While digging through my stash of reading material the other day, I ran
across a book from the "Fine Woodworking on..." series called "Making
and Modifying Machines". It gives pretty detailed information on
building several shop machines like a panel saw, wooden jointer,
oscillating spindle sander, thickness sander...even a wooden table saw.

From the editor's introduction:

"The very idea of making your own machinery may seem daringly
audacious, but why not? The keys are the modern electric motor,
readily available in any size, the ball-bearing pillow-block, and
the common bolt. We can use the motor to whirl any kind of cutter.
then we devise auxiliary mechanisms for managing the cutter's
movement into the workpiece, like a boring machine, or for
controlling the work's movement into the cutter, like a tablesaw with
fences. And then there is the lathe which, uniquely, rotates the
workpiece into a stationary cutter."

The book's really got me thinking...why don't more of us build our own
machines?

Like many of you, I built my own router table system. It's as accurate
as any production model and it fits ME and MY style of working. I've
built countless jigs, auxiliary fences, tables, etc. to improve the
safety and/or accuracy of about every tool I own. Google this newsgroup
about nearly any woodworking machine, and you'll get loaded down with
improvements or work-arounds that wreckers have made to it so it better
meets their needs.

So has anyone out there built or used a homemade woodworking machine?
I'd be interested in hearing and/or seeing about your experience or
ideas on the subject.




--
Larry G. Laminger
http://woodworks.laminger.com

On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 22:32:18 -0600, Larry Laminger wrote:

While digging through my stash of reading material the other day, I ran
across a book from the "Fine Woodworking on..." series called "Making
and Modifying Machines". It gives pretty detailed information on
building several shop machines like a panel saw, wooden jointer,
oscillating spindle sander, thickness sander...even a wooden table saw.

The book's really got me thinking...why don't more of us build our own
machines?

It works well for people that are more interested in what a machine will
do than how much it is worth or the appeal of having a "new" machine.
I have a doweling machine that I built using a cheap drill press and
building around it. Handmade scroll saws are among the best I have seen.
I have used a home built table saw that was based on a simple grinding
arbor and did not tilt. It was rock solid at 90 degrees and cut straight
and true. We used it for ripping lumber.
Probably the best home built machine I have used was a table saw that a
coworker had that he used to cut laminated plastic. It was a 10" table
saw built into a table that was 6 1/2' wide x 8' long. He had a fence
that extended the whole 96", worked on a rack and pinion system and
tracked 50" to the right of the blade with an accuracy of a couple of
thousandths parallel and could simply be picked up and set off of the saw.

I haven't, but my FIL made a very nice 1" belt sander. He made it out of
aluminum. A motor, bearing, simple tracking system, a frame, and a table is
all it takes. I've thought about a spindle sander, but oscillating ones are
so cheap now it doesn't seem worth the effort to build a none-oscillating
one. I'd feel more comfortable with purchased tools for most things.
Either accuracy or safety would be more important than saving a few bucks.
--
Larry C in Auburn, WA

"Larry Laminger" wrote in message
...
While digging through my stash of reading material the other day, I ran
across a book from the "Fine Woodworking on..." series called "Making
and Modifying Machines". It gives pretty detailed information on
building several shop machines like a panel saw, wooden jointer,
oscillating spindle sander, thickness sander...even a wooden table saw.

From the editor's introduction:

"The very idea of making your own machinery may seem daringly
audacious, but why not? The keys are the modern electric motor,
readily available in any size, the ball-bearing pillow-block, and
the common bolt. We can use the motor to whirl any kind of cutter.
then we devise auxiliary mechanisms for managing the cutter's
movement into the workpiece, like a boring machine, or for
controlling the work's movement into the cutter, like a tablesaw with
fences. And then there is the lathe which, uniquely, rotates the
workpiece into a stationary cutter."

The book's really got me thinking...why don't more of us build our own
machines?

Like many of you, I built my own router table system. It's as accurate
as any production model and it fits ME and MY style of working. I've
built countless jigs, auxiliary fences, tables, etc. to improve the
safety and/or accuracy of about every tool I own. Google this newsgroup
about nearly any woodworking machine, and you'll get loaded down with
improvements or work-arounds that wreckers have made to it so it better
meets their needs.

So has anyone out there built or used a homemade woodworking machine?
I'd be interested in hearing and/or seeing about your experience or
ideas on the subject.




--
Larry G. Laminger
http://woodworks.laminger.com

Larry, I built a wood lathe, first a treadle lathe, then when I got
tired of pumping the treadle I built another that has a 1/2 hp
motor.Fairly easy to do, although you must be precise making the
headstock and sliding tailstock. I took the treadle lathe apart and
use the stand for several things. A slow speed grinder and roller
stand are two of the applications. The lathe is used for spindle
turning, haven't tried bowls yet. I am a little more than a novice on
the lathe, but enjoy the heck out of it.
I built a walking beam saw about 5 years ago, when I bought a 16"
bandsaw I took the beamsaw apart as it took up a lot of room.I am
thinking about making another one that would be outside for sawing
logs into planks. The beam saw is slow but does work. I have 7 3/4" of
rip capacity on the bandsaw so the walking beamsaw would come in handy
for bigger stuff.
Last thing I made was a handtool , a froe. Hard to find old tools like
this, easily made from a length of car spring.
Mike

"Larry Laminger" wrote in message
...
|
| While digging through my stash of reading material...

I'm reminded of a noted organ builder who designed a seven-bladed saw
monstrosity himself in order to automate some of the fabrication of wind
chest components. One drops in the stock and out comes, in Looney Tunes
fashion, a completed component sawn to spec.

--Jay

When i was a kid, I used to ride my bike to the corner store to buy candy.
The Guy who had the store used to work in his shop and you would have to go
get him to ring you out.
I remember that he had a homemade band saw.
He used 2 volkswagon beatle whells and hubs, and tires. the tires were
groved for the saw blade and there was a huge plywood table..
I would love to have that now.


"Larry Laminger" wrote in message
...
While digging through my stash of reading material the other day, I ran
across a book from the "Fine Woodworking on..." series called "Making
and Modifying Machines". It gives pretty detailed information on
building several shop machines like a panel saw, wooden jointer,
oscillating spindle sander, thickness sander...even a wooden table saw.

From the editor's introduction:

"The very idea of making your own machinery may seem daringly
audacious, but why not? The keys are the modern electric motor,
readily available in any size, the ball-bearing pillow-block, and
the common bolt. We can use the motor to whirl any kind of cutter.
then we devise auxiliary mechanisms for managing the cutter's
movement into the workpiece, like a boring machine, or for
controlling the work's movement into the cutter, like a tablesaw with
fences. And then there is the lathe which, uniquely, rotates the
workpiece into a stationary cutter."

The book's really got me thinking...why don't more of us build our own
machines?

Like many of you, I built my own router table system. It's as accurate
as any production model and it fits ME and MY style of working. I've
built countless jigs, auxiliary fences, tables, etc. to improve the
safety and/or accuracy of about every tool I own. Google this newsgroup
about nearly any woodworking machine, and you'll get loaded down with
improvements or work-arounds that wreckers have made to it so it better
meets their needs.

So has anyone out there built or used a homemade woodworking machine?
I'd be interested in hearing and/or seeing about your experience or
ideas on the subject.




--
Larry G. Laminger
http://woodworks.laminger.com

Yahoo group has a group on home built machines.

Larry Laminger wrote:

While digging through my stash of reading material the other day, I ran
across a book from the "Fine Woodworking on..." series called "Making
and Modifying Machines". It gives pretty detailed information on
building several shop machines like a panel saw, wooden jointer,
oscillating spindle sander, thickness sander...even a wooden table saw.

From the editor's introduction:

"The very idea of making your own machinery may seem daringly
audacious, but why not? The keys are the modern electric motor,
readily available in any size, the ball-bearing pillow-block, and
the common bolt. We can use the motor to whirl any kind of cutter.
then we devise auxiliary mechanisms for managing the cutter's
movement into the workpiece, like a boring machine, or for
controlling the work's movement into the cutter, like a tablesaw with
fences. And then there is the lathe which, uniquely, rotates the
workpiece into a stationary cutter."

The book's really got me thinking...why don't more of us build our own
machines?

Like many of you, I built my own router table system. It's as accurate
as any production model and it fits ME and MY style of working. I've
built countless jigs, auxiliary fences, tables, etc. to improve the
safety and/or accuracy of about every tool I own. Google this newsgroup
about nearly any woodworking machine, and you'll get loaded down with
improvements or work-arounds that wreckers have made to it so it better
meets their needs.

So has anyone out there built or used a homemade woodworking machine?
I'd be interested in hearing and/or seeing about your experience or
ideas on the subject.

--
Larry G. Laminger
http://woodworks.laminger.com