Finally here!

[nutz4tools]

Since retiring because of a disability, I finally got around to doing something I have always wanted to do....machining! ....having a ball!

[Jon]

Hi nutz4tools - welcome to HomemadeTools.net

What's next up on your machining build list? Here are some ideas from last week's projects:

Drill Bit Sharpener
Belt Grinder
Swing Brake

[nutz4tools]

Thanks for the friendly welcome and inquiry. What's next? !!! too much!....not sure where to start! Having ADD, I have more projects torn apart and started than you can imagine!....If I am not careful....I'm going to end up will a milling head on my lathe instead of a headstock, and a tailstock and carriage mounted on my mill table! 2 rotary tables, 4 index heads, 4 super spacers, and 3 three way vises, and only have one of each completed! 3 Shapers, 4 mills, and 5 lathes.....not really wanting to rid myself of any, at least for now!
So being realistic.....there is a certain amount of insanity in the "What's next" phrase! OK....I'll bite!....was thinking of making some unique machinists jacks to peddle.
What has been taking my time the past week, and not even mentioned in the above projects, is working on and acquiring some tooling for my KO Lee cutter grinder, and some moving equipment to be able to move and handle all of the above.....grinders, sanders, and drill presses will be entirely other subjects!

[Toolmaker51]

Welcome nutz4tools
I use machinists jacks continually, setups, inspection, and repairs. A lot of companies make jacks; Armstrong, Starrett, General, to name a few display the range in size, features and price. Armstrong's are incredibly sturdy. Starrett has a variety of adapters. General is reasonably priced. Each has a good feature to exploit; and each share certain disadvantages.

1) All have a proportionally lowest height restricted by the common centerline of screw and body. This will answer a need different than common machinist jacks.
2) If you target the machinist and engineer crowd; one or two jacks often is sufficient but a set is [I]Three[I]! One is at convenient height, other two manipulated for adjustment, leveling in particular. Leveling, inclines, or compound angles easiest when all planes X-Y-Z can be compensated with same thread pitch in each jack.
3) Same crowd will tell you, too many use proprietary threads. Occasionally, a substitute threaded portion is needed that odd threads will not accommodate. Also fine pitch threads adjust better, with higher strength.

I'd like to see you successful peddling quality innovative jacks. I don't want a cent of compensation, other than a tip of the hat.