Garage Hangout

Went for a drive in the country, saw this and immediately thought of Muddy...

It's an excellent addition to have, and I highly recommend..

I look at Pexto as a better piece of equipment compared to Tennsmith.. But I see Tennsmith purchased Pexto a few years back. I can only hope that will add to the overall quality.   

Living in the boonies OldCarGuy's retirement complex has both a well and septic system.. Despite the substantial initial investment and modest ongoing upkeep, it's has realized significant cost savings overall. There's no government oversight other than at time of installation. It's always been the property owner's responsibility to keep everything in shape. The septic system can safely be pumped every 5 to 7 years. Based on its' size number in household. Though I have it preformed every other year.

The two tank covers are below the ground that need to be dug out. Then repairing the lawn damage. Saving those steps, I decided to install two risers at my cost $350.00. Dig out the tank covers, apply sealant on top of tank and between the riser sections. Back-fill, add some topsoil and plant grass.. easy-peasy...





Let the Green Grass grow around.

 

That's some good stuff you have there, OCG. In 2011 I was able to but a 36" Pexto shear and a few months later a Tennsmith break like yours. Both in excellent condition.  I got them both incredibly cheap.

85F would be a hot day in summer here. When I lived in Gisborne, on the east coast, it regularly got to 95.

Two years ago I traded two surplus machines that been gathering dust in one of my garages for some sheet metal equipment. Tennsmith 48" 16 Gage Box & Pan Brake and a 52" 16 gage Foot Shear... I was first introduced to Tennsmith equipment over sixty years ago. My Father-in-Law had purchased the same model brake. That I had access to until his passing. I didn't have the foresight to purchase it back then. Rather I relied on others to use their equipment. And always yearned to own the pair. But always fell short of purchasing them. At my age I have to wonder does it make good sense? I've spent many years improvising by using power saws to cut the sheets. And clamping the sheet metal between an I-Beam and my big solid steel bench to form a bend. Or use my shaper's 16" vise. Tennsmith is by far not the best equipment out their. But beats most imported Chinese equipment that's flooding the market today. Plus Tennsmith continues to be manufactured in Tennessee for nearly 100 years...

The shear weighs in just under 1,400 pounds, while the brake weights 650 pounds. I don't have an open area needed to operate either one. Plus they're difficult to move. I decided to install four casters on each. So they can be stored off to the side and easily pulled out for use...

A piece of 3"x3"x1/4" angles was bolted to the bottom legs. And four 1 3/4" dia steel stock that can be cranked down for better stabilization when in use...





Same setup on the 12 gage 52" shear.


While white paint was out, I repainted the stomp pedal...

For certain Lufkin always makes top tier precision measuring instruments. Along with all USA made micrometers have that butter-smooth feel spindle. Some foreign brands like Mitutoyo and Flower fall into that category as well..

My first precision tool was a Lufkin 1" micrometer, that I purchased 65 years ago. It rests in my tool box drawer in the original box. Along with my father's lufkin 1" and Brown & Sharp 1" mics. A set of Mitutoyo 1", 2", 3" mics. And a Starrett 1/2" that I snagged over the years...




Set of Mitutoyo 0 to 6" and 6" to 12". All carbide tipped.



My set 0" to 6" Fowler carbide tip micrometers in a mahogany Starrett case no less... 




Then there's this Dasgua Digital 1" to 2" micrometer that a friend gave me when I was machining some parts form his 1910 Locomobile. Must have felt I couldn't hold the tolerance with one of mine...  Digital is fine, but I'm more comfortable using my old-school analog micrometers... 

I have been eye balling those for some time and am familiar with the PEC brand myself.

Note to self, gotta get one of those! Thanks for the reminder fellas, be a very handy little inexpensive addition!

You bet they they did. The quality of Lufkin precision measuring tools was equal to Starrett during their entire run and did not drop off at any point. The price point OCG bought his disk mics at was exceptional. Disk mics can routinely be found on ebay but at higher prices since they are specialized in application.

Lufkin sold off their precision tool division to Pratt Whitney in the 1960's and they continued producing the Lufkin line with the only change being the Pratt Whitney name replacing the Lufkin name for a few discontinuing the entire line.

Today, well preserved examples of Pratt Whitney precision measuring tools like outside mics in original boxes show up on ebay at greatly inflated prices.I have no clue if people pay these stupid high prices for them or not. Three times I lucked out and bought Pratt Whitney outside mics in various sizes in like new condition in like new boxes for very cheap prices.

OCG made a very enviable purchase in my opinion at a great price point of high quality instruments that always feel like an old friend in the hand and usually buttery smooth and dead nuts accurate in use.

Wow I never knew Lufkin made precision instruments.