One of those days...

jhiggins · May 2, 2005

:grumpy:

Spent all morning making a sweet jig to slice the tips off a billet of aluminum at a specific angle. It was busy-work, and I hate stopping in the middle of things to make something like that. I got it hooked up to my HF horizontal bandsaw, and was merrily sawing away when the motor started bucking like crazy and flames (yes, flames) shot out of it and smoke started puffing out.

I immediately pulled the plug and assessed the damages. It was fried.

So I'm thinking that I am effed now. How the heck am I going to get these tappers finished? I'm only halfway through the first run! That saw is crucial to the operation.

In a perfect world, I'd have the $800 for a better saw, and just buy a new one. Unfortunately, my world is way left of perfect and I might be able to scratch up some clams for a new HF saw. As much as I dis these little saws, this one has performed FLAWLESSLEY for almost 20 years. Well, 19 at least. It says it was made in 1986 right on the ID plate. I guess I'll be okay with getting another HF saw.

Why not just put a new motor on it, Higgy?

I'll tell you why.

When I took the old motor off, I noticed a lot of slop in the gearbox. So I took off the gearbox cover and there was very littel oil in it. What little oil was in there had lots of metal particles in it. The worm and the gear was all worn and wobbly, and frankly, looked like it was ready to give up teh ghost also. Even with the fresh 90-wgt I put in it, I give it a very short lifespan. Two strikes now. I aint givin it a third.

So thats been my day. *sigh*

Chiro75 · May 2, 2005

Sorry to hear about it!

howiesatwork · May 3, 2005

Well, aren't you a machinist?
Make some new gears...it would be better than new...
Easier said than done doing helical gearing, huh?

ddavelarsen · May 3, 2005

Yeah Higgy, make those gears!

Nothing like stopping in the middle of a job for a little busy-work like knocking out a few gears...

Machinist or not, that kind of work is beyond my imagination.

Sorry to hear about your interruption, but 19 years on that machine - it had to happen sooner or later. I hope mine lasts that long, but when it dies it's not going to be any better timing, is it? Hope you're back to work.

John R. Fraps · May 3, 2005

Jeff,
Its almost a bigger booger to have a good run interupted than the loss of a machine.
Look at the cost of a new hor/vert bandsaw as the net after tax deductions...it is a business expense so no taxes ar due on the income used to pay for the machine and/or you can depreciate the machine over a period of time. So effectively, you may have actual cost of half the purchase price.
However, the bottom line is scraping together the total purchase price in cash to buy it now.
That seems to always be an "Ouch" just to get back to even where you were before the old one went on to "Boot Hill". But 19 years is pretty good for a well used machine.
Good Luck!

jhiggins · May 3, 2005

Hi guys, checking in here.

I took an old Rockwell motor and adapted it to the old saw. It's half the horsepower, and twice the rated speed. LOL, you got to give the pulley a little spin to get it rolling, but then it climbs up to speed fairly well and stays there. The blade is running about twice as fast - even at the slowest setting - but I have to say that GOSH!!!! It's like a breath of fresh air to cut aluminum at those speeds. Even at the fastest, the old motor was doughy and sluggish. The real trial will be when I have to cut some Ti or stainless at those speeds, so I damn-sure better get another saw real soon.

Anyhow, that's all I got for now. Back to work!

howiesatwork · May 3, 2005

Good that you're up and running. Looks like the gears are gonna get a real workout...
You get to putting steel or TI on it and it will probably burn the teeth off your blades...

jhiggins · May 3, 2005

howiesatwork said:
Good that you're up and running. Looks like the gears are gonna get a real workout...
You get to putting steel or TI on it and it will probably burn the teeth off your blades...

Yeah that's what I am afraid of, Howie. I've been toying with the idea of putting a coolant setup on it. I may just bite the bullet and get a new saw with a coolant pump already on it.

Btw, its turning out to be ANOTHER one of those days...

I just got denied unemployment benefits. Looks like I'm really on my own. Might have to sell my anvil.

Steve Hayden · May 3, 2005

jhiggins said:
Yeah that's what I am afraid of, Howie. I've been toying with the idea of putting a coolant setup on it. I may just bite the bullet and get a new saw with a coolant pump already on it.

Btw, its turning out to be ANOTHER one of those days...

I just got denied unemployment benefits. Looks like I'm really on my own. Might have to sell my anvil.

That's a case of the drizzlin' squirts. Take the bastids to the wall, appeal it.

ysforge · May 3, 2005

Why the heck are they denying you?

jhiggins · May 4, 2005

ysforge said:
Why the heck are they denying you?

The adjudicators found my company was well-documented and well-within their legal rights to terminate me. First time in my life I ever got fired.

I'll get over it.

howiesatwork · May 4, 2005

Asshat company... sorry to hear it.
Too bad you can't just rewire motors to give a slower speed.
Take care.

jiminy · May 4, 2005

Appeal it. Did you get an actual look at the purported 'evidence' against you, or are you just taking their word for it?
I had a similar experience many years ago, and come to find out (on appeal) that the employer simply conjured up the 'evidence' out of their a$$. It was a pack of lies in an attempt to save themselves having to pay the money.
Most unemployment agencies seem to initially side with the employer as a matter of course. They're hoping you just go away. Appealing it costs you nothing but your time showing up for the hearing. And if you can get any witnesses in your defense, that's a huge plus. Any other employees been 'let go' recently? If so, they make excellent allies.

It's all a game to them (employers), so play along.

In all actuality, it went like this: I appealed the initial ruling, and won at the first appeal hearing (the employer didn't even bother to show up). The employer appealed that decision, and they again ruled in his favor (with no hearing). I again appealed the decision, and at that hearing drug in another former employee who had been similarly terminated ...as a 'witness' on my behalf to the employers actions. It was too late for the other employee (who had been similarly denied and not appealed the decision), but at least they got the satisfaction of confronting the employer and assisting in sticking it to them. I won that one, and the employer gave up. It was a joy to behold.