GunLab

We are back

We have been having a few issues with the Gun Lab server and went missing for the last week. Thanks to Ian at Forgotten Weapons, the admin for my site, for all the work he did to get us back up and running.

Where does the time go.

Honestly I set down for a moment and I realize that weeks have pasted. There has been a ton of stuff accomplished at Gun Lab that I have not had the time to actually write about. Work in my actual job has been so busy that I have been turning away as much work as I do. I am back to working from 5:30am to 9 pm every day. By the time the weekend come around exhaustion has set in and I am still in the shops for 18 to 20 hours.

I have been trying to get some videos edited to post, hope to finish them this weekend, we will see. I built a new grinder bench in the fab shop and have been working on forging dies for the hot forging hydraulic press. The welding hold down table is complete and I have been making clamps for it.

I managed to burn up the motor and controller for the CNC router, back to the drawing board on that project.

A number of new fluting tools have been made and are due to be tested shortly for the VG1-5.

Still working on the wood shop and deck for the guest house.

This is it for my 5 minutes of free time as I need to get back to the shop and get back on the project list.

Portuguese Mauser

At the last SAR show I was finally able to pick up a Mauser rifle that I have been looking for for over 30 years. When they were available I had no money and you know the rest of the story.

This rifle is a Model 1941 short rifle with a transitional stock. It uses cross between a model 937-A short rifle stock and a 1941 short rifle stock. The main difference is the change from the flat to a cupped butt plate, the change of the forward sling attachment point and The lack of a grove at the rear sling attachment point. The stock is matching to the rifle.

I have always found the Portuguese crest to be one of the most beautiful of all the crests.

Like a number of these rifles they were pressed into Germany service during the war. There are acceptance stamps on the receiver,stock and parts.

A nice addition to the Gun Lab reference collection.

The SAR 2018 show wrap up and Christmas

For us the show starts on the Wednesday before with the machine gun shoot. About 50 to 60 people showed up. It was a great deal of fun. There were two MG-34’s setup on both sides of me and they worked great. I took a video of then and I am working on a loop video to run continuously in front of myMG-34 to shame it into working properly as nothing else seems to work.

The show was a big success for me. I sold most of my friends bayonets and books, more money for his widow. I was able to obtain a few items for the reference collection that I have been looking for and I sold a spare Swedish rifle. More on the items later.

The Saturday night pizza party went over nicely. There was about 50 or 60 people that showed up. There was a lot of talking and looking around. I think everyone had a good time. The last of the crowd left about midnight. The Christmas cannon was was appreciated and enjoyed by everyone.

here are a couple of pictures of the additions to the Gun Lab reference collection from the show.

Sorry for the delay in getting posts out, but life and work has just gotten in the way again.

Working on the cnc router.

It has been a while since I have done any work on the cnc router. Now with the wood shop termite issue coming to an end I have started back at it. When we last left off with it I had just found that the router that came with it had a bent spindle and need to be replaces. It has been with a vfd 1.5kw water cooled spindle.

As it came from the factory.

with the accessories.

The only problem is the manual.

Or lack of it. The manual they sent was for a 220vac unit and what I bought and received is a 110vac unit. The wiring diagram does not match in any way shape or form. Neither do the set up instructions. The cnc router has been rewired and water and air added to support this unit that I have yet to figure out how to wire up. I have contacted the seller and the support groups but with no luck. It seems a number of people have the same issue.

I am working on it and will post this weekend on my findings.

One more update about the never ending wood shop

I know everyone is tried of me talking about the wood shop and its extension. The good news is that it is coming to an end. This weekend most of the work has been completed and the tooling was moved in.

Last weekend the tool boxes were moved in the extension and the last of the general wiring was completed.

With all the work completed I was able to move my second metal lathe in.

I also moved my Grandfather’s work bench in as well.

Work was started up again on the cnc router and the air compressor was put in its temporary place.

The tool boxes were then set up in there long term spot.

All this and a view to boot just out side my door.

Also finished the sheet rock and the tape and mud of the joints upstairs in the guest house area.

Most people take the weekend off to wind down and relax. Me I go to work on Monday to do that.

Another wood shop update

I know everyone is tried of reading about the wood shop. It has, however, taken over all my free time. It is a project that needs to be completed to allow me to continue with the other and much more interesting projects.

The wood shop extension Was taped and textured last Saturday.With a few moments I started cleaning the cabinets that needed to go in that room.

Then on Sunday the room was primed and painted. While waiting for everything to dry the upstairs deck sheet rock was started.

By Sunday after noon the cabinets in the extension were hung up. In addition the majority of the electric was finished.

By Sunday night the tool boxes and cnc router had been moved over a set in there position.

This weekend the rain started on Saturday and just did not stop.

The electric was worked on again. All the lights were converted from florescent to led and put up.

The upstairs was sheet rocked some more and taped.

The rest of the electric in the upstairs was run and insulation put in place.

Then we started moving the equipment in the wood shop to its final destination.

A number of the adjustable level feet were broken or bent and now need to be replaced. Something to do next week end. The store room was also cleaned and reorganized.