Rock this joint(er)

I had lamented a few posts back on my inability to obtain some parts for a couple of my old woodworking machines. I had given up trying to track down OEM parts for these old machines, since they just weren't available, and getting something used meant buying a whole machine. I tried a different tack instead as a last resort. Jet Tools makes a 6 inch jointer based on the design of my old Rockwell/Delta. I figured I would try to fit the guard from that new machine onto my old one. I looked up the parts diagram and exploded views and discovered that the mounting means and spring system looked identical in every way to my 40 year old machine. Gambling, I ordered the guard, figuring at most I might have to modify the shaft the guard hinges on. The part was delivered today (yay for FedEx Saturday delivery!), so I unpacked it, went down in the basement and tried it on for size:



It fit, perfect in every possible way, not a single modification necessary. I knew the Jet model was pretty much a copy, but it was dimensionally identical. The original piece was unpainted cast aluminum, this new one was a nicely painted cast part complete with a safety label which looks out of place on a machine born in the days before lawyerly warnings placed on everything. But I think it looks rather snazzy. For reference, here's the machine the new part comes from:



The resemblance is uncanny. This Jet machine gets good reviews everywhere, if it works half as good as the old Rockwell, I can see why. Seeing the machine in up close and personal, they did a good job on it.

I've been trying to track down a usable table setup for the old drill press, but haven't had much luck yet. Creating a mash-up of old and new makes for a better machine overall. I love the old American-made machines from decades back. I prefer some of the old machines to the newfangled styles out now. Less plastic, finer cast iron, good designs. I've been trying to track down a Delta 24" scroll saw similar to the ones used in my high school shop. The ones I've been finding are not in the best of shape, and the prices are outrageous. I'll keep looking.

Lots more work to be done before I can take pics of the shop itself. Even in the shot above, you can probably see the boxes and other stuff still in piles as I make my way through the mess. It's getting better.

Best if used by

Jeff and I have been cleaning up stuff in the basement. In one of the cabinets I use for storing non-perishable food we found a box of Kellogg's corn flakes. The box had been opened and a portion of the cereal had been used, and the bag was not even resealed. The box has a use-by date of Nov. 9, 1996. The box has been around the house for 13 years. That's not the scary part.

The scary part is that the cereal tasted like it was a freshly-opened new box.

Easter weakened

I presume everyone had a decent Easter Sunday, aka Zombie Jesus Day. It's the day where Jesus arose from the dead, most likely saw his shadow and proceeded to feast on brains. The latter can be seen in action to this day in backwater megachurches as the congregants submit themselves to all manner of brain destruction in his name.

They'd be far better off eating thirteen year old Corn Flakes. ;)

Was a nice day outside, but blustery and cold. I had wanted to do some outdoorsy stuff, but instead did more work in the basement. Two trash cans filled with junk, and a wheelie bin full of paper and cardboard got set roadside today. I will be giving one of my workbenches to Jeff's father, in it's place I have a smaller maple table top and some steel legs to assemble into it's replacement. The top needs refinishing, but should be fine for use once that's done. I'll finally be able to attach my woodworking vise that I've had for years (longer than the corn flakes!) because the construction of the current table would not allow it to fit. Plus, I finally get the table top out of the garage where it's been taking up space. I've decided to make use of things I have hanging around or get rid of it. Find useful homes for the stuff when possible, or trash/recycle it. There are boxes of stuff that have not been touched since moving to this place 20 years ago. I'm sure I will have some memories flooding back when I get into some of the items, but I will either use it, give it away to a good home, or toss it. My stuff has clogged up my life long enough, it's time for a bit of freedom.