FrankenDrill

Posted: December 24th, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off on FrankenDrill

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I’ve had this weird drill bit banging around my tool bags for years now – still in the original packaging. It’s the Frankenstein monster of the drill bits – more like a roughing mill that you can use to remove material in tight spots. Bought it because it looked useful but I guess I kept forgetting about it until recently. I’m installing some 1/4″ stainless counters in an apartment – and at each seam I attach a 1/4-20 bolt into nuts welded to the underside of the metal. Sometimes locating the holes accurately can be a little finicky and I need to slightly adjust the hole without moving the heavy metal plate above. So this handy FrankenDrill is actually the perfect tool – and luckily I had it on hand and remembered to use it!

Happy Holidays!


Happy Mill

Posted: December 21st, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: Blog | Comments Off on Happy Mill

It’s been waaaaay too long. After 3 years or so of having my Bridgeport mill, I’ve so far been unable to properly lubricate the ways. Partially this is because I did not have the proper lubricants and partially because the operation requires a rather unique tool – an oil pump that fits onto the “Zerk” fittings on the bridgeport. Luckily I found a Bridgeport Mill Lubrication Kit on Ebay which comes with all the proper oils for the different areas of the mill. Once I had that I did a quick conversion of a grease gun to an old oil gun that had been lying around my shop (I probably bought it years ago at a yard sale when I still had my GMC).

What a great satisfaction I felt watching the black guck ooze from out of the ways as the shiny golden oil was pumped in!


Invisible Craftsmanship

Posted: December 18th, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: Blog | Comments Off on Invisible Craftsmanship
Dremel Wrench
Here’s a pic of Andrew Rumpler’s mod to a Dremel collet wrench. He did it because he was frustrated that he could not pick up the wrench while he was wearing gloves. So here’s his beautifully done solution – putting half dowels on the sides, cutting tiny grooves and wrapping them together with string. I think he also epoxied them on and  applied some lacquer. This is why I love checking out the Nine Stories shop. It’s filled with the normal detritus of making, but in his case all the jigs, tools, tables etc are beautifully crafted.
Now I get the whole wearing gloves thing – I can imagine I might get frustrated too and want to deal with the problem. But – if it were me I would have just slapped some epoxy putty on the thing and then called it a day.  I also would be super embarrassed if anyone happened to see it….
So hats off to all you who make things beautiful even when there’s no need, you’re not getting paid to do it, and  when no one will ever see.