by Donnie Hurt | Nov 1, 2021 | BLOCK WORK
BLOCK SQUARED For those using the common block deck indexing fixture, heres an easy way to check accuracy of the front plate. When you finish squaring up a block. Flip the plate backwards and check the deck across the surface to the plate again. It should read the...
by Donnie Hurt | Nov 1, 2021 | TOOLING
T-SLOT BRIDGE Occasionally, when clamping an odd-shaped part like a cylinder head or small engine block on our Bridgeport mill, the mill table’s T-slots are not always spaced for convenient clamping. To make the job easier and faster, we machined a pair of steel...
by Donnie Hurt | Nov 1, 2021 | OPERATIONS
TRACKING WORK ORDERS Because we have a stack of work orders, about an inch thick, we have a system that helps us match a customer with their job, when they call. The work orders are kept in numerical order on a clipboard. The customer is assigned a work order number,...
by Donnie Hurt | Oct 1, 2021 | DISASSEMBLY & CLEANING
KEEPING THE WASTE OIL OUT When I disassemble an engine, I always leave it upright until I’ve removed and dropped the oil pan. The rest of the disassembly will be much cleaner as the parts won’t be dripping with the remaining tramp oil that doesn’t all get fully...
by Donnie Hurt | Oct 1, 2021 | TOOLING
CHAMFER REMOVAL Shallow head fasteners like flywheel bolts can be a challenge to remove without rounding the head off. I place a socket in my metal lathe and face it flat to eliminate the chamfer. I get full contact with the fastener and fewer stripped heads. Dave...
