Plasma Cutter

Last August I had found a used 110V plasma cutter.  I was way excited.  It's definitely not in the budget for a new one, but I have always had an itch for having one.  I have been around welding and metal work as long as I can remember, and really enjoy it.  I didn't have a specific need, or anything set that I wanted to do.  Other than try it out.  And to have when the need/want arose.  So a used plasma had been on my radar for sometime.  A used one at a price that was right.

This is it, this is what I found.  Before I bought it, the seller showed me it worked.  I took it home used it a very little.  Nothing really useful, I cut up a couple soda cans and soup cans,.. Why not??

Well, as I was tinkering and trying to figure it out, I disassembled the torch, and broke the o-ring.  Buying a used tool, I figured I'd have to spend money on consumables sooner rather than later..  No biggie.  I had it sit around for a little bit, and decided I'd ask for parts for my Christmas gift.  Got them in and I was super excited.  I equipped the torch with all new parts, Insulator, o-rings, tip,  electrode etc, yadda yadda...

At this point I'm excited, I've got ideas on what I'm going to make, I've got gifts planned and I'm rearing to go.  It's late and cold in the shop, it's one of those times that all logic tells you its time to put it down and come back to it with a clearer, less foggy sleepy head.  But I'm ready to have it working.  (I can't remember a time in the past where I've continued in a similar situation that it turned out well.. but that didn't stop me)

One thing leads to another, and I have problems and more problems.  At this point I can't figure out why, but nothing is working.  I have tripped the circuit breaker in the garage, and made parts get glowing hot i'm pretty sure shouldn't be.  I'm getting colder and later finally I have to put it away...  

I'm fairly internet savvy, and can normally google or YouTube whatever information I need, but I could never find anything useful for this plasma.  Other than it wasn't made by MAC tools.  I made calls around, asked people..  And didn't really find myself moving forward with this thing.  I started questioning myself for buying it in the first place, and not just doing without or saving, (for a time that would seem like forever).  At this point between the plasma itself and the consumables, there was probably $250 in it.  Which is a good deal, for a working plasma in my opinion, but not so much for a heavy paper weight.

Well..  I was just moving on with things, coming to grips with maybe owning an expensive paperweight, looking and researching here and there asking questions....  I finally rounded up two of my good friends and brought them over to look at it.  Two very mechanically gifted brothers Joe, and Mikey, who seemingly know how to fix everything..  They have a way of tweaking and testing sometimes they don't understand why it works for them but it does....  I had consulted with them separately,  but this time I got them together in front of them in front of it, together... After about an hour or so of the plasma being tested, and diagnosed.  They tested capacitors, rectifiers, resistance of the leads, and all kinds of other things, I wasn't sure of.  The terminology wasn't new, but I didn't understand how they were testing.  If this didn't work, I'd really have very little hope of owning anything more than a paperweight.

Just about when I was losing hope,  Joe asked for a file.  He filed the brand new insulator down just the smallest amount and bingo.  Somehow through his testing, he deduced that there was or wasn't continuity between the tip and guts of the plasma as it should be.  And sure enough, I have a working plasma.  I owe those guys big time.  (I would of never thought that new parts wouldn't work, go figure)

Long story, hope it was interesting to someone.  (I'm sure some of you are bored by now, or skipped reading I'm sorry.)  

Well, I had Christmas presents in mind, missed that, but I made a couple Steel Valentines.  (I've got to practice, but for my first try I'm happy!!!~)

 This saw blade was for my wife Jenn... 

(My son was happy to point out it was just a rusty saw-blade!)

This was a scounged piece of computer case

sheet metal that sat like a desk name tag.

Not pictured:  I made my kids, Charlie and Addie some pocket charm type things.  They are about quarter sized.  Addie got a heart, and Charlie got a cross.  Everyone seemed to really like their gifts.  While I was very happy to play with my new tool.  I'm very thankful for my family and great friends who are gifted in many ways I am not!~

Weekend Update

This weekend's update:

1) I got started on making a couple copper Crosses.  I base them off on online tutorial I have found.  Although my wire is a little stiff to get it to bend fluidly.  It's probably the size of the wire I'm using and the copper material is more rigid than the wire they were using in my example.  I'm thinking of selling some, and giving some away as gifts.  Tell me what you think of them?

2)  Winchester Model 1897

A couple of weekends ago I came across this old shot gun.  Let's just say the price was right...  I am definitely my dad's son...  I saved it from a pile of junk, and a potentially being thrown out.  I got plenty of silly looks seeing a future in the pile of rust.  This weekend my son and I went on a quick journey around town to a few gun shops.  We were greeted with many funny looks, and a few people who didn't belong selling guns.  That's for another time though.  :)  On the way out of the last shop we made a new friend.  Someone who saw the same potential in this gun as I had.  He even offered to buy it, but was also, encouraging us as a  father son restoration project.  I put a little bit of elbow grease into it, and some lubricant, and I think I have everything moving as it should.  As far as I can tell its complete minus one screw and the butt plate.  Updates to come later!!

About my Dear Old Dad ( D.O.D )

Hello everyone welcome to my first blog post.

My D.O.D. at my wedding.  I don't have many digital pictures of him maybe, I'll dig some more up.

About a year ago my dad had passed away.  I've been slowly working my way through his collection of stuff in the garage, house, storage and everything.  He collected all things and didn't really believe in throwing much of anything away.

He was a welder by trade, but would tinker in every aspect imaginable.  At a young age for him he hurt his back, had some back surgeries gone wrong, and was disabled.  This happened at a very early age for me.. I was taking my first steps when he was in the hospital for the first surgery.   Fifty two days he was in there.

That being said I had a stay at home dad.  A dad who would work on cars, do leather work, weld, and eventually found a love for computers.  I spent a lot of time with him, tinkering around and taking stuff apart, changing oil, painting cars..  You name it, I did it with him..  He'd say, "You and me against the world, Lloyd.. You and me.."

I've found myself missing him very much, through this last year..  He'd been in poor health for along time, and this wasn't unexpected by any stretch of the mind.  But I wasn't ready.

Part of my dad being my dad, was he was up for a deal.  He couldn't pass up a deal..  His saying was "If I can't steal it, I don't need it!"  That means a large garage being filled overflowing, storage buildings, and  the house, filled with you name it.  I'm an only child and always dreaded the day, that I'd be cleaning up after my dad.  For many many reasons.  Maybe I'll get into them later.

Well fast forward to the present, and it's not at all like I've imagined it.  It's been in part my therapy.  Cleaning up in the shop, sorting tossing, getting excited about finds and new found space.  I have also found tinkering, and building in his shop to be good for my soul..  I have really enjoyed my new found shop time, and I wanted to share some of my thoughts, and projects with you..

I'll post a few pictures of gifts, I've build in the past couple months for Christmas and Birthday gifts.  Tell me what you think..  I can post about specifics later.

Thanks!~