NEWS! The wood collection.

[woodPixel]

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one day.... one day....

[Chesand]

Most of us can relate to that. If it wasn't wood, it would be something else.

[rrich]

A neighbor comes over with a very cheap reciprocating saw.

OK, made in China. I have one. It is from Harbor Freight. She says, I lost this screw, do you have one?

I have all kinds of SAE and Imperial nuts and bolts but almost no Metric. The few metric ones that I have are salvaged from various mistakes on four wheels. Here it is difficult to find any Metric hardware. My local M&P carries a very good selection of Metric hardware as do some of the very old non-chain auto parts stores. Almost all of the non-chain auto parts stores have closed or gone some other way.

I took the needed screw out of my saw, put some Loctite on it and put it in her saw. Then I gave her the other one from my saw and told her to go to the M&P hardware store and buy 3 or 4. She asked if she could just go to Home Depot? I told her that if you give that screw to the hardware store personnel and say it is Metric, you will get the replacement that actually fits and not something close and probably not metric.

[woodPixel]

these dudes have an amazing collection - McMaster-Carr

[rrich]

these dudes have an amazing collection - McMaster-Carr

Yeah they do have an amazing selection for the US. However you will have difficulty buying just one or two.

[Tomislav]

I took a LESTO jigsaw from 1972 to a local guy, Chris, in Hornsby.. showed him the jig saw.. and before I said anything .he said .. you have lost the Screw..! ok, once in 40 years..

He reached into a draw and pulled out a Bosch part that fitted and had the same part number taht I found on a parts list . part cost $2.00, service was ,, priceless.

[AlexS]

Tomislav, where is Chris? There used to be a good place for getting all sorts of engineering goodies in Leighton Place, but they've closed and I don't know of anywhere else nearby.

[Tomislav]

Hi, he hides out at H and G in Dural, Sunday’s and Monday’s Mornings

,, but don’t tell anyone..

- - - Updated - - -

Hi, he hides out at H and G in Dural, Sunday’s and Monday’s Mornings

,, but don’t tell anyone..

[AlexS]

Thanks Tomislav. I often go to G&G in Hornsby as a preferable alternative to the green shed.

[Tomislav]

it's worth the trip for the service, Hornsby is ok, but limited due to size. Dural has better range.

chris is amazing.. I trust you will keep it secret..

[rrich]

At least 15+ years ago we "had" (Had being the key word) a "Junior's Tools". From what I could tell they were a M&P but with several locations.

I had changed the chuck of drill on some brand I can't remember that Junior was an authorized distributor. For those of you who have never changed one of these screws are left hand threads. I walk in and l go straight to the parts counter. The guy says that they don't have one but it will be there next week. In the mean time I check, $8 plus shipping from the drill manufacturer. Because I'm over near Junior's almost all the time I wait. I go to pick up the screw and "No-Charge". I object and he say that his cost is $0.32 and even marking up to $1 it still costs more to print an invoice.

I left $5 on the counter saying to have a beer after work. He chased me out into the parking lot, stuffing the $5 into my shirt pocket saying he can't.

[Old Croc]

At least 15+ years ago we "had" (Had being the key word) a "Junior's Tools". From what I could tell they were a M&P but with several locations.

I had changed the chuck of drill on some brand I can't remember that Junior was an authorized distributor. For those of you who have never changed one of these screws are left hand threads. I walk in and l go straight to the parts counter. The guy says that they don't have one but it will be there next week. In the mean time I check, $8 plus shipping from the drill manufacturer. Because I'm over near Junior's almost all the time I wait. I go to pick up the screw and "No-Charge". I object and he say that his cost is $0.32 and even marking up to $1 it still costs more to print an invoice.

I left $5 on the counter saying to have a beer after work. He chased me out into the parking lot, stuffing the $5 into my shirt pocket saying he can't.

Yea Rich, we belong to a dying vintage. I wish there is an afterlife so I could sit and watch what the latest generation will do in 40 years time. But for now I enjoy making parts for gear that is obsolete. Recently I spent 6 hours machining a trigger for a Ryobi dropsaw out of a block of solid plastic because I could not stand to see it dumped because the part is no longer available.
Rgds,
Crocy.

[Mobyturns]

Yea Rich, we belong to a dying vintage. I wish there is an afterlife so I could sit and watch what the latest generation will do in 40 years time. But for now I enjoy making parts for gear that is obsolete. Recently I spent 6 hours machining a trigger for a Ryobi dropsaw out of a block of solid plastic because I could not stand to see it dumped because the part is no longer available.
Rgds,
Crocy.

Perhaps there is an opportunity here for a 3D printing guru. Imagine all the time wasters that would draw in.

Hmm 6 hrs & $85 ph = new dropsaw is looking good!

[rrich]

Yea Rich, we belong to a dying vintage. I wish there is an afterlife so I could sit and watch what the latest generation will do in 40 years time.
Crocy.

The house I'm living in was built in 1962. At best you would call it mediocre and after the architect was finished the financial wizards made some "corrections". There are so many things, but I digress. The worst ever was finding the ground loop that caused the cable TV to pixelate.

Here in the US, there are standards for electrical power points and switches. This goes beyond NEMA codes and defines thread diameter / pitch and distance between the mounting holes.

I bought a jet dust collector, with discount somewhere in the neighborhood of $279. It was running on 230 volt/US. The original push button switch failed. Jet wanted an outrageous amount for a replacement switch. (over $100) I figure I'll go to my M & P hardware store and get a two pole replacement as I was using the DC on a 'Long Ranger' RF controlled circuit. The first surprise was the screws with the switch don't fit. Well, it's obvious the Metric snake in the Imperial grass bit me in the rear. I exchange the old screws for the new switch. Still won't fit. The location of the holes is off just enough so that the US NEMA switch can't be mounted in the new holes. I drill holes in the aluminum box about 6 mm from the existing screw holes and tap them for Imperial screws. Then of course the new switch still wouldn't fit because it now had Metric screws. Changed everything back and all is well. If you look at my DC, it will look odd with a NEMA switch replacing the two button (red/green) switch.

Yes Crocy, I want to sit with you while sipping some flavored ice cubes or processed grains.

[Old Croc]

Perhaps there is an opportunity here for a 3D printing guru. Imagine all the time wasters that would draw in.

Hmm 6 hrs & $85 ph = new dropsaw is looking good!

This was the interesting bit, the saw belongs to a pensioner, it was on loan to my BIL and as he was using it when the switch failed due to old age he felt obligated to replace it. Well there is a very new $12000 milling machine sitting in the workshop so it was a perfect opportunity to learn a bit more. OMG, it was a complicated piece, but I did it and it felt good.
As for 3D printing, you would need an expert to do the CAD drawing for it to be printed. And as I am not bored yet, I have not tried to learn CAD or get into a 3D setup. Luckily I have a couple of guys on tap to do that magic stuff.
Rgds,
Crocy.