sutton083

In my last post, I said that unknown maker's lathe was probably a Delta/Rockwell/Beaver lathe, from their Homecraft hobbyist tool's line. Well.... I'm not so sure anymore, here's why That tool, because of its sheet metal bed, versus the traditional cast iron bed, and sizes, is no doubt a Hobbyist, albeit well built, woodworking machine. When I did a first quick search, I quickly zoomed in on Delta Homecraft products line, because they did HAD a sheet metal lathe in their line. But trying to narrow it down better, I discovered an essential feature that the Delta had that mine does not: They welded spacer plate at regular interval, much like today, cast iron beds have such reinforcements casted instead. In 1941 they replaced the steel bed with a cast iron one. Delta No 930 Notice the closer gap on top of the steel folded bed. Photo from Vintage Machinery.org They also had a peculiar cast foot brackets to support and raise the steel bed up Turns out, there was accessories ...

A good friend of mine has been searching for a suitable wood lathe, something akin to my Rockwell-Beaver 3400 lathe . A solid, suitable way to get into wood turning without breaking the bank.. Such lathes comes up somewhat regularly on Kijiji  but tend to go fast...go figured :-) In the past few months we have been corresponding for a while trying to find that "good deal" to get him into woodturning. A few suitable candidates pops up once in a while but quickly disappeared. This week, I saw this ad for what look like an older Rockwell Beaver lathe but without the tell tale gap bed, such as mine. Comes without a motor, the tool holder (Banjo) has a broken half , but it looks otherwise complete and is said to run smooth. Given that it was priced very cheaply, Cdn $40, and located minutes from my place, I took a chance and snag it for him. I figured even if he does not want it, I could set it up for small turning job (such as pen turning, tool handles etc), and keep my other one...

Today, June the 15th, Rudy turn 2 years old... He is a big boy now...well :-) He had a long day, car rides, with me, with Jean, got to play, and licked :-), the grand kids etc.. The birthday boy I'll just stay there and play with my bone That would taste better with ice cream dad... Its kind of chewy, but it is not refreshing enough... Oh, is that cake and ice cream for me??? Oh yeah, you know I want it.... In his short life with us, he has helped me a lot. I now realized that he was as much for me than for Heather, she knew me too well :-) He has adapted well to his new mommy, to say that he adore Jean would be an understatement... I trust he is a good judge of character so Jean is a keeper :-) For a small dog he can sure let his presence in bed known ... Bob and Jean,  wishing Rudy, a happy birthday

My girlfriend Jean, drive a school bus, today she had a school trip to make to Ross Farm museum , so I joined her for a short while. No, that is not the bus she drive :-) But the kids are from her bus ... I have known about this museum for many years, but somehow never got around to visit. When you talk about rural way of life years ago, you know there is going to be a blacksmith, a cooper and other trade of interest, even a working saw mill :-) A stave and shingle mill It did not disappoint, the trades I mentioned were well represented by re-enactors that really know their stuff, it was quite pleasant to discuss some of the old ways of working wood and see it in action. The pile at the mill entrance This machine apparently cut the half round covers for the dry goods barrels. Two half makes a cover. Not the final products but the left over pieces This strange looking saw apparatus, cuts a concave back on the staves A cooper jointer, to size and refine the edges prior to fitting the sta...