Day after Christmas in the shop

I had to take a few days off to visit family and friends for Christmas. I finished welding the divided pan for Chris and Adam in NY. I just need to polish the seams and leak test ,then its ready for packaging and shipment.

Here's just a couple shop pictures. My JET buffer now mounted, just need to get the wheels.

My other two grinders mounted on pedestals, and closer to the welding bench to same time.

Re-designing the shop

I've spent quite a few hours the last couple days re-designing the flow of my shop. I had to make some accomadations for 3 grinders on pedestals, a new welding bench and the new saw. Its almost complete, just need to bolt down the pedestals and grinders. I would like to add a few more lights over the shear, brake and welding table. I'll post pictures when I can.

Pans for Colin, BC Canada

This is a 2x2 flat pan with a 1x2 preheater, and a 15x15 finish pan. This was a real challenge to package in one box, but I'm sure it will make it there safely.

Catch up pics...

I forgot to bring the camera in last night, and didn't feel like going back into the cold. So here are the pictures from yesterday.

My new buffer. My friend Mark Hawkins went in halves on this. He needs it for building his Ukes, and I need to buff the corners, and the hydrometer cups. So this works well.

My first stock order for Roth Sugarbush in Cadott. This shipped today.

Ready for packaging and shipment.

Today I spent a few hours cleaning and packaging the orders, and now off to ship them. I also received payment for another order going to Canada. This time its a little closer Quebec. Thanks Michel. So I will be posting progress soon.

Tomorrow I will be insulating the attic, and helping my brother in law with his also. I might get some real work done, who knows. At least I have ALL next week to make more progress. I sure do thank the Lord for the business I've had so far!!

Getting caught up

Today starts my lay off week. I made some good headway today in the shop. I finished up the hydrometer cup order for Roth Sugarbush, finished a 2x4 pan for Ken in Madison, finished a 2x3 pan for Kevin in CT, and finished a 2x3 custom pan for John in NY. I sheared the rest of the pans for Colin in Canada, and my helper cut up 25 more hydrometer cups for me.  All in all a 10 hr day put to good use.

Saturday's half day of work

I got up early this morning and unpacked the saw, put it all together and got the wet system working. This thing cuts great, I love it!!!  I don't regret it at all. My dad came over and worked on some jigs while I was working on the Hydrometer cups and getting the saw ready.

My dad inspecting one of the cups after welding. He is an excellent fabricator and always has good input to my  projects when I need it. I enjoyed the time we spent in the shop today. 

Anyway today's progress... with the jigs we made I started 20 cups and cut a bunch more. Tomorrow I will have limited time to work in the shop, an hour maybe. So I will probably work on welding the cups I started today. This week I only work Mon-Wed. so I'm looking forward to Thursday and Friday having full days in the shop. I'll finally get somewhat caught up on orders.

New Equipment

I mentioned in one of my last posts that I was going to need a new saw(I broke the other one). It wasn't cutting that great anyway,So I picked up a new one tonight. Its a JET 7x12" saw, with a lubercation system.  Ive been working hard out in the shop every night and I've recruited a new helper. A good friend of mine(Jason)'s son Jacob. Hes been smoothing and deburring all the cups that were cut, getting them ready for me to weld. Its been fun having a helper in the shop.

Off topic, I received my first order from Canada and will be getting that shipped out sometime in the next couple weeks. Will take more pictures tomorrow. I can only work the morning, we have family to visit for Christmas.

More pan progress pics

We got our first significant snow fall today. We have 2 inches on the ground and getting up to 14 tonight.

Well, tonight I was really focused and made some great progress. I sheared, formed and tacked one finish pan for Colin in British Columbia, and finished another for an eBay member.

I formed the 2'x3'x10" pan for Kevin in CT.

And sheared the divider for the 2'x4' pan for Ken in Madison,WI.  I've been pretty busy, and haven't been welding any hydrometer cups up. I have all the handles made,and just need to weld them together. I'm hoping that  by the weekend I'll have most of them done.

Saturday in the shop

Today I spent a majority of my time preping for the week. I made a jig for my Hydrometer cup handles, welded a few cups up, broke a saw, and cut all my handle pieces. Now Im in the market for a new saw, hopefully I'll have one by the end of the week. I'm leaning toward either a Wilton or Jet wet saw. It seems that it never ends.

Tig'd Hydrometer cup with new welding turntable

I had a mound of things waiting for me on the doorstep when I got home from work today. Pretty much everything I was waiting for came in. Turntable, chuck, and fittings. Tonight I shipped out the finish pan I worked on over the weekend, and the 2x3 pan that sold also.

This is a picture of a cup that I bought for a pattern to make mine off of. Mine on the left is Tig welded, and the one on the right is Mig welded.

After I got home from shipping, I put the turntable together and started getting my settings adjusted. I started by mig welding them to the bases, and was NOT happy with the finished product at all. I decided that I MUST Tig weld these. I'm glad I did.

Finish pan

This afternoon I worked on a finish pan that I sold on eBay to Jason in Ohio. I changed the design on my handle a little from what I was using before. I think I like this better. It will ship tomorrow. On the recommendation from a member of the MapleTrader.com forum. I stayed with the .040 tungsten, and filler rod, instead of switching to the 3/32". It welded much better. I have a gas lense coming hopefully tomorrow that will give me better shielding.

Of course it can't be all work in the shop. My boys woke up early from their nap while mom was gone shopping. So we played darts for a while. This reminds me of why I do what I do. These guys are just a blast, and wouldn't trade them for the world.

Thanksgiving weekend in the shop

Yesterday and today I spent some quality time in the shop. Yesterday my friend Jim came over and made a custom base for a vintage power hacksaw that he picked up on Craigslist, its a pretty interesting piece of equipment.

I got the dividers welded in and the ends welded on today, and got some more cups cut. Welding these dividers on the 22ga. sure are a challenge, and time consuming. I still have to weld the draw off fittings in, and the thermometer fitting.

I'm waiting on the thermometer fitting, along with a stock order of half couplings. I also ordered all the .25" stainless rod I need for the Hydrometer cups.

My positioner should be here monday, and soon after the stainless rod. So its going to be going full swing by the end of the week. Its pretty exciting to have more requests coming in for custom pans, and other stainless products.

Hydrometer cup orders

While I was working on the divided pan toinght. I had the saw cutting my hydrometer cup orders.35 more to cut, and then I just need to get my Positioner in so I can weld them up.

John (NY) divided pan

Lots of things happening here lately.I have my welding positioner, and lathe chuck ordered,and should be here any day. I've been receiving a few orders for divided pans and have started on the first one.

This 24" x 34"  pan is for John in New York. It has 8-1/2" walls and 7" dividers. There are going to be 3 dividers, standard draw off fittings, and a 1/4" thermometer threaded fitting.

Welding turntable

Welding turntable I'm going to use for welding the Hydrometer cup bases on. 3 jaw spin lock chuck.

Project Small Pan

I received a custom order from Jon in Maine for a small pan set. These will go over a LP burner set. The dimensions are 9.5" x 29" and 7" tall. The pre boiler is 9.5" x 10" x 7" and both have a 1/2" drain.

The pan will hold 8.34 gal., and preboiler will hold 2.87 gal.

 

 

Preboiler in the flat.

Pan in the flat

Notched corners, and marking wall bends

Preboiler bent, just needs caps

Pan bent, needs caps

Pre boiler stacked, just to see how they fit

Caps on and welds cleaned up, both need drain and to be leak tested

Finished product!!

Back in the shop

These pictures were taken before they were polished, which is the last thing done before shipping.

Today I finally got back out to the shop. I'm still shaking off this nasty cold, but feel good enough to be productive. I welded up 3 pans and feel good about todays progress. Tomorrow I will be starting a custom boiling tank for a person in Indiana.