Yall probably remember that my father is a tool&die maker, and owned 2 local Machine shops. He has long since sold his business, and has been working out of the small (12x24) shop in his backard.
About 5 years ago, we built a 30x60 shop on our land. Obviously, its taken a while to get out here as we have been plagued with problems.
Right off the bat, the building my father was leasing for many years changed owners, new owner wanted all of thier equip out within a month. This forced us to just pile stuff into the new shop with no regards to space.
Next, my father had tripple bypass heart surgery. About the time he recovered from that, he fell off a ladder, broke his wrist, and banged himself up pretty bad.
Anyhow, we recently got all the elec ran, along with all the air lines. Got lights hung, 3-phase set up, ect. A few days ago we moved the Bridgeport mill, and Monarch EE out here. We still have a small surface grinder, and a ton of random BS to move, but the big stuff is done.
The Shop
Bridgeport-We just leveled it, and got the head at 90-deg today. Still have to hook up the digital readout, and install the shaper.
Dial indicator, getting the head at 90deg
Put the Kurt 6in Vice on, and did some more leveling.
Monarch EE, 1954 model.
LaBlond 1957 model
I decided to place our compressor in the loft as opposed to outside the building. No dirt dobbers, or ants building structures around it inside. Also, it would take a hell of a thief to steal it from up here.
This is my next project. Rebuilding this:
Its a Crystal Lake 8x11 grinder. Completely worn out. It was in dads shop when he aquired the building in the early 70s, they never really had any use for it, so it just sat. Dad took it with him when he moved out. These are super accurate machines. Women ran them in WWII and ground gauges with them.
About 5 years ago, we built a 30x60 shop on our land. Obviously, its taken a while to get out here as we have been plagued with problems.
Right off the bat, the building my father was leasing for many years changed owners, new owner wanted all of thier equip out within a month. This forced us to just pile stuff into the new shop with no regards to space.
Next, my father had tripple bypass heart surgery. About the time he recovered from that, he fell off a ladder, broke his wrist, and banged himself up pretty bad.
Anyhow, we recently got all the elec ran, along with all the air lines. Got lights hung, 3-phase set up, ect. A few days ago we moved the Bridgeport mill, and Monarch EE out here. We still have a small surface grinder, and a ton of random BS to move, but the big stuff is done.
The Shop
Bridgeport-We just leveled it, and got the head at 90-deg today. Still have to hook up the digital readout, and install the shaper.
Dial indicator, getting the head at 90deg
Put the Kurt 6in Vice on, and did some more leveling.
Monarch EE, 1954 model.
LaBlond 1957 model
I decided to place our compressor in the loft as opposed to outside the building. No dirt dobbers, or ants building structures around it inside. Also, it would take a hell of a thief to steal it from up here.
This is my next project. Rebuilding this:
Its a Crystal Lake 8x11 grinder. Completely worn out. It was in dads shop when he aquired the building in the early 70s, they never really had any use for it, so it just sat. Dad took it with him when he moved out. These are super accurate machines. Women ran them in WWII and ground gauges with them.
