Thrift store find

[Mark-One]

Ah, I've never had my IQ tested. I'm afraid to find out that I'm not as clever as some people think I am (as in those without the specialist training I took to get my job).

I tend to roll things around for a good long time before they're acceptable enough to even be called an idea. Takes awhile, but I eventually get there...usually. Usually doesn't take quite so long to work out the logistics of it all. (My last idea took a good year to jell into something workable and practical, a couple months to plan and accumulate parts, and maybe 3 weeks on and off to put together, with a few last second changes).

So I get the reputation of being slow and reliable (and thus a whole lot of fun at parties, since there is always a DD hanging around doing nothing save looking uncomfortable).

This new little hobby-within-a-hobby (got back into steam engines originally because living computers 24/7 was driving me around the twist to burnout land) gives me something new to obsess over now that accumulating these little engines has lost some of its luster. I don't necessarily want to build them. For now I am happy modifying them into something they previously weren't

So that's where I come from in all of this.

I remember one oil cooled PC that was just the motherboard, etc, immersed in a bath... I had a friend online years back who was going to try that.. Not sure if he ever did. I think he was going to use distilled water, which struck me as being a bit of an iffy proposition considering how much water likes to take on ions..
I just slapped bigger fans in mine and was happy with 50% OC. Then my buddy, who is a walking tech-hex, came over one day, sat down in front of it, and the CPU died a minute later.


Anyway, do we now have the record for taking the greatest tangent from the original topic?

Take care

Mark

 

[Kludge]

Ah, I've never had my IQ tested. I'm afraid to find out that I'm not as clever as some people think I am (as in those without the specialist training I took to get my job).

It was a requirement to take the tests when I was in school. When I did, I sort of dogged them because they seemed silly and a waste of time. Shortly thereafter, the guidance counselor, who was built like your average main battle tank, got us into a nose to nose & toes to toes situation where he informed me that I shall retake the tests and I shall put some effort into them. Apparently there were some built-in traps to catch people doing what I had done. Anyway, a new enthusiasm grew out of a preference not to become roadkill and I retook the tests. What was sad (for him, not for me) was that the official score was forever imbedded in my transcripts where it declared for all the world to see that I'd have to work really hard to get up to the level of moron, and that sit, beg, fetch and not piddling on the floor were probably beyond my grasp. When I took the entry exams for college some years after graduating high school, the scores were literally off the charts and the secret was out that I really did have two functioning neurons to rub together which was rather upsetting since now people expected me to be all smart and stuff. :-[

I tend to roll things around for a good long time before they're acceptable enough to even be called an idea.

Once I've imagineered something in my head, it takes a while to get all the pieces parts etc figures out. This is where my CoC Beta comes in handy though now I've got a tablet computer that I can use as a fancy etch-a-sketch - a good thing since I don't have a scanner.

So I get the reputation of being slow and reliable (and thus a whole lot of fun at parties, since there is always a DD hanging around doing nothing save looking uncomfortable).

(DD: Damsel in Distress?) I was never a party person so it is a joyous occasion when I don't get invited to them. But then, I have these trust issues with people so I rather like the way things are now.

This new little hobby-within-a-hobby (got back into steam engines originally because living computers 24/7 was driving me around the twist to burnout land) gives me something new to obsess over now that accumulating these little engines has lost some of its luster. I don't necessarily want to build them. For now I am happy modifying them into something they previously weren't

Ah, a most noble and valiant undertaking but someday you're going to get the itch to prove to yourself if no one else that you can do it better - or at least stranger. BEing strange fits right in here. ;D

Anyway, do we now have the record for taking the greatest tangent from the original topic?

Tangent? We're talking salvage here and repurposing goodies so what tangent? ;D

Speaking of which, two cordless drills showed up to be taken apart for the stuff inside. I already have a cordless screwdriver that is to meet the same end. What I find inside should be fun.

BEst regards,

Kludge

 

[Mark-One]

(DD: Damsel in Distress?)

Smartarse - Designated driver. Too many pisstanks in my family tree, so I've decided to be teetotal in order to break the pattern. But, yeah, I try to duck any social situation that I can.

BEing strange fits right in here. ;D

I have a knack for gravitating to such places ;D
If you want to see a couple strange things, I've just linked to my youtube site in my profile (I don't keep a web page as such... That would bring this hobby far too much back into the realm of computers)

Tangent? We're talking salvage here and repurposing goodies so what tangent? ;D

An inverse one?

Speaking of which, two cordless drills showed up to be taken apart for the stuff inside. I already have a cordless screwdriver that is to meet the same end. What I find inside should be fun.

Cool. Should be a few gears anyway, no? I've never had a junk one.
...I have a laptop here in front of me that I am about ready to fire through the wall, so it may well be salvage soon. I wonder what could be done with the high voltage inverter for the backlight... ;D


Unfortunately metal salvage is harder to come by. I can't find aluminum round bar anywhere outside of ebay. Half the scrap yards I went to won't even let individuals in. Did get some nice brass, though, including some sheet that can't be more than 10 thou.

Looking at a pile of falling-apart computer desks, of the sawdustboard variety. I'm just imagining what I could do with all of that "wood" (the stuff is to wood what baloney is to meat) once we scrap them..


One thing that I need to make up out of something is a pipe center. I want to turn some copper plumbing pipe. Just enough to remove the dings and the stampings so I can use it for faux chimneys, so it will be light work, but has to be fairly precise.
I was thinking of turning a piece of brass to conical shape, center drilling it, and letting it ride a smaller live center, sandwiched between the center and the work. Bad idea?
I suppose I could also use a steady rest for that matter....

 

[Kludge]

Smartarse - Designated driver.

I'd far prefer a Damsel in Distress. They're a lot more fun.

I have a knack for gravitating to such places ;D

Apparently we all do hence the popularity of the place. 2251 complete nuts can't be wrong!

If you want to see a couple strange things, I've just linked to my youtube site in my profile

Seeing strange things is why I moved out of Waikiki. ;D Anyway, I'll check out the YouTube thingie in a bit.

An inverse one?

Let's see ... Tan-1x ... Actually, I'd think maybe perverse but that's just me.

Cool. Should be a few gears anyway, no?

One drill yielded most of a dual planetary drive (like the ones Brian recovered), an 18v motor and a speed control good for 24vdc/20a. I haven't been able to fully dismantle it yet - the chuck et al seem stuck in place and nothing I've tried has unstuck it. I shall defeat it even if I have to call on someone I know who has access to high explosives. If that doesn't work then I may have to get brutal with it.

Among other toys, I'm scouting around for a cordless circular saw with issues so I can swipe the motor from it. I don't know if it's apparent but I far prefer DC motors (which includes brushless motors and steppers, though neither are obviously DC) over AC. In my rarely humble opinion, DC is a lot more controllable and more efficient plus, with proper digging, can be a lot cheaper. Treadmill motors & controllers are a decent example of this with some muscle with way lots of lower voltage/current examples around.

Anyway, cordless circular saws turn in the 3000-4500 rpm range with enough torque to get the job done. I've never stalled either of mine (Don't ask 'cuz I have no idea how I wound up with two!) which means that in the apps I have in mind I should have no problems at all.

...I have a laptop here in front of me that I am about ready to fire through the wall, so it may well be salvage soon. I wonder what could be done with the high voltage inverter for the backlight... ;D

Keep the backlight too; it may make a decent low level light source for you. All the drives have motors and I'm sure there's other salvagable parts inside. Even the screws can be recycled.

Unfortunately metal salvage is harder to come by. I can't find aluminum round bar anywhere outside of ebay. Half the scrap yards I went to won't even let individuals in.

We only have four yards that I know of on Oahu and none allow individuals to come in - or I've been talking to the wrong people. Aside from a 140 pound haul I was given a couple months ago, all my metal comes from ePay or a couple of online vendors. On the other hand, I also have a bunch of wood - mostly pen-making blanks and some veneer - so I can use that as well.

I don't do aluminum (so far) but rather stick to brass, nickel silver, 12L14 steel or stainless of an unknown but fairly machinable type. I'll be adding drill rod so I can make some dies to match a few taps I got handed for which I have no mate. That should be fun.

Looking at a pile of falling-apart computer desks, of the sawdustboard variety. I'm just imagining what I could do with all of that "wood" (the stuff is to wood what baloney is to meat) once we scrap them..

Make secondary work benches? My primary bench, which is still in the hands of Murphy, is 36" high and is for the heavy work. I have a small roll-around I'm using now that I kind of like and will probably keep for the really small stuff once I can get my main bench back. There will be one for the watch/clock work as well so that it can be kept away from the main bench for its own protection.

I was thinking of turning a piece of brass to conical shape, center drilling it, and letting it ride a smaller live center, sandwiched between the center and the work. Bad idea?
I suppose I could also use a steady rest for that matter....

A steady rest would be cheating.

I kind of like your idea, though I'd probably grease it up and use it against a dead center instead in my case. The live center on my Taig is spring loaded and tends to retreat into the tailstock if presented with any sort of challenge. I don't have any live centers for the other machines. Yet. Anyway, if you turn it so it is a slip fit into the tubing instead, that may help keep it more stable. If it's turned like a step drill, it can be made to work with several sizes of tubing. Just a thought.

Isn't this fun?

Best regards,

Kludge

 

[Mark-One]

That was such a good idea that I had to go and make it.

I did two steps, for the two sizes of pipe that I use. They are a snug fit, needing a bit of oil and a smack to get in, and doubtless a whack to remove.

I'm turning it against a dead centre, for the sole reason that it's shorter than the live one and I am at the limits of bed (have to remove the entire tailstock to insert/remove the work).

So what I have here is a sort of mandrel that lets you mount a tube as if it was a bar.

I'll always think of it as my Kludge-bar

I'll get a picture later. Got a heck of a headache now from trying to turn down such a long bit of copper. In the end I finished the bugger with sandpaper. All I wanted was to remove the dings and the makers stamp rolled into the side.

Actually it looks so nice with that bit of brass on the end that I think I shall have to make a chimney cap for it next...


I was working on a button tool the other day with the drill rod cutter and keystock base. I have to take it apart and either make a new cutter or grind mine down because it projects too far above centre to compensate for. Though for my little machine I really need a smaller one, and in that size it's hard to find a screw with a small enough head (yeah, I chucked the screw and turned down the head already...)

Seem to be spending as much time making tools as I do making parts, which is certainly not something that I imagined myself doing. It's fun, though.

 

[joeby]

Kludge,

One drill yielded most of a dual planetary drive (like the ones Brian recovered), an 18v motor and a speed control good for 24vdc/20a. I haven't been able to fully dismantle it yet - the chuck et al seem stuck in place and nothing I've tried has unstuck it. I shall defeat it even if I have to call on someone I know who has access to high explosives. If that doesn't work then I may have to get brutal with it. Smiley

Have you had a look inside the chuck? Some of these have a screw into the end of the shaft (left hand thread), helping the threaded chuck body (right hand thread) stay put. I put the chuck key in one of it's holes and bump them (key) with a screwdriver handle. That's usually all it takes.

Of course it's possible that it's a tapered fit, I think that rather unlikely though, in which case a powder wedge could be used to good effect!

Kevin

 

[Kludge]

Have you had a look inside the chuck? Some of these have a screw into the end of the shaft (left hand thread), helping the threaded chuck body (right hand thread) stay put. I put the chuck key in one of it's holes and bump them (key) with a screwdriver handle. That's usually all it takes.

Hmmm ... YEs, indeed there is a screw in there. This is a keyless chuck but I'll figure some way to get it to happen as I want.

Thank you!

BEst regards,

Kludge