Hi,
Many youngsters these days are unfamiliar with actually making things preferring to play with mobile phone or computer but I think they really are missing out on one of the major joys of life.
As a child I started off with pedal cycles then motorcycles then cars; I was taught as an apprentice to use my head and my hands to make things from scratch and all this experience remains with me but unfortunately these skills are dying out when we older people pass away; I'm always keen to encourage anyone to have a go at trying something new; over the years my workshop has evolved as has my skills.
Below are just a few examples of work I've carried out; I don't specialize in any one hobby or pastime I like to try ideas out which I dream up leaving my comfort zone. I'll have a go at anything which attracts my attention.
Kind regards, Colin.
I bought a Wilmac bandsaw and with it on the bench found it a load of rubbish the seller advertising it as seller refurbished? One major component needed was a new wheel drive shaft so I turned one adding keyways as seen above; not difficult to do for a lathe owner/operator.
The new drive shaft installed with a heavy modification; the new bearings are definitely not standard but any future bearing/mounting problems won't be difficult to resolve because these bearings are readily available and cheap.
The Wilmac main body completed now requiring a motor; this is what I call refurbishment. A brush paint job made a lot of difference and I now use this bandsaw a lot.
I needed a short tool post for one of my woodturning laths so set about making one; here it is looking very rough after welding.
Here's the same tool post completed; it cost virtually nothing and I could have made it any size I wanted.
Installing flood defences I bought a brand new electric cement mixer; when it arrived the motor was hanging loose due to transit damage; the motor mount had broken into two pieces; here are the two pieces placed together and the new very heavy duty motor mount I made; the new motor mount is made of Whale Tufnol and unique; again it cost nothing to make other than effort.
Here's a wire guide arm from a rare AVO Wave Winder; the machine was scrap without the arm working so simply make a new arm from an offcut of aluminium. Cost nothing again.
A friend bought a Peoples set back cover (vintage radio) through eBay but it never arrived and these are rare; he had borrowed a cover and was going to attempt copying drilling the 720 holes my hand? I suggested if he buy a full 8' x 4' sheet of MDF I'd have a go for him; I made twenty of these back covers doing them in two batches of ten taped together. This is one of them.
During my vintage radio restoration years I made lots of useful things; above are a pair of veneering hammers awaiting brass blades to complete them; I did lots of veneering using these.
Here's my home made 4" belt sander under construction; I made this years ago and it's seen a lot of use; made mostly from offcuts and an old motor I had kicking around; the bearings were bought new as were the abrasive belts but a very useful machine for little cost.
These are just a few examples but I've also fully restored big machines having stripped them completely down including lathes. I'm aware not everyone has the skills or resources to do this kind of work but neither did I when I started; I started with small projects and now I can tackle any job I fancy; I'm not smart it's just that I've had over 50 years practice and enjoyed the learning curve; I still make silly mistakes but fortunately not as many as I used to. Hope this is interesting. Have a go and learn something new.
Many youngsters these days are unfamiliar with actually making things preferring to play with mobile phone or computer but I think they really are missing out on one of the major joys of life.
As a child I started off with pedal cycles then motorcycles then cars; I was taught as an apprentice to use my head and my hands to make things from scratch and all this experience remains with me but unfortunately these skills are dying out when we older people pass away; I'm always keen to encourage anyone to have a go at trying something new; over the years my workshop has evolved as has my skills.
Below are just a few examples of work I've carried out; I don't specialize in any one hobby or pastime I like to try ideas out which I dream up leaving my comfort zone. I'll have a go at anything which attracts my attention.
Kind regards, Colin.
I bought a Wilmac bandsaw and with it on the bench found it a load of rubbish the seller advertising it as seller refurbished? One major component needed was a new wheel drive shaft so I turned one adding keyways as seen above; not difficult to do for a lathe owner/operator.
The new drive shaft installed with a heavy modification; the new bearings are definitely not standard but any future bearing/mounting problems won't be difficult to resolve because these bearings are readily available and cheap.
The Wilmac main body completed now requiring a motor; this is what I call refurbishment. A brush paint job made a lot of difference and I now use this bandsaw a lot.
I needed a short tool post for one of my woodturning laths so set about making one; here it is looking very rough after welding.
Here's the same tool post completed; it cost virtually nothing and I could have made it any size I wanted.
Installing flood defences I bought a brand new electric cement mixer; when it arrived the motor was hanging loose due to transit damage; the motor mount had broken into two pieces; here are the two pieces placed together and the new very heavy duty motor mount I made; the new motor mount is made of Whale Tufnol and unique; again it cost nothing to make other than effort.
Here's a wire guide arm from a rare AVO Wave Winder; the machine was scrap without the arm working so simply make a new arm from an offcut of aluminium. Cost nothing again.
A friend bought a Peoples set back cover (vintage radio) through eBay but it never arrived and these are rare; he had borrowed a cover and was going to attempt copying drilling the 720 holes my hand? I suggested if he buy a full 8' x 4' sheet of MDF I'd have a go for him; I made twenty of these back covers doing them in two batches of ten taped together. This is one of them.
During my vintage radio restoration years I made lots of useful things; above are a pair of veneering hammers awaiting brass blades to complete them; I did lots of veneering using these.
Here's my home made 4" belt sander under construction; I made this years ago and it's seen a lot of use; made mostly from offcuts and an old motor I had kicking around; the bearings were bought new as were the abrasive belts but a very useful machine for little cost.
These are just a few examples but I've also fully restored big machines having stripped them completely down including lathes. I'm aware not everyone has the skills or resources to do this kind of work but neither did I when I started; I started with small projects and now I can tackle any job I fancy; I'm not smart it's just that I've had over 50 years practice and enjoyed the learning curve; I still make silly mistakes but fortunately not as many as I used to. Hope this is interesting. Have a go and learn something new.
