Manual Machining A Adjustable Shaft Coupling For The Homemade Sawmill

[@melmars1452]

When my partner an I had our shop, we got tired of the bending over at the Bridgeports so we got a railroad tie for each mill, cut two pieces for each machine, one for the right side and one for the left and we lag bolted the machine down onto them. Sure saved my 6'4" back and his 6'5" back!

[@beyondmiddleagedman7240]

I started at about Connor's age. Although I never made my living as a machinist, I've made many car, motorcycle, train and steam engines and parts to allow me to have those hobbies. I was cutting quartered slots on our horizontal mill a few weeks ago for a locomotive project. Stick with it young man. It is a great skill to have that will also translate to many other professions. I did industrial automation before I went to work for the railroad. Understanding how to machine parts is invaluable almost daily.

[@Rustinox]

I think you and Connor are a great team. Together you can build whatever you want.

[@rupert5390]

My respect to you for passing on your skills to a young man that seems to be very interested in the field, you sound like a great boss and good mentor. cheers.

[@Jacob-64]

Been watching your channel for a few months now ,I find your style of video and your shop so relatable no fussing about you just get the job done the best way you know how . Excellent job . The fact you have a trainee in your shop seperates you from all the other youtubers ,again excellent job .

[@stuarthardy4626]

Josh great video again, Let me congratulate you for have an apprentice working with you , not sure what the length of time it is in the USA , but when when I did my indentured apprenticeship at the iron works it was a full 5 years ( as an electrician in heavy power at the local iron works ) they had on site a training centre on site foe the fitters , machinists and moulders for the first year after that you went out to the plants , but with the electricians we were sent to college for the first year full time , after that we to rotated round the plants , the firm took on each year 6 of each trade . in the day the firm had over 7000 workers and looked after us very well with a full time (365/24/7 staffed ) medical centre in X-ray equipment , dentist with each plant having a small medical room . now alas its all gone keep up the good work Stuart from the UK

[@TopperMachineLLC]

How times have changed. I bet nobody does that anymore. Conner is part of the Youth Apprenticeship. He has to work 450 hours a year while in high school. After he graduates, he can go into another apprenticeship program. The YA is designed to get kids interested in the trades. He is doing well, and has seen and done things with me that no other shop would touch. He has had some great experiences so far. I'm hoping after HS he wants to continue in the trade.

[@stuarthardy4626]

@@TopperMachineLLC Tell Conner to keep at it he has a good mentor in you , good foundations make good work in the future , here in the UK to do house bashing ( domestic house wiring) is a six week course ) , alas it is now 26 years since I was in work . long past retirement age but I have a small hobby workshop manual lathe ,manual mill and a CNC mill got to keep the brain active Evan if the body is weak

[@ellieprice363]

Our mother country did things right in the old days, as did America. Skilled tradesmen on KZbin are slowly starting to turn that around. If it doesn’t happen soon we’ll end up with a nation full of college educated dummies.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

We already do. It astounds me how dumb society has gotten. Absolutely zero skills. "my toilet is overflowing, better call a plumber". That stick with a bowl on the end is not a decoration!!! It seems to get worse every day.

[@bendugas8632]

Thank you, exceptional camera work, showing the cut from underneath.

[@bheckel1]

Like the sawmill making it's own shelter.

[@carlbyington5185]

When I was 17, I started in a machine shop in L.A.... I would grind piston wrist pins on a centerless for TRW, then they would go out for 6 thousands of chrome... come back, and I would skim 2 though off.. AND, cut carbide bits, and silver soldered them onto square tooling.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Excellent learning opportunity.

[@mikep1085]

Conner, welcome to the channel! Its great to see a young man who is interested in this type of work! Looks like you were doing great! Josh... good on ya, for teaching him and being a good mentor for this! What a great program that is!

[@josdaalmans6977]

Good job and I'm happy to hear you have Conner at your site tp learn from you. We have more than enough of the theoretical jobs. We need craftsman to make and fix something. Good luck for Conner in his aprenticeship.

[@carlbyington5185]

Really getting addicted to all your vids..... came over by mistake when Adam stopped 99% of his youtube. Keep up the good work...and Humor :)

[@anxietyislandllc]

It's encouraging to hear about Connor and know he's getting taught excellent skills!

[@ChristianFeldmann-h8s]

That insert cutting the steel like butter

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Gotta love these Sandvik CNMG

[@ChristianFeldmann-h8s]

@@TopperMachineLLC Do you not use cnmm for rhoughing ? Or is that cnmg 433?

[@TopperMachineLLC]

@@ChristianFeldmann-h8s CNMG 432 for almost everything. It's quite versatile

[@scottfarnham2717]

Nice work Josh!! Kudos for bringing a fine young man into the trade!

[@Farm_fab]

I bought a right angle gear box that had flanges like you made, and now I understand the timing aspect of the flanges. Those turned out well.

[@SuperJaXXas]

Nice job! Great policy for the young.

[@gofastwclass]

Awesome work as always! Everything you build looks perfect.

[@dermotkelly2289]

I used to love doing jobs like that. That would take me nearly all day to just do one-half of those couplings lol.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

If it weren't for the camera work, I could have finished in a couple hours with all the setups. 5 hours with the camera work. Then add editing.

[@bostedtap8399]

Great to see good work, and a future engineer in training. Thanks for sharing

[@lolcec81]

Комментарий в поддержку канала и ролика, а также труда мастера

[@rs2024-s4u]

It's nice to see one hand feeding, takes skill. Ray Stormont

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Skill and experience.

[@howder1951]

Nice design with the pilot section, looks like a problem solver. Enjoyed, cheers!

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Use the tool to build it's protection. Save big money and get quality lumber.

[@paulmoloney5569]

Good job as always, also very well done at having an apprentice, here in Australia there's a huge void of anyone entering the trade I'm a fitter and turner and at 55 young tradesman are scarce on the ground. Not sure if it's the same where you are but businesses don't want to train and everyone has to go to university or your considered a failure. I found that out when I was talking to my son about taking a trade my daughter confirmed this as this is what's pushed at school.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

It's the same here. It's discouraging where the world is headed.

[@fricknjeep]

hi there looks real nice , made one similar to do the same thing on my # 1 Frick mill . well done john

[@mftmachining]

Excellent job, Josh. Came out beautiful. TOP. Connor is a lucky young man. Learning from an excellent collegue.👍

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

Good work on the part of both of you. Thanks for the video keep on keeping on.

[@alanm3438]

It is good to see you first thing in the morning. There sure is a lot of different steps for making the parts. I am glad that your helper was there. Soon it will be on the mill and working just fine. Thanks for the video.

[@mfc4591]

That is a LOT of work to make 2X8 planks...BUT its a once done, ca always be used deal, so totally worth it. Looking forward to see timber being sawn.

[@jameswood9764]

Great job and thank you for sharing your experience with an apprentice. Save the tip of an insert from chipping by not facing all the way to the center since you are going to drill and bore a hole through the piece?

[@ejharrop1416]

Nice work and mystery metal is always fun. We had a mystery metal job, cast steel perhaps, about the size yours and it needed to have a large bore. Was making an odd sound while boring. Well low and behold there was a perfect ball shape in the sidewall inside. 😅. Junk steel for sure. Awesome to see your apprentice. 100% smart move for a youngster these days to work in a job shop environment as varied as yours. Toolmaker someday with you help. Thank you.

[@BrucePierson]

Great to see Connor working machines without revealing his identity. Some clever filming there. Connor is also doing an excellent job filming you working. Looks like you make a great team. Great to see a young man doing something useful with his life when so many young people are into crime like here in Australia where juvenile crime is rampant at present. Keep up the good work Connor, you have a bright future ahead of you.

[@robertcrossley9803]

Great video again. Excellent close up on the mill Thanks for taking the time

[@BrucePierson]

You certainly have some very interesting old, obsolete machines that do a great job. Keeping these old machines working is definitely a good move, because they are so reliable and they do what a lot of modern machines can't do. That manual keyway slotter was a real antique and probably extremely rare now. It's great to see these old machines still working. Personally, I still have many hand power tools that I got around 50 years ago and they are still working with regular maintenance. Look after things and they will look after you.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

It's bought and paid for and will keep paying it's way. The only payment I have is the mortgage and the Lion. Best way to run a business

[@zachbruce8607]

Another job well done. Keep up the good work. And I better get a call when you’re cutting the 20 footer. 😅

[@TheUncleRuckus]

Looks great Josh, thanks for uploading! 👍👍

[@mikeshort4291]

As tall as you are I would recommend putting the mill on risers so you don’t have to bend over so far.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Its never really been an issue for me.

[@ElmerJFudd-oi9kj]

@@TopperMachineLLC Dont let it become one.

[@seansysig]

Can’t wait for Tuesday content.

[@GardenTractorBoy]

This was a great project and I enjoyed following along. It turned out great and you did make it look very easy. Thanks

[@ivanolsen8596]

Could watch machining all day, my only experience on a lathe was at school 65 years ago.

[@danmetzger5583]

Just got my Channel Sticker last week!

[@waynecreech]

Great Video, Great Parts... I really enjoy your videos Josh.

[@RalfyCustoms]

Great stuff Josh, thanks for sharing buddy, best wishes to you and yours Ralfy

[@randydobson1863]

hello josh it's is randy and i like yours video is cool thanks friends randy

[@ValiRossi]

The channel is growing. Good job.

[@bcbloc02]

Nicely done!

[@terrycannon570]

Thanks!

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Thank you!

[@johnlee8231]

Nice project

[@beerdrinker6452]

Nice video.

[@garylarson6386]

I had a shop with both cnc and man, farmers would come in and want a john deer part in two hours and less than one from john deer

[@slicedbread9003]

Good work on the camera Connor.

[@U_ever]

Nice work sir ! I thought that you couldn't show us Conner because he really is the famed mystery racing car driver from "Top Gear" they call "THE STIG". "LIKE" button has been torqued to the manufacturer's recommended specification. "CLICK". God forbid you and Conner should be running around Wisconsin there with a loose "LIKE" button !

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Lol. You caught me. I swing a deal with Clarkson Hammond and May to borrow and teach him a few things.

[@markat9576]

@@TopperMachineLLC Glad to see that you like the original Topgear cast. Some say the only Topgear cast.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

@@markat9576 I even watch the Grand Tour. Absolutely love those guys. Clarkson's Farm is great too. I'd love to spend a day with those guys.

[@melmars1452]

That mystery material just might be Greek ascaloy, a high strength material that work hardens almost instantly when you dwell with a cutter. A day would not go by when someone would weld a drill into a gear blank. Nice material once you understand it but it is hell on rookies.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

That is possible. I have no idea where it came from or what it was. But I never use mystery metal for paying jobs. Seen too many shops get burnt by doing that.

[@bernardwill7196]

Mr. Topper may I ask ,what model is the Monarch ?

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I own 2 of them currently. The bigger one I was on is a 18CU and the small one Conner is on is a 12CK. I sold my 25N almost 2 years ago to upgrade to the Lion.

[@bernardwill7196]

@@TopperMachineLLC Thanks for the answer.

[@SouthernEngineering]

Love your work! One question; besides the bolts in the slots, how will you compensate for slippage?

[@TopperMachineLLC]

There won't be any. Not enough to torque in the setup. Just tightening the bolts will hold it.

[@thefixerofbrokenstuff]

Good stuff. How about a pair of 3/16 thick "washers" the same od as your couplers , with a nice, generous slip fit over the hub portion with 3 holes 120 degrees apart that are on same the bolt circle diameter as the slots? That way your bolts wouldn't dig in and gall up the slots. Anyway, pretty good stuff.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I went with SAE washers. No worry about digging in, this material was hard.

[@wwjd6922]

Josh when you get a chance you can make a new one for my sawmill. One of mine is broken.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Send me an email. I can definitely make you a new set or a replacement. Just need some measurements.

[@jsteifel]

damn Josh, you are going to wreck your back leaning over like that. You are tall enough to require raising your machine up on risers. I realize that the knee was down for clearance, but I keep watching you at different machines, and you would save some wear and tear on your back. If someone shorter needs to work you can have pallets to raise them up.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I stay super active and never feel it in my back. Maybe as I age I will, but it's never been a real issue. I tend to keep my back straight most of the day

[@deckname5794]

I would suggest you raise your Bridgeport mill up to a more comfortable height. Your back will thank you.

[@emilgabor88]

Nice work, but why did you choose broaching. And not slotting? PS I hate broaching, I have ruined more parts, then made good parts while push broaching😂😂 .

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I hate broaching also, but it was a better option. The slotter was set up with another job, and anything under 1-1/2" bore is hard to slot with my current tool holders.

[@ellieprice363]

Beautiful job. I wonder if you might want to nickel plate those parts to prevent rust in that outdoor environment? Just a thought while they’re new.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I haven't found a good plater in this area yet. I'm not concerned. It's fairly hard so shouldnt rust too deep.

[@ellieprice363]

@@TopperMachineLLC Heat the parts with a torch and soak them in linseed oil for a long lasting rust resistant black finish.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

@@ellieprice363 I like that idea. Gonna use it in the future.

[@ellieprice363]

@@TopperMachineLLC Hot motor oil will work just as well but won’t smell as good.

[@jtg2737]

Very nice job! Did the 2 set screws line up in the middle of the two broached channels?

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Yes.

[@jtg2737]

Rock N ROLL! @@TopperMachineLLC

[@deakindog7525]

what inserts are you using for turning facing tnks

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Sandvik CNMG 432

[@Grandpa600]

Some good machining in there. Your video comes with a note that six products are mentioned. Would it be correct to presume that this statement is required by your contract with KZbin, or is there another reason?

[@TopperMachineLLC]

No, you are not correct. These products are sponsored by the companies I get them from, but I have no obligation to promote them. I make that clear to them right off the bat. If I like the product, I have no objection to promoting it.

[@Grandpa600]

Thanks for the swift explanation.@@TopperMachineLLC

[@samrodian919]

Josh I'm a recent subscriber here in the UK, and just learned that you are based in Wisconsin when talking about Connor. Where in WI are you situated? We have a friend in Wisconsin who lives in Wapun which is near Beaver Dam in central WI. And if we visit her again I'd like to come visit your shop if I may. Cheers from England!

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I am way up in the frozen tundra. Spooner, WI

[@craigwillenborg1831]

Can you adjustments the headblocks for both the carriage and the pony to align them all together?

[@TopperMachineLLC]

They are all adjustable. Once the main carriage is set, it hasn't moved in the last several years. I only needed this coupling for fast setup and tuning. Since the extension will be off most of the time, it needs to be a quick setup.

[@craigwillenborg1831]

@@TopperMachineLLC My only thoughts are I would have always parked the pony at a fixed point say 8". Then disconnected it from the carriage. The coupler would not have been adjustable. I would adjust the pony's headblock if needed. Adding another point were the two (carriage and pony)can come out of alignment with each other is maybe not ideal. I coming at this from being a third generation in the sawmill business. The parts you made will definitely work just maybe cause a head ache every once in awhile. Love the channel!

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I considered all options. This was the best solution. Many of the older mills like Frick, Howell, and Enterprise I have worked with have similar couplings with zero issue.

[@craigwillenborg1831]

@@TopperMachineLLC next you need to build a top saw and a vertical edger. Of course in your spare time. Lol.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

@@craigwillenborg1831 the top saw would be cool, but not needed around here. A vertical edger would be nice.

[@carlbyington5185]

HeHe... like watching the Adam's Family, with Connors "hand" (we know why,... just making a joke)

[@freightdawg6762]

Good Stuff JT, Any Train vids in your future?

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Unfortunately I have received threats from the FRA of fines for "violations". I won't be doing any more of that. Not worth it anymore. The FRA inspectors I have had to deal with the last few years are equivalent to German SS.

[@freightdawg6762]

@@TopperMachineLLC Ah Gotcha Thx

[@TopperMachineLLC]

@@freightdawg6762 It is unfortunate. This is why there is really no great railroad content. I do have one project that I can do as it is not on active rail, so the FRA has zero jurisdiction.

[@garylarson6386]

you are right manual is rewarding but cnc made the shop profitable

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I am extremely profitable without it. Been taking the jobs away from the local CNC shops for the last several years.

[@ellieprice363]

Once programmed and set up CNC only require an operator, never a skilled machinist. They’re necessary for high production work but brain numbing boring otherwise.

[@dennyskerb4992]

👍👍

[@glennmoreland6457]

Get that big tree sawn up... ☹🇬🇧

[@Unrivaledanime]

The 20 footer lol

[@billh308]

I think you need to clean your lens, might have oil on it, giving that haze from the lights

[@TopperMachineLLC]

It gets cleaned before every shoot. Sometimes mid shoot. Can't always catch it

[@Histandard2011]

Josh are you tall or is your Bridgeport just very short. Your back should just kill you after using for a while.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I really don't notice it. Been doing this so long, I have ways of compensating for the height difference.

[@the.metalchemist]

[@PaulPassarelli]

LOL "mystery metal" -- smells like 12L15 from here.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

No way. Not leaded in any way and closer to a 4000 series or maybe something else in that range.

[@charlesmiles9115]

😛😛😛😛😛❤❤❤❤❤🦾🦴🦾🦴👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@garylarson6386]

manual machining is good for one part but still more tine consuming, shop programmers are so fast

[@TopperMachineLLC]

And your point is???? I am a manual only machine shop for a reason. I take jobs away from the local CNC shops. One of the big ones tried to take me out and failed.

[@garylarson6386]

I had a cnc shop with both, some people can run manual and get the job done and some cant

[@TopperMachineLLC]

@@garylarson6386 I learned both. I hated CNC. I like low volume work and the requirement of a brain to do the work. Every job manually is satisfying, and rarely dull.

[@rupert5390]

Is the MonaRCH THAT "QUIET" running or is it the camera - it hardly sounds like its running.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

They are that quiet