Hi there Fraternity
Ok so as you all know the situation is unusual in that we all find ourselves in a world that a year ago we would never have envisaged, but it’s here and for the immediate future it’s going to hang about and impact on our lives in ways many we are not able or prepared to deal with. But that’s life and as its effects transcends upon and into our very existence, we have little choice but to push forward to allow some form of normality eventually return to our lives.
Ok the sermon I have just inflicted upon you resulted in my self-venturing into the sanctuary of the workshop, which after my last post where I formed a roof over my decking left me to be truth totally knackered and at an impasse in that the restrictions here in the UK are such that any travel is severely limited and we are mostly stuck at home and I really wanted a break and didn’t want to get engaged into a large project with winter forcing it’s edges over the horizon.
So, it’s off to the workshop for me, and standing there trying to figure out what to do that wouldn’t tax mind and body. As I looked around my only domain my attention was drawn to something that has niggled me for some time (not the wife)
I recently made a dust collection hood and connected to my band saw system and I fitted a shut off flap that allow me to swap over machines. The hood is held in place by a series of very powerful magnets embedded into the hood structure.
The problem I encountered was while it is in bandsaw mode the dust container takes about six months to fill up, but in jointer mode that turns into six minutes and I have no idea when it is full until I switch off and remove the hood and pipe to find it solid and chocked.
So here is my not so taxing next project.
So, decided to insert a viewing slot in the dust container to tell me when to empty. I was going to fit a lever and flap within the container to switch it off when full but the noise from the jointer would drown out the shut off extract and I couldn’t include the jointer in the shut off as its 3 phase and I didn’t want it shutting down half way through a process.
I think the photos tell the story in that I just cut the slot with my jigsaw and fitted a Perspex cover again cut with the jigsaw first which failed even with a fine blade, and ended up on the band saw, silicone and pop rivets did the rest. I placed steel washers over the pop rivets to spread the load over the Perspex.
Did it work, yes and no. What you see is the second attempt. First one cracked and split. I think it was a combination of the cold up here in Scotland and the radius I was asking it to take on. So the second attempt even when heated still gave me mini cracks.
I was in a dilemma, strip it all out and try again. Decided on a second opinion.
Phoned my good wife to get permission to come in from the workshop. Explained the situation. She never hesitated, reply was It’s only a workshop, live with it.
It’s only a workshop... it’s only a workshop. I was so incensed I almost spoke back.
So, my last photo of the finished article is taken so you don’t see the cracks.
Does it work, yes very well. I have fed a few 4x2’s through it and you can see the shavings level easily. And I don’t now have to clean out the extract hose as it fills up.
Colin, living with it
Scotland
Ok so as you all know the situation is unusual in that we all find ourselves in a world that a year ago we would never have envisaged, but it’s here and for the immediate future it’s going to hang about and impact on our lives in ways many we are not able or prepared to deal with. But that’s life and as its effects transcends upon and into our very existence, we have little choice but to push forward to allow some form of normality eventually return to our lives.
Ok the sermon I have just inflicted upon you resulted in my self-venturing into the sanctuary of the workshop, which after my last post where I formed a roof over my decking left me to be truth totally knackered and at an impasse in that the restrictions here in the UK are such that any travel is severely limited and we are mostly stuck at home and I really wanted a break and didn’t want to get engaged into a large project with winter forcing it’s edges over the horizon.
So, it’s off to the workshop for me, and standing there trying to figure out what to do that wouldn’t tax mind and body. As I looked around my only domain my attention was drawn to something that has niggled me for some time (not the wife)
I recently made a dust collection hood and connected to my band saw system and I fitted a shut off flap that allow me to swap over machines. The hood is held in place by a series of very powerful magnets embedded into the hood structure.
The problem I encountered was while it is in bandsaw mode the dust container takes about six months to fill up, but in jointer mode that turns into six minutes and I have no idea when it is full until I switch off and remove the hood and pipe to find it solid and chocked.
So here is my not so taxing next project.
So, decided to insert a viewing slot in the dust container to tell me when to empty. I was going to fit a lever and flap within the container to switch it off when full but the noise from the jointer would drown out the shut off extract and I couldn’t include the jointer in the shut off as its 3 phase and I didn’t want it shutting down half way through a process.
I think the photos tell the story in that I just cut the slot with my jigsaw and fitted a Perspex cover again cut with the jigsaw first which failed even with a fine blade, and ended up on the band saw, silicone and pop rivets did the rest. I placed steel washers over the pop rivets to spread the load over the Perspex.
Did it work, yes and no. What you see is the second attempt. First one cracked and split. I think it was a combination of the cold up here in Scotland and the radius I was asking it to take on. So the second attempt even when heated still gave me mini cracks.
I was in a dilemma, strip it all out and try again. Decided on a second opinion.
Phoned my good wife to get permission to come in from the workshop. Explained the situation. She never hesitated, reply was It’s only a workshop, live with it.
It’s only a workshop... it’s only a workshop. I was so incensed I almost spoke back.
So, my last photo of the finished article is taken so you don’t see the cracks.
Does it work, yes very well. I have fed a few 4x2’s through it and you can see the shavings level easily. And I don’t now have to clean out the extract hose as it fills up.
Colin, living with it
Scotland