238 replies to this topic

[dc-65x]

I've been drilling the end bell mounting holes in motors like the Associated C-can below with a hand drill and "eye balling" the angle for years:
 

Most of the time it turns out OK but sometimes I'll goof and the angle is wrong. Then the screw head doesn't sit flat against the can....AND I HATE THAT!

 

What to do..........A NEW TOY FOR RETIREMENT!

 

I found an adjustable angle block goodie on eBay. There are many sellers and the prices and shipping cost vary widely. Here's the picture from one seller's auction:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's my gizmo in the flesh:

 

 

OK, so now I can hold the can and end bell at the Korrect angle but I'll need to go out into the garage and use my milling machine to drill the holes..........

 

But I don't want to go out there. It's too hot, it's too cold, I don't want to put on shoes..........wha wha wha. What to do? A NEW TOY FOR RETIREMENT!

 

How about a super small and light drill press for about $80 with turn of a knob variable speed? Ebay to the rescue. Here's the sellers picture from his auction:

 

 

There must be a dozen different sellers selling this "mini drill press". Prices are all over the map but I like this green one so I paid to much for it

 

Here's my baby with a brewski next to it for scale:

 

 

And finally, my new friend "Little Dillo" the beverage entry tool that made this all possible:

 

 

I'll see if all this works out according to plan in the 6-wheel racer thread.

 

Onward

[SlotStox#53]

Wow Rick you certainly know how to cherry pick those tools Love that mini drill press ,really nice small manageable size   How much does that thing weigh?

 

That Dillo is just........

[dc-65x]

Hi Paul. The drill press weighs 10 lbs 13 oz. It's quite handy. I have high hopes for it..........

[SlotStox#53]

Very nice weight for something that looks bullet proof Here's to it drilling many things on all your future projects  

[Mark H]

i want a mini drill press now! that things cool!

[Alchemist]

HI Rick,

 

Hope all is well.  Miss seeing your completed project cars tested on Eddie's track!

 

I owned what looks to be the exact same variable speed drill press and paid $56 not including shipping.  It worked fine for a little while but then the variable speed controller (potentiometer) prematurely stopped working.  

 

The company I purchased it from requested that I send them the variable speed "box" and in return sent me another drill press at no charge.  This new one had the motor go out on me after only using it a handful of times.  I called them up and they informed me that  I would have to wait over a month for a new batch of the drill presses to arrive from China  or I could request a refund.  I requested a refund and returned both drill presses.

 

When I had it, it was wonderful!   I don't have a gauge to determine runout but from eyeballing a drill bit for runout, they was virtually none from what I could see.  It took a little longer to drill thru some of the aluminum angles I had because it doesn't have any torque,  but it sure was accurate.

 

I hope yours will last for a long time!

 

Ernie

[dc-65x]

Hi Ernie,

 

I really miss seeing you guys too. I really need to come down for a visit.

 

Sorry to hear of your troubles with the drill press. I hope I get luckier than you were!

[Alchemist]

Hi Rick,

 

How's the drill press working for you?

 

Ernie

[dc-65x]

Hi Ernie,

 

It works great for the really light duty stuff I'm doing.

 

Take care,

 

Rick

[olescratch]

Only ten more months till R-Day.  I got to catch up.  I only need a few things, one a month should just about do the job.  This was a very informative post.  A good start on what to buy and some very good review of many buy/pass items. John

[dc-65x]

Hi John,
 
Congrats on your upcoming retirement.....I can highly recommend it!!!!!!!!!
 
I want to update a review I did on disc sanders. The little one below is OK to have around but it's too low on torque to be your only one...IMHO:
 

I replaced the combo belt-disc sander with a small disc sander from Micro Mark. It is SMALL and can be stored in a drawer or on a shelf and set on the work bench when I need it:



I also got the Foredom variable speed foot control. It's almost as big as the sander . Here is the sander next to a 1/24 slot car for a size comparison:



It works great to put the Philippe angle and radius on pans:



It runs nice and SMOOTH and I can vari the speed to "REALLY SLOW" for great control.

Me Likie .

I REALLY like the larger unit below. It's a variable speed unit and it's designed to run slower than bargain basement things that are high speed for woodworking. The band saw is very nice too......
 

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Micro-Mark's Website

Micro-Mark's Summer Sale is on! Mo money, mo money! Hey, we all need to do our part to stimulate the economy right . So I'm doing my part. Here is the compact 10" disk sander:



The 1/24 GP car is for size reference. I squared up a 1/16" thick by 2" wide piece of brass with no trouble. The unit is small enough to keep inside my slot room instead of out in the garage. Now for the variable speed band saw:



Again it cuts 1/16" brass like butter and is small enough it too can say in the house. Both units can be hooked up to a vacuum to keep things neat. Here are the sander and lathe on a card table and the band saw on an old printer stand:



I've ordered some swing arm drafting lamps to clamp on each end of the card table for plenty of light. When we move, after retirement, I will buy some decent work benches to set everything up on. For now, this works OK.

For next month I've got my eye on a small ultrasonic cleaner for just over $100 and a micro bead blaster for a little over $200. Again small, slot car sized stuff...

Onward...

 

Have fun!

[Pablo]

Me too me too   This is my setup.  Exactly same band saw and variable speed 10" disc sander as Capt. Rick. Also the Micromark mini-miter/cut off saw and a Harbor Freight drill press. They all work great, but I wish I had bought a Micromark drill press for a few dollars more instead of the Harbor Freight.  I cut an axle tube for a retro car today on the cut off saw then squared the ends on the disc sander, WOW what a difference good tools make !!

 

[SlotStox#53]

Nice setup Pablo Now all you need is a Sherline Lathe and it will be complete ! Love the sound of how easy squaring things up & working with all the right tools is .. Will have to see if I can cram some of those tools into the rig somehow

 

Have you got any new tools lately Rick?

[dc-65x]

I've been retired for over 2 1/2 years now (WEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!) but I still need a tool now and then.

 

Motor Master John Havlicek inspired my purchase when I saw this picture in one of has excellent threads. It's a BK Precision 875B Low-OHM LCR meter:

 

 

Here he's measure an armatures resistance with a resolution of .001 ohms. My cheapo multimeter has a .1 ohm resolution. Often it will fluctuate between numbers like .3 and .4 and I don't know what the resistance is.

 

I looked into a LCR meter like John's but it was over $200. Since I'm not a motor Pro like John I contacted BK Precision and asked if they had something with a .01 ohm resolution at a lower cost. They suggested one of their higher end Multimeters, the BK 2712 at just over $100.

 

I found one on eBay and she's mine now

 

 

It even stands up on its own:

 

 

Here it's taking a reading on 2 different poles of a RAM 850 armature:

 

 

 

Here's a link to the manufacture's info:

 

BK Precision 2712 Multimeter

 

Me likey!

 

 

[wbugenis]

That little fixture at the bottom of John's picture (blue plastic thingie) will allow you to  hold

the armature with one hand and sip a cup of coffee with the other while you are taking readings.

 

You can make one yourself easily in your copius free time - maybe John will post a picture 

[dc-65x]

Now that would be nice! I'd love to see a picture of it.

[dc-65x]

I've got a new goodie that's pretty handy. It's a counterbore with a 3/8" cutter diameter and interchangeable guide pilots in 1/8". 3/16" and 1/4" diameters:

 

 

If you need to shorten up an axle tube, guide flag tube or axle bearing tube, this will square up the tube after it's cut:

 

 

 

Here's a link to:

 

ENCO's catalog page

[SlotStox#53]

Now that's a cool tool Rick

Looks sharp, can you use it freehand or is it best to attach it to a drill?

[dc-65x]

Hi Paul,

 

It depends on how much material you want to remove. You can use it by hand for small cuts.

[SlotStox#53]

Thanks for the info Rick

Certainly would come in handy trimming/truing up axle tubes etc like you say .

[Dennis David]

Seeing the tools you guys use is really food for thought, though buying all these tool may mean less food for my stomach.

[dc-65x]

Here are the part numbers for the cutter and pilots I bought:

 

#368-6020 Counter bore, 3/8"

#368-3012 Pilot, 3/16"

#891-5850 Pilot, 1/4"

#368-3008 Pilot, 1/8"

 

When I was an apprentice machinist, the word was that, when end cutting, cutters with an odd number of flutes cut smoother than with an even number. The cutter I bought is a 4 flute and I'd like it even more if it cut a bit smoother. Next time I order from ENCO I'm going to try the 3 flute cutter #368-1022.

[Pablo]

  I think I need one of those

[Half Fast]

"Seeing the tools you guys use is really food for thought, though buying all these tool may mean less food for my stomach"

 

Lets see now:

 

Hmm:Tools, food, tools, food.... Tools!

 

Cheers

[Bill from NH]

Rick, could that cutter be resharpened or polished? What is it made from, HSS, carbide, or some other material?