Re: FINISHED IT UP WITH A GRINDER - Using A Lathe To Install a Goose Neck Hitch

On Wed, 16 Oct 2024 15:38:29 -0700, Bob La Londe <none@none.com99>
wrote:

On 10/15/2024 5:44 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:

"Bob La Londe"  wrote in message news:vek97o$1c4gf$1@dont-email.me...
 
After drilling a giant hole int he bed of my new truck I decided I
wanted to hit the freshly raw aluminum surface with some metal etching
primer, and some black paint to match the black sprayed in bed liner and
protect the metal.
 
All my paint has been on the shelf a long time.  I wasn't able to break
the bearing inside the can loose on the lathe, but after I got it moving
I was able to chuck the spray can up cross wise in the six jaw chuck by
removing two opposed jaws.
 
I think taping the can to a long blade in the Super Sawzall is faster,
but I can walk away with the lathe on 70 RPM and work on something else
for 20 minutes when I chuck it in the lathe.
 
Bob La Londe
----------------------------
 
As a kid I made a rock tumbler consisting of a small windmill with a
wood pulley and string speed reduction to the paint can holder. It did a
fairly good job of scaring birds from Dad's garden as well. The blades
were crossed sticks with thin plastic or aluminum flashing rectangles
nailed on along one edge, so they self-feathered in strong winds.  It
lasted about 3 months between repairs.
 

>
Finished it up with a grinder.  Many years ago, when this group was
thick with masters of all, I was a bit taken aback by all the folks who
would say, "I just freehand sharpen drills with a grinder."  Well, now I
just sharpen drills with a grinder.  Today I had to drill four holes in
the bed of the new truck for spring loaded chain loops.  The only 11/16
drill bit I found looked like it had a poor shallow grind for wallowing
its way through steel truck frames... In fact I think that's what it was
last use for, and I'm sure I was the one who put that grind on it.  I
walked it over to the grinder and put a sharp aggressive three facet
grind (6 if you want to be technical) on it for aluminum and punched the
holes I needed right through the stiffener and bed of the truck.  (There
were already holes in the steel under bed goose neck ball hitch plate.
>
After that it was just the usual fat guy trying to work under a truck to
get the springs and nuts on the under side of the chain loops.
>
All finished up.  Next project electric running boards so my wife can
get in and out of the truck safely without my having to run around the
truck with a step stool.  Yeah, I keep a step stool in the bed right now.
>
I keep telling myself I'll get some nice CBN wheels for one of the
grinders so I can sharpen lathe bits, drills, and even split points all
on one machine and I still haven't completely worn out a set of the
cheap grey stones they come with.  I probably should dress them more
often though.
>
Anyway now, "I just free hand sharpen drills on the grinder."  Its not
even very hard once you've done a few.  3/16 and up is pretty easy.  I
have sharpened smaller by swinging a magnifying lamp over the grinder,
but the smaller drills are so cheap I just buy them in batches.
>
>
--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff

For fifty years I sharpened drills freehand on a variety of grinders
including the old hand cranked, geared, clamped to the bench one my
granfather brought with him, and the home built stone on a 1/4 HP
motor. Now I still hand sharpen but finish most of them on the Drill
Doctor.
I totally broke Junior's FiL when he sent in a basket of bits for me
to sharpen - among them was a 1/2" concrete bit with the insert
missing. I sent it back nicely sharpened with a hole drilled through
the web and a tag wired to it saying "Drill shaped object - Use only
to make holes in room temperature butter"!