On a side note Keith, I bought a vise just like that from a biker 50 years ago. He had welded a 3/4” drive socket on the end and used a 3/4” ratchet to adjust the vise. I bought it for $15 and have used it ever since as my bench vise. It’s so heavy I’ve never bolted down to the bench. I’ve always wondered what machine it originally came off. And now after 50 years you finally provided the answer! Thank you! 🙏🏻
I served my engineering apprenticeship with a company called Brown & Green here in the UK which produced commercial laundry presses and equipment. The huge cast iron bases of the presses were produced in the foundry next to the machine shop and many dozens were stacked outside the buildings for several years to weather. The machine shop had 4/5 (nearly 60 years ago now) large planers in a row which machined these large bases and were all driven by an overhead line shaft. My enduring memory would be the slapping noise from all the belts as the bed went backwards and forwards. In those days several of the workers run their own little side lines. One planer operator was the man to go to if you wanted cigarettes and snacks, and one of the fitters often disappeared to collect a fare for his taxi business. Great days.
Back when Abom79 was working more with his shaper he tried some different tools and found a particular tool that produced an amazing finish. One of the main things with it was that he honed in the cutting edge while in the holder, making use of the clapper box to get a back rake. There are also special tool holders with a geometry that prevents the tool from digging in too much, making it more stable. Anyway, it's already looking pretty great. Could propably use it to refurbish smaller lathe beds etc. Saw videos of people in india casting lathe beds in molds buried in the ground and then machining the ways on a planer like this one with really crude looking tools, but the result looked pretty good.
There's a gentleman on RUclips who does just that, I've seen 4 or 5 videos of him planing the beds of Southbend 9" lathes with great success. I unfortunately don't remember his channel name (very small channel) but searching for something like "Planing Southbend lathe bed" will probably turn him up
Keith, when the bed returns have the mechanism hit an air valve that activates an air cylinder that pushes out the clapper box. Also, the air can blow through a nozzle onto the work blowing the chips away at the same time. As long as the bed is returning the air will activate and solve the problem.
Or just a wiper mounted behind the cutting head. Going forward it does nothing since the tool is engaged, backwards it drags instead of the tool and wipes the chips away. Love to see old gear put to use. Lovely bit of ancient tech that's still useful.
@@rrsteamer Not if the tool is properly ground. The idea is that going forward the cutting edge does it's work, then on the return the tool should be touching well behind the cutting edge. Same method that a shaper uses.
There's a planer exactly like this one in the sugar mill of the Gay & Robinson Sugar Plantation on the island of Kauai. It still works, although the sugar operations closed in 2009. It was used to cut the brass bearing halves to fit within the supporting chairs for the mill rolls. I was mesmerized by the belts and operating mechanism whenever it was in use. Aloha!
Nice job getting that old machine working again . If you mount a Bridgeport head to the tool mount and slow the feed way down with a variable speed motor drive then you will have a machine that can do milling work on a large scale . Josh Topper has one in his shop .
It is exceptional to see someone recreate a long-lost knowledge base for how to use this machine, with these tools. For those new to this channel, Keith has a great set of videos where he is restoring this machine-also very impressive!
I really enjoyed this series. I have as small hand cranked planer with 40" stroke, and would hate to be without it. In a small workshop it is ideal even though slow.
Check out the older Machinery’s Handbook foot cutting tool shapes. Roughing was done with tool that you have. For flat finishing, a broad flat edge cutting tool was generally used. Scraping by hand followed. With the flat edge a relatively flat surface can be machined with a very corse feed. The original surface of the platten or table would have shown this type of feed. You’ve done a nice job of rebuild. Be sure you show oiling all the points needed to be oiled, as most folks don’t realize how much lubrication is required.
Back then, New Haven was a well known manufacturer. Several of my old machinery books have etchings of New Haven equipment. They were an innovative company back then.
I LOVE seeing old tech that worked being brought back to life to do their jobs again. I fix old film cameras for that very reason. And I've even begun making them. So cool to refurbish and modify 'useful toys'.
My grandfather was a machinist for the NYNH&H railroad in the early 20th century. My imagination let’s me see him operate these types of machines thanks to your videos 🙏
It was enjoyable to watch an old work horse machine work and produce decent quality parts compared to today's standards. Another great video Keith! Thanks for sharing.
Sometime during the 1960's a friend of mine worked at a machine job shop which made o-ring molds which were 2 plates about 1" x 24" x 24" . The rough p late was machined flat on 1 of 2 planers which were twins to yours. They were mounted on very short legs , probably to simplify handling of the plates.
Diamond hone your tool with a 1000 grit stone. Add about 2* more rake. Add a small fan to blow the chips free as it scrapes. Increase your speed about 10-15%. Try it & see what it does & let me know if it's what you want or tell me to crawl back in my hole with my own planer. Good Luck!
That is a lovely machine Keith, and you can see that it has been restored with a lot of love. Perhaps these old ones can compeed with the new machines, but it is like the youngsters have the power and the speed, but grandpa has the wisdom… Thanks for chairing this experience with us, and a special thanks for keeping these old-timers running, to many of them have gone to the scrap heap sad enough.
Loved watching this machine come back to life in the restoration series. Very cool you release this video and start using this planer now. Just an hour west of me is a machine of the same form factor, different manufacturer.
The cutting tool dragging on the surface during the back stroke isn't really a problem. Because the machine is feeding at the end of the cutting stroke, the tool will drag on the not yet surface. So it won't leave any marks.
Our largest planer mills did up to 16 feet long. We planed Vee and Flat ways on Jig Grinder bases. They were dismantled and removed in the early 2000's.
Keith, about this planer, you should look at some of David Richards videos, he has a steam powered machine shop and the music from all those belts... As someone who isn't a machinist, old steam powered machines have always been my interest over electric powered. However, since times have changed, I do agree with you adding that electric motor to your planer. But, nothing will beat the old steam powered in my opinion. I know many today prefer speed but, I'm an old school type of person and sometimes, slow is the better way to go. I've seen what high power and sped up work can do, I've also seen the carnage that happens and the cost of said failure vs the old tried and true machines of old. Thanks for sharing, great video as always, cheers :)
I've been in a museum that had a big room full of textile machinery all run from an overhead line shaft. Incredibly noisy. Very satisfying to watch these huge industrial looms and yarn spinning machines creeping back and forth along their tracks.
Hah! As to horizontal surfaces, it's not just in shops! This is a continuous (44 years and counting) discussion with my wife! Love the old machines. Fwiw, Abom79 has many episodes on his big shaper that has a similar clapper box. He talks about how the angle of the clapper pivot is super important so that the tool holder swings itself out of the way on the back stroke. If you get it backward, the tool digs in and ruins things. He also points out that when you look at the setup, the correct angle tends to look counter-intuitive - like it should be thee other way. I _think_ yours is right. He dinked around with cutter grinds for a long time to get nice finishes. He uses - as you did - a specially ground shear tool and light cuts for the final passes. He hones the tool _after_ it's in the machine by putting a precision stone on the table.
Steve Watkins, who has appeared on Windy Hill Foundry channel, has done a lot of videos on planing straight edges. I seem to recall him putting a bevel on that trailing edge to prevent to cut tearing out that back side. Thanks for the video.
It's a toy, but it's a toy that brings us joy, as you are good enough to film yourself playing with it! Seems like that tool geometry is critical, but sometimes the chips were rolling off like chocolate :)
When I was a Kid I had job sweeping up at a Machine Shop. There was a Giant Lathe in the shop. That thing scared me to Death. Somebody put up a sign saying - This Machine does not like STUPID PEOPLE. The planer gives me the same vibe
They way he kept sticking his fingers on that workpiece while it was cutting was enough for me to stop watching and come to the comment section . There's a reason that MANY machinists , tool and die makers , carpenters , etc do not have all of their digits . You just watched one of them in real life video . He also likes to play around moving belts and pulleys . Scary stuff indeed .
Hi Keith It is great to see the planer in action cutting chips! As you have got straight cut gears, I’m not surprised there is a bit of chatter, but the surface finish looks really good. The main thing is a flat surface finish. I don’t think you will see any of the chatter once you have scraped it in.
CNC planers are used heavily in China where I live. They are used for fabricating sheet metal. They are able to cut long straight v Grooves so that the sheet metal can be folded into moldings and similar. The groove allows a crisp small radius bend. Super common here.
I'm impressed that you were able to get this machine restored to (better than?) new condition instead of scrapping it. I know you explained that it's sort of a "toy" for you, but I wouldn't be surprised if you found some other way to modify it and further extend its useful life. Perhaps a rotary tool head or grinding attachment? Keep up the good work!
Get a small magnet and strip of leather and stick it on the back of the tool holder. As the machine travels back over the work it will catch the leather and protect the work piece. Can't remember where I heard of this technique but it was the poor mans tool lifter.
That is such simple idea to lift the tool that might have been done back in days when these machines were in use . The leather trailing behind the tool and then falling off the work piece before the tool returned and pushing the tool of the work on the return stroke , probably the leather would wear off and have to be adjusted down some every so often to keep it working .
Excellent video Keith. It looks like you need to coat the bed and vise with oil. Rust?? I would recommend wiping it down with kerosene and not simple green purple. Water is a bad thing. It’s good to see the old machines working.
In the middle of watching the planer restoration series, I happened to watch a bit of drone footage over an abandoned facility in (I think) remote Argentina… roof had gone, and in the middle of the shop was the same model planer.
I can relate to the "Probably should have scrapped it" comment! Not because I think it should have been scrapped, but because I've done the same thing! Many years ago I "rescued" a car that was going to the crusher the next day if my friend didn't get it out of his parent's driveway. I paid him $100.00 for it. 1971 Camaro, half missing (no engine or transmission, etc.). Over 25 years I collected parts and "Restomodded" it and wound up with a NICE street rod! To me it wasn't about the "finished" project, but the journey along the way! I've been following this project from the beginning BTW!
My old Klopp shaper had a tool lifter. It was driven by an automotive type choke cable that was pulled on the return stroke by some sort of friction mechanism on the ways.
Thank you Keith.. I really enjoy watching the old machines in action.. to me there is a bit of a disconnect when a computer is controlling everything (not that I'm against modern technology).. with this machine and the others like her there is a real craftsman, like yourself guiding the work and that's just a great thing to watch.
a simple way to patent an automatic clapper lift on the reverse stroke is to use the pneumatic in your shop, a cam activated pneumatic valve and a Bimba or alike throw away pneumatic cylinder, you use the belt shift mechanism to trigger the pheumatic valve and the pneumatic cylinder to lift the clapper on the return stroke. There is many ways to engineer the support brackets for the valve, the cylinder and the lift le block ) but in any ways, this can stay very simple add on. One thing I observed is that the feed distances seems to be very agressive, this can explain the shattering you observe on the finished surface on the machined part. very interesting machine very interesting video.
Great to see such an old machine have life breathed back into it. It may not be top of the line, but it gets the job done for what you need it to do. Love to see it!
Hello Keith, Love this video. I have a SB &" Shaper. finding the right tool for the best surface is a challenge, at least on my shaper. I would suggest some diamond lapping disks to sharpen the edge. It worked on my cutters (mostly HSS). I'm looking forward the project that will be cut down to size with this planer. KOKO!
Here's a mad idea - make an adaptor to allow you to fit your toolpost grinder instead of the clapper box. Now you've got yourself a belt-driven surface grinder!
I never get tired of watching machines from the preewar era being used. I think once you figure out how to cut the tool, you're gonna get a great finish.
Even though your belts are not exposed to the outside elements, those McMaster-Carr belts will tend to glaze and may slip. Some on hand belt dressing would mitigate frustration if they did. Some of the spray can type available for v-belts work but my preference is the old Cling-Surface brand. Don't think its available anymore but if you have or can find some NOS somewhere it'll solve the slip problem.
Mesmerisingly beautiful machine, but indeed too slow to keep up with modern ones. But just to watch it raised my admiration for the mechanical engineers who invented it. A clapper lift would indeed come in handy.
CARBIDE WOULD BE BETTER FOR CAST IRON DUE TO THE AVRASIVE NATRUE OF CASE IRON. GOOD TO SEE THE OLD MACHINE WORKING. STILL USEFUL TO MAKE A FLAT SURFACE ON A LARGE SURFACE.
To think that the Civil War was mid 1800's and then the tales of cowboys and Indians, Custer's Last Stand, and a handful of years later someone is operating a machine like yours and producing items improving America. We need manufacturing brought back into this country and we need it now. Vote early and take ten people with you.
Steve Watkins has a hydraulic planer on a scale like yours. I think he said it takes 60 gallons of hydraulic oil to fill the system. He uses his planer to machine big straightedges, like 5 or 6 feet long. And the surface finish comes out really beautiful.
I was about to mention Steve’s big planer. He grinds a small chamfer on the leading and trailing edges of the part he’s planing to keep them from fracturing. It’s been a while since he’s used it.
Just like @genesun71 said, try using less top rake on your tools for cast. Either flat top or even slight negative rake. Chamfer the trailing edge of your casting where the cutter exits using a file, helps to prevent busting out the edge.
Keith, I'm a big fan of your videos, and very appreciative of the effort you're putting in to maintain such a steady release schedule. If I could offer one minor suggestion - I'm finding that the audio volume switches up and down quite a bit in your recent videos, and I'm having to adjust the listening volume multiple times per video. Maybe this has to do with you using different microphones for different shots? In any case, I believe that Volume Normalization is a common feature in many video editors, which can be used to ensure more consistent volume, especially when combining different clips. Not a complaint - just a suggestion. Thanks again for your content!
The best part about planer content is watching Keith struggle to hide his smile the whole time.
On a side note Keith, I bought a vise just like that from a biker 50 years ago. He had welded a 3/4” drive socket on the end and used a 3/4” ratchet to adjust the vise. I bought it for $15 and have used it ever since as my bench vise. It’s so heavy I’ve never bolted down to the bench. I’ve always wondered what machine it originally came off. And now after 50 years you finally provided the answer! Thank you! 🙏🏻
This series was one of my favourites you've ever done, very glad to see the planer will be doing work again!
Man, I just love all the sounds that thing makes while running! Straight cut cogs, ratchets, flat belts... What a symphony! :)
There's something beautiful about watching such an old machine doing its job.
Good to see the old girl doing what she was designed to do.
I served my engineering apprenticeship with a company called Brown & Green here in the UK which produced commercial laundry presses and equipment. The huge cast iron bases of the presses were produced in the foundry next to the machine shop and many dozens were stacked outside the buildings for several years to weather. The machine shop had 4/5 (nearly 60 years ago now) large planers in a row which machined these large bases and were all driven by an overhead line shaft. My enduring memory would be the slapping noise from all the belts as the bed went backwards and forwards.
In those days several of the workers run their own little side lines. One planer operator was the man to go to if you wanted cigarettes and snacks, and one of the fitters often disappeared to collect a fare for his taxi business. Great days.
Ditto ... I served my time with ICI Nobel division Ardeer .... the myriad of machine tools was mind boggling... cheers
This is why we watch your channel. More of these oldies.
Back when Abom79 was working more with his shaper he tried some different tools and found a particular tool that produced an amazing finish. One of the main things with it was that he honed in the cutting edge while in the holder, making use of the clapper box to get a back rake. There are also special tool holders with a geometry that prevents the tool from digging in too much, making it more stable.
Anyway, it's already looking pretty great. Could propably use it to refurbish smaller lathe beds etc. Saw videos of people in india casting lathe beds in molds buried in the ground and then machining the ways on a planer like this one with really crude looking tools, but the result looked pretty good.
yes - he put the stone on the workpiece sometimes...
There's a gentleman on RUclips who does just that, I've seen 4 or 5 videos of him planing the beds of Southbend 9" lathes with great success. I unfortunately don't remember his channel name (very small channel) but searching for something like "Planing Southbend lathe bed" will probably turn him up
Keith, when the bed returns have the mechanism hit an air valve that activates an air cylinder that pushes out the clapper box. Also, the air can blow through a nozzle onto the work blowing the chips away at the same time. As long as the bed is returning the air will activate and solve the problem.
this is a smart idea
Or just a wiper mounted behind the cutting head. Going forward it does nothing since the tool is engaged, backwards it drags instead of the tool and wipes the chips away. Love to see old gear put to use. Lovely bit of ancient tech that's still useful.
There is nothing wrong with dragging the tool back over the workpiece on the back stroke.
Except for wear of the cutting tool edge.
@@rrsteamer Not if the tool is properly ground. The idea is that going forward the cutting edge does it's work, then on the return the tool should be touching well behind the cutting edge. Same method that a shaper uses.
There's a planer exactly like this one in the sugar mill of the Gay & Robinson Sugar Plantation on the island of Kauai. It still works, although the sugar operations closed in 2009. It was used to cut the brass bearing halves to fit within the supporting chairs for the mill rolls. I was mesmerized by the belts and operating mechanism whenever it was in use. Aloha!
Nice job getting that old machine working again .
If you mount a Bridgeport head to the tool mount and slow the feed way down with a variable speed motor drive then you will have a machine that can do milling work on a large scale .
Josh Topper has one in his shop .
It is exceptional to see someone recreate a long-lost knowledge base for how to use this machine, with these tools. For those new to this channel, Keith has a great set of videos where he is restoring this machine-also very impressive!
Can't wait to see you do a long straigt edge and check it on the surface plate to see how it is cutting. 🙂
I really enjoyed this series. I have as small hand cranked planer with 40" stroke, and would hate to be without it. In a small workshop it is ideal even though slow.
I remember you hand scraping that old girl!
glad she will finally be seeing some use :)
doing what she was built for!
This restoration was how I found Keith’s channel. Awesome machine.
It's great to see it finally working. It is mind boggling how much work you have put into that planer.
I love those old indestructible machines! The pure mechanics of them is amazing and interesting. Please use it whenever you can, so enjoyable!
Check out the older Machinery’s Handbook foot cutting tool shapes. Roughing was done with tool that you have. For flat finishing, a broad flat edge cutting tool was generally used. Scraping by hand followed. With the flat edge a relatively flat surface can be machined with a very corse feed. The original surface of the platten or table would have shown this type of feed. You’ve done a nice job of rebuild. Be sure you show oiling all the points needed to be oiled, as most folks don’t realize how much lubrication is required.
So glad to see the planer! I learned a lot from your restoration videos.
This is the machine I started watching your channel for. Glad to see you dusting it off
Back then, New Haven was a well known manufacturer. Several of my old machinery books have etchings of New Haven equipment. They were an innovative company back then.
After watching the whole restoration, it was nice to finally watch that antique make some chips again.
I LOVE seeing old tech that worked being brought back to life to do their jobs again. I fix old film cameras for that very reason. And I've even begun making them. So cool to refurbish and modify 'useful toys'.
A man, a shop, passion, retirement. Stay healthy, Keith.
My grandfather was a machinist for the NYNH&H railroad in the early 20th century. My imagination let’s me see him operate these types of machines thanks to your videos 🙏
It was enjoyable to watch an old work horse machine work and produce decent quality parts compared to today's standards. Another great video Keith! Thanks for sharing.
Sometime during the 1960's a friend of mine worked at a machine job shop which made o-ring molds which were 2 plates about 1" x 24" x 24" . The rough p late was machined flat on 1 of 2 planers which were twins to yours. They were mounted on very short legs , probably to simplify handling of the plates.
Diamond hone your tool with a 1000 grit stone. Add about 2* more rake. Add a small fan to blow the chips free as it scrapes. Increase your speed about 10-15%. Try it & see what it does & let me know if it's what you want or tell me to crawl back in my hole with my own planer. Good Luck!
That is a lovely machine Keith, and you can see that it has been restored with a lot of love.
Perhaps these old ones can compeed with the new machines, but it is like the youngsters have the power and the speed, but grandpa has the wisdom…
Thanks for chairing this experience with us, and a special thanks for keeping these old-timers running, to many of them have gone to the scrap heap sad enough.
"but it is like the youngsters have the power and the speed, but grandpa has the wisdom…" Lovely comment.
Good way to start my Monday! Coffee and Keith! Thanks.
Loved watching this machine come back to life in the restoration series. Very cool you release this video and start using this planer now. Just an hour west of me is a machine of the same form factor, different manufacturer.
Nice work Keith.
I like seeing these old machines run.
It does a fine job.
Thanks for sharing. 👍 🇺🇸👍
Love to see that table sliding back and forth!!👍👍
Hypnotic 😵💫😵💫😵💫😵💫
What a mechanical marvel from the 19th Century.
Great to see it working.
Regards
Robert
Lovely to watch. My Machinery Handbook (1937) recommends 4 - 5 degree rake on cutting edge - half the 8 - 10 on turning tools.
What a great piece to see working once again. Keith ! I just love your toy shop !
The cutting tool dragging on the surface during the back stroke isn't really a problem. Because the machine is feeding at the end of the cutting stroke, the tool will drag on the not yet surface. So it won't leave any marks.
Beautiful machine!
Our largest planer mills did up to 16 feet long. We planed Vee and Flat ways on Jig Grinder bases. They were dismantled and removed in the early 2000's.
Topper has one that's a bit bigger, he installed a bridgeport head on it, basically made a long traverse mill, pretty cool setup
Keith, about this planer, you should look at some of David Richards videos, he has a steam powered machine shop and the music from all those belts... As someone who isn't a machinist, old steam powered machines have always been my interest over electric powered. However, since times have changed, I do agree with you adding that electric motor to your planer. But, nothing will beat the old steam powered in my opinion. I know many today prefer speed but, I'm an old school type of person and sometimes, slow is the better way to go. I've seen what high power and sped up work can do, I've also seen the carnage that happens and the cost of said failure vs the old tried and true machines of old. Thanks for sharing, great video as always, cheers :)
Can you imagine the noise volume in a production shop filled with old machines like this?!!
I've been in a museum that had a big room full of textile machinery all run from an overhead line shaft. Incredibly noisy. Very satisfying to watch these huge industrial looms and yarn spinning machines creeping back and forth along their tracks.
"WHAT???"
Wow Keith, that was an absolute blast from the past watching you play and having fun. Thanks!
Hah! As to horizontal surfaces, it's not just in shops! This is a continuous (44 years and counting) discussion with my wife! Love the old machines. Fwiw, Abom79 has many episodes on his big shaper that has a similar clapper box. He talks about how the angle of the clapper pivot is super important so that the tool holder swings itself out of the way on the back stroke. If you get it backward, the tool digs in and ruins things. He also points out that when you look at the setup, the correct angle tends to look counter-intuitive - like it should be thee other way. I _think_ yours is right. He dinked around with cutter grinds for a long time to get nice finishes. He uses - as you did - a specially ground shear tool and light cuts for the final passes. He hones the tool _after_ it's in the machine by putting a precision stone on the table.
Thanks Keith for the video. It good to see the old lady working again. See you Wednesday.
Steve Watkins, who has appeared on Windy Hill Foundry channel, has done a lot of videos on planing straight edges. I seem to recall him putting a bevel on that trailing edge to prevent to cut tearing out that back side. Thanks for the video.
Nice to see the old iron at work!
It's a toy, but it's a toy that brings us joy, as you are good enough to film yourself playing with it! Seems like that tool geometry is critical, but sometimes the chips were rolling off like chocolate :)
I love watching that old machine running 🎉
When I was a Kid I had job sweeping up at a Machine Shop. There was a Giant Lathe in the shop. That thing scared me to Death.
Somebody put up a sign saying - This Machine does not like STUPID PEOPLE. The planer gives me the same vibe
They way he kept sticking his fingers on that workpiece while it was cutting was enough for me to stop watching and come to the comment section . There's a reason that MANY machinists , tool and die makers , carpenters , etc do not have all of their digits . You just watched one of them in real life video . He also likes to play around moving belts and pulleys . Scary stuff indeed .
I've been waiting on the continued saga on this machine. Just the way it swaps direction is great. Right on 👍🏻
That is so cool.. I wish I could find one of those.. I could use the daylights out of it..
been nice to have seen you pushing big chips and give us a complete run without any lifting arm to see finish.
Hi Keith
It is great to see the planer in action cutting chips!
As you have got straight cut gears, I’m not surprised there is a bit of chatter, but the surface finish looks really good. The main thing is a flat surface finish.
I don’t think you will see any of the chatter once you have scraped it in.
You could always machine a helical cut rack and pinion to take the chatter out provided you maintain a constant mesh!
CNC planers are used heavily in China where I live. They are used for fabricating sheet metal. They are able to cut long straight v Grooves so that the sheet metal can be folded into moldings and similar. The groove allows a crisp small radius bend. Super common here.
Planers?
I'm impressed that you were able to get this machine restored to (better than?) new condition instead of scrapping it. I know you explained that it's sort of a "toy" for you, but I wouldn't be surprised if you found some other way to modify it and further extend its useful life. Perhaps a rotary tool head or grinding attachment? Keep up the good work!
I use pledge on my table saw and machinery tables, saves from the dust sticking.
Get a small magnet and strip of leather and stick it on the back of the tool holder. As the machine travels back over the work it will catch the leather and protect the work piece. Can't remember where I heard of this technique but it was the poor mans tool lifter.
That is such simple idea to lift the tool that might have been done back in days when these machines were in use .
The leather trailing behind the tool and then falling off the work piece before the tool returned and pushing the tool of the work on the return stroke , probably the leather would wear off and have to be adjusted down some every so often to keep it working .
Excellent video Keith.
It looks like you need to coat the bed and vise with oil. Rust??
I would recommend wiping it down with kerosene and not simple green purple.
Water is a bad thing.
It’s good to see the old machines working.
Water based de greaser / cleaner will cause rust and some of the stronger types will remove paint too , I have seen that happen .
That machine predates safety. I love it.
nice to see that in use, can't wait to see the intended job.
In the middle of watching the planer restoration series, I happened to watch a bit of drone footage over an abandoned facility in (I think) remote Argentina… roof had gone, and in the middle of the shop was the same model planer.
I can relate to the "Probably should have scrapped it" comment! Not because I think it should have been scrapped, but because I've done the same thing! Many years ago I "rescued" a car that was going to the crusher the next day if my friend didn't get it out of his parent's driveway. I paid him $100.00 for it. 1971 Camaro, half missing (no engine or transmission, etc.). Over 25 years I collected parts and "Restomodded" it and wound up with a NICE street rod! To me it wasn't about the "finished" project, but the journey along the way!
I've been following this project from the beginning BTW!
What a beauty of a machine.
A fine history lesson !!!
Nice to see an old machine still in service.🙂🙂
Keith I was wondering if I would ever see that old war horse again. Amazing machine just love it.
Fine business. Thanks for the video of the process
My old Klopp shaper had a tool lifter. It was driven by an automotive type choke cable that was pulled on the return stroke by some sort of friction mechanism on the ways.
Blue it up, lets see how flat it is :)
Cool to see this making chips!
Thank you Keith.. I really enjoy watching the old machines in action.. to me there is a bit of a disconnect when a computer is controlling everything (not that I'm against modern technology).. with this machine and the others like her there is a real craftsman, like yourself guiding the work and that's just a great thing to watch.
a simple way to patent an automatic clapper lift on the reverse stroke is to use the pneumatic in your shop, a cam activated pneumatic valve and a Bimba or alike throw away pneumatic cylinder, you use the belt shift mechanism to trigger the pheumatic valve and the pneumatic cylinder to lift the clapper on the return stroke.
There is many ways to engineer the support brackets for the valve, the cylinder and the lift le block ) but in any ways, this can stay very simple add on.
One thing I observed is that the feed distances seems to be very agressive, this can explain the shattering you observe on the finished surface on the machined part.
very interesting machine
very interesting video.
What an awesome machine.
Amazing accuracy from something over 100 years old.
Great to see such an old machine have life breathed back into it. It may not be top of the line, but it gets the job done for what you need it to do. Love to see it!
All toys are useful just some more than others 🙂
I love the sound it makes. I'd like to see the straightedge blued up on the surface plate to see how flat it's coming off the machine.
Great to see the planar in action after watching the restoration videos.
Planer?
Thank you Keith!
Thanks Keith
Hello Keith, Love this video. I have a SB &" Shaper. finding the right tool for the best surface is a challenge, at least on my shaper. I would suggest some diamond lapping disks to sharpen the edge. It worked on my cutters (mostly HSS). I'm looking forward the project that will be cut down to size with this planer. KOKO!
Here's a mad idea - make an adaptor to allow you to fit your toolpost grinder instead of the clapper box. Now you've got yourself a belt-driven surface grinder!
Just be aware of the grinder dust going everywhere and getting on the ways , that would be bad .
Cool old machine.
I've been waiting for this for years!!
There’s always a place in a job shop for these machines.
The planer restoration was years ago?? Seems like just last year. Time flies.
I never get tired of watching machines from the preewar era being used. I think once you figure out how to cut the tool, you're gonna get a great finish.
that is a thing of beauty, watching the belts changing automatically is mesmerizing!
Even though your belts are not exposed to the outside elements, those McMaster-Carr belts will tend to glaze and may slip. Some on hand belt dressing would mitigate frustration if they did. Some of the spray can type available for v-belts work but my preference is the old Cling-Surface brand. Don't think its available anymore but if you have or can find some NOS somewhere it'll solve the slip problem.
Mesmerisingly beautiful machine, but indeed too slow to keep up with modern ones. But just to watch it raised my admiration for the mechanical engineers who invented it. A clapper lift would indeed come in handy.
Great machine. Thanks for taking the time to show the details of how it works.
As you were cleaning and getting ready, I was hoping you would (try to) 🤭grease the countershaft bearings you 'modified' back in episode 55...
Great job.👍
CARBIDE WOULD BE BETTER FOR CAST IRON DUE TO THE AVRASIVE NATRUE OF CASE IRON. GOOD TO SEE THE OLD MACHINE WORKING. STILL USEFUL TO MAKE A FLAT SURFACE ON A LARGE SURFACE.
To think that the Civil War was mid 1800's and then the tales of cowboys and Indians, Custer's Last Stand, and a handful of years later someone is operating a machine like yours and producing items improving America. We need manufacturing brought back into this country and we need it now. Vote early and take ten people with you.
Steve Watkins has a hydraulic planer on a scale like yours. I think he said it takes 60 gallons of hydraulic oil to fill the system. He uses his planer to machine big straightedges, like 5 or 6 feet long. And the surface finish comes out really beautiful.
I was about to mention Steve’s big planer. He grinds a small chamfer on the leading and trailing edges of the part he’s planing to keep them from fracturing. It’s been a while since he’s used it.
Just like @genesun71 said, try using less top rake on your tools for cast. Either flat top or even slight negative rake.
Chamfer the trailing edge of your casting where the cutter exits using a file, helps to prevent busting out the edge.
Keith, I'm a big fan of your videos, and very appreciative of the effort you're putting in to maintain such a steady release schedule. If I could offer one minor suggestion - I'm finding that the audio volume switches up and down quite a bit in your recent videos, and I'm having to adjust the listening volume multiple times per video. Maybe this has to do with you using different microphones for different shots? In any case, I believe that Volume Normalization is a common feature in many video editors, which can be used to ensure more consistent volume, especially when combining different clips.
Not a complaint - just a suggestion. Thanks again for your content!