Rust Hunting in Georgia - April 16, 2011

As indicated in my previous post - I've been fairly busy with some varying projects around the house - (see this link to view my current "digging" project in another blog post) actually too busy to do much towards my Unisaw and also too busy to go to many local tag/garage/yard sales. I did see a post on the local CL for a Dake arbor press and managed to be the first caller. In the description it was called a "1 1/2 ton ratchet press" - since I don't own one in that range it would fill a need to I justified the cost of $75 even though I'm currently unemployed. I went to meet the owner of said press - turns out it came from her aunt's estate. Looking it over it sure seemed large for a 1 1/2 ton unit - it's also missing the arbor table plate (disc at the bottom that allows for different sized shafts) so I pointed that out and offered $50 which she accepted.

On the back of a small HF float

Dake Arbor Press No 1 1/2

Top View

As you can sort of tell by the size, it's rather large - I believer it weighs in excess of 100# and was made in Grand Haven, MI in the good ole USA.

I did a bit of research and it turns out the Dake No 1 1/2 is actually a 3 ton unit. The current version (which there are about 18 different models available, all with various configurations) sells in excess of $1000 new (saw the same model on eBay without the lever arm for $500) so I was quite lucky buying this one so cheaply. I currently own a Chinese 3 ton so this will replace that unit (may see if the plate will fit on the Dake). I think I can completely recover what I spent in selling the Chinese without the plate so that's the plan. This Dake model works like a dream - the ratchet allows you to advance with the arm in any position. In all a good day of rust hunting...

-- John

Unisaw - Quick Mid-April Update

Only had a few moments to work on the saw during the last week or two - I did begin some sub-assemblies (front trunnion bracket) and painted the second coat on a few parts (feet, cranks, blade dust shield). I've been messing with a couple of magnetic starters to use on the saw - these are all three phase so I'll be converting for use as single phase 220. So far I've collected an old Allen Bradley, a Cutler Hammer and I may be purchasing a Square D just to make things interesting. More photos to come.

As usual, all the other stuff I do has been interfering - I've also been working on a bird house (my woodworking club is having a little contest this morning during our regular Saturday meeting) and the yard. My current project is to dig out the space beneath the rear deck (by hand I might add - shovel load at a time), then wheelbarrow the dirt out to various areas in the yard that need filling (we've lost so many trees that there are somewhat dangerous holes all over my wooded lot). I also moved 8 tons of dirt (by hand once again) out at the rental property (thanks to my friend Allen who took pity on me and helped move about half of it) to back-fill the rear drain after the water-proofers were done coating the wall.

-- John

Rust Hunting in Georgia - April 4, 2011

On my way to the local Home Depot I saw a sign for a Moving Sale - stopped by and the older gentleman, who was a retired electrician had a few bits and parts for sale in mixed boxes scattered about the driveway, as well as the furniture inside his home. I spotted a couple of things including two rusty Union marked chisels (one with a handle, the other without), a Proto Tools "Challenger" 9/16" wrench, a small brass wire brush, a 20A orange receptacle and a handful of replacement cord ends (male and female) in both 120V and 220V. I got the small pile for $2.

I hit each chisel with a wire brush for a couple of minutes - there's some pitting but  these will make fine user tools - I've already added a handle (that fit the first try) to the mortise chisel.

I'm not sure if you can see the marks clearly, but Union is full marked on the paring chisel and half marked on the mortise chisel. As Union supplied many electrical tools I'm guessing the guy bought them as part of a set at some point for a job or something. He had some other chisels but they were well used and not much worth saving.

I worked around the house and at our rental property over the weekend so I wasn't able to hit any other sales - I did score pretty well during the week so I think things balance out nicely in any case.

-- John