What did you do in your shop today?

I picked up a saw just like that at an auction cheap. I was just going to hang it outside above my garage door. But when I went and picked it up I saw that it had been well cared for and sharpened and I just couldn't bring myself to letting it rust outside on the wall even though I'll never cut wood with it. Respect for the tool thing I suppose.
 
I set up and ran two batches of stabilization. One was for desert ironwood knife scales for a set of steak knives I want to make for my son. I know DIW is real dense and probably won't soak up much resin, but I figured since they'll see water, any little bit helps. Also did a batch of reel seat inserts that Boeng Agus sold me - really looking forward to the teak burl and river tamarind. The tamarind smelled really nice when I drilled the holes and rough sanded them. A mix of vanilla and sage to my nose.
stabilizing.webp

In hindsight I probably should have cleaned up the work bench so I have somewhere to work. I have too many projects in progress right now.

clutter.webp
 
Not what I did, but what my jack did. It peed on the shop floor yesterday.

So, just a PSA for everyone:

If you're jacking a vehicle up, even if you're only jacking it up for a short while, do not neglect the use of jack stands.

Yesterday I was doing some work on my wife's van. Have never had any issues with my jack - I've had it for nearly 20 years. Used it a number of times in the past couple weeks and had various corners of the van jacked up in succession yesterday. Jacked up front driver's side - needed to pull the wheel to check on the front end and see if there's anything else I need to replace up there besides struts. Of course I used a jack stand, something dad drilled into me. And good thing. When I let the van down, there was a small puddle of oil that had leaked out of the jack. Thankful it wasn't a quick/catastrophic failure that resulted in damage or injury, and thankful that I did have that jack stand in place while I was checking things out. Things could've possibly gone way different than they did.

So, there will soon be a new jack in my shop. This one's not to be trusted or used any longer.
 
Glad your ok Matt. We can get a new jack but not a new Matt.
 
Not what I did, but what my jack did. It peed on the shop floor yesterday.

So, just a PSA for everyone:

If you're jacking a vehicle up, even if you're only jacking it up for a short while, do not neglect the use of jack stands.

Yesterday I was doing some work on my wife's van. Have never had any issues with my jack - I've had it for nearly 20 years. Used it a number of times in the past couple weeks and had various corners of the van jacked up in succession yesterday. Jacked up front driver's side - needed to pull the wheel to check on the front end and see if there's anything else I need to replace up there besides struts. Of course I used a jack stand, something dad drilled into me. And good thing. When I let the van down, there was a small puddle of oil that had leaked out of the jack. Thankful it wasn't a quick/catastrophic failure that resulted in damage or injury, and thankful that I did have that jack stand in place while I was checking things out. Things could've possibly gone way different than they did.

So, there will soon be a new jack in my shop. This one's not to be trusted or used any longer.
Jack seal rebuild sounds great, tag me when you post it....
 
Started rough sanding another one of those steak knives I'm making and my belt sander quit. When I flip the start switch it buzzes but nothing else. From a quick search it sounds like it is most likely dirty contacts or possibly a bad starter capacitor. I'm no electrician, does that sound like the best place to start repairs?
 
Started rough sanding another one of those steak knives I'm making and my belt sander quit. When I flip the start switch it buzzes but nothing else. From a quick search it sounds like it is most likely dirty contacts or possibly a bad starter capacitor. I'm no electrician, does that sound like the best place to start repairs?
You might also check the brushes if it has the old style spring loaded type, they can do something similar at times
 
Started rough sanding another one of those steak knives I'm making and my belt sander quit. When I flip the start switch it buzzes but nothing else. From a quick search it sounds like it is most likely dirty contacts or possibly a bad starter capacitor. I'm no electrician, does that sound like the best place to start repairs?
Just grab the belt and give it a quick tug, it should start right away. Not a cure for the problem, but can make it useable while you diagnose the problem, or wait for parts.
 
Just grab the belt and give it a quick tug, it should start right away. Not a cure for the problem, but can make it useable while you diagnose the problem, or wait for parts.
Tim - do you mean to make the sanding belt rotate as if it were running? Kind of like they kick started the oldtime airplanes? I tried that a couple times but the motor still didn't start.
 
Yeah, that's what I meant. Lots of times on small motors like that a quick tug/pull will get them going when they are just humming.
 
Jack seal rebuild sounds great, tag me when you post it....

While I'm normally the person to fix something and keep on using it, it was a cheap 2 ton trolley jack that I'd been thinking of upgrading from anyways. I've had my eye on one of these for a while, and I'm planning to pick one up later in the month. My wife (and, well, me as well) would feel more comfortable with me just using this as an opportunity to get a better jack, vs. fixing the one I've got.
 
Not necessarily in my shop but I added some lights to my sawmill. With the day’s getting shorter this is a much needed modification.
 
Looks good ol'buddy! Also, you have a real knack for sticker organization... Have you met @Tony ?

:sofa:
Each one of those stickers were precisely placed for maximum efficiency. Then the cows came by and trampled everything. My next project is putting up a mill shed and fencing off about a 1/2 acre to keep the cows out.
 
Each one of those stickers were precisely placed for maximum efficiency. Then the cows came by and trampled everything. My next project is putting up a mill shed and fencing off about a 1/2 acre to keep the cows out.
Let me know ifyou need help, I work for wood. (At old man speed) but it's something.
:ez:
 
Still making dowel centers on the metal lathe, 2 to go............
 
Today I moved the lantern forward, got the 4 panels glued up and while waiting for the glue to dry I swept around my lathe and found a small trunk of a palm I stashed that @JR Parks gave me at SWAT to see what I would do with it. Need to get leather cord for the handle but it will go into the collection of shellelaghs.

20231107_141831.webp

20231107_141854.webp
 
Back
Top