Wet test, supply runs, and bonus brazing

Big weekend at the shop. The drive motor of the centrifuge was wired up with a cord and a remote switch so it could be operated in its final position. I’ll tell ya, the switch really looks like overkill because I decided to employ an outlet box and switch from what I like to call my “Western Electric Surplus” supply. My grandfather worked there for 30 years as an installer, and he acquired quite a few items over the course of that run. (Let’s put it this way, it has been 26 years since he died, and I have never had to buy zip ties unless I’ve been in need and caught away from home without any on me. He had a LOT of stuff!) This box is the kind you would find on walls in older concrete wall basements. 1/8th to 3/16ths inch thick aluminum, and possibly just short of bulletproof. A little bit of armored conduit so I could mount the thing on the front of the stand and I was all set to go. Drains were also installed on the washer tub to drain the oil. So I guess it was finally time for a test run with some oil. Having learned my lesson from my Babington burner testing, this was NOT going to be videotaped.:) Turns out that was a wise move. Adding the oil into the spinning drum pointed out just how badly the metal ring at the top of the pot was held on. It leaked terribly. Not only that, but the plexiglass I glued into the round hole on the one end of the tub did not stay firmly attached. 

More research was needed to find a better binding agent. Time to head to the Mecca of home improvement junkies, the local home center. In my case it’s Home Depot, but I would go to Lowe’s too if they had one in Houghton Lake. Probably not gonna happen considering two other home centers in the area bit the dust in the last ten years. Anyway, the point I was trying to make before my train of thought was totally derailed is that I don’t particularly like having to go to that particular Home Depot. Why? Let me show you.

A 26 mile round trip is waiting for me every time I need to get anything at the local HD.  26 miles of moderately curvy roads with a max speed limit of 45mph.  That’s what happens when you have a 20k acre lake between you and the main retail establishments in the area. I do have a local hardware store about a 5 minute drive from the shop, but their selection and hours are limited.  I find it much more convenient to try and anticipate my needs while I am still in Midland during the week and go to the HD or Lowe’s there. That way I’m not eating into my limited shop time or driving all that way for one or two items like I did this weekend.

I settled on trying the quick setting version of JB Weld. All I can say is WOW! I had stayed away from JB because its advertising made me suspect that it was way overhyped. I’ll have to hold out final judgement until I can do another test run, but that stuff really seems to have formed a tight bond.

Normally, I would have had to wrap it up now. But my wife was downstate with our daughter and a change of plans meant that she wouldn’t be home until late the next day. So I was able to get in some bonus shop time! And I was determined to put it to good use.  Last week I told you about the cracked well pump I got at a garage sale. Sunday I decided to give repairing it a try. Here’s the results.

This is my first attempt at brazing since Jr High shop class, and considering that I think I did OK. Again, I’ll have to wait until I’m able to re-assemble the pump and test it before I call it a success. But the broken pieces seem to be on there really tight.

No shop time coming up this weekend. I’m going to my brother’s wedding (no one should have to face that kind of torture alone:) ). Next week it might be a good time to tell you all about my next mechanical project.  Till then, bye bye.