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Forums10
Topics38,931
Posts550,841
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Most Online1,344 Apr 29th, 2024
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,996 Likes: 493
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,996 Likes: 493 |
Now there is a man I really miss. Harry was quite a guy.
I wonder where his Borchardt is now?
_________ BrentD, (Professor - just for Stan) =>/
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 151 Likes: 2
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 151 Likes: 2 |
Agree, Brent. Not sure he ever finished the Brochardt. Was close before his health failed. Always appreciated his critique of my builds, always saying "You can do better." His method of fitting a square breech breech block into a receiver is known as the "Harry Eales' Method". Chuck
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,996 Likes: 493
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,996 Likes: 493 |
Chuck, I know for sure he did not finish it. I was trying to figure out how to get him a barrel. Totally not trivial in England.
The Harry Eales' Method, I love it. We were trying hard to get him over here to take in a match at Raton or elsewhere, but it never happened. He was a heck of an interesting guy.
_________ BrentD, (Professor - just for Stan) =>/
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,566 Likes: 233
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,566 Likes: 233 |
For those with a basement shop, floor space is often not the constraint for a full size mill; it is often headroom or access to get the machine into the basement. Of course, access may be a problem for a full size lathe also. BTW, the Atlas bench top mill is a knee type horizonal spindle machine, but a vertical spindle conversion can be fit up. My conversion is shop made with a separate motor and unusual spindle taper; but now commercial conversions are available that use the existing motor as well as standard spindle taper. Mike
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 950 Likes: 285
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 950 Likes: 285 |
Anyone seen the picture of the Scottish gunmaker whom shares his shed with a full size mill and lathe? Talk about limited space! He Mark Mitchell and a year or so ago he built a bit larger shop. Regards Stephen
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 404 Likes: 29
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 404 Likes: 29 |
Talk about limited space! ... built a bit larger shop. Here's an update on my situation:. I've decided to close in a two car carport and turn it into a multi purpose shop. The current shop will revert to a lawn mower garage / shed. I think it will take me 6 months or so to get that done, so that gives me plenty of time to look for a good mill and lathe
Jim
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 7,084 Likes: 462
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 7,084 Likes: 462 |
Good call, I never have enough room. I have a two car garage with a 12x24 addition on it, a larger portion of my basement, two spare bedrooms and part of my living room(my desk) all devoted my shop.
Spring for a rotary phase converter and you will not regret it. All my larger machines run on 3 phase.
Last edited by SKB; 09/09/20 06:48 AM.
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,566 Likes: 233
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,566 Likes: 233 |
Woodreaux, SKB advised buying 3 phase equipment, especially a lathe and mill. What he didn't say was at local auctions,3 phase equipment is often very much cheaper than single phase because 3phase line power is generally not available without obligating yourself to pay extremely high monthly rates. I was at a SBA auction that included two mills, an Index and a Super Max, I wanted the Super Max. The first one up was the Index, but no one wanted to start the bidding. To move things along, I started at $50 and "son of a gun" I got it. SKB's advice to buy a rotary phase converter is one way to run 3 phase, and the motor runs at almost full power, plus you can "instant reverse", which is a handy feature. Another way to run 3 phase is with a "static phase converter". This runs the motor on the two legs of 220 volt "house power" and starts it with help from a capacitor in the converter. This way, the motor runs at only 2/3 power and you must stop the motor to reverse it("instant reversing" may destroy the capacitor). The way I chose was to use a static converter to start a "donated" 3 phase "slave motor" and run the equipment on two legs of "house power", with the third leg being generated by the slave motor( by running w/o a "load", it uses insignificant power). This is basically how a rotary converter works, so it has the same advantages( to protect the capacitor, "switch" it off, after starting the slave motor). If you buy a static converter, it will include instructions for wiring it this way( I didn't think this up, someone much smarter than I did). For a single person shop, if you size the system for the largest motor and wire them in series, you can run several pieces of equipment with the same system. There are other ways to start the "slave" motor, but this combines convenience with acceptable cost. In the long run, 3 phase equipment may be cheaper and more capable than single phase. Mike
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 7,084 Likes: 462
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 7,084 Likes: 462 |
I have an old Quincy air compressor, cost me 50$ because it was 3 phase. I need to rebuild the compressor motor because it leaks oil badly but to buy a comparable compressor today would be 5-6K new.
Mike is correct, 3 phase can be a real bargain.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 277 Likes: 5
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 277 Likes: 5 |
Most of your “commercial” machinery will be 3 phase, as noted above don’t let that scare you, I’ve replaced most of the motors (buffers, belt sanders etc.) in my shop to 3 phase. I would stay away from static phase converters, they may be cheap and easy to install, but you lose so much, keep in mind that a BP mill motor is only a 1 or 1 ˝ horse. Also, when looking at used 3 PH commercial machines, ensure that they are 220 and not 440. Something else to consider are Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), the prices have come down considerably, provides soo much more control over the machine. You can adjust the speed of the machine with the VFD; think no more belt/gear changes on mill/lathe. Just turn a knob or push an up/down button. Mike brought up a good point with the Wells-Index, Bridgeport’s are not the only mills worth considering, and in fact they are pretty light weight compared to other brands: Wells-Index, Van Norman, Pratt Whitney etc. Now with that said, there are only two makes that are easy to get parts for: Bridgeport and Wells-Index. Lots of aftermarket parts for BP, and Wells-Index still supports all machines built since 1940. I passed on a Wells-Index mill once only because the spindle taper was not R8. So Mike if you want to dump that ratty old “Index” mill.. let me know.
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