Building (Fabing) a 24" wet saw. (lapidary)

[MaicoDoug]

I love that guy! Reminds of some of my Norwegian relatives that up north. Thx again Scott. I'll check it out. May be my next project......

The vise-

What is about go down here? Contemplating bushing-bearing-knob assembly for the ends of this leadscrew.

 

[MaicoDoug]

It works. Still in the refinement stages. The articulation is really smooth & easy. For the threaded feed section, to that rear plate gusset thinking may want some bracing. Currently it's 1" thick at least down there, but the extra nut is hanging almost. Below it's solid metal.

Next step is to enlarge the socket head holes a tiny bit to allow for fine alignment, and find some type of wood to line the chuck jaws with. Thinking oak or alder wood is a popular choice at the store here in Texas. Then install everything in the tub. Then mount the motor, align the doors, install the top hinge, Lexan, feed screw & DC power supply which will have a build, variable 24Vdc, 5 amp.

Likely use a 2 amp variac powering the transformer to vari the DC output. Recycled 9 x 12 inch I beam, 5/8" thick.

What color should I paint the exposed steel vise?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Purple

 

[MaicoDoug]

Good, because I thought someone would say yellow.

 

[sgtsandman]

Good, because I thought someone would say yellow.

Well, that always is an option...

 

[sgtsandman]

It works. Still in the refinement stages. The articulation is really smooth & easy. For the threaded feed section, to that rear plate gusset thinking may want some bracing. Currently it's 1" thick at least down there, but the extra nut is hanging almost. Below it's solid metal.

Next step is to enlarge the socket head holes a tiny bit to allow for fine alignment, and find some type of wood to line the chuck jaws with. Thinking oak or alder wood is a popular choice at the store here in Texas. Then install everything in the tub. Then mount the motor, align the doors, install the top hinge, Lexan, feed screw & DC power supply which will have a build, variable 24Vdc, 5 amp.

Likely use a 2 amp variac powering the transformer to vari the DC output. Recycled 9 x 12 inch I beam, 5/8" thick.

What color should I paint the exposed steel vise?
View attachment 122075

It depends. What is the look you are going for? Traditional colors for machinery and such is black, grey, or some kind of green. Occasionally, you'll see some different colors on vices such as blue and red.

 

[MaicoDoug]

Exactly. A metal flake green is my first choice. Rustoleum's hammered silver paint is holding up pretty well on my "spray can rebuilt" belt sander.

Just started working on the 2nd axis, the feed advance. I think I can score another crank handle, but it will need straightened. Cut out 3ea. tombstones, 1/2" thk x 1.75 sq. I have some 7/8" O.D. flanged 3/8" I.D. bearings to press in after I drill the 7/8ths hole. Like the other axis & vice, using a 1/2" x 20 lead screw.

My mini bench drill press is way too funky for that job. Most of my work is using the human mill, me, & my "half finch" Milwaukee hole shooter and a big vise. Need a decent drill press for this job....my neighbor has a few older ones he has been trying to sell off, perhaps it's time to go inspect the condition of one of those. My quarter horse Ryobi bench drill press needs a new hex for the chuck drive. Been using a stack of trimmed down #8 nuts, but that was temporary. It's good for my small precision jobs. Like most folks, I prefer the older equipment even though it may require a small repair here & there. To replace something that well built, it would cost 10x what I have to spend. A new belt & some sanding, cleaning & tightening up should bring it back.

 

[MaicoDoug]

Finally got this brute finished a couple of months ago, just cannon balled right through to the finish. Then ran this puppy for a week straight. Works pretty nice with no actual drawbacks except the .146" blade thickness, takes a quarter inch swath out of whatever your cutting. So I finally saved my box tops and coughed up the $$ for a decent thinner lapidary blade that will cut faster dissolving less material in the process.

Need a apron. Saved having to make a load of laundry everytime I run this beauty.

I do have the thick clear Lexan for the windows however this new fangled Lexan panel material is interesting, very strong and lightweight.