Smoggy

Typo, Alan *wouldn't* DUH! Yes I believe Myford did or Myford as is now is do offer one, and there are many other examples, most of which are home built.

I wasn't sure on the language, but yes the odd word is familiar, it's oft with the western/central/southern European languages that the odd words are from the same root origin. However, the images say so much it's well worth viewing again and again to catch what you missed the previous time.

It would have to be powered Alan, a simple hand lever operated slide would speed the job up no end, I'd go so far as to say making a simple slotter (given the stock material being at hand) and cutting the gears would likely take no longer than cutting the gear via the saddle method! Nice little engine you've made there, about time you started on a full size one to power you're workshop ;)

Location Bob?

Welcome Joel, quick suggestion: add your location to your profile, someone helpful may be close by, general location will do fine. Good luck with the power hammer, I'm sure someone here can offer some help.

Eye Candy! My compliments on a fine display of craftsmanship.

...an improvement on that method is to make a tool post mounted slotter which will be faster and save wear on the bed and saddle, and will later come in very handy for cutting both internal and external keyways (and you may need one in the back gear) or splines as well as gear teeth, The most difficult part is indexing the gears, ok most counts are easy enough but a 127 can be a tad difficult without an index attachment.....so probably best make one of them first!

Good interview Frosty, great to hear your voice.......I am surprised at the lack of accent, to my ear at least.

Lathes are a really good machines for making gears on......... Go on, you know you want to!

Good advice and tips provided above, casting is something I started doing in my school years and have continued to do on and off over the years. There is an absolute plethora of very good information freely available on the interweb. Fuel wise you can chose from solid (wood/charcoal/coke/coal), liquid oil burners are not overly difficult to make and out in the middle of nowhere burning used oil shouldn't be problematic. Propane or an electric furnace....shoot, you can even cast in a microwave oven (I'll let you research that one yourself). While you're busy doing your google research get busy collecting stock, You've already mentioned the metals you would like to cast, but don't dismiss zinc and lead, being easy to melt in cheap heavy steel crucibles, they are a good intro. Just be sure to study and take all required safety precautions, as you should do with any metal, process or equipment. Study. learn, enjoy and BE SAFE, molten metal takes no prisoners!

I have an old fuel tank with the top cut out that serves as a quenching tank (ex Land Rover), it's heavily galvanized both inside and out and has many years life in it, 'Mossies' are not a great problem here but garlic is, I'm allergic, fortunately I detest the stuff anyway!

I think the possibilities may only be limited by ones imagination......but it's oft the need spurs the ineventivness!

It's midday here Charles, Sqaure holes had not occured to me......thus far!

I just know I'm going to regret this but................. .....I use lipstick......

That bracketing the the left will prove a bit useful too, besides using it directly to pound on it's begging to be a bender and a tool holder. A few wedges and it could suffice as a hold down for hot chisel work......I think you've scored there some my friend.

As a newcomer you'll excuse me resurecting and older post I hope, I have a little bad news for the member from the Devon area, we do have scorpions! They are a recent immigrant to the southerly shores and are getting a foot hold. Also we do have spiders that bite, it's those tiny little things you find blowing across the open fields on the summer breeze......not often but at certain times they get a tad aggressive. The result is the most miniscule pinpricks you can barely see on your skin.....but by Thors hammer you know you've been bitten! However the worst insect by far in the UK is the common all garden..........Politician!

A further option which may be worth exploring...... Often the local authority may have some industrial units available at "competative" rates to promote local fledgling business. The local one to me not only has a collection of small businesses, but a recreational and educational centre on the same plot.So plenty of incidental and passing trade options. It certainly worth a quick google and enquiring phone call.

Woodworking is not exactly my area of expertise Hillbilly, but I would let the wood season, you don't want it splitting after shaping and fitting.

I think you did quite well all things considered Xaiver. I've a fair bit of experience of frustratingly attempting to weld thin car body work with a stick welder, just when you think you have the settings and the speed right.....another whole blows! Even worse when attempting to weld to a thicker section. Two tips I can offer..... First don't attempt a run, just tack it and move along an inch, when you get to the end come back and tack between the first welds....keep repeating until you are happy you have a good enough fixing for the job in hand, This keeps the heat from building. If you can find a heat sink such as a decent lump of copper to place behind the weld area you stand a better chance reducing blow through. If we now get a plethera of posts enquiring about forging or casting copper.....that'll be my fault!

Snappy repartee, I'll leave that for you to judge Frosty......Now Banana Bender is a new one on me Ausfire, is that all Queenslanders, just the North, or a region thereoff? Thanks for the Additional info Glenn, Charles did have me puzzled somewhat, but I do now understand Frosty's tag line!.........As you may have noticed from my other posts, I'm busy getting used to the forum and gleaning absolutely masses of information from the many informative posts. So thanks for the site and the warm welcomes..... (Frosty, can I ask, was it a willow tree that dropped on you, I only ask as willow bark contains acetylsalicylic acid......which is apparently very good for headaches!)

Thanks for posting that Wayne, plenty to aspire to in that vid, I can see me revisiting this link more than a few times.

I'm definately not running Swede, far to decrepid for that, as for tools, I already have most I'll ever need, I've procured quite a bit of kit over the years as I have always been building or repairing something.......Tool making itself is a bit of a passion with me and inveitably the better your facilities the more tools you are able to make.....sometimes I swear they are breeding in the garage!

Yes it eventually dawned on me I had misunderstood you Charles,,,,,sometimes the the lights are a bit dim here, I'll get me wick trimmed...! lol

I find I have to agree with all the replies above, which is a little strange until one realises not all are deliberating exactly the same points. I would never deliberately set out to replicate anothers work (even if I did have the skill ) but certainly have taken inspiration from others example, One thing I had never considered until I read a few of the threads elsewhere on these boards was a makers mark, Pondering on it I realise I already have the materials and the tools, will shortly have the facilities and hopefully have the skills to produce myself at least one usable punch and use it with pride, Should I ever have an original idea, then if others "borrowed" it, as a hobby smith I would only be flattered, but I would expect to see their mark on it.

Thanks for the welcome folks, I could type in a British accent, which of the hundreds would you like Spanky? lol The name Ian, well that's sort of linked to the accents.....in so much that it originate from my locality, here in Englandshire each area has a pet name, some you may be familiar with, Cockney's are from London, Scouses are from Liverpool etc, in the north east you could be a Geordie, a Macam, a Cod Head, a Sand Dancer etc, all of which have an origin, ( and their own accents ) Middlesbrough was traditionally a heavy industry town, Steel Works, chemicals, coking ovens etc, and due to the topography, sheltered on 3 sides, the smoke and fumes used to hang over the town, Hence, anyone from Middlesbrough is known as a Smoggie! All these names where originally meant to be derogatory, but in truth we are all proud of our own unique little bit of heritage....event the Monkey Hangers......but we can save that one for another posting. As I've become well know as Smoggie I simply use the alternative ending so folks can identify me in print.