Shops, tools, materials and tips

[Miller Bro's]

That is an unusual mark Bill

I really like the bone handles

Thanks for the closeup pictures

[FRJ]

I wish a lot more member's would get involved in this thread. There is NO TELLING what some of you Guys and Gals could post in here.

I agree with Bill here. Lets see some more pictures.

[Joe Dirt]

Here's a tip: When you need to move your workbench, DON'T tell your friends how much it weighs!!! This one comes in at 800lbs!!! It is a piece of 3' x 8' x 1/2" steel plate.
It took six people to get it into my basement! An anvil - I don't need no stinkin anvil - just clear off spot on the bench and hammer away!

I've been using this bench for about 15 years now, and there's not a bad thing I could say about it! The steel has been treated with black oxide. You can drill and tap holes in it, to mount fixtures or whatever ya need. When your done - just weld up the holes and grind um flat. When welding, I just ground the welder to the table and clamp my work up in the vice.

Notice the "over and under" washer and dryer. Yup, the wife got a brand new washer cuz my workbench was just a little to long a win - win situation

...... Joe

[CCBill]

Good goin', Joe... I like the vice on a vice on a vice set up on the drill press. It works for me.
(mental note to myself...get a bigger air compressor.)
Looks like a great work area. Thanks for the pictures. Looks like you're ready to tackle most anything.
I have a Keenedy top and bottom box like yours. I'd like to have the mid box to go with it. Maybe some day. I also have an old, red, Craftsman roll around base. Maybe Santa could bring me a top box if I asked real nice, huh?
Like I've said before, it doesn't matter if it's a card table or a big shop, we'd like to see where you work, play, piddle(what ever you prefer to call it).
Thanks, again, Joe .
...CCBill...

[FRJ]

Nice show , Joe. It's nice to get a view of what you have and what your working with. Big air, nice Kennedy, hey, what's that long gun? That's a stunning dryer!! Do you tumble parts in that? Great bench!
Seriously, it's nice to see your stuff. Thanks Joe.

[CCBill]

HEY!!! Anybody want to volunteer to come over and help me clean out my so-called workshop???
What a mess. We moved a lot of "stuff" in here "temporarily" after a couple of different remodeling jobs and for SOME reason, it stayed here. I gave a flea market Guy, 2 pickup loads of stuff, just to get rid of it.
When(if) it cools off, I am going to hit this place and make it usable again.
I gave a bunch of my tools to a member, several years ago. I've gotten to a point in my life where my eyes and my hands don't work together like they used to but I still get out here and piddle around. I STILL have WAY more tools than I need.
SO! Good or bad, here it is...

[FRJ]

Bill,
that rolling Kennedy tool box make my knees flutter.

[Joe Dirt]

And that buffer puts a twinkle in my eye.

Look for me at 7 am sharp, Bill, to help you get everything organised.
(if I don't over sleep, that is ) (NC to TX = , guess I better get on the road )

How long have you been keepin "TIME" on that shelf?
It has a way of slipping away, no matter where you keep it!

I love lookin at other peoples shops! Thanks, Bill

..... Joe

[orvet]

Joe,
What are you running with a 19 CFM, air boards & other auto body air equipment?
It looks like a good compressor. The castings on the pump looks familiar, but I can’t place it, (it has been over 30 years since I repaired air compressors).
Is that North Star thet brand made in Canada? Looks like a solid unit!


Bill…….what is in the jugs…….or what used to be in the jugs?
I like your slotted shelves!

[Joe Dirt]

You nailed it, Dale! I can keep two guys running with files - no problem .... even keep a deadman wide open with another guy on a DA!
This is the third compressor I have bought. Each time, a little bigger. Got tired of waiting on the little ones to catch-up.
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH AIR!

I don't know where it was made? I will have to try and remember to look next time I'm near it.
I bought it from Northern Tool - maybe that's the "North Star" deal??? It's been a good one.

Bill, is that Granny's "roomatiz medicine" in those jugs?

.... Joe

[orvet]

OK Here are some new pics of my shop -


This is my main workbench, there is a Foredom hanging on each side (saves a lot of time changing bits).
The tools I use most are right there on, above or around the bench.

This is my stool, which is the best stool I have ever had. My Granddad made it from a seat from an old horse drawn spring tooth harrow, or some other farm implement. I have a cushion that goes on it too. It is just the right height to work on the main bench and move out of the way easily because of the base.

My small bench is behind me to my right when I sit at the main bench. Not all the parts and handle material stored on the shelves about this bench.

Continuing behind me is a storage rack and next to it is my 2” X 72” belt sander.

The tall bench is to the left of my main bench. It is really a very sturdy chest of drawers. Holds lots of stuff, tools, parts, blanks, stuff & junk.

This is my buffer located right behind the tall bench. Behind it is my project bench which I try to keep clear for special little projects like wet grinding, blade etching or whatever process I need to do that does not have it’s own area.

This is my sander table. 1” X 42” sander, 4” X 36” sander, 2” X 36” sander, 12” disc sander and my drill press. The 2” X 36” and the drill press are going to my dad in exchange for his floor model drill press. Then I think I will bring out my other homemade buffer on the table.

Behind the sander table is my big toolbox. To the left, out of the picture is my old Delta 14” band saw.

This is my small wet grinder set up on the project bench.

This is my large vise, a Prentiss #54. It is mounted on an old truck wheel. My anvil is mounted in the same fashion, but is in the side yard.
Oh, between the vise and the 2 X 72 sander is a Jet bench grinder set up on a pedestal.

Well, there you have the 2-bit tour.
There is a lot of stuff in a small area so I work hard to keep it organized so I can find things. Which is a real pain in the tuckus!

I hope you enjoyed the tour,
Dale

[FRJ]

What a nice shop, Dale. It's a pleasure to look around. Thank you for the pictures. Nice dogs. You are so fortunate to have that tractor seat chair, that your Granddad made. That is really nice. Very nice tools, and all in good order. I'm impressed. Thanks again.
I hope your healing well, brother vet.

[orvet]

Thanks Joe.
I am trying out my hands on a couple of my own knives before I get started on the backlog that built up when my hand was messed up.

I will post a pic or two when I get them finished.

[CCBill]

WOW, Dale!!! Thanks for letting us in to your shop. Lots of great picture of lots of great tools, not to mention your tractor seat stool.
Looks like your guard Dogs are resting up for later. Lost my 17 year old Shi-Tzu/ Llhasa Apso mix, last December. Part of me died with her.
I don't git to town much, so I wuz a-wonderin', whut's them thangs on both front corner's of that red-legged bench?
Thanks again...CCBill...

[CCBill]

Thanks for the replies on my junky old shop.
Joe Dirt. I'll leave the light on for you. It's a long drive from N.C. to here but you are welcome any time whether you come to help clean out the shop or just to visit. The buffer is a Baldor, 2-speed. Dale aked me if I held a gun on the guy when I bought it for $20.00 at a garage sale. I found a listing for a used one for $350.00.

Dale, those shelves are the ones I told you I was going to drag out of there and bust them down for the trash man. Wish you lived closer. I would give them to you.

Those crock jugs are EMPTY, dang it. The one on the left is from a liquor seller in N.Y. City. It dates back to the 1890's.
I'm trying to get my tools and "stuff" down to a manageable level. All the boxes you see and more that you can't are full of MORE tools and "stuff". We have our house on the market. If and when it sells, we are moving to Amarillo. That's home to me and it's where my Sons, Daughter-in- law and Grand daughter live. I hope to have a shop, there, where my Sons will feel welcome to come and work on anyting they want to anytime they want to.

I'm still thinkin about all the pics that Dale posted. Good job. Who's NEXT???

...CCBill...

[orvet]

Looks like your guard Dogs are resting up for later. Lost my 17 year old Shi-Tzu/ Llhasa Apso mix, last December. Part of me died with her.

Sorry to hear about your dog Bill. Lhasas are better people than many people.

They are resting up so they can sleep better later!

Our dogs are Lhasa Apsos. The one in the back is Gus, the sire of the two in the front Josi on the left & Sami to the right. Great guard dogs and they think they are people!

I don't git to town much, so I wuz a-wonderin', whut's them thangs on both front corner's of that red-legged bench?

Those are strips of sandpaper & 3M polishing paper. I use them to shine the bone after hafting the handles.
Here is another pic to the right of my main bench. You see strips of sandpaper & polishing paper hanging there. I do most of my hafting by hand with sandpaper & polishing paper.

Dale, those shelves are the ones I told you I was going to drag out of there and bust them down for the trash man. Wish you lived closer. I would give them to you.

Thanks, I appreciate the offer Bill!
But at the price of gas today I could have them made of mahogany and still have money left over upgrade most of the equipment in my shop.

[Joe Dirt]

Definitely one of the better organised shops, Dale.

That "sitting tool" your Grandad made is great!
Great vise, also!

Bill, you sure the people having that garage sale where you got the Baldor actually owned the garage?
Think it could have been the neighbors that were watchin the house while the owners were on vacation?

..... Joe

[TripleF]

Dang knice shop Dale


Right now I'm working out of a bag.....some oils, WD40, 1500 grit sandpaper, metal cleaner and I just ordered Knife Eraser. Funny, 8 months ago I had no idea I'd be buying and cleaning before reselling...let alone starting a blog. What'll happen in a a year

[Joe Dirt]

A new toy on the bench! A triple wet wheel with a buffer.

I've done some lapidary work in the past and a good friend of mine had
this in her basement, collecting dust.
She has a diamond wheel set up she uses.
She GAVE me this set - I didn't even ask or mention it!!
Can't wait to cab out some scales!

Anyone have any ideas on making a gravity feed water supply?
Know of any cheap pump set ups?

I will be mounting it on a stand or more likely a rollaround (need the drawers to keep my dob sticks and other rock cutting supplies in.)

...... Joe

[CCBill]

WAY TO GO, Joe!!! I like it...
What else have you got???
...CCBill...

[orvet]

Nice addition to the shop Joe.

[IMBand]

......."Know of any cheap pump set ups?"........

Start at the aquarium section in Wally World.

[orvet]

I am always looking for new tools for my shop or new applications for old tools. I frequently end up making my own tools. This is an example of modifying an existing tool for a new application.

The tool I started with was an old inner tube clamp for self-vulcanizing tire patches. It held the patch against the tube good and tight while you lit the fuel on the back of the patch to vulcanize the patch to the tube.

Shaler c.jpg (24.47 KiB) Viewed 4471 times

Tubeless tires have made these items obsolete long ago. Nonetheless then I saw a couple of these in a flea market this summer I bought them.

I covered each side of the clamp with heavy leather and it works perfectly to clamp an assembled knife in a position so I can sand of polish the bolsters.
I have also used it in hafting knives.
It makes a dandy clamp for a knife mechanic!

[Joe Dirt]

That's very insightful and ingenuitive Dale! (spell check tells me "ingenuitive" ain't a word)

I couldn't tell you how many times I could have used something like that.
Not just for knives, but for clamping in-general, knowing a "C" clamp would mar a finished surface.

The surface area of the table and throat depth are perfect!! It's now on my list of "must have" tools!

Thanks for sharing, Dale

..... Joe

[FRJ]

Very smart idea, Dale.