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08-11-2013, 01:03 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
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Metalworking
I've noticed a couple of forum members have mentioned they have metalworking tools - Lathe, Mill, etc.
How many of us are there?
What do you have?
What do you use it for?
I have a well equipped shop in the barn:
13x40 Lathe, collet closer, 3J, 4J
Sherline miniature lathe
Lagun Mill (like a Bridgeport only 25% bigger)
Miller wire feed welder
Grinder, Tool Grinder
Beadblast cabinet
Right angle head, rotary table for mill
Lots of tooling for lathe and mill
Welding table
Surface plate and inspection tooling
Most of this I acquired when my company merged two model shops and sold off the surplus. Rest accumulated over time. As usual the tooling cost more than the lathe or mill.
And most of it gets used rarely. How sad.......
I was out using the mill today making a shim for the pumphouse door, but that is another story.
First thing I ever made with the mill was an adapter to fit a Mopar 4spd into my 72 El Camino. I was really happy to get the automatic out of there.
And many custom parts live on the SMB.
Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
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08-11-2013, 01:28 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Sacramento Delta, CA
Posts: 1,024
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Re: Metalworking
MillerMatic 350P.
Great mig welder.
But I am the worst welder out there.
So, now I want to learn how to weld aluminum.
__________________
2002 E350 ext.; 160K; 7.3L; 4R100 (w/4x4 deep pan & filter); 4x4 conv. w/2007 F250/F350 coil frnt axle (oppos. dual Bilstein press. shocks cured DW) diff chg from 3.55 to 3.73 (bad!); BW1356 t.c. (bad!); LT265/70R17/E Michelin LTX M/S2; Engel MT60 Combi Fridge-Freezer; 4 BP 380J pv panels; Auragen 5kw AC gen. in top alt. position; Webasto Dual-Top; Voyager top. 1995 5.8L EB Bronco, bone stock.
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08-11-2013, 01:45 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,177
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Re: Metalworking
DeWalt drill
Dremel tool (recently fried )
flat file
round file
Premier Power Welder not yet installed in the Bronco
I'm rather challenged in the tools I have available
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
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08-11-2013, 02:04 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Taylor, Mississippi
Posts: 1,648
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Re: Metalworking
Ray
__________________
'95 SMB E350 Quigley 7.3
https://www.taylorarts.com
... If you have to ask, you'll never understand...
"... torpedo'd, because we don't generally cotton to bullshit around here." -jage
"... do they ooch apart in the night?" -Dia
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08-11-2013, 05:19 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: TN
Posts: 10,222
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Re: Metalworking
Quote:
Originally Posted by E350
MillerMatic 350P.
Great mig welder.
But I am the worst welder out there.
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No you aren't.
Most people just say I'm a tool.
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08-11-2013, 07:25 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: East Bay CA
Posts: 1,078
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Re: Metalworking
Dang; nice shop. Also got a Miller and added a spool gun to try some so-so aluminum. Not as nice as TIG but faster, I hope.
__________________
2001 Ford E250 Sportsmobile with Salem-Kroger 4x4 conversion
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08-11-2013, 08:05 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Sacramento Delta, CA
Posts: 1,024
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Re: Metalworking
Please let us know how the spool gun works out for aluminum. My Miller came with the U rollers for aluminum, but not with the gun. The 350P is designed for a push-pull gun but will accept a spool gun. I need real world input from real people who aren't too much more adept than me (you may be way more adept than me btw). Since I lack talent, I can't learn from people with talent. It seems I learn best by trial and error or others who post their learning experience by trial and error. All I know is I have welded some what I think is cool stuff for the interior which is heavier than sh*t in steel and would be much lighter and just as strong in aluminum.
__________________
2002 E350 ext.; 160K; 7.3L; 4R100 (w/4x4 deep pan & filter); 4x4 conv. w/2007 F250/F350 coil frnt axle (oppos. dual Bilstein press. shocks cured DW) diff chg from 3.55 to 3.73 (bad!); BW1356 t.c. (bad!); LT265/70R17/E Michelin LTX M/S2; Engel MT60 Combi Fridge-Freezer; 4 BP 380J pv panels; Auragen 5kw AC gen. in top alt. position; Webasto Dual-Top; Voyager top. 1995 5.8L EB Bronco, bone stock.
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08-12-2013, 10:36 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: BC Canada
Posts: 427
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Re: Metalworking
E350:
The key to welding aluminum is to get it clean first. Brush it with a stainless steel wire brush. A regular wire brush will just contaminate the material.
Using Varsol when cutting or drilling aluminum makes quick work out of it.
__________________
"there is neither science nor fact prevailing here" - vlamgat
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08-12-2013, 10:42 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: SE Washington
Posts: 1,023
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Re: Metalworking
I've got a Makita grinder and thin cut wheels are my favorite. A small vise, anvil, hammers, propane torch, and various punches and drifts complete my toobox.
I let the experts do any welding.
__________________
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2009 E250 RB 5.4L "SilVan"
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08-12-2013, 10:58 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: East Bay CA
Posts: 1,078
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Re: Metalworking
Aluminum with my 211is far from ideal. I've used more high powered aluminum wire feeders and they were awesome, but not for home use. I find aluminum hard cuz it's hard to see, and it soaks heat like crazy. BTW forgot to mention I also have an oxy acetylene cutting rig.
And speaking of aluminum, anyone got a good way to grind it?
__________________
2001 Ford E250 Sportsmobile with Salem-Kroger 4x4 conversion
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