Random shop tip...

NickWheeler

NickWheeler

Joined
Dec 3, 1999
Messages
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When you're doing this stuff full-time... as in 6 or 7 days a week and continually trying to be more efficient... sometimes you come to a point of doing things that you might not think of otherwise. Sometimes I'll be doing something like that and think, "Hmm, I wonder if anybody else does it like this?"

This is one of those things-

So a guard is fit, its profile is drawn on, and it's time to rough shape it. I'm doing a run of fighters with 3/8" thick 416 guards. If I go to the bandsaw and rough cut them, then grind down to the line, it's easily a 15-20 minute job.

If I use a snazzy push stick that allows me to really push on the guard, a tool-rest, and a semi-worn 60X belt with a contact WHEEL, I can grind them to rough shape in 4 minutes. Of course I totally killed a lot of that time savings by taking the time to share the idea here :foot: but what the hell. ;) :)

Just thought somebody might get some use out of this notion. :) (and I needed a quick break anyway)

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Thats a cool push stick Nick. I have a lot of different ones around. I went nuts making pushsticks after my tablesaw kicked back once. Dip the tip of that one in 'Plastidip' from Home Depot, and it will grip the part a lot better.
 
Ha, I was just going to post a question asking how you guys profile your guards and there is the answer. I do pretty much the same thing, but stop much earlier and switch to files to bring it down the rest of the way. I an going to have to make one of those fancy push sticks though.
 
Yeah! Hoggin' with a push stick. That does speed stuff up a LOT, I'll have to try what you've shown here for guards. Thanks.
 
Good idea Nick. That 416 still gets hot on the fingers holding it down on the tool rest. Lots of dippin' going on.

Thanks for sharing.

Robert
 
Nice Nick!
I have a couple push sticks, but would love to take the time to make some more specialized ones like that one! Very cool.
 
I really appreciate the tips Nick but is there any steps in the process or tools that you don't over think?:eek: In a good way I mean. ;)
And how the heck do you turn that brain of yours off?:confused:
 
Working smarter instead of harder. I've found that putting aside a small block of time every week to make up handy stuff, like your fitted push stick makes for a really efficient shop over time. Thanks for sharing.
 
Sam Salvati said:
Jeeze knowing Nick you'd of thought he'd atleast made it of nice wood......

Nice tip Nick!
Click to expand...

Thuya Burl?? Or damascus? ..... :D That'd be a sweet push stick!

No one person makes me want a Bridgeport mill more than Wheeler does! I was expecting he'd have seen and purchased the Bridgeport Tracing mill that's for sale on CL here in the Portland area and just use that to mill out a dozen copies. :rolleyes:

Honestly, I appreciate all the jigs and tips you share so much. Thanks Nick!
 
Glad it might help some guys :) And thanks for the tip Andy. I tried the spray on version of that stuff and didn't have much luck with it. I'll pick up a can of the kind you dip the part in.

I probably would make my push sticks and stuff nicer, but I usually just lop the end off and re-cut them after a couple weeks. One like this takes about 30 seconds to cut with a band-saw.

If any of you have seen Tim Hancock's book, he has the ULTIMATE bandsaw push block.... I've seen a pic of Tom Krein using one like it too. It would take a little more effort to make one like theirs!

Oh, Patrice- It's called Clonidine. It is truly the only way to make my brain shut off at night. :eek: ;)
 
OCD>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D

I am sorry I think I ended that sequence wrong.It should have been D>..................... Hey no sweat Nick meds are great just ask my three fingered friend over there in the corner. :rolleyes:

Just picking at you Nick don't get your panties in a wad! Push sticks can make our fingers happy and my brain even happier when I can't find that flier.

I know I heard it hit over there...................................................four hours later and I have moved everything on that end of the shop and ..............sure enough it's in the last place I looked!!!!!!!!!! Well of course it is, I hope it wasn't the first place you looked, and you kept looking!

Sorry I got to go now I am hearing those voices again........................Oh it is just the radio station.............she's purrty, oh well time for my meds anyway................:eek::rolleyes::):D

Hang in there Nick I know were on the same page even if they don't understand you, I do! :D
 
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