2024: What are you doing today?

kb426 · December 01, 2024, 09:27:13 AM

I used a treadmill motor on my previous mill. It didn't have much power at real slow speeds. It needed a gear change to elevate the rpm at low speeds. I sold mine not long after that and purchased a new unit with the variable speed dc motor. It spoiled me rapidly.

chimp koose · December 01, 2024, 12:21:25 PM

I have a bowflex treadmill in the basement that you can change the speed on with a 1 1/2 hp motor . I am thinking it might work good as a drive for a metal belt sander I have in the shop . It was a home built machine I got from an estate . It has three 1/2hp electric motors on it now and when I tried it out this summer it was making the plug in cord warm ! I am no electrician but it seems a bit too much banjo engineering going on there . Not sure how much fab work I am going to be doing in the future so not sure if it will be worth the effort . If I have small jobs to grind I can always go back to the school I retired from , the guys there are great about letting me in to use the tools . If I start needing to do a lot of grinding I might have to do this grinder at home as I dont want to wear out my welcome at the school.

Crosley.In.AZ · December 01, 2024, 12:35:52 PM

Couple friends have modified olde treadmills into large belt sanders. We had a purpose built belt sander at Hughes. Used it for various side projects usually cylinder heads to clean up the surface. I do miss all the equip available there.

kb426 · December 01, 2024, 01:32:20 PM

Once you have access to equipment and then you don't, it's a sad feeling. Many times you can still perform a task, it just takes longer and may be not as precise.

chimp koose · December 01, 2024, 05:50:36 PM

KB that is why I started to outfit my shop years before I retired . Even if I dont use the equipment , just having it to use if I want to is a good feeling . I started in the machining trade 42 years ago and have had at least one project car on the go for longer than that . I am nearing the end of my bucket list builds . That list started over30 years ago when I sold a car that I had built for me that I never really missed when gone (63 Acadian ). Thats when I decided that I would only build cars I had always wanted to own .

Crosley.In.AZ · December 01, 2024, 10:56:35 PM

Quote from: kb426 on December 01, 2024, 01:32:20 PMOnce you have access to equipment and then you don't, it's a sad feeling. Many times you can still perform a task, it just takes longer and may be not as precise.

Very true.. Today (sunday) I spent some time in the shop sorting stuff out from how it was packed 3.5 yrs ago when we downsized. I am finding tools all over the carts , boxes, more boxes.. I did not attempt to organize anything when I loaded up my old shop.

Gathering all my transmission tools in one tool cart.. which means for now I am putting the stuff on the Harbor Freight mechanics 5 drawer cart. That cart is waaaay full right now. Not organized yet. Not sure I will fire back up on transmissions or not yet. I stupidly sold both sets of my bushing drivers for transmissions. I should have kept one set. Big mistake.

WZ JUNK · December 02, 2024, 03:29:20 PM

Let's see what I can make from all this stuff. Or what happens when you mate a Harley Davidson to a T Bucket.

Crosley.In.AZ · December 02, 2024, 04:58:52 PM

Quote from: WZ JUNK on December 02, 2024, 03:29:20 PMLet's see what I can make from all this stuff. Or what happens when you mate a Harley Davidson to a T Bucket.

There was a fellow that installed a Harley engine into a Crosley wagon. He used a 200-4r transmission as I recall? Mounting hardware with belt drive to the 200-4r converter. I think the engine sat lower than the 200 trans. With a gilmer belt drive at 1-1 ratio..

Will be interested what you come up with John.

WZ JUNK · December 02, 2024, 08:02:02 PM

I am using a 700r from a V6

More details to come as I make progress.

chimp koose · December 02, 2024, 08:07:58 PM

make it a kick start!

kb426 · December 03, 2024, 07:17:42 AM

Look out for the metalflake police!

idrivejunk · December 03, 2024, 11:14:21 PM

Quote from: WZ JUNK on December 02, 2024, 03:29:20 PMLet's see what I can make from all this stuff. Or what happens when you mate a Harley Davidson to a T Bucket.

I ain't so sure them two will mate no matter how long you keep em in the corral together playing romantic songs.

A vision of blown 3800 always pops into head if I see an empty rod roller like that. H-D power would be cooler sounding than Hyabusa haha. But lose to it. Not HAMB friendly.

Looks to me like makins for more'n one contraption. Backwards trike? Or maybe a track nose side car or trailer. In any event, now that the cat is outta the bag the flake patrol will likely swing by to measure your intended flake size. Above a certain size you may have to register it as a boat.

Looks like a lot of fun. Have it!

Today I created adjustment for the 47 driver door. Hinges are riveted to door and pillar holes are fixed but door needed to come outward some in front. Hogged the fine threaded 5/16" holes out to 7/16" and that was enough. Longer screws with nearly impossible to reach nuts in pillar for now. Ready to hack pans and wall but am hinky about not having cab mount wood yet so I can bolt er down. But the touchy rust work is done now and doors can fit.