The "Ask Nathan a Question" Thread

[JACKMANDU]

We have Makino graphite mills in the other building that we use for scales production and they use a lot of air.

We have a small Atlas Copco rotary screw compressor as our primary air compressor with a relatively low output Quincy reciprocating compressor as the backup. Being a reciprocating compressor that Quincy is not rated to run 100% duty cycle and it has been tricky getting the Atlas copco pressure settings high enough to prevent the Quincy from running constantly. Setting the pressure on the Quincy lower creates a low pressure situation in the shop so that's not an option.

So I picked up a larger Kaeser air compressor at auction a few months ago. Chris and I pulled the Quincy out and put the Kaeser in there as the primary. Well, unfortunately, it's causing some electrical issues. It's twice as powerful and that big motor going directly to line is dropping our wild leg of the delta three phase out of range which is making the CNC machine tools alarm out. So we can't run it until I fix the power problem. Which I'm in the process of trying to do with an enormous Liebert Npower system that I bought from General Motors that they were using in their engine building plant in Tennessee. They were having some issues with it so they replaced it with a new system however Chris and I were able to debug this one and I have a new board on order so hopefully we can get that going so we can get both compressors (and the little DMGs that need the neutral from WYE three phase) going so that we can get all 10 machine tools online.

However I'm the only one that can actually do the finish sharpening on the fat bastards. So I'm spread a little thin right now.

Good Lord man. I really need to fix my driveway.

Sounds like you have it all under control. Great work!

 

[Jack Lewis]

Hey Nathan,

I’ve got some of your Diamond Schmoo on the way, which I’m excited to try out. Is there a best method for using it? Spray on the flesh side of a strop and then finish on bare leather? Or is Schmoo the final step?

Thanks — I’m grateful for any insight.

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

Hey Nathan,

I’ve got some of your Diamond Schmoo on the way, which I’m excited to try out. Is there a best method for using it? Spray on the flesh side of a strop and then finish on bare leather? Or is Schmoo the final step?

Thanks — I’m grateful for any insight.

Schmoo final step

Don't spread it out leave it as a mist. The droplets behave like a structured abrasive

When the bottle clogs up, make a little voodoo doll of a fat little white guy with a gray ponytail and poke it with your sabenza