Toys for retirement
#1
Posted 01 March 2008 - 07:00 PM
Last month I got a Hudy comm lathe that most are familiar with:
This month I decided to upgrade my 20-year-old workhorse Dremel tool:
It still works but the sheath is all cracked and the two-wrench collet change system is a pain to use. There is also a ton of run-out in it. So after snooping around on woodworking and jewelry making forums I decided on a medium duty unit. If my cheapo Dremel has served me well for 20 years this new job should do me fine. It's a:
Here are the goodies:
I also bought the adjustable motor hanger and handpiece holder. It's all mounted to the workbench and I'm pretty happy with it:
I still need to trim the wire ties once I'm happy with the motor height adjustment. I also bought the optional $14 super flexible neoprene sheath for the flex shaft. This is probably the only time you'll want a limp shaft but believe me it makes controlling the hand piece a dream . There must be a dozen different style quick change handpieces available too.
Here's where I bought it:
Otto Frei
This place has some cool things. Check out their jewelers work benches .
Oh no, more bad news in the stock market. I'd better buy something else to help out! Bush doesn't have to worry about me not spending my credit from the stimulus package.
Where's the check? I need a mini lathe .
Rick Thigpen
Check out Steve Okeefe's great web site at its new home here at Slotblog:
The Independent Scratchbuilder
There's much more to come...
#2
Posted 01 March 2008 - 07:58 PM
You won't go wrong with a Sherline but there are some other nice mini lathes out there.
I intend to live forever! So far, so good.
#3
Posted 01 March 2008 - 09:15 PM
You might think about spending your money inside the city though so they won't have to file for bankruptcy. (Or are we too late?)
Nice comm lathe, too. I love mine and you will love yours. You did get the diamond bit, didn't you?
#4
Posted 01 March 2008 - 10:12 PM
Hey, Scott, the Foredom isn't really portable. That gives me an excuse to by another Dremel for portability! The Hudy has a diamond bit and adjustable axial support. It was purchased from Dave at:
PROFORMANCE RACING
He also did an expert setup of the tool height and the axial support so the comm is cut to a true cylinder not a cone . Thanks, Dave!
Rick Thigpen
Check out Steve Okeefe's great web site at its new home here at Slotblog:
The Independent Scratchbuilder
There's much more to come...
#5
Posted 02 March 2008 - 01:16 AM
Sherline has by far a better and bigger range of accessories and extra bits and pieces.
#6
Posted 02 March 2008 - 01:32 PM
I checked my mailbox today, and still no stimulus package.Bush doesn't have to worry about me not spending my credit from the stimulus package.
Paul Wolcott
#7
Posted 02 March 2008 - 08:00 PM
I got mail yesterday after digging my mailbox out of the snow. That was my stimulus package.
I intend to live forever! So far, so good.
#8
Posted 02 March 2008 - 08:08 PM
I already spent it... where is it... ????? I'm never gonna retire, I'll just quit and push a shopping cart down the boulevard, lubricating the wheels with Liquid Bearings.
Paul Wolcott
#9
Posted 03 March 2008 - 09:43 AM
OK, I'm gonna let you on my secret for retirement, three little words...
"Paper or plastic?"
GTP Joe Connolly
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice there is.
#10
Posted 03 March 2008 - 03:37 PM
When was the last time you were in a grocery store? "Paper or plastic" went out the door years ago. Now it's "Plastic okay?", providing they ask anything.
I intend to live forever! So far, so good.
#11
Posted 03 March 2008 - 10:11 PM
#12
Posted 03 March 2008 - 10:19 PM
"Do you want cheese on the burger?"
"Would you like a cart ,sir?"
I plan on being an ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED slot car fabricator who no longer has to work for the man...
WEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
Rick Thigpen
Check out Steve Okeefe's great web site at its new home here at Slotblog:
The Independent Scratchbuilder
There's much more to come...
#13
Posted 03 March 2008 - 11:26 PM
Harbor Freight 9 x 20 lathe
Atlas 12 x 36 lathe
Harbor Freight mill drill
20-ton hydraulic press
1-1/2 ton hand press
24 x 42 sandblaster
48" belt sander
Sears 24 belt X 6 disc sander
Valve grinder
Soldering irons from 30 watt to 175 watt
Oxy-acetylene torches
Prestolite torch
Pedestal grinder
Every hand tool known to mankind
digital readouts for all the above for the arithmetic-challenged, LOL
Two work shops, one in the basement, one in the garage
AND AND LOTS of lights! And a part-time job driving a truck for a local machine job shop...
Rick Bennardo
"Professional Tinkerer"
scrgeo@comcast.net
R-Geo Products
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Lead! The easy equalizer...
#14
Posted 03 March 2008 - 11:40 PM
Rick Thigpen
Check out Steve Okeefe's great web site at its new home here at Slotblog:
The Independent Scratchbuilder
There's much more to come...
#15
Posted 04 March 2008 - 01:45 AM
You forgot the most important thing: TUNES, MAN!A happy retirement requires some of the following...
A good Pioneer or JVC stereo and turntable plus eight-track are a FREAKING MUST!
Jairus H Watson - Artist
Need something painted, soldered, carved, or killed? - jairuswtsn@aol.com
www.slotcarsmag.com
www.jairuswatson.net
http://www.ratholecustoms.com
Check out some of the cool stuff on my Fotki!
#16
Posted 04 March 2008 - 01:52 AM
Jairus - What kind of stereo you runnin'? You know, stereo, turntable, speakers, etc.
My life fades, the vison dims. All that remains are memories... from The Road Warrior
#17
Posted 04 March 2008 - 02:11 AM
Marantz 2238 tuner
JVC LF41 turntable with diamond needle.
Pioneer eight-track
Sony TC758 reel to reel
JVC DKA22 tape deck with noise suppression
Fisher 60-disc CD player
Oh yes, the speakers are big freaking *** JVC items that I have not managed to bust yet... but the neighbors do sorely complain...
- Dave Person likes this
Jairus H Watson - Artist
Need something painted, soldered, carved, or killed? - jairuswtsn@aol.com
www.slotcarsmag.com
www.jairuswatson.net
http://www.ratholecustoms.com
Check out some of the cool stuff on my Fotki!
#18
Posted 04 March 2008 - 02:16 AM
By the way, vintage is NEW now and your stuff is excellent!
Now we gotta talk Rick into a Marantz!
My life fades, the vison dims. All that remains are memories... from The Road Warrior
#19
Posted 04 March 2008 - 10:02 AM
Mine's a TC788.Sony TC758 reel to reel
#20
Posted 04 March 2008 - 10:09 AM
When I sold my Corvette I didn't buy a classic car. I love them but I don't want to have to spend the time to maintain one. I also like cruise control, power windows, locks, seats, air conditioning, add nauseam AND reliability. I love the 1965-6 Shelby GT350 but a good one is six figures now. So I'm building a modern version.
It has all the V8 sounds and power with all the modern conveniences and retro looks.
Have you seen the Mustang TV commercial with the red GT drifting sideways past a couple of traffic cops that give the driver a thumbs up? I've done mini version of that a couple of times (without the cops!) so live axles are still good for something! Enough babbling, onward to tools.
So I think I'll buy one of these with the variable speed foot control:
MicroLux 5" Disk Sander
I have a POS. combination 6" belt - 6" disc sander that is so out of balance it wants to walk off the table every time I turn it on. I want a nice little smooth-running machine.
Does anyone have any other recommendations for a small disc sander?
Rick Thigpen
Check out Steve Okeefe's great web site at its new home here at Slotblog:
The Independent Scratchbuilder
There's much more to come...
#21
Posted 04 March 2008 - 11:07 AM
I saw a Dremel Stylus and drill/driver (both cordless) at Lowe's for around 100 bucks. Two tools for a really low price. I bought my Stylus last year for about 69 bucks; if I knew of this deal, I would have gotten that instead. Damn!
First Place Loser in the JK Products
International D3 Builders Competition
#22
Posted 04 March 2008 - 11:29 AM
Rick Thigpen
Check out Steve Okeefe's great web site at its new home here at Slotblog:
The Independent Scratchbuilder
There's much more to come...
#25
Posted 06 March 2008 - 10:16 AM
I have a Delta band saw similar to the one you linked to. It's a keeper. I also have a combo disc-belt sander like your other link shows. I'm going to replace it with the MicroLux 5" Disk Sander with the variable speed foot control. I'm a great believer in the foot controls and have my drill motor and little Dremel hooked up to one.
The cheapo sander I have now is so out of balance it wants to walk off the table. I never use the belt so it wastes a lot of space. I'm only using the sander for very small things like putting a radius in a bat pan or grinding a chamfer in C-can magnets for clips...
The MicroLux is ordered and when it gets here I'll test it out and show some pictures of it in action.
MicroLux 5" Disk Sander
Rick Thigpen
Check out Steve Okeefe's great web site at its new home here at Slotblog:
The Independent Scratchbuilder
There's much more to come...