billt's blog

New video on my YouTube channel! This is a ball turning tool that I made for my Taig lathe. I'm still learning the best way to use it. Hopefully I'll upload an update in a few weeks. Thanks for watching!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=a8WagiqwAdI

I had some time this weekend to make a small magnetic base for my G0602 Grizzly lathe.  The lathe doesn't have a DRO (Digital Read Out) so I've been thinking about using my 1" travel dial indicator to make the cuts more precise.  I watch a lot of the machine shop channels on YouTube and a few of the guys just use a simple mag base stuck to the ways.  It didn't seem that difficult to make one and I had some 7/16" diameter neodymium magnets lying around.

I made a small bending jig this weekend to use on my hydraulic press. I needed to put some 90 degree bends in some bar stock. I would have bent the stock in my vise caveman-style with a hammer, but the throat on my vise was too short. Just the excuse I needed to make this jig. I've tested it on 1/8" bar stock, but it appears to be able to bend a bit thicker.

FINISHED JIG:

Have you ever had a video that you just can't edit... this was one of those. So, instead I'm just going to blog about the construction process. 3 months without a post is too long.

New video!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=G9I6HmL5BJM

We got a used horizontal/vertical metal cutting bandsaw that needed a stand. This is a quick 2-minute video on the welding. Next up is a flip down table for the bandsaw to use in vertical mode. I'll document that build in more detail. Thanks for watching!

New video posted to YouTube! I'm just having some fun in the shop. Let me know what you think and thanks for watching!

New video on my YouTube channel!  This is a quick tour of my home metal working shop.  If you like what you see, please subscribe to builtxbillt.  Thanks for watching!

I just posted a new video to my YouTube channel, builtxbillt. It's a quick build of a simple steadyCAM design based on an article in MAKE. It's made from parts I had lying around my shop and it works well. Check it out at the link below:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3CMztGT1VzA

Thanks for watching!

So I finished up the stilts and have been walking around in them. They are interesting to move in as they really change your center of balance. No video yet, but I'm working on it. Video demo is here. Here's the remainder of the build… All pictures are here.