the shop tips thread

[firebird77clone]

Got a dirty job? It's easier to get the grease out from under your nails if you dig your nails into a bar of soap before you start. Packing the soap under your nails prevents the grease from getting under your nails, and washes out easily.

[RichB]

Not a new idea, just my slant on how to set your portable band saw up
as a temp table band saw. I did this to my Porter Cable saw years ago,
and it is my go to saw most of the time. My son is always using it, and
with his birthday coming up it was a good time to make him one. My buddy
jumped on the band wagon so we built two. Northern Tool had some knock off
saws on sale for 80$ w/free shipping, they are variable speed w/trigger lock.
Used 1" sq tube for the frame, and added 1/4 20 riv nuts to secure the saw
in three places.
[IMG][/IMG]

Rich

[RichB]

Here's a better pic of the location of riv nuts:

[IMG][/IMG]

All the saws I used in the past never had safety covers on the bottom, but I wanted to
use the m here. I pounded part of the side flanges straight, and tapped the frame
for the mounting screws.

[IMG][/IMG]

Rich

[RichB]

A little rattle can paint.

[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

Rich

[RichB]

Last pic showing the 9" x 4" x 1/4" flat stock used to make the working
table.

[IMG][/IMG]

Rich

[40FordDeluxe]

Great work there! We got my Dad a new band saw 10yrs ago for his birthday and he hasn't used it once yet. I'm half tempted to go snag it. Once he sees it being used, he'll be all over it then.

[34_40]

That's a neat idea and probably makes that saw 10 times more useful! Came out great...

Saturday can be my birthday.. is one of those for me?!?! ROFLMAO!

[RichB]

It should arrive by Friday! LOL

[johnboy]

It should arrive by Friday! LOL

I note you don't specify which Friday!

[RichB]

and the check is in the mail!

[rspears]

What's the throat measurement & blade length on that saw, Rich? I've been meaning to put a stepped drive pulley on my old 12" Craftsman (80" blade, before they ruined them....) but never have gotten "round tuit". I like the variable speed idea.

[RichB]

Roger:
The blade is 44 7/8" x 1/2" x .025 the same as my Porter cable, and has a 4" throat. Here's a link:

FREE SHIPPING — Ironton Portable Band Saw — 6 Amp, Variable Speed, 230 FPM | Portable Band Saws| Northern Tool + Equipment

Rich

[RestoRod]

And he'll respect you in the morning.

[MP&C]

Here's a nifty trick I used in the shop recently, perhaps someone can make use of it on their own projects.. We had some standoff "hat sections" to fabricate a couple weeks back, and needed multiple quantities.





One of the bends was to form a 1/2" flange, so the press brake was used with a 1" wide die...





Using some rare earth magnets placed on the back side of the lower die to act as a backstop.... much easier set up than fooling with the Diacro's built in backstop..





The bonus was it pulled the galvanized sheet metal in tightly toward the magnet, a self-loading if you will...





Some of the finished products...

[firebird77clone]

Clean oil on a shiny dipstick is hard to see. Chrome dipstick even worse.

Drill a small hole in the dipstick at full, and low. You can easily see the oil if It's in the hole.