tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post911699092214619910..comments2024-03-27T22:53:00.759+01:00Comments on A Hippo On the Lawn: A Little Bit of WoodHippohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468795398813061897noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-57604890811125234582015-02-14T12:06:53.330+01:002015-02-14T12:06:53.330+01:00It's easy, it's just a case of RTFI.It's easy, it's just a case of RTFI.Hippohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09468795398813061897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-64343056650292070662015-02-14T12:06:08.956+01:002015-02-14T12:06:08.956+01:00I guess I will find out how long the blades last w...I guess I will find out how long the blades last when I run the first wood through the machines but I probably have no choice but to go for carbide.Hippohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09468795398813061897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-48876243868739768612015-02-14T04:51:36.483+01:002015-02-14T04:51:36.483+01:00I am mechanically retarded, but stand in awe when ...I am mechanically retarded, but stand in awe when I can see people use machines like the ones you show in the photos and make beautiful things.megan blogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04555646904983619596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-68113071493692901452015-02-10T09:38:57.408+01:002015-02-10T09:38:57.408+01:00Only really familiar with Iroko. apart from a bit ...Only really familiar with Iroko. apart from a bit of tear out problems it machines pretty well. Carbide tooling will need to come from the manufacture or third party sellers, you will need to carry spare cutters as i would imagine you wont be able to get replacement cutters/ blades that quickly. I can see I will be following your progress with interest.<br />Becks and Brown Trouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757414037953167061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-62274729168943804962015-02-10T04:25:12.421+01:002015-02-10T04:25:12.421+01:00I would guess that if you go with HSS for blades a...I would guess that if you go with HSS for blades and such, you will spend most of your time sharpening. Good carbide lasts a long time, and some can be resharpened, but you would need special tools to do it. Probably nobody where you are has the ability to sharpen carbide. I don't have any more HSS blades, went to all carbide years ago. KCDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13068194796728187685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-7466338121014611102015-02-09T14:13:51.346+01:002015-02-09T14:13:51.346+01:00Sawn to rough board using chain saws, then I will ...Sawn to rough board using chain saws, then I will be stacking and air drying it before dimensioning.<br /><br />Three types of wood mainly: Moreira/Iroko (Chlorophora Excelsa), Eucalyptus (which one exactly I haven't a clue, there's loads of varieties) and Silky Oak (Grevilla Robusta),Hippohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09468795398813061897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-14857352369148332402015-02-09T14:06:06.077+01:002015-02-09T14:06:06.077+01:00The other thing I wondered about was I assume the ...The other thing I wondered about was I assume the timber you will be machining will be air dried? . Do the guys who fell it plank it and stack it before it comes to you?Becks and Brown Trouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757414037953167061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-92211909232607714392015-02-09T14:03:02.103+01:002015-02-09T14:03:02.103+01:00I suspect that will be rather what the machine man...I suspect that will be rather what the machine manufacturer make available to you, Modern machines tend to focus on carbide , and as you say the wood you are machining has a big effect, What timbers will you be machining?Becks and Brown Trouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757414037953167061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-77967463057090010662015-02-09T13:18:19.523+01:002015-02-09T13:18:19.523+01:00Do you know that on the old sugar cane plantations...Do you know that on the old sugar cane plantations the cane was fed into the crushing rollers by hand and they used to have one man standing next to the machine armed with a machete in case the man feeding the machine caught his hand in there? Unless his arm was swiftly hacked off, the operator would be drawn into the machine ruining a perfectly good batch of syrup...<br /><br />The lightest machine weighs 260 kgs, the heaviest 1,650Kgs. They will also be bolted to the reinforced concrete floor. It is the tooling that I am worried about. I think I need one of your cross dogs, something with the jaws of a shark and the personality of Mike Tyson. Oh, you can have three parents now so something the size of a National winner...Hippohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09468795398813061897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-65923968477301198202015-02-09T13:10:28.834+01:002015-02-09T13:10:28.834+01:00Tooling will damn near be as much as the machines!...Tooling will damn near be as much as the machines! I won't know how long the cutters last on this wood until I have pushed a few metres of it through the machines. Do I go for Carbide disposable blades or HSS resharpenable?Hippohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09468795398813061897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-51392877227752311322015-02-09T12:42:09.989+01:002015-02-09T12:42:09.989+01:00Wow. Two bits of advice......
1. You nearly lost ...Wow. Two bits of advice......<br /><br />1. You nearly lost your leg last year. Make sure you don't lose your blimmin arm this year!<br />2. Chain and padlock the machines to something solid or the locals will have 'em as fast as a ferret.ADDYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01018958238940897902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-73997833207399223412015-02-09T09:44:52.043+01:002015-02-09T09:44:52.043+01:00Nice looking stuff Hippo. I have spent all my lif...Nice looking stuff Hippo. I have spent all my life in the construction industry and a fair bit of that in and around joiners shops. I now work as a freelance estimator. Make sure you factor everything in to your charge out rate and remember to allow for costs for tooling wear and sharpening costs. Good luck....Becks and Brown Trouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757414037953167061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-61945744757648676972015-02-09T07:01:37.059+01:002015-02-09T07:01:37.059+01:00You stand in awe? The worrying thing is: so do I!...You stand in awe? The worrying thing is: so do I! Hippohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09468795398813061897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-28075467827858010852015-02-09T05:16:58.708+01:002015-02-09T05:16:58.708+01:00That's interesting; a quick perusal of the int...That's interesting; a quick perusal of the interwebs says that a bank of batteries for solar panels lasts anywhere from seven to twenty-five years. I'll look into it a bit more for us (and if we see a use and put it to work, I'll let you know how it goes; in the meantime, I won't bother you with this hippie trifle any more).Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409883521642115031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-85284384228925406932015-02-08T23:43:51.730+01:002015-02-08T23:43:51.730+01:00There is no way on earth I could ever learn safely...There is no way on earth I could ever learn safely to operate those beasts of machines but I am in awe of people who can. Just the noise of them makes my fingers try to retract into my wrists! I read to the end and took pleasure in a new opportunity for your locals to become more employable in the wide world. Good on you!<br /><br />Jo in Auckland, NZJOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01654932887735045108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-48170354335401958422015-02-08T21:38:12.097+01:002015-02-08T21:38:12.097+01:00It's not a one time up front cost, sadly, The...It's not a one time up front cost, sadly, The deep cycle batteries (of which I would need dozens and dozens), only last a certain number of cycles so will need regular replacement. There is nowhere here they can be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. Battery technology has a little way to go before it would make economic sense.Hippohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09468795398813061897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-1459548915962484012015-02-08T20:49:08.054+01:002015-02-08T20:49:08.054+01:00Careful. ..Careful. ..Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-15945179258416268382015-02-08T18:36:16.489+01:002015-02-08T18:36:16.489+01:00FWIW, Emailed you back with comments, opinion and ...FWIW, Emailed you back with comments, opinion and ideas. Those and three dollars will buy you a cup of coffee ;-)Mike Silviushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10406468736304441962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-28895950124033358872015-02-08T17:00:04.701+01:002015-02-08T17:00:04.701+01:00Now, time to spend a boatload of money on ways to ...Now, time to spend a boatload of money on ways to keep all those blades sharp. You get extra blades?<br /><br />That stuff looks absolutely amazing.<br /><br />As for power, I've an ignorant question: How possible is it to run solar or wind power with a bank of batteries? The Chinese have been dumping decent solar panels for quite a while, I hear. A manageable array would have a hard time powering all of those things on their own, but they could provide some percentage, and it's a one-time upfront cost. However, I am completely ignorant of the weather or ability to get the proper equipment.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409883521642115031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-80090301137065136392015-02-08T12:37:53.681+01:002015-02-08T12:37:53.681+01:00Dust extractors are in with the mix (third photo f...Dust extractors are in with the mix (third photo from bottom above). I will sort out the hand tools separately along with the power tools and clamps. What I really need to sort out is the tooling for the machines. I do not need very complicated moulding for windows or doors, just simple standard.<br /><br />As you can see, I gave up on UK suppliers.Hippohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09468795398813061897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-66734385292952148832015-02-08T12:09:50.159+01:002015-02-08T12:09:50.159+01:00I've got a boner!
Looks like a good load of to...I've got a boner!<br />Looks like a good load of tools. What have you done about hand tools and the like? Also do you need some books picking out? Now we need to see how you're getting on with your workshop as well! Did you get a dust extractor as well? Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-65788139719959195862015-02-07T20:09:52.990+01:002015-02-07T20:09:52.990+01:00I am glad you brought this up!
I would be appalle...I am glad you brought this up!<br /><br />I would be appalled if anyone assumed that I enjoyed such a good discount on these machines because they are 'African' spec. One supplier, NOT CMC in Italy, offered me non CE spec machines in order to provide me the discount I wanted. He actually used the term 'African Spec'. I told him to fuck off. The CMC machines are all to CE standard with all the guards, fences, brakes micro switches, emergency stops and power feeds required. No one. including me, will be allowed to use a machine unless there are proper written operating and emergency procedures and they have been trained on both the procedures and the machine. For the foreseeable future, I will be the only person allowed to use the spindle moulder.<br /><br />I am not suggesting for a second that your comment was flippant, I know it wasn't but it provided me a wonderful platform to reassure anyone who thought I was willing to compromise my own safety or that of my employees to save a few bucks.<br /><br />Thank you, you made and presented well a very good point.<br /><br />(for your info, I am missing a couple of fingers which t I lost through sheer carelessness, wanking has never been the same since...)Hippohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09468795398813061897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-50914519523120368552015-02-07T19:55:49.001+01:002015-02-07T19:55:49.001+01:00I have sent you detail photos.I have sent you detail photos.Hippohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09468795398813061897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-87546873885373852232015-02-07T19:47:07.983+01:002015-02-07T19:47:07.983+01:00Wow, just Wow. Great looking stuff.
Cornered marke...Wow, just Wow. Great looking stuff.<br />Cornered markets are a great idea, as long as they are legal. One good thing, I presume there is no real equivalent of our execrable OSHA or Britain's 'Elf and Safety. Barring any amputations that garner you local spells cast upon you, it should be good to go. Safety first, of course.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08606731971558831549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-17476365704893568662015-02-07T19:34:26.894+01:002015-02-07T19:34:26.894+01:00There is no utility power here, I have a 25 Kva ge...There is no utility power here, I have a 25 Kva generator which is adequate for current needs. Just the 4 sided planer moulder, though, needs more than that so I will have to buy a 70Kva generator which will cost me the equivalent of $14,000, probably more now that the Kwanza has dropped so much against the dollar.Hippohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09468795398813061897noreply@blogger.com