New site I found

Here's a new wood working site that's interesting that I've found that has hours of viewing fun. Check it out if you would like to.
http://www.oldtoolsshop.com/galoots/slongley/

Amazing Grace

If you like Amazing Grace, you'll like this. I enjoyed it very much. Hope you like it as well.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid271552717/bctid1913313052

Changes to CarveWright Quick relase Chuck I made

I'm a retired Die Maker and I worked on sheet metal dies for twenty two years. This taught me a lot about what happens when it is drawn, formed, trimmed or priced. Also dies are a type of machine which I built and repaired. So I feel I have a understanding of how machinery works.

Having said that, I will a say that what I have done was to improve the Quick Release Chuck on "my" machine and that I take the responsibility for what I did. Don't do this unless you are ready to do likewise.

Since my machine was new I've had trouble with the chuck while putting the bits in or taking them out and this what I will address here. let me say I love this machine and what it can do. But like all machines the more they can do, the more problems you will have.

The Quick Release Chuck is small and complex piece of machinery. I have taken it apart and made changes in areas that I felt would help it work better which is always easier to do than designing one from scratch. first to take it a part I drilled a small hole over where the screw that holds it together is located. Then I removed the cover over from the slot that it travels in. I then removed the screw and disassembled the inner and outer sleeves from each other.

I saw that the inner sleeve assembly had part of it made from a piece of sheet metal which was right up my alley. When forming, trimming and piercing sheet metal it will deform in different ways. I did some checking with a flat "mill bastard" file and found some deforming all around the outside surface which would be normal for that kind of operation. While normal it would be better if it was smooth. So I smooth it out using the file and sanded it with some fine sand paper.

I also did the same for the inside area of the slot that the head of the screw slides in when opening and closing along with the outside of the screw head itself. The reason I did this is that when sheet metal is cut, trimmed or pierced it only cuts half way through and brakes the rest of the way out leaving a not so smooth surface. the area that the screw head slides on would be better if it where to be flat and slicker.

I'm not criticising CarveWright for the way that it was made, just pointing out what I did to it and I believe how to make it work better. It would have driven the cost up to have done it any different than they did. The pictures may help to understand what I have done and If this any help to Carve Wright or the owners of them, That is why I'm posting this.

Tool's

I found a neat little tool at Fry's Electronics the last time I was there.

http://shop1.frys.com/template/index/

It was just sitting on the customer help desk in the computer section and it's called the " Teeny Turner" .

http://shop1.frys.com/product/5272107;jsessionid=eM8mmryYSuHGTNTSQ4HnSQ**.node2?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

It's just a small screw driver type thing that stores different bits in the handle for those hard to find things you run into when working on Electronics. Which I have plenty of, a Sony desk top computer, HP Printer, TVs, Cam Recorders, VCR, etc.

Here's a picture of it and I know it isn't all that much, but it gets into those small areas when nothing else will. I also thought it was cute the way they made a play on "Tina Turner" name. I wonder if she gets any thing for that? It has a manufacturer's name on it "Picquic Of Canada"

http://www.picquic.com/sixpac.html

It's warming up

Yea, It's almost in the fifty's today and the white stuff is melting. I knew if I waited long enough I wouldn't need to shovel it off. Just kidding a little.

My carving machine is out of warranty so I can't do anything to it that will void it. So I decided to make some changes that I had been thinking about for a long time since I got it. Don't get me wrong, I like the machine and what it can do. The manufacture has his hands tied by big brother and fear of law suits and has to build it as they do to protect them selves and all it does is to drive up the cost and creates jobs for red tape makers.

Also Let me do the same right now before going any further. Do not do as I say or do unless you are ready to take the responsibility for your actions. whew!

It was hard to see what was going on while the machine was doing it's thing with the cover they had to put on it but I did like the way it would stop carving when raised and start again when closed. What I did was to cut a window in it so that I could blow it off and see what it looked like without stopping it from carving. I not going to stick my head, hands or anything in while it's running and if something comes off and kills me, who cares if I don't? Also the back of the machine was enclosed and could only be accessed by taking four screws out and removing the entire top of the machines cover and unplugging wiring. Which made it hard to keep clean or to see if any wiring had vibrated lose. I cut away part of the rear cover where they had lovers to let air in and out. I can now see in better to check things and can keep it cleaner a lot easier.

The top picture is something I've been thinking about to keep the dust and dirt from getting in the Quick release chuck and haven't tried yet.