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Author Topic: Workbench Tales  (Read 217 times)

classixs

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Workbench Tales
« on: April 08, 2021, 07:01:48 am »
Just wanted to share and recommend the best "tool" iīve purchased in a long time.

It all started with me needing some extra light on the mini-mill, and as most newbies i went through the usual cheap "Angel Eyes" ring light mod circumfering the spindle.
I soon, as most newbies, discovered that it doesnīt really work all that well, since any bigger tool inserted will throw shadow where light is needed, and eventually took it all off again and threw it in the trashcan.

While trawling Ebay for other solutions, i spotted these flexible sewing machine lights on magnetic bases, which i after a few months have learned to appreciate immensely.
In fact i now (almost) have 4 of them, with 3 of them fixed "permanently" onto minimill, minilathe and benchgrinder.
The last one i just ordered today, and is to be kept free for slapping onto the vice (priceless when soldering!), or whereever some extra light is needed instantly, so i donīt have to move the dedicated ones back and forth.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/COB-6W-30LED-Sewing-Machine-Light-High-Light-Lamp-w-Magnetic-Base-AC-DC-85-265V/284155291277
Cheers
Jan
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Stoker

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Re: Workbench Gossip
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2021, 02:24:25 pm »
Hmmm .... I must have missed this topic when it was originally posted. I'll have to agree that having a flex-neck lamp is a real boon to most any tooling operation. I've long used an old style "high intensity" lamp that has a flex-neck though definitely wish it had a much smaller and magnetic base. I do now have a few of these "sewing" lamps and they are the Bee's Knees without a doubt.

I will have to disagree a bit on the spindle light ring concept however. Only a larger flycutter, which I almost never use due to the wide flung mess they make, would block any significant light from mine, while I do find it quite helpful for most all milling, drilling and tapping operations that I generally find myself doing. Granted, I also have other auxiliary "side lighting" in use at the same time, like from my old "high intensity" lamp and from "sewing" lamps much like you are linking to here.
"Information is not knowledge, Knowledge is not wisdom, Wisdom is not truth, Truth is not beauty, Beauty is not love, Love is not music: Music is THE BEST...   
Wisdom is the domain of the Wis (which is extinct). Beauty is a French phonetic corruption of a short cloth neck ornament currently in resurgence..."
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classixs

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Re: Workbench Gossip
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2021, 03:42:33 pm »
I use my mill pretty often for ordinary drilling tasks, and found that the ring light never could illuminate that tiny center punch mark, due to the drillchuck casting shadows.
But then again Daniel, might just be me... 
Without proper lighting and my reading glasses combined, i couldnīt hit a cowīs ass with a banjo 8)
Cheers
Jan
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Stoker

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Re: Workbench Gossip
« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2021, 08:28:01 pm »
Perhaps it only works okay for me because I also use side lighting at the same time, and just possibly my spindle ring light is a somewhat larger diameter and drill chuck is a smaller diameter as well?

In any case .... those magnetic base gooseneck "sewing" lamps are most excellent and I wouldn't want to be without a few or more around the shop, and elsewhere in the home for that matter!
"Information is not knowledge, Knowledge is not wisdom, Wisdom is not truth, Truth is not beauty, Beauty is not love, Love is not music: Music is THE BEST...   
Wisdom is the domain of the Wis (which is extinct). Beauty is a French phonetic corruption of a short cloth neck ornament currently in resurgence..."
F. Zappa ... by way of Mary, the girl from the bus.

classixs

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Re: Workbench Gossip
« Reply #4 on: April 12, 2021, 12:45:26 pm »
Just a little update on how i spent my afternoon today here :)

Iīve been using a professional Rothenberger resistance soldering unit for years, when ever the need to reduce creeping heat, and generally try to avoid damaging anything with an open flame, has been mandatory.

Today a good friend of mine, who owns a plumbing company, fried his own unit, and asked if he could "borrow" mine.
Being that it is a large and unhandy unit for smaller projects, made for soldering copperpipes in water and heating installations, and thawing heating installations during winter, i decided to let him do so, and make another more handy unit myself.

Have seen loads of DIY videos about these on YouTube during the years, and figured that it would be an easy task...and it was, at least for as far as i got today goes.

Took a 4 mile drive, and salvaged a microwave from the dump.
Removed the transformer (and the tablemotor, for a future selfrotating Lazy Susan).

The transformer was then liberated of the high voltage coil with a hacksaw, a couple of punches and a hammer.
I just cut the windings off flush at each side, and banged the remaining interior wiring out with the punches:
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Then i figured it would be a bit of trial and error, so started out with 2 windings of 35mm2 (2 AWG) on the secondary side (which eventually turned out to be perfect):
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A while ago i ordered a cheap 10A footpedal switch, as iīve had this project in mind well before i was "robbed" of my unit today:
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Installed that on a powercord, and connectors to the outputs:
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Time for testing. Voltage has to be low, as i donīt want any tickling sensation:


...and to test if itīd supply some amps/heat.
The test-subject is a 5mm brass tube, with a thickness much like a Jensen steamline or similar.


The only things remaining now, would be to mount the electric components properly, and inside a cabinet of sorts...and make a proper solderinghandle to hold a piece of carbonrod.
But even before doing so, iīd consider the project a success, and the afternoon well spent.
Cheers
Jan
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Stoker

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Re: Workbench Gossip
« Reply #5 on: April 12, 2021, 01:09:57 pm »
What an amazing recycling / re-purposing project!

Does look like you melted a little brass on that left side clip, but the carbon electrodes may well take care of that minor issue.

Would it be possible to use some sort of variable resistance device to adjust the output, like some of the high priced commercial units have on them?
"Information is not knowledge, Knowledge is not wisdom, Wisdom is not truth, Truth is not beauty, Beauty is not love, Love is not music: Music is THE BEST...   
Wisdom is the domain of the Wis (which is extinct). Beauty is a French phonetic corruption of a short cloth neck ornament currently in resurgence..."
F. Zappa ... by way of Mary, the girl from the bus.

classixs

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Re: Workbench Gossip
« Reply #6 on: April 12, 2021, 01:24:41 pm »
Yes, the cheap used battery charger clamps i threw on there to test, doesnīt have much power in their springs, which highly reduces their amount of contactpressure.

It did heat the tube to a glowing red, but made no holes...would though, had i stepped on that pedal just a sec or two more.

Havenīt thought about any type of regulation, as i honestly donīt think that iīll ever need it.
Am quite certain that once ot has been used for a while, one will learn exactly how much it heats, and be ready to lift the foot from the pedal accordingly.
I will however train my "feel" on some scrapped parts initially, as an "OOPS" wouldnīt be desable on anything of value.
Cheers
Jan
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txlabman

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Re: My Workbench Tales
« Reply #7 on: April 12, 2021, 02:27:55 pm »
With an amperage meter can you see the amount of electricity being delivered?

What is the wattage consumption of the unit?

classixs

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Re: My Workbench Tales
« Reply #8 on: April 12, 2021, 02:51:32 pm »
Havenīt measured the consumption...as i didnīt really see any reason for doing so.

Why do you ask Charlie?
Cheers
Jan
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txlabman

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Re: My Workbench Tales
« Reply #9 on: April 12, 2021, 03:36:23 pm »
Havenīt measured the consumption...as i didnīt really see any reason for doing so.

Why do you ask Charlie?

Curiousity. :)