Question 1

What's the best way to bend aluminum

Accepted Answer

The piece is only about 50cm wide and 40cm high and 4mm thick.  It is abracket . It needs to be bent in a straight line, only about 4mm high. Whattechniques would you recommed with tools in a typical garage?ThanksStewart

Question 2

Convert Degrees to Foot Pounds?

Accepted Answer

Working on a Deutz Diesel engine.  The instructions say to torque thebolts to 30 foot pounds then turn 45 degrees.Can I convert the degrees to foot pounds so I can use a torque wrenchto make them more exact?Is there an abbreviation for "foot pounds"?

Question 3

Best way to remove rust from black oxide?

Accepted Answer

I recently acquired a face mill that has a glossy black oxide surface finish. The mill is in excellent condition except that the previous owner allowed it to develop some surface rust (mostly on the upper surfaces; probably from sitting around uncovered on a shelf). The surface rust is like freckles, with most very small, but some spots of 2-3mm dia. Naturally, the black oxide finish on these upper surfaces (between the rust spots) is also dull.I was wondering if there is a way to remove the rust (or majority of rust) without significantly damaging the black oxide. In the past, when I has some surface rust on some black oxide impact sockets, I tried the following:1. Green scotchbrite and kerosene.2. Phosphoric acid.3. Salt & vinegar bath.All three methods removed the black oxide as well as the rust.How about polishing? That will also remove the black oxide, but perhaps not as much. Or is there an easy (and inexpensive) way to renew the finish?Any advice would be greatly appreciated.-...

Question 4

Best way to un-weld pipe?

Accepted Answer

I've got an old fence I want to salvage some pipe from. It's a tworail fence made out of 2 3/8 drill pipe. I've cut the top rail off ofthe uprights, but I'm left with a short stub of pipe welded on every12 feet. I need to cut those off.I can do it with a cutoff wheel and a grinder, but it takes a while.Anybody got a good way to get these off pretty fast? It doesn't haveto be that pretty.Thanks!

Question 5

Keying the Vise - Maxing out The Work Envelope.

Accepted Answer

I've got several machines where I do use a vise.  I don't use keys on the bottom of any of them.  I have in the past, but my experience was unless I pulled the keys and machined them they didn't just position the vise accurately enough I didn't have to indicate it in anyway.People in this group encouraged me to learn to indicate a vise, and that it wouldn't be that hard with some practice.  "Don't be afraid to take the vise off.  Every time you put it back on it will be easier."  They were right.  I still have some anxiety about placing a vise on the table and indicating it in.  I've got two machines where I use a pair of vises dialed in together.  That's a little more tedious but not horrible.  A couple minutes with a brass hammer and an indicator at worst.  If I am having a tough time it can take me five-ten minutes dial in two vises together.  Usually not.  If using soft jaws I'll still skim cut them so the average is consistent across the entire range.Once in a while I slide a vise...

Question 6

Marine batteries

Accepted Answer

After reading many nearly useless reviews I bought the only SLI31MDP that Batteries+Bulbs had, and then a hopefully similar/identical O'Reilly Super Start 31DCM. AFAICT they are both made by East Penn and are rebadged Dekas, Marine Master?Does anyone have experience with one or both, especially on their longevity and actual Amp-Hour capacity? They replaced 10+ year old SLI31s that had dropped from nominal 105Ah to measured ~30Ah capacity.

Question 7

JB Weld vs. Araldite

Accepted Answer

Both glues seem to be 2-part epoxy, but is one much better than theother? I know JB Weld contains metal dust, but does that really addmuch to the strength - I suppose it's a bit like the gravel inconcrete...?

Question 8

120V/240V AC Output Quality Of Welders

Accepted Answer

I have a Miller Bobcat. The scope says the output is as pure a sinewaveas I see from the utility company. That's to be expected since it is analternator, what else could it be? The frequency varies around a bit (function of engine RPM), but only things like electric clocks and old phonograph turntables care much about the frequency being precisely 60 Hz. Voltage regulation is pretty decent at light to moderate loads, about +/- 5%. With a heavy switched load, I've seen voltage momentarily drop as much as 15%. All of that is acceptable, and comparable to what you'd get from the utility with a slightly undersized service drop.Computers all use switching power supplies, so they don't much careif the power is clean, exactly on frequency, or well regulated (withinreason). They convert the AC directly to DC, chop it at a high frequency, step it down, and rectify and regulate it again at the 5 and 12 volts the computer's electronics actually need. Sinewave, square wave, or even DC is...

Question 9

Do I have 208 or 240 volts in my apartment?

Accepted Answer

I just had a new circuit installed for a dryer. I was told it was 240 volt but I'm having doubts. Would I be able to tell from the panel? The following is an excerpt from my building's electrical specifications. The building has 10-20 apartments: "From a service end box, electrical feeders connect to a service switch which provides power to the building?s residential systems. The service switch is a three-phase, four-wire 208/120 volt switch rated for 600 amperes. The service switch conducts power to the residential electrical meter bank. Each residential unit is provided with a dedicated feeder Each dedicated feeder then conducts power at one-phase, three-wire 208/120 volt to local distribution panelboards located in each residential unit." Sounds to me like I can only get 208 volts, but if power to my unit is only provided at one phase, I'm confused as to why it would be 208 volts, which I thought was a voltage between phases.  Is it even possible for me to have a 240-volt circuit in...

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