Big old angle cube

[Screwdriver]

So I bought a couple of very large cast iron angles and thought I'd better make a start on at least de-rusting. I decided to go for citric because (1) I have a ton of citric acid and (2) it's the lazy mans way to go. Fill a bucket of water, forgetaboutit.

First I need a bucket so, off to the flypress!

Made short work of some goopy bituminised rubber sheet.

I am relatively confident it won't leak.

Stroke of luck they are the same size.

There it is done. Retire to the bar....

 

[daedalusminos]

That'll be a slow old process in this weather!

 

[Richard.]

What’s the world coming too. What’s wrong with WD and a lump of scotch brite
Bit of elbo grease never did any harm

 

[Screwdriver]

That'll be a slow old process in this weather!

Yeah, be interesting to see how long it might take but frankly, I just need to leave it in the bucket!

I did consider wire wheeling it but tbh it's so damned cold, I didn't even want to pick up a tool let alone stand there in the snow and ice. The other thing is, it is bloomin' heavy! I want to say 40kg but I don't know really, it's just awkward to move. I should bolt a handle to it I guess.

Meantime I can pretend I am "working" while it slowly stews in the acid and play indoors with this instead.

Not a waste of time at all (it took ages!)

 

[Richard.]

tbh it's so damned cold,

I should remember having lived down here long enough that you southern folk shrivel up with a bit of a winter breeze
You’d soon be taking layers off once you get into the rythem of rubbing off that rust

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I should remember having lived down here long enough that you southern folk shrivel up with a bit of a winter breeze
You’d soon be taking layers off once you get into the rythem of rubbing off that rust

Lol. Some of us. Me I've been in a tshirt in a new build with no services plumbed in all week. Only thing that's felt the cold is my feet on an icy cold slab.

What's the plan for the cube and angle @Screwdriver. Hope it's not going to be a welding table...

 

[Parm]

That'll be a slow old process in this weather!

Its not temperature critical. Last winter I de rusted a Parkinson vice with exactly the same method. Came out a treat

What will help is if @Screwdriver can get it out of the bucket and go over it with a scotch pad or similar

Taking off most of the crud and exposing a new surface will speed things up

 

[Screwdriver]

@Parm cool that's good to know. I did once look up the effect of heating it not sure if that made much difference either.

I am cleaning it first then decide what to do. Looks quite good with only one drill hole in the T slot surface. For my purposes it might make a useful metrology stand. Somehere I can dedicate to measurements but I don't really need it so if it is any good I'll probably just sell it.

I have a couple of smaller cubes already and I don't want things to get out of hand!

 

[Parm]

@Parm cool that's good to know. I did once look up the effect of heating it not sure if that made much difference either.

I am cleaning it first then decide what to do. Looks quite good with only one drill hole in the T slot surface. For my purposes it might make a useful metrology stand. Somehere I can dedicate to measurements but I don't really need it so if it is any good I'll probably just sell it.

I have a couple of smaller cubes already and I don't want things to get out of hand!

What do you mean you "DONT" want things to get out of hand !!!

Aren't they already................ For most of us !!!!!!!

 

[Screwdriver]

What do you mean you "DONT" want things to get out of hand !!!

Aren't they already................ For most of us !!!!!!!

I've only got half a ton of surface plates angles and machine bed tables. Mmm. Ok maybe a ton ish.

Yeah. Never really thought about it like that. Too much stuff? Yeah I can see where you're going with that, I always see it as "not enough sheds"...

 

[Parm]

I've only got half a ton of surface plates angles and machine bed tables. Mmm. Ok maybe a ton ish.

Yeah. Never really thought about it like that. Too much stuff? Yeah I can see where you're going with that, I always see it as "not enough sheds"...

I could do with a machine bed table

 

[Parm]

I've only got half a ton of surface plates angles and machine bed tables. Mmm. Ok maybe a ton ish.

Yeah. Never really thought about it like that. Too much stuff? Yeah I can see where you're going with that, I always see it as "not enough sheds"...

I’ve now officially run out of space for anything. I don’t even have a square mm of worksurface

I need a bigger workshop. I have plenty of space but no time and minimum spare cash

 

[Seadog]

I don't want things to get out of hand!

Are you sure you're not too late?

 

[Richard.]

@Parm cool that's good to know. I did once look up the effect of heating it not sure if that made much difference either.

I am cleaning it first then decide what to do. Looks quite good with only one drill hole in the T slot surface. For my purposes it might make a useful metrology stand. Somehere I can dedicate to measurements but I don't really need it so if it is any good I'll probably just sell it.

I have a couple of smaller cubes already and I don't want things to get out of hand!

If you bought it cheap enough then screw’d I would suggest you don’t sell it. Those large blocks especially in scabby condition make absolutely fantastic jigs for fabrication. That’s what I’d use it for. Make up some clamps to use in the slots and anything that needs setting up at a true right angle for a splat is going to be a pleasure to do on that. I’d love to own one that size I think you’d be mad to sell it unless your desperate for the coin.

 

[Screwdriver]

Thanks. They were a proper bargain, both for £65. I also have a large cast iron T slot machine table I am planning to install in the shed. I'll clean the square up, see how it looks, then do the same with the massive angle. The large angle just about fits on the table but would need a crane to move it, the square would be ok with a small hoist. I think for me to use them, I'd need to make individual stands.

Early days though and as a tool hoarder, I am still enjoying just having them thanks.

 

[MattH]

Lol, I know where you’re coming from.
I’ve got a pile of cast bits that must weight 2.5 ton.
A couple of large tslot machine bases, a bunch of tslot plates, 3 of those large cubes and an angle about the same size as yours.
I couldn’t contemplate moving the angle plate around without my forklift.

Good luck in your shed with that stuff. Can I suggest an overhead gantry crane build?

 

[MattH]

Very interested to see how the cube cleans up in the citric acid.

 

[Screwdriver]

Good luck in your shed with that stuff. Can I suggest an overhead gantry crane build?

It's on my todo list. I'm just reading through it now. I'll err, get back to you later...

 

[Screwdriver]

Well I had a quick look this morning.

I covered up the bucket to stop ice forming(!) but it still did a very reasonable job.

And after a quick rub down with scotchbrite and a rag.

It's back in the dip. Couple of days I reckon and it will be as good as it gets.

 

[Screwdriver]

Just thinking out loud here but a cube this size is not going to get lifted on and off anything in my shed so it needs to go on a stand.

Stand has a support pivot with a kink to allow it to rotate to vertical.

It occurs to me this could come in handy for jigging/welding but I'd be interested to hear comments about just how useful that might be (with examples). Thought I might ask a welder Be much easier to plonk it onto a couple of scaff pole legs and have done with it but if I go to these lengths with rotating feature and locking lever, I might just as well go the whole hog and adjust the height too.

Yes it needs a shelf and some additional struts, mounting points etc. and clamps will make their way into the design should it ever get to the top of the todo list.