7/7/2007 63.5 hours
Page 7

Several thing happened since the last update. First off I fired up the motor. Runs smooth as silk. I still need a belt made for it but that is the last big item and looks like it will the last thing.

After playing with several cutout of plywood I settled on a shape for the guard. I made one out of some cherry I had laying around the shop. I ordered bushing, shafting and all the related pieces to hinge the guard from McMaster Carr. I love their online catalog, it makes shopping for small parts so easy. These should be here Monday. I am waiting on a quote on a belt but I think I going to call Sikes Monday and just order one from them. After all how hard is it to give me price on a 93" x 4" belt?? It's not rocket science!

Today I cut down the blades myself. I thought I was going to have to take them to a machine shop or find someone that would let me spend some time on their mill. But turned out that I could just cut them with the angle grinder and a cut off wheel. That was much easier that I expected. It left them a bit rough but I guess it really doesn't matter. I round the edges somewhat so I didn't have any sharp corner to cut my hand on.

Once they were cut down I had plans to make a jig to sharpen them in my Makita Knife sharpener. To my surprise they fit just fine. So I sharpened both blades and they are ready to install. I think I will wait and do that last. Less change and cutting a finger on them.

Next job was to make new gaskets (which server as shims too) for the bearing caps. I had made these before but realized latter that what I did wasn't going to work. The shaft bearings rides on a film of oil. I had a left a rather larger gap when I made the gaskets and I could just see oil pouring out those gaps. So I scrapped them and made a new set today. I had to take it apart to install the oil wicking felt in there anyway.

Then I shimmed and leveled the table. As it stands now, all I need is new enclosure for the motor controls. The box I have now doesn't have a lid and I think it would be to shallow if it did. I need the belt and to finish the guard. Probably no more than 4-5 hours. And of course some Debugging time. I am sure there will be some problems that crop up. Maybe by this weekend I will be making wood chips!

Oh, I REALLY need to paint that pulley. That Red Primer is ugly!!