needed a bench grinder. Until now, I had been using an angle grinder in one hand and the work in the other, or in a vise. Not very effective. My third problem was a constant credit card debt and lack of funds. I could only afford one tool. The bench grinder was cheaper, but the drill press would be more useful. Finally I decided on the Ryobi drill press.
Then, this past week, my welding class teacher agreed to loan me his old (by old I mean 1950's era) stick welder. I eagerly agreed an in return I demonstrated sandcasting for him at his house. I spent friday installing a 220 volt 50 amp circuit for the welder and fired it up. It worked. Right then, I had an idea. I could make a bench grinder!.
I went to a used appliance store and bought an electric motor for $25. THis was most of the cost of a new bench grinder, and I knew that, but I didn't want to waste time crawling around a junk yard looking for a working motor. I'll do that next time. Anyway, I went to All Metals Recycling in Hardwick, and worked a deal with the owner to let me root around for some angle iron. I hauled away some rusty samples for $5 that when into his pocket and not the register. I was in business.
Between cutting threads on the motor spindle with a 1/2" die, drilling mount holes through the steel with the drill press, welding a frame together with the welder and attaching a stone, I had a home-made bench grinder. Total cost $40. $2.50 more after taxes than buying one at Home Depot, not including the gas to get there and back. So, not a savings, but the motor can be used for something else and I learned a lot.
Metal lathe, here I come!
So, I have Dave Gingery's books "Build Your Own Metal Shop From Scrap". I'd really like to make the lathe, and hopefully the mill. However, knowing my past history, it's not likely I'd ever complete such a project. However, I have already completed the first book, "The Charcoal Foundry". I made a simple charcoal forge out of a 5 gallon pail, some sheet metal and an old printer fan. See my previous post for the output. I am still having trouble with steam, which I'll need to solve before going on.
I started to get intimidated as I read ahead in the second book, "The Metal Lathe". One of the things they talked about was cutting threads on shafts for various reasons. I always thought you needed a lathe to cut threads. I had know idea about a tap and die set. So, I looked it up on the internet and finally it clicked. See this link for more info about that.
So, then I was trying to make a ball crank pattern to cast it to complete the metal casting book. I did it with some wood bead, but it was all crooked. Stevie-Shaky-Hands had struck again. I have terribly unsteady hands, my military marksmanship record to the contrary not withstanding. So, I had a dilemma. There was going to be a great deal of drilling and other carpentry involved in making the patterns for the sand casting. I really needed a drill press. Unfortunately the drill press wouldn't be built until book five. That's right, one of the books is how to make your own drill press.
I also needed a bench grinder. Until now, I had been using an angle grinder in one hand and the work in the other, or in a vise. Not very effective. My third problem was a constant credit card debt and lack of funds. I could only afford one tool. The bench grinder was cheaper, but the drill press would be more useful. Finally I decided on the Ryobi drill press.
Then, this past week, my welding class teacher agreed to loan me his old (by old I mean 1950's era) stick welder. I eagerly agreed an in return I demonstrated sandcasting for him at his house. I spent friday installing a 220 volt 50 amp circuit for the welder and fired it up. It worked. Right then, I had an idea. I could make a bench grinder!.
I went to a used appliance store and bought an electric motor for $25. THis was most of the cost of a new bench grinder, and I knew that, but I didn't want to waste time crawling around a junk yard looking for a working motor. I'll do that next time. Anyway, I went to All Metals Recycling in Hardwick, and worked a deal with the owner to let me root around for some angle iron. I hauled away some rusty samples for $5 that when into his pocket and not the register. I was in business.
Between cutting threads on the motor spindle with a 1/2" die, drilling mount holes through the steel with the drill press, welding a frame together with the welder and attaching a stone, I had a home-made bench grinder. Total cost $40. $2.50 more after taxes than buying one at Home Depot, not including the gas to get there and back. So, not a savings, but the motor can be used for something else and I learned a lot.
Metal lathe, here I come!