Chris C

loneronin, that's quite a new toy.  Mighty happy for you.  Congratulations.

Nice haul KYCATS.

Gavj75,

Send me a PM and I'll walk you through how to post your pics here on the forum.  It's really easy-peazy.

On my bend-ed knee, Randy.  May God Bless you and give you strength for the journey ahead.

Bubba, any word on Travis?  Knee-mail continually sent.

Thomas,

Any update on your sister you'd like to share?  Been praying for her and your family.

Just wanted to let everyone know that Chellie's (Crazy Goat Lady's) mother passed away in her own bed, at home, with family surrounding her late last night.  Chellie says she died peacefully.  The family has been spending the day today making arrangements.

https://obituaries.gainesvilleregister.com/obituary/wilma-owens-1079238652

Naw.................go ahead and use an angle grinder with a cup brush on it.  Just be mindful it's a very dangerous tool, as is most any tool that you use in a shop.  Make sure what you are using it on is firmly attached to something immobile.  Make sure you don't get your loose clothing near it.  (as I did)  Make sure you keep your bare skin away from it. (like Frosty said, he's poked some holes in his hide)  The right angle grinder is a wonderful tool.  It can speed up a lot of the processes you need to do with steel.  No sense going back to a hack saw.............or a hand held wire brush.  Treat it with respect and it will serve you well.  Don't ever forget...........even for a minute..........what it is designed to do to steel it can do to you in a heart beat.

Frosty.  That's not a very enlightening story. 

I was using my r-angle grinder with a cup brush on it when I cleaned up my leg vise and it got tangled in my cheapo Harbor Freight leather apron.  Wrapped it up pretty quick.  Luckily all it did was break the waist strap and ripped the side of the apron.  Could have done a lot of damage.  I've been ever mindful since when using it.  Ive considered replacing the on-off switch with a momentary one.  Wouldn't have been quite the problem if I'd just been able to let go of the switch.

Thanks.  That was the first thing I noticed when working with a 2x72 in another smith's shop.  Gray metal dust everywhere.  Worried me to see the exposed outlets.  Figured that guarded outlet would be a good solution.

One thing I'm pondering over is metal dust collection.  Not completely sure how I want to address it.   I'm thinking a cyclone capturing system.  I've already got a really powerful dust collection system for my woodworking, but I don't want the hot sparks to make it all the way to that collector.  Thought maybe  a cyclone collector into an underwater destination might work.  I use to do something similar when I was working on sanding mud on sheet rock so the dust wouldn't infiltrate a house.  Worked exceptionally well.

Look a little closer, my friend. Water proof, outdoor single-gang box.

Sounds like a plan to me!

Yes, I'd say that's a "real" anvil.  Have you tested the rebound on that thing?

Wooden boxes!  That's what I've told my little wife...........although she keeps saying I'm too old to take care of our property.  I'll probably be using a walker to get out to my old For 8N tractor to mow the pastures!   And might need someone to start the chainsaw so I can cut down the next batch of trees, but I'll never toss in the towel voluntarily.  I'm just too danged "young"/stubborn.

Okay, here's the new grinder, on it's bench, at it's resting place in the shop.  Variable motor control is mounted separate from the bench at eye level.  All I've left to do it so replace the cord plug so it matches the wall receptacle and hook up the motor.  Then, of course, I need to take out some life insurance before I throw the switch.  (I'm not known for my expertise in electrical wiring!)

4 minutes ago, ThomasPowers said:

You're not a hoarder till you have changed locations and moved stuff you have never used at least 3 times!

I'm afraid if I ever move, the little wife will be standing in the doorway of my shop with her arms crossed saying "over my dead body".

Buzzkill, I've been looking at the LED versions of this concept on-line this last half hour and even though my pocket book suggests using something I already own verses buying something new, I think I agree with you.

SLAG, my little wife swears I'm a hoarder.........while I vehemently disagree. 

Thomas, this is the kind of flexible gooseneck light I have in the shop.  This one was my last brand new one in a box.  I have to laugh, the purchase date I'd marked on the unopened box was February 1983!    (see, I AM a "collector" of things I'll someday find a use for!)

I have several of those around the shop.  Think I even have a couple, new, still in the box.  Just not sure how to mount those in such a way as to stay out of the way of the grinder.  I've been thinking of using focused lights mounted above and to the side of the grinder.  Not on the grinder or table itself.............or a hanging fixture above the grinder.

Getting close to putting this whole mess together and calling it a blade grinding station.  Down to the point of wiring the whole thing together.  But I'm wondering about task lighting.  I'd think one would want some really bright lighting.............cross-lighting from both left and right so there are no shadows at the point of work.  So what kind of lighting do most of you use for this purpose?

Yup, that would go on my wall, for sure!  Nice piece of history.  I've been doing some searches and can't seem to find anything about it.

Absolutely.................and it works like a charm.  (sometimes fast/sometimes slower, but it works)

Okay, good to know.....................thanks.   Sounds as if the same height bench would work for both. 

Watching the UPS truck (on-line) wander around town.  Don't know when it will arrive here, but they "claim" before 9pm.  Ticks me off I may have to wait that long.  He's been within a mile of my house twice this morning.  Tempted to jump in the truck and try and find him!    I want to get started on designing the bench.  Not sure what "footprint" it's going to have in the shop.

Thanks.  I think I agree that's a good place to start the design process. 

Though I don't think I'll ever buy or use a large diameter wheel for hollow grinds,  what would you recommend as a starting height for that?  Wondering if I can design an adjustable bench that would be as strong as a stationary one?

Platen, Thomas.

My 2x72 belt grinder is due to arrive tomorrow and even though I don't have a bench for it yet, I still needed to install a 220v outlet where I'm planning on using the grinder.   So I spent much of my day going out and around to buy supplies and install the line and outlet.  So that step is behind me.  Can't start building the bench until I have the grinder from which to take dimensions.  I plan on making the table top tilt 90 degrees to the left so the belt can be placed in a horizontal position.   I'm a little gun-shy about deciding on the height to make the bench, though.  I think there was a thread about it mentioning the majority of folks found the middle of the platen at level of the belly button made for a good reference............is that correct?