Tips,tricks And Rule Of Thumb

[tigmusky]

Hi all,
I don't know if this is the right place to post this ?

I wanted to start a thread to share and hopefully learn some tips , tricks and rule of thumb,so here gos. remenber pics are cool.. thanks Daye

#1 rule of thumb pipe threads... When threading pipe a good way to test your threads is to put a fitting on hand tight. Then back if off ,and count the turns. You want about 3 1/2 turns + or - a 1/2 turn.for std black sch 40. for harder pipe like stainless pipe go 4, for softer pipe like galvanize pipe go closer to 3. this is a good rule of thumb for 1'' to 2'' pipe.

[84zmike]

Reminds me of the guy who thread a full 20 ft length of pipe ....when asked what the F*&% he was doing he said " I'm trying to figure out were the threads are coming from"

[tigmusky]

Trick

A quick and easy way to check lathe cutting tool center.
Place a steel pocket rule in between the tooling and the work. If the ruler stands staight up your on center. If the ruler leans one way or the other adjust the cutting tool as needed. Daye

[tigmusky]

84zmike, good point.
Tip:
Threads should be 1'' long or about 2 threads past the die as seen in pic above.

[MatthewF]

Tip: take chuck key out of lathe before turning it on.

[zapster]

Tip...
Screw the ruler..
Get good enough to do it by eye..

Sometimes it's better to cut above centerline..
Sometimes below..

Tip...
Oil your machine everyday!!

Tip..
Save old brass bushings of all sizes to use when grabbing a finished journal so you don't leave teeth marks in your piece..

I cut a 1/2" thick ring from the bushing and take about 1/4" out of the wall..
That way there you can squish the crap out of it..

I got a million of 'em..

But I 'aint telling them all to anyone..

...zap!

[Jolly Roger]

Safety tip - welds are hot!

[Bikespot]

Originally Posted by eyeshurt

Tip: take chuck key out of lathe before turning it on.

I have seen it happen before , then someone turns it on and well so far it hasn't killed anyone.

Another tip is if your doing offset turning on the lathe , make sure your cutter is far enough away from the workpiece when you turn it on.

[Brett]

Over here we had a few ad for Pizzas a while back.
"Dougie the delivery boy" had a few adventures , became a bit of a cult figure and in one ad he delivered to his own house. After giving the Pizza to his Dad he asked for a tip.....
His Dad replied:

"A tip?.....Mmm OK, Work hard and be good to your mother!" then Dad just closed the door.

[Rojodiablo]

Just because aluminum isn't red, doesn't mean its' not HOT!!! A sawzall can be made to cut under, and over stuff by bending the blades. And, you can weld 2 blades together to cut at least a foot and a half in a hole. Basically, never leave home without the sawzall...

[TEK]

Originally Posted by Bikespot

I have seen it happen before , then someone turns it on and well so far it hasn't killed anyone.

Another tip is if your doing offset turning on the lathe , make sure your cutter is far enough away from the workpiece when you turn it on.

And check your speed settings before you turn it on. I saw a 15 pound offset weight come off at high rpm because the night cleanup kid had bumped the lever from 15rpm to 150rpm. Almost hit me....did hit the Bridgeport I was running hard enough to knock it loose from the anchor bolts..

[tigmusky]

I've been going to post this for a few years now. It's been talked about quite a few times here. releif hole for holesawing. works on just about anything. Workgreat in wood counter tops, cuts drilling time in half. Here are a few pics to explain

[7A749]

Ok, pretty obscure, I know.

Miller Maxtron 450 machines.

Often times, users unfamiliar with this machine will turn it on for the first time & be unable to adjust their voltage or amperage presets from the panel. They freak out & immediately think something is wrong with the machine.

The Contactor Switch (third toggle switch down on the forward panel in the pic) MUST be in the 14/17 Remote position to allow adjustment of preset amps & volts. In the contactor closed position, the DRO's will display actual volts & amps while welding however, no adjustment of them is possible.

Some may laugh, but I have picked up more than a few of these machines that were deemed "broken" (even by a Miller Service Center once) but worked perfectly for next to nothing because the user did not know the proper operation procedure.

Well, that's all I got for now.

[larphead]

Keep them coming guys. I love the steel rule trick. I will have to try that one.

[tigmusky]

Originally Posted by 7A749

Ok, pretty obscure, I know.

Miller Maxtron 450 machines.

Often times, users unfamiliar with this machine will turn it on for the first time & be unable to adjust their voltage or amperage presets from the panel. They freak out & immediately think something is wrong with the machine.

The Contactor Switch (third toggle switch down on the forward panel in the pic) MUST be in the 14/17 Remote position to allow adjustment of preset amps & volts. In the contactor closed position, the DRO's will display actual volts & amps while welding however, no adjustment of them is possible.

Some may laugh, but I have picked up more than a few of these machines that were deemed "broken" (even by a Miller Service Center once) but worked perfectly for next to nothing because the user did not know the proper operation procedure.

Well, that's all I got for now.

I'll keep this in mind, while surfing Craigs list.
Daye

[nadogail]

Originally Posted by MatthewF

Tip: take chuck key out of lathe before turning it on.

I thought they were self ejecting.

[tigmusky]

A few more mfor holesaws.
When holesawing stainless steel sheet metal suck as kitchen hoods , Elmers glue works great. I have no idea why. but you can twice as many holes with it. I sure there better things. Elmers is easy to get if you have kids

Piggy back holesaws. some arbors you can put a bigger holesaw on the backside, and use the small one for a pilot bit.

Most holesaw arbors take a 1/4'' pilot bit. If you can make your own for the appaction. Here's a pic #3 of one for a dirt track guy, they drill A arm with this.

Plumber puddy works good to make a dam around a holesaw to hold cutting fluid in.

[ESABREP]

Tip for Welding

If its got slag, you drag...

[zapster]

Tip...
Use flashback valves on all your propane accetelyne powered cutting/Heating devices..



...zap!

[sn0border88]

W=3/4T

Meaning that a properly done fillet weld usually only need be 3/4 of the thickness of the thinner of the base material. More than that and you are just wasting filler.

[Fegenbush]

Originally Posted by sn0border88

W=3/4T

Meaning that a properly done fillet weld usually only need be 3/4 of the thickness of the thinner of the base material. More than that and you are just wasting filler.

Unless you're welding to ASME code then it's 100% of the thickness of the thinner metal, minimum. Sometimes I design odd weld fillets because it saves me from having to up the pipe or shell thickness. Your tip is good in general cases, though.

Protip #1: Read and understand the welding symbol on the print.

Protip #2: When in doubt, 100% Penetration (or CJP for you AWS folks)

Protip #3: Dye penetrant is fast and cheap, failed X-Rays are neither.

[sn0border88]

Originally Posted by Fegenbush

Unless you're welding to ASME code then it's 100% of the thickness of the thinner metal, minimum. Sometimes I design odd weld fillets because it saves me from having to up the pipe or shell thickness. Your tip is good in general cases, though.

Here is where I referenced that from, just to show that I didnt make it up.



That comes from section 2 in the Lincoln bible.

[T-Bird]

Originally Posted by tigmusky

A few more mfor holesaws.
When holesawing stainless steel sheet metal suck as kitchen hoods , Elmers glue works great. I have no idea why. but you can twice as many holes with it. I sure there better things. Elmers is easy to get if you have kids

Piggy back holesaws. some arbors you can put a bigger holesaw on the backside, and use the small one for a pilot bit.

Most holesaw arbors take a 1/4'' pilot bit. If you can make your own for the appaction. Here's a pic #3 of one for a dirt track guy, they drill A arm with this.

Plumber puddy works good to make a dam around a holesaw to hold cutting fluid in.

Elmers glue for what? Cutting fluid?

[tigmusky]

Originally Posted by T-Bird

Elmers glue for what? Cutting fluid?

Yep! for cutting fluid. A old fitter showed me that. I'm sure there are far better cutting fulids for holesawing stainless. This works.

Daye

[tigmusky]

Originally Posted by zapster

Tip...
Use flashback valves on all your propane accetelyne powered cutting/Heating devices..



...zap!

Whats better on the torch or regs?