Posts

Roll Bender Forces Chart

How much force does it take to bend 3”x16ga box tube to a 5’ radius in one pass? What’s the largest steel shape you can jam in a typical scene shop-built manual roll bender without cracking a roller? A week ago I didn’t know the answer to either one of these questions, now I’ve got a pretty good idea. We’re talking about making a roll bender at work, and are waffling over whether to build a manual or motorized bender....
Math

New Online Portfolio

My new online portfolio is live. You can check it out here, or from the sidebar....

Learning TIG

There’s a great instructable on how to TIG weld on the loose. Those who’ve already mastered any other welding process will probably enjoy it. While you’re at it, check out Cheap Welding for Punks....

Additional Porta-band Thoughts

Quick thought on the porta-band stand described in an earlier post, mounting the saw to the vice-mount takes a couple of minutes. You could make a smaller custom foot that always stays on the saw and “dovetails” into the vice mount. A single machine screw could be used to secure the small foot to the mount. This way the saw could go from case to vice (and back again) in under 30 seconds....
Solutions

Porta-band Stand on the Cheap

Ian made this custom foot for the Porta-band that clamps into the vice this past week. Its 3/8” cold roll plate with a bit of scrap 1x box tube welded to the underside. A spring clamp on the trigger acts as a low tech on/off switch. ....
Solutions

The LevelMug®

I love coffee. I also love levels. What would be better than a coffee-mug level? The LevelMug® is the perfect mutli-tool intended for spot checking scenery & frustrating your carpenters between production meetings. Once filled with coffee or tea LevelMug®’s proprietary precision ground MugMarks® allow you to quickly estimate level to within 2.5 degrees. Note: Only use the LevelMug® in the vertical and horizontal planes. Especially when it’s filled with hot coffee....