Its been over 110F every single day for about 3 weeks now. I tried to
work outside on an old boat a couple days, but even under a popup shade
it was pretty miserable. My wife said it was 118F yesterday. Walking
out to the mail box for my latest prize scored off eBay has been a real
chore. Not worth it for the bills and junk mail.

I don't know exactly what is going on in the back shop. For some reason
its not as hot as I remember it in past years with similar outside
temperatures. The office and little machine room are air conditioned,
but the back shop where the bigger lathe mills are is not. Oh, its hot
back there, but not as stifflingly miserable as I recall.

Tomorrow is my day off this week, so I'm going to try and fit a new sole
out of a sheet of aluminum into "Another Boat Project That May Never Get
Finished" in the morning, and work on a machine in the shop in the
afternoon.

I have not yet decided which machine. You guys can vote on which one if
you like. I may ignore you like a true politician, but you can vote anyway.

1. I've got a 3 phase Taiwanese turret lathe I'd like to get running.
Phase converter (VFD), dirt (stiff action), and some new cover panels.
This one may be the easiest to get into running trim. Its also setting
on dollies and its small enough I could roll it inside the little
machine room where its cooler to work on... after I sweep a path through
the chips.

2. Hurco KMB1 with a catastrophic ball screw failure. Went from .001
baklash to .030-.040 backlash in the middle of a job. This would
probably be the most profitable to fix, and most expensive since I
probably have to buy new screws for two axis. Maybe I'll get lucky and
its only a bearing failure.

3. CNC bridge mill/router build... this one will be the most work
since I have barely started on it. Its also likely to be the most fun
(in the end) since I plan to use it for mostly odd projects like license
plate plaques (for states that only require one plate in the back)
awards plaques, machined labels for stuff in the shop (looks cooler than
it sounds), signs and other things that are not part of my regular
product line.

Alternatively I have started a 1911 build from a partially machined
frame. The plan is NOT to build another 45ACP. The plan is to build a
1911-22 using a German Sport Gun .22 slide assembly and magazine. I
already tested the parts on a very good replica 1911A1 (preban Norinco)
and it seems to work reliably with good .22 ammo. The frame is 7075
aluminum so it should make a nice relatively light weight .22 plinker.
I have been playing with the fit so far (no machining yet), and I think
it can be fitted up and made functional without machining out the barrel
seat. This would reduce the likelihood of some future heir trying to
convert into a 45ACP, although some people do build 45s on this frame.
I might work on that.

--
Bob La Londe
Proffessional Hack, Hobbyist, Wannabe, Shade Tree, Button Pushing, Not a
real machinist

--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com

On 7/26/2023 10:25 AM, Bob La Londe wrote:
> Its been over 110F every single day for about 3 weeks now.  I tried to
> work outside on an old boat a couple days, but even under a popup shade
> it was pretty miserable.  My wife said it was 118F yesterday.  Walking
> out to the mail box for my latest prize scored off eBay has been a real
> chore.  Not worth it for the bills and junk mail.
>
> I don't know exactly what is going on in the back shop.  For some reason
> its not as hot as I remember it in past years with similar outside
> temperatures.  The office and little machine room are air conditioned,
> but the back shop where the bigger lathe mills are is not.  Oh, its hot
> back there, but not as stifflingly miserable as I recall.
>
> Tomorrow is my day off this week, so I'm going to try and fit a new sole
> out of a sheet of aluminum into "Another Boat Project That May Never Get
> Finished" in the morning, and work on a machine in the shop in the
> afternoon.
>
> I have not yet decided which machine.  You guys can vote on which one if
> you like.  I may ignore you like a true politician, but you can vote
> anyway.
>
> 1.  I've got a 3 phase Taiwanese turret lathe I'd like to get running.
> Phase converter (VFD), dirt (stiff action), and some new cover panels.
> This one may be the easiest to get into running trim. Its also setting
> on dollies and its small enough I could roll it inside the little
> machine room where its cooler to work on... after I sweep a path through
> the chips.
>
> 2.  Hurco KMB1 with a catastrophic ball screw failure.  Went from .001
> baklash to .030-.040 backlash in the middle of a job.  This would
> probably be the most profitable to fix, and most expensive since I
> probably have to buy new screws for two axis. Maybe I'll get lucky and
> its only a bearing failure.
>
> 3.  CNC bridge mill/router build...  this one will be the most work
> since I have barely started on it.  Its also likely to be the most fun
> (in the end) since I plan to use it for mostly odd projects like license
> plate plaques (for states that only require one plate in the back)
> awards plaques, machined labels for stuff in the shop (looks cooler than
> it sounds), signs and other things that are not part of my regular
> product line.
>
> Alternatively I have started a 1911 build from a partially machined
> frame.  The plan is NOT to build another 45ACP.  The plan is to build a
> 1911-22 using a German Sport Gun .22 slide assembly and magazine.  I
> already tested the parts on a very good replica 1911A1 (preban Norinco)
> and it seems to work reliably with good .22 ammo.  The frame is 7075
> aluminum so it should make a nice relatively light weight .22 plinker. I
> have been playing with the fit so far (no machining yet), and I think it
> can be fitted up and made functional without machining out the barrel
> seat.  This would reduce the likelihood of some future heir trying to
> convert into a 45ACP, although some people do build 45s on this frame. I
> might work on that.
>
>
>

I probably won't work on the switches after braking the dash on the 2007
Silverado. Those parts have not arrived yet.

--
Bob La Londe
Proffessional Hack, Hobbyist, Wannabe, Shade Tree, Button Pushing, Not a
real machinist

--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com

On 7/26/2023 12:59 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
> On 7/26/2023 10:25 AM, Bob La Londe wrote:
>> Its been over 110F every single day for about 3 weeks now.  I tried to
>> work outside on an old boat a couple days, but even under a popup
>> shade it was pretty miserable.  My wife said it was 118F yesterday.
>> Walking out to the mail box for my latest prize scored off eBay has
>> been a real chore.  Not worth it for the bills and junk mail.
>>
>> I don't know exactly what is going on in the back shop.  For some
>> reason its not as hot as I remember it in past years with similar
>> outside temperatures.  The office and little machine room are air
>> conditioned, but the back shop where the bigger lathe mills are is
>> not.  Oh, its hot back there, but not as stifflingly miserable as I
>> recall.
>>
>> Tomorrow is my day off this week, so I'm going to try and fit a new
>> sole out of a sheet of aluminum into "Another Boat Project That May
>> Never Get Finished" in the morning, and work on a machine in the shop
>> in the afternoon.
>>
>> I have not yet decided which machine.  You guys can vote on which one
>> if you like.  I may ignore you like a true politician, but you can
>> vote anyway.
>>
>> 1.  I've got a 3 phase Taiwanese turret lathe I'd like to get running.
>> Phase converter (VFD), dirt (stiff action), and some new cover panels.
>> This one may be the easiest to get into running trim. Its also setting
>> on dollies and its small enough I could roll it inside the little
>> machine room where its cooler to work on... after I sweep a path
>> through the chips.
>>
>> 2.  Hurco KMB1 with a catastrophic ball screw failure.  Went from .001
>> baklash to .030-.040 backlash in the middle of a job.  This would
>> probably be the most profitable to fix, and most expensive since I
>> probably have to buy new screws for two axis. Maybe I'll get lucky and
>> its only a bearing failure.
>>
>> 3.  CNC bridge mill/router build...  this one will be the most work
>> since I have barely started on it.  Its also likely to be the most fun
>> (in the end) since I plan to use it for mostly odd projects like
>> license plate plaques (for states that only require one plate in the
>> back) awards plaques, machined labels for stuff in the shop (looks
>> cooler than it sounds), signs and other things that are not part of my
>> regular product line.
>>
>> Alternatively I have started a 1911 build from a partially machined
>> frame.  The plan is NOT to build another 45ACP.  The plan is to build
>> a 1911-22 using a German Sport Gun .22 slide assembly and magazine.  I
>> already tested the parts on a very good replica 1911A1 (preban
>> Norinco) and it seems to work reliably with good .22 ammo.  The frame
>> is 7075 aluminum so it should make a nice relatively light weight .22
>> plinker. I have been playing with the fit so far (no machining yet),
>> and I think it can be fitted up and made functional without machining
>> out the barrel seat.  This would reduce the likelihood of some future
>> heir trying to convert into a 45ACP, although some people do build 45s
>> on this frame. I might work on that.
>>
>>
>>
>
> I probably won't work on the switches after braking the dash on the 2007
> Silverado.  Those parts have not arrived yet.
>
>

I'll probably spend a little time in the morning figuring out if the
new rear speakers in my truck are crap or if the sheet metal they mount
to is vibrating and causing the buzzing noises I'm hearing .
--
Snag
Men don't protect women because they're weak .
We protect them because they're important .

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message news:u9rkup$1i3t0$1@dont-email.me...

I have not yet decided which machine. You guys can vote on which one if
you like. I may ignore you like a true politician, but you can vote anyway.

---------------------------

I'd go with the Hurco if you can quickly find the problem and order the
parts. When I was a project's manager as well as its builder I pushed as
much as possible outside the critical path that way. Also I bought what I
could and built only the parts that would require too much explanation to
send out.

On 7/26/2023 3:26 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
> "Bob La Londe"  wrote in message news:u9rkup$1i3t0$1@dont-email.me...
>
> I have not yet decided which machine.  You guys can vote on which one if
> you like.  I may ignore you like a true politician, but you can vote
> anyway.
>
> ---------------------------
>
> I'd go with the Hurco if you can quickly find the problem and order the
> parts. When I was a project's manager as well as its builder I pushed as
> much as possible outside the critical path that way. Also I bought what
> I could and built only the parts that would require too much explanation
> to send out.
>

Not sure if I mentioned it here, but I bought the Tormach to do most of
the prep work I used to do on the Hurco. The thing is the Tormach is
also being used to do primary jobs now too.

Then I fixed the electronics problem that caused me to buy the Tormach,
and when the Hurco had its current mechanical failure I started doing
heavy work on the new South Bend manual mill. I can actually square
blanks to size about as fast by hand as I can on the Hurco. Well and
the South Bend is more powerful.

Quickly... That is unknown, and its not an easy machine to get the ball
nuts and screws out of. I probably can't afford OEM replacements
anyway. I figured to machine my own screws to fit if it needs new
screws. I've had the Y out before, and when I got all the garbage out
of the ball nut the backlash increased. Oops. LOL. I have an
aftermarket screw/nut for it already, but I also want to replace the end
bearings and change it to a direct drive instead of a belt drive. The
biggest thing is its in the not air conditioned part of the shop, and
its way to big to move into the small machine room.

--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff

--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message news:u9shma$1l2dk$1@dont-email.me...

Quickly... That is unknown, and its not an easy machine to get the ball
nuts and screws out of. I probably can't afford OEM replacements
anyway. I figured to machine my own screws to fit if it needs new
screws. I've had the Y out before, and when I got all the garbage out
of the ball nut the backlash increased. Oops. LOL. I have an
aftermarket screw/nut for it already, but I also want to replace the end
bearings and change it to a direct drive instead of a belt drive. The
biggest thing is its in the not air conditioned part of the shop, and
its way to big to move into the small machine room.

Bob La Londe

--------------------------

https://gtispindle.com/ball-screw-repair/

On 7/27/2023 3:44 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
> "Bob La Londe"  wrote in message news:u9shma$1l2dk$1@dont-email.me...
> Quickly... That is unknown, and its not an easy machine to get the ball
> nuts and screws out of.  I probably can't afford OEM replacements
> anyway.  I figured to machine my own screws to fit if it needs new
> screws.  I've had the Y out before, and when I got all the garbage out
> of the ball nut the backlash increased.  Oops.  LOL.  I have an
> aftermarket screw/nut for it already, but I also want to replace the end
> bearings and change it to a direct drive instead of a belt drive.  The
> biggest thing is its in the not air conditioned part of the shop, and
> its way to big to move into the small machine room.
>
> Bob La Londe
>
> --------------------------
>
> https://gtispindle.com/ball-screw-repair/

That is an option. My plans have changed for my day off. Mostly I make
molds to order. This means I have a lead time of course. Occasionally
I'll make an extra. Sometimes it more efficient to make multiples than
to make just one. Sometimes I have some extra stock just the right
size. Sometimes I just feel like it. Often I will offer those molds on
eBay at a higher price for those people who will not wait for my normal
lead times. It works. I make occasional sales that way, and it
promotes name recognition in my market. Last night a customer contacted
me to ask if I would ship right away because they were going out of town
in a few days and didn't want porch pirates to have a shot at their
package. Yeah, no problem. I printed a label, gathered up some
shipping materials only to discover the mold is not on the shelf. I am
in the shop this morning, so I can get their mold down before the
carrier arrives to pick it up. Of course it uses a stainless steel
insert rod and I am out of that size rod so I'll also be running down to
the local metal yard to pick up a piece.

So much for my day off.

--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff

--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message news:u9u3fh$1tkh9$1@dont-email.me...

My plans have changed for my day off...

----------------------

At the custom test equipment company "Oh, by the way.." was the code phrase
for changes requested after the contract had been signed. Apparently it's
common in the auto industry to keep changing new designs and we had to keep
up. I learned not to do anything I couldn't undo.

On 7/27/2023 9:41 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
> "Bob La Londe"  wrote in message news:u9u3fh$1tkh9$1@dont-email.me...
>
> My plans have changed for my day off...
>
> ----------------------
>
> At the custom test equipment company "Oh, by the way.." was the code
> phrase for changes requested after the contract had been signed.
> Apparently it's common in the auto industry to keep changing new designs
> and we had to keep up. I learned not to do anything I couldn't undo.
>

"Oh, by the way," is often a part of a negotiating tactic to get more
work for free. I used to run into it all the time in contracting. What
I would do when writing estimates is take notes as I went, list the work
included, and write down the price all right in front of the customer.
Then when they added on more things I put them below the price and
billed them time and materials for the extras. When they would throw a
temper tantrum I'd show them my notebook. "See, this is what we agreed
to at this price. You saw me write it down. All this is extra stuff
you asked for after agreeing with my price for 'this' work." After a
while I wrote full contracts for everything. Even little T&M jobs.

General contractors will use a different one, "We need you to help us
out on this one, and we don't have it in the budget." They wouldn't
even have an excuse for why they didn't budget for the extra free work
they were asking for. I quit working for general contractors and my
income increased dramatically.

--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff

--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com

On 7/27/2023 9:49 AM, Bob La Londe wrote:
> On 7/27/2023 9:41 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
>> "Bob La Londe"  wrote in message news:u9u3fh$1tkh9$1@dont-email.me...
>>
>> My plans have changed for my day off...
>>
>> ----------------------
>>
>> At the custom test equipment company "Oh, by the way.." was the code
>> phrase for changes requested after the contract had been signed.
>> Apparently it's common in the auto industry to keep changing new
>> designs and we had to keep up. I learned not to do anything I couldn't
>> undo.
>>
>
> "Oh, by the way," is often a part of a negotiating tactic to get more
> work for free.  I used to run into it all the time in contracting.  What
> I would do when writing estimates is take notes as I went, list the work
> included, and write down the price all right in front of the customer.
> Then when they added on more things I put them below the price and
> billed them time and materials for the extras.  When they would throw a
> temper tantrum I'd show them my notebook.  "See, this is what we agreed
> to at this price.  You saw me write it down.  All this is extra stuff
> you asked for after agreeing with my price for 'this' work."  After a
> while I wrote full contracts for everything.  Even little T&M jobs.
>
> General contractors will use a different one, "We need you to help us
> out on this one, and we don't have it in the budget."  They wouldn't
> even have an excuse for why they didn't budget for the extra free work
> they were asking for.  I quit working for general contractors and my
> income increased dramatically.

You know I think about this and wonder why I can't be like a lot of my
vendors and just ignore it on my day off, and then tell the customer,
"You didn't expect me to work on my day off did you," in a tone of
derogatory disbelief like so many have done to me. Sometimes for weeks
because they went on vacation and didn't tell anybody about my order/job.

--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff

--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com

On Thu, 27 Jul 2023 12:41:15 -0400
"Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> wrote:

>"Bob La Londe" wrote in message news:u9u3fh$1tkh9$1@dont-email.me...
>
>My plans have changed for my day off...
>
>----------------------
>
>At the custom test equipment company "Oh, by the way.." was the code phrase
>for changes requested after the contract had been signed. Apparently it's
>common in the auto industry to keep changing new designs and we had to keep
>up. I learned not to do anything I couldn't undo.
>

Mine was "while you are here". Used to repair two-way radios...
Customer Acme would request a service call for vehicles 24 and 32
not working. So I get dispatched to work on the two vehicles and maybe
stop at a couple other customers in the area. Check with the dispatcher
when I arrive and they say "Oh yeah and while you are here would you
take a look at 12, 22 and maybe 36 if it's in the yard" AND while your
working on these a driver comes up and asks if you're here to check 9,
because it doesn't work right 🙄

--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI

On 7/27/2023 9:57 AM, Leon Fisk wrote:
> On Thu, 27 Jul 2023 12:41:15 -0400
> "Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> "Bob La Londe" wrote in message news:u9u3fh$1tkh9$1@dont-email.me...
>>
>> My plans have changed for my day off...
>>
>> ----------------------
>>
>> At the custom test equipment company "Oh, by the way.." was the code phrase
>> for changes requested after the contract had been signed. Apparently it's
>> common in the auto industry to keep changing new designs and we had to keep
>> up. I learned not to do anything I couldn't undo.
>>
>
> Mine was "while you are here". Used to repair two-way radios...
> Customer Acme would request a service call for vehicles 24 and 32
> not working. So I get dispatched to work on the two vehicles and maybe
> stop at a couple other customers in the area. Check with the dispatcher
> when I arrive and they say "Oh yeah and while you are here would you
> take a look at 12, 22 and maybe 36 if it's in the yard" AND while your
> working on these a driver comes up and asks if you're here to check 9,
> because it doesn't work right 🙄
>

I've been the business owner most of my career(s), so I didn't mind the
extras if they paid for it. I quit working for those who would expect
me to just throw in some extra work. One of the things I did a lot was
change out alarm batteries. I would ask if there was anything else they
need done, and tell them if it was just a battery swap I just charged
for the battery, but if I have to look at a device or take a tool out of
my pouch its a full service call plus the battery. That way, on site if
they hit me with an, "oh by the way," they knew I was charging for it.
It was honest, and they actually got a pretty good deal if all they
really needed was a lead slap.

--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff

--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com

On Thu, 27 Jul 2023 10:28:31 -0700
Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> wrote:

<snip>
>I've been the business owner most of my career(s), so I didn't mind the
>extras if they paid for it. I quit working for those who would expect
>me to just throw in some extra work. One of the things I did a lot was
>change out alarm batteries. I would ask if there was anything else they
>need done, and tell them if it was just a battery swap I just charged
>for the battery, but if I have to look at a device or take a tool out of
>my pouch its a full service call plus the battery. That way, on site if
>they hit me with an, "oh by the way," they knew I was charging for it.
>It was honest, and they actually got a pretty good deal if all they
>really needed was a lead slap.

Yeah, the difference of being the "owner" rather than the pissant (me)
doing the work. It was a contract customer, so they paid a monthly fee
for us to maintain their system. It just messed with your day. Spend
too much unallocated time on their stuff and still have to visit the
other customers you promised see in the area. If they would have been
upfront with how many vehicles needed work you could have planned the
day accordingly. Just got used to it. Planned on them being jerks...

--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI

On 7/27/2023 10:52 AM, Leon Fisk wrote:
> On Thu, 27 Jul 2023 10:28:31 -0700
> Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> wrote:
>
> <snip>
>> I've been the business owner most of my career(s), so I didn't mind the
>> extras if they paid for it. I quit working for those who would expect
>> me to just throw in some extra work. One of the things I did a lot was
>> change out alarm batteries. I would ask if there was anything else they
>> need done, and tell them if it was just a battery swap I just charged
>> for the battery, but if I have to look at a device or take a tool out of
>> my pouch its a full service call plus the battery. That way, on site if
>> they hit me with an, "oh by the way," they knew I was charging for it.
>> It was honest, and they actually got a pretty good deal if all they
>> really needed was a lead slap.
>
> Yeah, the difference of being the "owner" rather than the pissant (me)
> doing the work. It was a contract customer, so they paid a monthly fee
> for us to maintain their system. It just messed with your day. Spend
> too much unallocated time on their stuff and still have to visit the
> other customers you promised see in the area. If they would have been
> upfront with how many vehicles needed work you could have planned the
> day accordingly. Just got used to it. Planned on them being jerks...
>

Yeah, some customers would take advantage of service contracts, or in
some cases be wreckless and careless because damage didn't cost them
anything. When a tire shop chops through an armored cable with a heavy
bead breaker its time to fire that customer. A few times I walked in to
talk to see a manager and explain that I don't cover damage caused by
negligence and abuse. One tried to tell me they would get somebody else
then. I handed them a piece of paper, and said, "Here you can write
your prior written notice of cancellation on this. Let me know when you
have a new company lined up and I'll reset your service codes to the
factory default." They were a customer for another ten years after
that. Sometimes I found I just had to set reasonable and fair
boundaries with customers.

I had one large family for whom I worked on several businesses and
homes. I found things went easier if I priced every job just a little
high, gave just a little, and then said ,"I have to feed my family too."
They didn't like it if I didn't negotiate a little, but the instant I
mentioned family they signed. I probably worked on 20 sites for them
over the years. I don't really like doing business like that, but
something I had read clued me in that it was a cultural thing with some
people. Its not just that they are not cheating your family or that you
give a little and you are helping theirs. They are reminded their
business is important to my family as well.

--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff

--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com

On Thu, 27 Jul 2023 11:36:08 -0700
Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> wrote:

<snip>
>Yeah, some customers would take advantage of service contracts, or in
>some cases be wreckless and careless because damage didn't cost them
>anything. When a tire shop chops through an armored cable with a heavy
>bead breaker its time to fire that customer. A few times I walked in to
>talk to see a manager and explain that I don't cover damage caused by
>negligence and abuse. One tried to tell me they would get somebody else
>then.

Exactly👍 I consider that good business practice. It's foolish to
consistently lose money or your employees to "bad" customers. I'm sure
if I had worked for you we would have tangled often but in a
productive, respectful way😉

--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI