What did you do in your shop today?

[outlawmws]

This can be a fun thread based on a sorta similar thread on another forum I'm on.

Feel free to add what you did, comment, or whatever!


Today I busted a NOS globe I had on top of a box when I moved it. Stupid, but it was up high and...

Yesterday was a better day: I fiddled with getting the 200 I was working on before Christmas day working again. I had to "borrow" a U-tube (to replace the one that my Wire wheel Flung into oblivion) and the genny from a 200 I bought for parts, but may get repaired if I can get another U-tube, or find the flung one... I'll try "rebuilding" the dead Genny...

Pics from last night's test: (I was also comparing the new LED battery lantern (Xmas gift, but it was on my list...) against the 200. I have to say, it did well! I was impressed even though its not quite as bright, but worlds better than the florescent battery lanterns I use when stumbling into camp after dark and wanting enough light to get the "real" lanterns lit...



And another Money pic today, making sure its all dialed in. This isn't a show piece, Its going to be the "first up" light for emergency lighting going forward (as the camp lanterns are not at my fingertips. This one is real handy, and will remain so...

[Deanofid]

I worked on threading dies for making F/A tubes. But mostly, I shoveled snow (but not inside the shop).

[1hpycmpr]

Nothing yet. First I need to send a check to Fred for some chimneys. Apparently, I don't have enough yet! Then I'm giong to fire up the perfection for a little heat and change the oil in one of the vehicles. After that, I really have to dig out my workbench. It's trashed!

[Legs]

I'm working on a 413g in my nice warm shop, thinking about Dean shoveling snow, and thankful we have none here at sea level. Roles reversed in event of tsunami.....

[Kansas_John]

I re-assembled a 550 I bought off the bay. It runs but I think I need to do some fine tuning. First time I had a stove show up in pieces in a padded envelop instead of a box.

[sailman]

I polished a CQ lamp in preparation to give it to my mom.

[micaglobe]

Well, it wasn't actually in the shop, but I used shop tools
replaced the transmission in my daughters washing machine,
and worked on carburetor for Echo chain saw.

Fred
ICCC#324

[StanDahl]

I glued down a foam nose cone for the camper I'm building. It's pretty ugly, but when it's covered in canvas and painted, it will be boss. I'm trying to get it at least wrapped and usable for the February SoCal campout...

[steve p]

Dropped the gas tank off my truck and replaced the fuel pump and put the tank back on. Not much fun but it's done.



Steve

[nomis1]

I basked in the glow of a nickel 200 and my new JC Higgins lantern while reading the owners manual to my new battery drill.

[bigfrank97]

I'm skinning beaver and muskrat tonight under the glow of a 236.

[tey1967]

You beat me to it flameout. Lol

[joemiller1059]

He said "Beaver"!

[Flat_twin]

Pics or it didn't happen Frank! (and maybe ease suspicious minds) LOL!

[kw12330]

Started a FFR on a 220C I picked up last week, they ran rug in it have never seen a fount so ugly inside.

[outlawmws]

Lets not get the thread locked its first evening up guys!

[DasTailor]

Not GPA Related but in my 9-5 shop I'm finishing a lot of new suits for the Stephen Colbert show and met Danny Devito for a consult...he's been at the top of my list for a while. Tonight Im going to finish cleaning up this A 40 500.

[Gunhippie]

Like Dean, first priority was shoveling snow--again.

Ordered a new oil filter and 6qt of 20-50 Royal Purple for the Vanagon--because sub-zero weather is the best time to work on a rig outside, and that's the oil baby likes.

The rest of the day, pretty much the usual drill, getting the Italian-made bottling line ready to run tomorrow, putting out brushfires around the brewery, trying to get some new projects (work-related) started.... The five-day catch-up break I was supposed to have went away because you all drink too much of our beer!

Thanks, BTW--it pays the bills.

[Deanofid]

Daniel, that is an impressive looking suit! What fine work.

I have a little time now, so I'll show my shop work. A simple thing but may be interesting to some.
I need a threading die that I can't buy, so it gets made in the shop. Kind of taking the long way around to being able to eventually cut a bunch of threads fast.




The die starts as a plug of metal that is made from water hardening drill rod. I always make an extra.





Can't really see, but it's drilled and threaded for the needed thread, which are the top threads on a Coleman type F/A tube.





After threading, the piece is put into the mill and waste holes are cut with an end mill. The waste holes are the holes you see in threading dies. They are for the chips that the die makes, so the chips have somewhere to go. Without them the die can't actually cut, since the waste holes also form the cutting edges of the threads.





All four holes milled away.





Now a couple of spot drill holes are made. These are so the die can be adjusted by squeezing it with the set screws in the die holder, (called a die stock).





I need to cut a slot through one side of the die. Here, I'm using an old trick of putting a cigarette paper between the tool and the work piece. Since I know the paper is .001" thick, when the saw blade pinches the paper between the blade and the die, I know I am within .001" of being "there".
It gives a reading on the dial of the mill so I can locate where the cutting blade needs to cut.





After a few passes with the saw, it is completely through. This gives me some room to tighten the die in order to get the thread to spec, if needed.





And that's it as far as the "making it" part goes. I still have to harden the steel, and then temper it so it won't be too brittle. Tomorrow, unless we get too much snow tonight. Then I will be out shoveling and plowing again.

Dean

[ironman]

steve p wrote: Dropped the gas tank off my truck and replaced the fuel pump and put the tank back on. Not much fun but it's done. Steve

Tomorrow I get to do the same.

[PetroMax]

No shop, just the back porch . I got this Canadian 237 outside to buff the parts clean, its a 55 with the wrong vent. This is before cleaning and buffing . I wanted to get the individual parts buffed so tonight I could polish and reassemble while watching a movie.

[friarmike]

In my shop? I worked and tomorrow---the same.

[1hpycmpr]

Got the oil changed and started digging out my workbench but soon got bored so I pulled out my new amber globe that I got for Christmas, and put it on the 243A to complete the kit. My tallest lantern case houses one of my smallest lanterns along with a Fred chimney, red globe, funnel, generators, mantles, matches, chain, and hanger. Everything but the hanger stow in a compartment below the lantern. I now have a choice of different globes without having to pack extra globes in something else. I didn't make the case but I did repurpose it!

[outlawmws]

Dean - VERY cool post on making the die!

ps: what thread size/pitch is it?

[outlawmws]

Mark, What was the case re-purposed from?

[1hpycmpr]

outlawmws wrote: Mark, What was the case re-purposed from?

Not really sure but I know it wasn't a lantern case when I found it. I think it was designed to sit long ways although there was no hardware on it other than hinges which I promptly replaced. I then stood it upright and piled on more hardware. Got it cheap!

[Rubing]

bigfrank97 wrote: I'm skinning beaver and muskrat tonight under the glow of a 236.

I wish I was with you Frank but I'm packing box #32.

[Deanofid]

outlawmws wrote: Dean - VERY cool post on making the die!
ps: what thread size/pitch is it?

Thank you. The thread is 11/32-40 tpi. I found a couple websites that showed taps in that size, but no dies, so--shop time.
I made some ball nuts for 242 lanterns recently, and that was another Coleman goofy thread. I made 11/32-27 taps for those. I've made a number of oddball sizes over the years.

[fuel_brained]

R&R a 425e and 425f and an 11/66 200a no snow to shovel. Tomorrow R&R a 413g. Getting them ready for donating to the less fortunate here in town. God bless

[vette_boy]

what am i doing in the shop ? nothing , i'm at work in the office watching the guys in the shop fix buses , then home to bed and up with the kids in the morning

[fuel_brained]

Always looking for abused, broken, unwanted equipment to fetter with. All I have is time now. Forced retirement. God Bless

[offrink]

I am just trying to keep up with my two girls. Growing like weeds! Tomorrow I get to go grocery shopping with a 5 and 3 year old. Hopefully I can avoid everything they want before they see it! Anyone want to trade labor for grocery shopping and baby sitting? Free range time after!

[fuel_brained]

Helped raise 10 kids now enjoying 12 grandkids, 2 greatgrandkids.

[Danno53]

Made a few pricker rods and fired up my brand new 639C. Had to use Peerless mantles because like everyone else, The Coleman mantles SUCK.
Now thats a bright light!

[mikewells]

In the shop all day making stuff on the lathe and mill. Just having fun!!

[JohnnyMac]

Continued the Frankie-making...



http://www.colemancollectorsforum.com/post/gloriacoleman-hybrid-aka-the-gloeman-pug-8356605?pid=1294348599#post1294348599

[ehodges]

In the last day or two I have fettled an Optimus 1550 lantern and reattached the top red porcelain vent piece and buffed off "made in china" 288 size globe for the same lantern.

Also, I have taken 4 red letter arched pyrex globes and modified them by removing the "for Coleman" to make four Sears lanterns more aesthetically pleasing.

[mustardcheeseburger]

Mailed two boxes of lantern stuff to forum members this morning, bringing excess lanterns from garage to basement for storage, northeaster snow storm due to start in about an hour and last thru tomorrow morning, snow blower is gassed up and ready to go, generator ready, three kero heaters filled and ready for action. probably fool around with my tilley radiant heaters in the basement today, drink hot chocolate, watch the snow and be glad I don't have to go out today.

[GCinSC]

Not very exciting but necessary, I replaced the front both wheel bearing "cartridge" and lower control arm bushings on my 2000 VW Beetle TDI. The bearing cartridge is a one piece back to back ball bearing assy. It has to be pressed out and in with a press or a tool kit based on a 3/4" puller bolt. My good sized Chas. Parker vise made short work of the front LCA bushing and an arbor press handled the rear bushing. The rubber donut in the bushing was starting to split.

But my big nasty work was finding a broken underground outside the foundation water leak in a PVC elbow for an exterior faucet connection. No visible leak, just some blind luck finding it and then "ungluing" a PVC joint to salvage the job.

Raining today, might cleanup the shop a bit. This is my modest collection.

[Mel]

Not GPA related, but I've been working on a new Jeep for the last couple of months, the last one got wrecked back in September, (I had just painted it camouflage the first part of September here is the thread about it... http://www.colemancollectorsforum.com/post/decided-to-paint-my-jeep-grand-cherokee-8232308?pid=1293315973) so I bought another one and stripped the wrecked down, all of the suspension parts and running gear minus the front axle went on to the new one...


The wrecked Jeep



Getting ready to strip it down



All stripped and off to the junk yard



The new candidate



As of yesterday...

The rear axle is a Ford 8.8 from a Ford Explorer with a ARB air locker, the front axle is a Dana 44 from a Jeep Rubicon with a Rubicon air locker, the Transfer case was swapped out from the wrecked Jeep to replace the full time 4 wheel drive transfer case.

[Dawton]

My shop is wherever my toolbox is.



Today I measured my driveshaft angles on the truck, and then ordered the appropriate shims to bring my pinion angle back down to eliminate the vibration I got after lifting the truck.



Then I went to the wrecking yard and started to pull an engine that I need for my Jaguar. Spent an hour there and got the engine 85% ready to pull, I have to go back saturday and finish the job...

[sailman]

Mel I feel your pain on your Jeep project. This is a picture of my wife's that we built from ground up 98 TJ this picture was taken after she broke the driver side rear axle shaft at the splines, so next year it gets a Ford 8.8. She broke this going up a trail at Uwharrie National Forest in North Carolina. The government issue fence post is the only thing that is holding the axle in it took us 3 hours to get off the trail.

[dwillie]

Messed with this 243a. came in a box of junk last summer, but has a fount repair. dang...

[Gunhippie]

Today is "calibration day" at the brewery. Breweries run on thermometers and pressure gauges. We determine the level of carbonation of our beer using a Pressure/Temperature chart, rather than measuring the CO2 directly. If all our gauges and thermos are accurate and precise, you'll get the same bubbly feeling from your beer every time. Fermentation is highly temperature, and to a lesser degree, pressure dependent, so the flavor of the beer also relies on accurate, precise and repeatable measurements.

Here's my Bubba pressure gauge calibration tool in use:



That's about right! Ten more to go.....

Thermometers go in an insulated water bath with a very expensive NIST certified MIG (Mercury-In-Glass) thermometer.

Everything gets calibrated to the range within which it will be measuring. Thermos will be this afternoon.