Big Barn’s Retirement Farm Shop

TMGT · May 1, 2019

ovrszd said:
When I get moved into the new house and empty all those totes I'll dig out Bo and share with you guys.

Better not be on here lol, I believe BB has already had a talkin' to about those types of pictures being posted..............

ovrszd · May 1, 2019

Again, you guys are imagining the gutter ball. If I remember right there's not even a nipple visible.

Being the evil neighbor kid that I am, I'll post what I got and risk the lashing.

Big Barn · May 1, 2019

TMGT said:
Better not be on here lol, I believe BB has already had a talkin' to about those types of pictures being posted..............

And dimwit that I am I kept reposting the pic (of my office calendar) thinking there was a problem with the server.

Tomorrow’s topic: Keeping it Clean. Stay tuned.....

ovrszd · May 1, 2019

Dang it, I missed it!!!!

Gale Hawkins · May 1, 2019

I got about an hour with the lathes and saw today and I call the electric hacksaw good to go and got the carriages on the lathes moving better but need to remember a wrench to take off the tailstocks so I can get to the Ways and see what they look like on that end. Figured out why the back gear would lock up the headstock on the 12" lathe and moved the belts to different pulleys so the hard belts did not womp so much. So far nothing is worn out and I doubt if the lathes have been used 40 hours in the last 40-50 years. The 6" one only has forward rotation but that is fine because 12" one does and the quick change gearbox vs changing pulleys when cutting threads. They both seem to have the factory motors and pulley set up so that is nice. No pictures of humans came with the bag of books that came with the deal. Big Barn I did order a breathable tarp with magnetic strips to look at that option for all machines down the road. Oh the so noisy headstock on the 6" lathe is now quiet as the 12" with the Timken bearings. I am just letting the headstocks spin while I am doing around to make sure the lube working into the bearings well. I am glad all the pulleys and belts track. A time will come when I need new belts to do serious work and still trying to decide of the leather link type is a good option.

Big Barn · May 1, 2019

Gale I don’t think it’s often that someone lucks out like you did. The fact that the machines haven’t been used and abused is worth a premium right there. Plus the tooling and accessories! Good score!

You’ll be surprised at the light weight of the tarp you ordered.

What length blade does the power hack saw take?

Big Barn · May 2, 2019

Keeping It Clean

I don’t think anyone here can dispute the importance of keeping equipment clean. Everything from cracked welds to unnoticed grease nipples can be uncovered preventing possible costly downtime and repairs.

Pressure washers would be a must to have in my opinion.

Our first pressure washer on the farm (back in the 1970’s (sorry no pics) was a gas powered unit made by ChemClean. The system entailed applying an acid mix (sprayed left to right) starting at the bottom. Then an alkali using the same pattern. Immediately following the chemicals it was rinsed with cold water from the top down.

A three position toggle switch was integrated into the wand’s handle. CHEM 1 / CHEM2 / RINSE

The two step system was used for regular cleaning of the fleet of farm trucks. With this system NO brushing or scrubbing was necessary. This was the ONLY way to keep the aluminum sides of our truck and trailer van bodies shiny. Keep in mind this was in the days before vinyl “wraps”.

The down side of this system is our anodized aluminum bumpers on the Louisville’s had to be covered during washing as they would become permanently “clouded”

The last 20 years I’ve been using this hot water pressure washer which I really like. It is Honda powered with a diesel fired burner.

This is the electric cold water washer I installed in the garage. It’s a five HP Baldor coupled to a General TT9091 pump. Stationary mounted inside the man door and plumbed to a swinging overhead boom for washing cars.