eseemann

That makes me think of the truck crash in the Matrix and the use of thermite to weld RR track. I know thermite is not an explosive so I guess it would fall under fire. Ernest

Yup, reminds me of a quote "They say when you've drawn blood - you're exfoliated". The very last thing anyone in life wants would be a jet of VERY hot oil shooting out from a hose. I was thinking about the stroke length and I had a question. Is there any efficiency to be gained by using a shorter stroke ram since in most cases the steel will only move a 1/4" or so per-stroke. I assume that you need enough fluid in the reservoir space to complete the longest stroke but I did not know if this 8" cylinder starting from 6.5" extended (for example) and pushing to 7.5" (again for example) is any more or less efficient than a short ram (say 2" max) going from 0" extended (again again for example) to 1" extended. I know that I don't know so if I am typing nonsense please let me know and I will not take it hard. Ernest

Michael took the words out of my mouth. the small tank can only get and store so much heat from the sun on a clear day. An external 250 or 500 gal tank (external meaning not covered by a roof or the like) has a much larger surface area to collect sunlight on a clear day and much more mass to hold that energy for later.

I just found out that Mr. Propane will not come out to play when it is 22 degrees outside without a heat source. I can honestly say this is a first for me. Ernest (the cold)

Keep on keeping on and make some neat things. You would be amazed at what you can come up with. Ernest

A buddy of mine has this one Grizzly G0622 - 4" x 6" Metal-Cutting Bandsaw and he can use it as a 90 degree Vertical Cutting or for Horizontal Cutting and he seems to like it. I have a HF portaband and I don't like some of the changes that they have made since adopting the Bauer name but it works well enough.

I have to wonder how many different times the word dog shows up not talking about something with 4 legs and a tail. This is from Wikipedia so take it for what it is worth. In engineering, a dog is a tool or part of a tool that prevents movement or imparts movement by offering physical obstruction or engagement of some kind. It may hold another object in place by blocking it, clamping it, or otherwise obstructing its movement. Or it may couple various parts together so that they move in unison – the primary example of this being a flexible drive to mate two shafts in order to transmit torque. Some devices use dog clutches to lock together two spinning components. In a manual transmission, the dog clutches, or "dogs" lock the selected gear to the shaft it rotates on. Unless the dog is engaged, the gear will simply freewheel on the shaft. This word usage is a metaphor derived from the idea of a dog (animal) biting and holding on, the "dog" name derived from the basic idea of how a dog jaw locks on, by the movement of the jaw, or by the presence of many teeth. In engineering the "dog" device has some special engineering work when making it – it is not a simple part to make as it is not a simple bar or pipe, and the metal used in its construction is likely to be special rather than regular steel. There is potential for confusion as "dog tensioners" are levers that are named due to the shape of the lever appearing as a dog leg, as the lever is in a pantograph arrangement, or "dog trailers", which are named due to the use of multiple trailers for transporting animal cages.

For the most part I am familiar with how they are mounted, the sliding tab is going to take some work. I remember using this type of vise in school where the tab would be used for (I think) over sized stock. Other than that I would need to RTFM (read the fine manual). That I do remember and the ones used in school were "well used" enough that we would use new scrap wood as a second buffer. I don't think I will make a new jaw, Acme Screw in the hand is worth 2 at the scrap yard, but I do think I will do something to add on to the broken part to make it more usable. Thanks for all the info guys. Everyone in Alabama, stay warm because it will be very cold this weekend down to the teens. Or as Frosty might call it T-Shirt weather. Ernest

Saved this from the scrap yard last week and have used it at least 5 times since the 24th. I wonder if the plates on the vise are cast iron or steel. If they are cast iron I might try and brazes something on the broken plate. Ernest

Fatfudd, I think I get it now. So that would mean you would have to leave it on the press until it is squeezing for all it is worth and at the same time watch all your heat get sucked out by the top and bottom dies. So this sounds like a problem of efficiency. If you were pressing using just the air you might get a unit of force we can call 10 Units Of Smash (UOS) at a give speed. But since you are using the air to drive the hydraulic action you might get 10 UOS less any overhead lost due to friction and at lower speed. If you had a pump moving a hydraulic cylinder you might get the same number of UOS BUT at a greater speed. What I am building requires a compressor motor to compress air, the air to power a hydraulic pump the pump to move the jack BUT when you have a motor directly moving the hydraulic pump you remove that extra overhead. If I am not making any sense you are welcome to tell me and I will not take it hard since I know I know very little about this subject. Ernest

David, Did that start out life as a axle or drive shaft? Looking at the pommel of the knife reminds me of the end of drive shaft or axle. Good looking bit of work and I know it has a vestige only a mother could love but I like the Mad Max look of it. **************Starting Rant Mode Now******************* In Alabama my CCW permit will allow my to have a 500 SW revolver concealed on my person but not a knife! They can't take the chance in Alabama that a CCW holder will have *GASP* a Bowie knife concealed on their person! They my stab someone right next to them. A revolver that Frosty might use to level the playing field with a bear is much safer! •Bowies and things that are like Bowies are illegal if concealed. •Bowies are illegal to have in your vehicle. •A machete might be classified as a Bowie and it would be illegal if you carry it concealed. •A 11″ butcher knife has be found to be like a Bowie in court so don’t plan on using it in a crime. •Selling Bowies to people under 18 is illegal. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, a person who carries concealed about his person a bowie knife or knife or instrument of like kind or description or a pistol or firearm of any other kind or an air gun shall, on conviction, be fined not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00, and may also be imprisoned in the county jail or sentenced to hard labor for the county for not more than six months. Why Alabama will not add 11" knives to the CCW is beyond me but given the fines and punishments I bet this is a law that has not been updated in a long while. **************Ending Rant Mode Now*************************************

I don't know enough about the hydraulics to understand this statement. Would this mean when the jack is fully extended? The log splitter option is on my list of things to look for, have you posted a photo of your splitter/press? I want to make a proper hydraulic press but I am limited in funds, space and voltage right now. I am willing to start small but I am trying to build my press so I can change out the jack for a hydraulic cylinder down the road. Ernest

In parts of China locusts are called "flying shrimp" and deep fried.

CMS3900, Thanks for the info, sounds much better than a HF special.

Binesman, I think they have a built in sensor in addition to the thermocouple. 3.2.10.1 Temperature （on sensor, thermoresistor NTC and temperature display）0c to 40c 3.2.10.2 Temperature （on sensor, thermocouple and main display）-20c to 1000c

The concussive force is lower on my worry list than the razor sharp steel darts that will follow break.

I agree, would be a neat thing but I don't have the money to burn for that right now.

Good Morning Folks, I hope everyone had a good weekend and is ready to go back to work today (or not at the case may be). I have seen what can only be described as a new shiny thing a HF and that is a Digital Multimeter that comes with a thermocouple. This thing can also give you a light and sound reading. The fact that I see it on the "clearance and overstock" does not make me want to run out a buy one but I thought I would see if anyone had any thoughts on this thing. You can find it by searching for item #98674 on the HF site. Also if you feel like you are missing a coupon there is a site I found via Faceplam,, I mean Farsebook, I mean Facebook hfqpdb dot Com (I agree that until external sites start to give Mr. Glenn a taste of the action we should not link to them). Be careful of the people that either think they are still cool to drive after (number) of drinks or that a 4 wheel drive means they can drive on ice. This is the season people do unwise things on the road. Ernest

I am building a forging press using the HF air over hydraulic 20 ton jack and I am welding up the frame. This is more for knocking bushing out and pressing things that don't want to move. Check YouTube using some or all of these key words "air over hydraulic 20 ton jack". Ernest

Judging by what this site says it could be either "standard" carbon steel, T-1 (HSS) or some kind of carbide. I would use the size of the blade to try and narrow it down. http://www.jorsonandcarlson.com/products/bindery/paper_cutter_knives_and_accessories/new_guillotine_trimmer_knives/new_pkt_knives.html And I am sure your scrap is not bad just misunderstood. Ernest

I am trying to figure this out myself. I think the one on the left side is an oxidizing (more oxygen than fuel) and the one on the right is not. One of the people that know will correct me. Ernest

Hello everyone, I will say up front that I do need to get a real respirator and that paper masks don't seal as well as a real respirator but this was what I had on hand. This is from 2 to 3 hours worth of work cleaning the funk and rust off of steel from the scrap yard, cutting with angle grinder and grinding to get ready to weld.

For what it is worth my dad told me about how the Germans (he grew up in Germany during the war) used coal to produce gasoline. This gas was (from what I have read) a kind of low octane white gas. The Germans to this day gassify coal to make something like LP or LNG. So yup, I can see how this might go boom!

The groove looks too small for a Marsh Wheeling Stogie, that was what my dad smoked when he smoked cigars. Little big for a cigarette but not too big.

Wayne, My nephew does not have a covered place to work so his hard brick pile forge gets rained on. Am I correct that you don't want the setup you describe here to get wet? Ernest