Here is a close up of the mounting [...]]]> I was really hoping to have a video of it working with this post. That being said we are actually very close. All the hydraulic fitting and control circuits are completed. The digital read out in almost completed. Here is a quick video of our progress.

Here is a close up of the mounting bracket and flow control valve on the fluting press.

And a pictures of everything hooked up and ready to go.

The new fittings will be here tomorrow and I hope to have it up and running by next Saturday.

Back to the fab shop. You saw the work on the fluting press and the forging press. Well a little more work was accomplished on the fab shop addition.

All the walls and door frames are up. [...]]]> When the router table project came to a halt it was time to move on to something else.

Back to the fab shop. You saw the work on the fluting press and the forging press. Well a little more work was accomplished on the fab shop addition.

All the walls and door frames are up. Just more hangers to nail into place.

The majority of the roof is up.

And this is the reason for the addition.

I will not get back to this project until the middle of December so here it sets for awhile. Yes I know I did not make it big enough.

I have an DRO from the router machine that I took [...]]]> In the last post you saw how we are coming along with the hydraulic forging press. Most of the work is now complete on it and I am trying to finish up the fluting press. Axel mad a lock nut for the tool holder.

I have an DRO from the router machine that I took apart.

I am working on a mounting system to allow the accurate measurement of the depth of the flute cut.

To allow a slow control cut of the flutes a throttle valve is being installed.

The real issue today was how to mount the throttle valve and piping hook ups. I think the answer might be uni-strut.
This was an idea that came from Axel and I will try and get this working this week.

I am thinking that if I mill a little out from the uni-strut and weld on a base I can mount the throttle valve this way.

The reason for the concern on mounting the throttle valve is the stress that the quick disconnects will have on the system.

With the hard piping completed all the old hoses were [...]]]> Part of this last weekend was spent working on the hydraulic forging press and the fluting machine for the VG1-5. I started by threading all or at least most of the 3/4 high pressure hydraulic piping necessary. This is a video for the project.

With the hard piping completed all the old hoses were removed and new ones ordered. The pipe supports were also ordered and the throttling valve for the fluting press. Hope to have it together this weekend.

Getting closer to finishing the router table project and on the making the stocks for the VG1-5. I did manage to get the the router lifting table installed.

Using [...]]]> Another weekend has come and gone. They always seem to go to fast and I never seem to get enough completed before Sunday night arrives.

Getting closer to finishing the router table project and on the making the stocks for the VG1-5. I did manage to get the the router lifting table installed.

Using a pattern that was affixed to the table top with double sided tape.

Then a couple of passes was made with a plunge router to cut out the starting opening. With the basic hole cut it was time to use a jig saw to cut out the rest of the hole. The final result is that it is now mounted.

Getting closer to completion.

The concrete was poured a few weeks back and with the lack of room [...]]]> Okay so there is only two days in the weekend and I am getting older and do not move as fast as I use to. So between the kitchen and the router table we also started on the fab shop addition.

The concrete was poured a few weeks back and with the lack of room in the fab shop I have been spending the extra time working there.

First we moved the hot forging press and made some more room in the forge.

Then like all weekend something has to break or give you problems. In this case it was the plasma cutter.

I needed to cut some material for a project I am working on for Axel and Paul and it would just not work. After a couple of hours messing with it and finally finding the manual the problem was narrowed down to the air regulator not working properly. After I removed and re-built it I was able to do a little cutting but not the project of the day.

The walls were started for the fab shop addition. This is one of those projects that can be worked on when time and money are available, which is not often.

I have had the steel door frames from a demo school job.

A second door to the casting area will go in the opening

Not a large addition but one that was needed.

The sink and dishwasher are installed and working. The fake fronts in the stove cabinet are made and installed and looks good.

In addition all the walls have been re-painted [...]]]> With the up coming SAR show my wife really wants the kitchen completed. So more time was spent on it this weekend as well.

The sink and dishwasher are installed and working. The fake fronts in the stove cabinet are made and installed and looks good.

In addition all the walls have been re-painted and the covers removed, cleaned and reinstalled.

The stove is the next major item. If we can not buy replacement orifices then I will have to make new ones.

The first thing was cut the slots for the biscuits. This was accomplished in both the table top and the oak [...]]]> Another busy weekend here at Gun Lab. I did manage to get some time to work on the router table. The work that was accomplished was on the table top for the router table.

The first thing was cut the slots for the biscuits. This was accomplished in both the table top and the oak moulding. The tool that was use was a Porter-Cable.

It made quick work of it.

Then the biscuits were glued in and everything was clamped together.

After drying the next step was to add the veneer. This task did not go as smoothly as it should have.

Starting with a full sheet it was cut with scissors over sized. Then coating both the veneer and the table top with contact cement it was carefully placed in position, or not.

This is the results of the first try.

The second try got it down.

After it was installed the edges were trimmed off using a trimming router bit.

You can see the ball bearing on the top of the tool. This allows it to ride against the oak edging while cutting away the veneer and not cut into the table.

After the veneer was set then came cutting the slots. Using a series of router bits we were able to gut the guide slots and the backing guide slots.Plunge router with a 1″ bit for cutting the guide slots

All in all it turn out not half bad.

Next weekend I will be installing the router lifting mechanism.

It was a good weekend and I got to try and do new tools and methods. First time with a plunge router. First time doing veneer. First time using biscuits.

All the drawers have been finished and the top has been glued together, marked out and the moulding cut and fitted. I would have finished the moulding up gut my disk sander

gave it up.

With no new [...]]]> While Axel worked on the pattern for the stock more was accomplished on the router table.

All the drawers have been finished and the top has been glued together, marked out and the moulding cut and fitted. I would have finished the moulding up gut my disk sander

gave it up.

With no new pads we had to wait until Monday to buy some new pads.

I wanted 100 grit but all Harbor Freight had was 120.

Got two of them from the wood working store. 100 grit.

I really want to finish this project so I can get on to making the stocks.