I use it when i can. I got a great deal on it 300 bucks and 3 blocks from my house. I looked in 3 states for one that wasn't $2,000.00 Ran into a guy at a car cruise that said he bought some machines and just wanted the mill and lathe the shaper was for sale. So i jumped on it sight unseen. Was...
South Bend 7" early model without the oil pump. Like new when i got it except for the wires that had insulation problems. Orig motor and without a stand. Built a stand with drawers...Bob
I started one using a 40:1 David Brown gearbox that i got from a guy in the UK. I also used 4" index plates i bought off ebay also from the UK. marypoppinsbags was the seller for them. I just need to finish the sector arms and the handle and its done...Bob
The aluminum plate is too thick for your welder. You will need to preheat it a little and it will be better looking. Did you get burn back / melting of the tips? If so i can help with that and in the states. Those are nice little spool guns if they are tuned up right...Bob
One thing about the bender i use is it can be portable. I used to do craft shows and had it bolted to a 2x2 steel bar that went inside my hitch tube on my truck so no table was needed. Just my thoughts. Lots of ways to get to the same place...Bob
I use a simple bender to make the hoops. Just bent around a 4" round die or whatever dia you desire as i have a pile of dies. The benders are cheap as well as the dies...Bob
All of the old rot has been cut away and the new strips will be flush with the orig metal. I just didn't post that pic yet but i will. Thanks for the thought but you are right if i would have overlapped them. Bob