This is a common example for around the shop. I am working on a single shot rifle in 218 bee and 22 hornet. I like both calibers for fun target shooting and minimum recoil.

The design work is finished but there is a [...]]]> I have found that projects are never easy or straight forward.

This is a common example for around the shop. I am working on a single shot rifle in 218 bee and 22 hornet. I like both calibers for fun target shooting and minimum recoil.

The design work is finished but there is a small issue and that is the steel. I have it but it is a large sheet.

So to move this slab of steel to the cutting table and cut with the track cutter.  I need to use the forklift, which by the way is not working.

I bought it from a friend (?). who had jury rigged the hydraulic system to get it to move. Once I realized why it would no longer work it was time to start repairs. They had removed the generator and replaced it with an alternator but this left no room for the new hydraulic pump, so to solve that issue they removed the oil reservoir and turned the pump sideways and connected a hose with a check valve that he filled with oil long enough of the forklift to move off the trailer. Now on to the repairs. To fix the forklift I needed to make new brackets and weld supports in the forklift to mount them. To do this I needed to fix the portable welder.

The welder needed a new fuel pump, filter and carburetor rebuilt. With the welder repaired the bracket supports were welded in. The new brackets were design, fabricated and welded in my fab shop.

Once installed the pump and alternator were installed and the next set of issues discovered, lack of space. the brackets were then modified again and re-installed. The belt pulleys needed to be adjusted for proper alignment.

It was at this moment that the hydraulic hose and pipe might rub against the alternator and a clamping system was installed to hold the pipe back.

This now leads us to yesterday, after everything was mounted and getting ready for belts it was noted that the adjustment arm would not work properly. It was not long enough. A new arm was design in Fusion 360.

Then Fusion was used to write a program to cut it out on the cnc plasma cutter.

But to use the plasma cutter I needed to fix the coolant system which had developed a leak on one of the tanks.

With the leak located and fixed on the plasma cutter. The program was installed and

by the end of the day the new adjustment arm was cut out

bent to the proper angle and installed on the forklift.

It was for all intents and purposes a really good day. Now on to the next issue that needs to be addressed.

So when someone makes a really stupid comment like why is something not finished because it should only have taken 10 minutes I just smile and tell them to fuck off.

I have nothing in the fab shop that can handle that power requirement. My phase [...]]]> A while back a friend of gun lab brought over a new press. It will really help with some of the pressings that we have coming up, however it is a 7 1/2 HP 3 phase motor.

I have nothing in the fab shop that can handle that power requirement. My phase converter is a 7HP rotary phase converter. Well worry no more. On Thursday came a knock at the door with the opening statement “friend of gun lab” and I am barring gifts.

On his trailer was a 15 HP rotary phase converter with a fabricated stand.

Now a new project for me is to wire it into the fab shop and run a 3 phase circuit in there.

Thanks to John U. for the phase converter.

Side note is that all the Budweiser aluminum in the drying rack in the back ground are for the metal casting project coming up and they are not mine. They all come from a certain German fellow.

This is a nice piece of equipment that help with some of the pressing operations in the fab shop

A nice size lower plate, I have just the die set for it.

Some more [...]]]> A friend of Gun Lab showed up at the door yesterday with a new piece of equipment for the fab shop.

This is a nice piece of equipment that help with some of the pressing operations in the fab shop

A nice size lower plate, I have just the die set for it.

Some more pins need to be made, but this is serious

I am going to have the hydraulics rebuilt.

It comes with a 7 1/2 hp hydraulic power pack

Now the real fun happens, moving it into the shop with a door smaller then the press.

With the extra cabinets from the school I started adding more cabinets in the fab shop. Storage is at a premium everywhere in the shops so these will help a great deal.

More cabinets added.

Mix and match. It works for me

Parts storage and a charging station for the battery operated drills

Here at gun lab everything is generally made or re-purposed to go with the project at hand. I have a small fly press that I obtained at a yard sale for real cheap. I wanted to use it in the fab shop for punching hole and pressing designs. So it was time to spend [...]]]>  

Here at gun lab everything is generally made or re-purposed to go with the project at hand. I have a small fly press that I obtained at a yard sale for real cheap. I wanted to use it in the fab shop for punching hole and pressing designs. So it was time to spend some time making a stand for it.

I found an old lathe that some one had dumped in a field. After some checking in the surrounding businesses t was determined that it was just a midnight drop off. I took my old truck and trailer over and picked it up, much to the appreciation of the property owner. and drug it home. It set  in the fab shop for a number of years where it gathered dust and rust and generally was in the way. There was no fixing it and bringing it back to it’s glory days so the next best thing to do with is to re-purpose it.

I took it apart and saved the gears and anything that I could use.

This leads me to the base for the fly press.

When we made the hydraulic forging press the center plate was saved.

That material was then cut for the base.

A nice fit to the base.

two extra holes were located and drilled.

And the plate bolted to the base.

Next a piece of scrap from the hydraulic power pack for the big press was machined to hole the fly press and allow an opening to drop out the slugs.

The press was mounted to verify proper alignment.

A piece of 6″ pipe that I managed to scrounge up was cut to length and welded to the top plate.

After welding up the top and bottom plates the fly press is mounted ans ready for use once the special tooling is made.

Another weekend project completed.

This is it setting next to the forging hammer I built.

Due to the short height I was always having back issues when I did any forging. Finally having a few moments [...]]]> Most of Sunday was spent on making a new stand for my anvil. The stand that came with the anvil, when I dug it out of a dumpster, is way to short for me.

Due to the short height I was always having back issues when I did any forging. Finally having a few moments to my self I decided to build a new stand that fit my size.

Starting with old pallet wood, Philippine Mahogany.

The ends were cut off to the point where I could find good wood. This was dome on the radial arm saw.

After that step was completed they then went to the joiner.

This allowed me to make two of the sides perpendicular. From there they went to the planer.

This allowed the sides to be parallel. Then off to the table saw to get them close to the same size.

The wood actually looked usable at this point.

A large amount of material was taken off on some of the boards to accomplish this. Now I needed to put it together as a puzzle.

The ends were sanded to make them as flat as possible.

Today it is off to do the metal work. First to grind down flat my base steel.

Then cut heavy angle iron to support the corners.

Back to the shop.

Just pebbles.

The conduit as it came out from under the slab [...]]]> I have spent the last 3 weekend getting ready for a new water line to the fab shop. My limit for digging is only a couple of hours. When you look at the size of the rocks you will understand why.

Just pebbles.

The conduit as it came out from under the slab at the fab shop.

All the conduit laid in the trench

The pex pipe pulled through the conduit.

The high tech compacting tool and the trench filled in.

Hooked up at the water source

Hooked up at the fab shop.

The only thing left to is seal the ends of the pipe.

I obtain another bead blaster from a friend.

This required me to run a new air system over to it.

I then started [...]]]> I spent most of the weekend in the fab shop trying to clean up some small projects. With the temperature at the century mark there was no fun working in the sun.

I obtain another bead blaster from a friend.

This required me to run a new air system over to it.

I then started on adding new plugs for my work table and metal table.

Then it was time to mount a vise at the work table.

I started changing out the fittings on the hydraulic power pack.

This is to allow me to change the hoses to run either the fluting press or the hot forging press with the same unit. Eventually I hope to have a separate power pack for the forging press.I also welded on hose supports.

I demo out some cabinets this last week so they were mounted. This is to allow extra storage.

Brought the rollers in and did the drawings for the steel support for the band saw.

The last weekend project was to cut the pipe for a welding and brazing rod holder. I will clean them up with the bead blaster and then weld it up.

A quick video.

The roof has been coated twice so we are water tight.

All the wall have been put up,

I have started installing the electrical boxes.

Wiring will be next weekend [...]]]> Work has been progressing on the fab shop even if at a slower pace then I like. Time and weather has been a real issue.

The roof has been coated twice so we are water tight.

All the wall have been put up,

I have started installing the electrical boxes.

Wiring will be next weekend after I drill all the holes.

Part of the out side walls have now been coated as well.

I have decided to use stainless mesh instead of glass windows. This will help with air flow.

More next weekend.