Big Barn’s Retirement Farm Shop

[TMGT]

I'm the same way BB, buy cheap, however that means doing a lot of rebuilding also. My first lathe was a earlier, 1947 I believe, South Bend 13" (had the single top lever on the gearbox), rebuilt the carriage and a few other parts on it.
Sold the SB to buy a 13" Clausing Colchester, rebuilt the apron and used it for a little bit.

Sold the Clausing to buy a 16" TOS SN40B, had to do replace the spindle bearings a few years ago but has been a good lathe and probably won't get replaced.

 

[Big Barn]

TMGT. We think alike.

Refurbishing of tool purchases were used as “stepping stones” to enable upgrading without breaking the bank. Being retired and having the time to act on opportunities makes this concept a little easier of course.

 

[TMGT]

Yup, I still have a little while before I can "retire", but my work schedule does allow me a little more opportunity to get things when they become available. I have a few things I dont think I'll ever need to upgrade though, my finger break and big disc sander come to mind.
I also think I'm good on welders for a while, finally worked my way up to a XMT304 with Optima pulser, 24A feeder, and 30A spool gun. For my tig I was able to get a Dynasty 280DX with wireless foot control, still need to make a cart for both of them. I consider myself a pretty lucky guy some days lol.

 

[Big Barn]

. I consider myself a pretty lucky guy some days lol.

Me too. Pretty much every day!

And thanks for your comments. I really enjoy hearing others’ stories.

I’ve probably posted these pics elsewhere previously.

I mounted an adjustable roller to the back of a side cabinet for supporting long stock in the drill press.

The cabinet will be used for storage of annular cutters and large drill bits.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I saw this Select brand mentioned on one machine shop forum as a solid brand from the 80's and 90's. It is smaller but looks enough like a Bridgeport to meet that emotional need. Not many around it seems and of two one was priced at $1275 and the pictured one about twice that price and neither had seen any production use but more or less for private use and are manually feed. A 2 HP 1 phase 110/220 volt seems to be the common motor from Taiwan. It seems most any low usage Bridgeport is pushing $10K range. I have wants and not needs at this point

 

[Big Barn]

Gale I’d take that smaller Taiwan Select knee mill over a brand new mill drill any day. Especially at the lower price range you mentioned.


“It’s the Little Things” sometimes the simplest of things can enhance a finished project from being okay to aesthetically appealing.

Part One: Embracing Red Tape (and other colors)

I keep non slip and conspicuity tapes on hand for these purposes.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Big Barn in doing more reading I get your point about the 30+ year old Select mill vs a new one from say China. It seems the first generation was still completing against Bridgeport. While they were lower price the quality still was expected when for the past 20 years the HF types were selling on price point.

It some point (after we have a functional shop)I may buy some broken stuff if it shows up locally where you pay $200 and put another $300 into it and sell it for say $2000. Currently I am more interesting in finding quality machines in looks and feel) but it it can mean driving 200-300 miles. I fine they need a concrete reason to part with their personal machine shops or otherwise they see too much blue sky. Moving to a smaller place is on place to find motivated sellers. A $3000 machine that is now 10 years old with no hours on but 10 years worth of rusting they think they are giving it away at $1500. One line that cracks me up is it is an awesome mill, lathe, etc but just needs a new motor. In some cases the accessories may come with the machine that are as worth as much as the machine asking price.

I like your use of TAPE and your giant shop photos. It is cool how people just want to give you machines and speaks of your character.

 

[the old grind]

Re: Big Barn痴 Retirement Farm Shop

Gale, I hope you have secured possession of that mini. It mirrors my '80s Taiwanese Enco if w/o this fancy bondo and paint job. The column riser you show is a definite plus :drool: .. and is what mine lacks. (6" is it? :thumbsup: .. what that fine mini deserves, IMO)



Well, the vises and the rotab here haven't been in each others' way with the small one-offs I keep doing lately. Uh, if the one in your pic is 300 mi North of you and you don't buy it ... (that riser & spindle-to-table clearance ..)

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Re: Big Barn痴 Retirement Farm Shop

Gale, I hope you have secured possession of that mini. It mirrors my '80s Taiwanese Enco if w/o this fancy bondo and paint job. The column riser you show is a definite plus :drool: .. and is what mine lacks. (6" is it? :thumbsup: .. what that fine mini deserves, IMO)

View attachment 601698

Well, the vises and the rotab here haven't been in each others' way with the small one-offs I keep doing lately. Uh, if the one in your pic is 300 mi North of you and you don't buy it ... (that riser & spindle-to-table clearance ..)

That is similar for sure. Some reading indicates it may be a early version clone of the Clausing 8520 or something similar that was produced in the 60's but I am not sure.

The one in the photo is paid for but in a basement with no outside entrance 250 miles away so we are looking at how to get it out. One forum posted said it weighs about 1100 pounds. I know it is around 6' tall because I could not see the drive belts and had to reach up high to feel them. The base is our concern. He took it apart and moved it in the back of his PU truck. Going down was not easy he said but gravity was working with them at least.

While it is old it looks good and shows no real wear. It comes with a box of cutters, clamps of many shapes and a set of R8 collets plus what is pictured. I guess I will like the nice DRO that has been added but I know my son will. Table size is stated to be 7x30. I had consider a 1220 Smithy combo decided on two machines and staying away from 3 phase motors but do know for $250-$500 good rotating phase converters can be had.

You are mistaken about your table working fine with it loaded the way you have it. I will pay the freight so you can get that rotating table off of your mill's table and onto mine.

 

[farm boy00]

Re: Big Barn痴 Retirement Farm Shop

That is similar for sure. Some reading indicates it may be a early version clone of the Clausing 8520 or something similar that was produced in the 60's but I am not sure.

The one in the photo is paid for but in a basement with no outside entrance 250 miles away so we are looking at how to get it out. One forum posted said it weighs about 1100 pounds. I know it is around 6' tall because I could not see the drive belts and had to reach up high to feel them. The base is our concern. He took it apart and moved it in the back of his PU truck. Going down was not easy he said but gravity was working with them at least.

While it is old it looks good and shows no real wear. It comes with a box of cutters, clamps of many shapes and a set of R8 collets plus what is pictured. I guess I will like the nice DRO that has been added but I know my son will. Table size is stated to be 7x30. I had consider a 1220 Smithy combo decided on two machines and staying away from 3 phase motors but do know for $250-$500 good rotating phase converters can be had.

You are mistaken about your table working fine with it loaded the way you have it. I will pay the freight so you can get that rotating table off of your mill's table and onto mine.

I know the feeling all too well of not being able to access equipment. My father was going to buy a 10ft brake in an old 2 story factory on the second story. Used to have a huge ramp to drive vehicles up to the second story but they bricked the door closed. There was an elevator but even tearing the brake apart it wouldn't have fit in the elevator. Last option was to remove a window and crane the brake out but if I remember right it either wouldn't fit or window wasnt easily removable.
We ended up passing and dealt with our 4ft brake for a few more years.