The 2023 Project List

Each and every year, I like to keep a list of projects that I would like to work on.

For one, it helps me keep track of progress, but also keeps thoughts aligned and is a nice dumping ground for the wild hair projects I get when I often can’t sleep.

The list

Machine Tool Projects

Lathe

  • Lathe apron conversion leftover
    • Shim rack to fit new apron properly
  • Consider 11” lathe upgrades
    • 11” headstock for larger collet size - ~$200-400
    • 11” Spindle Brake (not that expensive, but rare. Probably an easy build)
    • 5C Collet Closer
    • Optional
      • Taper Attachment https://www.lathe.com/images/pl-taper.gif, https://www.lathe.com/images/tel-taper.gif
  • Consider selling old lathe parts
    • Both tailstocks
    • Headstock
    • Headstock spindle bearings
    • Steady Rest
    • Old Apron
    • Old carriage
    • Old topslide
  • Drawbar spider
    • Face
    • Spindle
  • Solid Toolpost
    • Consider new cross slide too!
  • Lathe Stop
  • Lathe v-way holder for dial indicator
  • Scraping lathe
  • Lever Tailstock Mod

Drill Press

  • Key for Drill press ships wheel (easy mill project with collet block)
  • Redo new drill press spindle
    • Bend it
    • Redo bearing fit
    • Adjust preload by measuring end play
    • Grind

Metal Fabrication

  • Splash shield for spot welder

Milling Machine

  • Mill DRO

3D Printing

  • Flexible 3D printing table (PEI Sheet)
  • Tek 577 interlock defeat

Tool Building

  • Small gage for measuring depth of scraping marks
  • Sheet metal frame for pocket depth microscopes (send cut send)
  • Spring nail set
  • Vintage Weltrekord ratcheting screwdriver
  • Low profile milling machine side clamps
  • Cross hole drill jig
  • Heinrich vise jaws with 45 degree for round stock
  • Consider 45* parallel for holding round stock in the vise
  • Optical Comparator Bumpers
  • Optical comparator V Block
  • Dumore grinder wheel guard from sheet metal
  • Rebore Di-Acro slip roll pin bushing
  • Oxtools belt sander (snack break 5)
  • Lapping plates
    • Maybe smaller versions for scraper blades, like 1-2” copper (use spiral grooves for this)
  • Machinist jacks
  • Rose Index
  • Toolmaker Clamps
  • Strap clamps for a pallet and other setup needs
  • Surface gage
    • Build
    • Attachment clamp
    • 2 duplicate attachment clamps
  • Abrasive diamond bandsaw
    • Blade welder electronics
    • Adaptor for lapidary diamond blades
  • Slowspeed diamond lap with gearmotor
    • Sendcutsend for frame
  • Drill press vise floating column clamping ring
  • 6” sheet metal brake
    • Sendcutsend can do 1/2” A36 plate for this purpose
  • Induction heater
    • http://inductionheatertutorial.com/
    • http://uzzors2k.com/index.php?page=pllinductionheater1
    • https://www.instructables.com/30-kVA-Induction-Heater/
  • Telescope camera stage
    • 3D print
  • Telescope sextant
  • Flycutter
  • Beam Trammel
  • Angle blocks for Di Acro shear
  • Hex wrench organizer with Spring (Ronco Style)
  • Bottom plate for microscope desk mount
    • Used 3” 6061 round stock, 1” thick
  • Tailstock die holder
  • Mill spindle indicator clamp
  • Di Acro Shear stock hold downs (easy project with SendCutSend and horizontal mill)
  • Oxtools bender in repacement of Di Acro 1A
  • Carbide 3-facet spot drills
  • Small mill stop https://youtu.be/7xX69e0sawE?si=BKZOh0ODodaATHnE&t=1912

Science Experiments

  • Black fire with SOXe light
  • Small alcohol burner (tetkoba’s youtube channel)
  • Elephant/devils toothpaste
  • Sugar Snake (sodium bicarb + sugar + fire)
  • Iron Sulfide reaction (iron + sulfur + heat is very exothermic)
  • Sodium Acetate -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCpyzFeTQck
  • Sodium Polyacrylate
  • Pop pop Boat

Fun to Imagine

  • Fluidized air sand bed
  • Mini hydraulic arm
    • investigate RC Hydraulic parts
    • Can make cheap toy from plungers
  • Railroad spike bottle opener
  • LC Oscillator Metal detector
  • 2D physics simulation program

Maintenance/Improvements

  • Lano-lube protection
    • Straight edge
    • Gage blocks
  • Tool rack on back of tool cart
    • Common hammer + files
    • Electric screwdriver
    • Milwaukee charger
    • Drill + driver
    • Charger
    • Safety glasses
  • Steady-rest repair
  • Aluminum vise jaws for welded steel vise

Electronics

  • Tektronix 577 Repair
  • Tektronix 577 Test Adapters
  • Fluke 8200 Repair
  • Monostable multivibrator PCB design

WTB

  • Planimeter
  • Gaffer tape
  • Hot glue gun (surebonder and black glue)
  • Silicone glue tray
  • Wood tongue depressors
  • Wood coffee stirrers
  • Demagnetizer
  • Dichroic mirrors/Xcube
  • Planer Jack
  • Chemistry wash bottle
  • Hydrometer
  • New Tools
    • Pneumatic brad nailer
    • Random orbit sander
  • Dewault step drill: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0090IHBPU
  • Majestic diamond cutless gloves
  • Gear wrench ratchet 90t
  • Welding work clips (helping hands episode of tested)
  • Pi tape
  • Kopal piccolo clamp (not needed with floating vise)
  • Pocket scale
  • 6 jaw chuck (5 inch okay) (Found brand new 3 jaw)
  • 6 inch mill vise
  • 4MM Deckel collet (for center punch sharpening)
  • Lab hotplate
  • Socket adaptors: allen wrenches
  • Socket adaptor: 3/8” drive to 1/4” socket
  • Socket extensions: 3/8” drive
  • Arduino “build your own” kit
  • Phone line simulator and two phones
  • MT2 AXA Toolpost holder
  • Jet acrylic powder
  • Alconox Ultrasonic Cleaner
  • Coaxial indicator