Upgrades to the Victor Pattern Torch - Cutting Parts Old School and Bailing out a CNC Shop

[@CuttingEdgeEngineering]

Good for you mate 🤣👍

[@MegaBCAD]

It takes them 16 hours to do the same job you do in 12

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Just giving you a bit of crap. Actually need to hire help,but in our current world isn't happening. I'm sure you are in the same boat. Would be nice to lighten the load and have a little down time. Sleep when we die is the motto here. Lol

[@alanm3438]

@@TopperMachineLLC I would help you for free just to have something to do but I have a broken back.

[@tinkerersgarage2944]

Go down with Curtis and play with big boy toys for 12 hours.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

@@tinkerersgarage2944 I have ran 48" and 60" swing lathes for 12 hour shifts. HBM jobs that last days and multiple shifts working on the same part.

[@kamper4140]

I'm a mix of old school and new school cnc is awesome, but old school never dies. Sounds like your neighbor got stuck with a lemon... we have a power torch and with the right settings it cuts so clean you hardly have slag. Being able to have a controlled feed along with the right tip and pressure settings really helps produce nice cuts

[@bcbloc02]

I used to only work 12 hours in the shop combined with 4 hours of dog petting and play time. I don’t like having the full 16 now. 😭 Nice of you to bail those new fangled Cnc guys out of a jam!

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I would sure like to cut back, but the work keeps coming and the bills keep growing.

[@jimpritz4169]

Great job JT. Sometimes progress is not really progress at all. Glad you were able to help out your neighbor. Hopefully he will be able to return the favor someday. Thanks for the vid.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

We do a lot back and forth. Him and his dad taught me to run a sawmill, and helped with my water wagon build. Soon they are helping me take down a dangerous dead tree, then we will do one at one of their houses. Good relationships with neighbors make life a lot easier.

[@mrwaterschoot5617]

@@TopperMachineLLC josh long time we have communicates. it has been said that good fences help kept neighbors separated. but you demonstrated that good neighbors don't need fences when neighbors are good friend. tracy byrd has a song about friends. you know who your friends are. basically it is the adage " a friend in need is a friend indeed. and to add to that thought my departed friend george begin's friends do not count whose turn it is to help who with a problem to solve. i now what the memo meant. it is lend a helping hand when you can and the reward is you get a helping hand in return. a stranger is a friend that you have yet to met. for those who do not want to be friends, they lose and we can unfriend them. and the girl scout song is make new friends but keep the old cause one is silver and the other is gold. another adage. hold your friends close and your nonfriends closer so you can squeeze the stuffings out of them. or let them go away and stay away and have them not waste your time or your other resources. thank you mr. topper. may you have a good day which i think you got and pray to god for the hope of a better tomorrow.

[@stxrynn]

I reconditioned an old CNC plasma table this spring. I used 3/16 x 2 to make the "combs" to put along the edges of the table and down the middle to hold the consumable slats (your 1/4 inch ones). Those were made of 11 or 12 gauge sheet metal strips about 2 inches wide. I made them a little bit long and bowed them, so a straight cut wouldn't be able to track the length of one. That might be a rare occurrence for most, but I'm the lucky guy that it happens to more often than not!! I was kind of surprised you used the 1/4" bar. That pattern torch is pretty darn sweet. Really a nice job today.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Good idea on bending the slat. I used 1/4" because I can cut up to 6" plate with this torch, and I intend on doing just that. Sometime soon, I will play with some 4" I have laying around. Heavy stuff.

[@stxrynn]

@@TopperMachineLLC Yeah, that thick stuff gets heavy quick. You know what you are doing better than I do, so I defer to the master!! Well done, man.

[@isbcornbinder]

Dropping the steel really protects the floor..

[@TopperMachineLLC]

When it's the floor I paid for I can do whatever I want. Just as you can do what you want with your floor.

[@johncrisman576]

I have been on the lookout for just the right pantograph for another application. Love to see this classic technology in active use.

[@robertschmidt6383]

Here's an idea. Maybe the fourth or fifth flat stock support double it up and then you could slide the entire piece down and at an angle to knock out you cut pieces. Keep an original piece to place bigger plates on.

[@billoxley5315]

Those old simple torches almost never let you down.

[@jeffreyullrich8511]

Throw on a preheat cutting head on your MT210 or whichever Victor machine torch that is, and your cuts will be dross free and smooth as glass. Not as critical as when bevelling but still beneficial.

[@StuartsShed]

Damn those ironworkers are great fun.

[@DavidHerscher]

That iron worker is BIG PIMPIN 😍😍

[@1978garfield]

I love old school electro-mechanical stuff. Not everything has to have a computer, a touch screen and an internet connection. I am waiting for apple to come out with the worlds first smart vacuum cleaner, the i Suck. It will use fuzzy logic to analyze the contents of its bag and send you a text message if you suck up anything important. However it can't be used without an internet connection and it sells your data to marketers.

[@hobtink]

Very nice clean torch cut

[@lawrencewillard6370]

Kurt's lives on the Gold Coast, next to Surfers Paradise. Gotta give them some time to enjoy it!.

[@Deuphus]

If you make one back corner of the pan slightly lower than the rest and install a spigot, you could drain the water into a bucket for easy flushing the water. A thin layer of oil on top of the water to reduce evaporation.

[@josephlansberry737]

You need to get a K9 shopforeman like CEE. He's a show stealer.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Got one, he is moving on in years and just sleeps.

[@topduk]

KZbin formula is a dog segment near the start, dogs somewhere in the middle, and over 10 minutes long.

[@GuardianFilmworks]

Man that metal shear doesn't even hesitate at all when it is cutting through that angle iron.

[@jamesriordan3494]

Great rig, thank you for showing it in action !

[@hacc220able]

Thanks for sharing

[@SgtCude59]

Was setting around thinking . Your video will show your viewer that don’t scrap out old school item or machine , they will one day save the day or your life

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I can't tell you how many times I have had to bail out the CNC shops around me. Honestly, it's a crazy amount of times. From brand new state of the art shops to older machines, I've rescued them all.

[@offroadrepairman]

I’m done working them long days. Maybe on a rare emergency case with additional pay I’ll consider it.

[@rancelynch6514]

How much time of your day is spent on the video preparation during shop work time? Then you still have to go home and spend half of non-working time editing to get the finished video. I will say that Kurtis is very blessed to have Karen doing the video prep. Which frees him to do more shop work. Both of you do excellent machine work ! And each of y’all are a pleasure to watch.

[@seansysig]

Old reliable manual pattern tracers are tried and true!

[@joewithrow2345]

I'm old school too!!! at 72 years it's hard not to be.

[@EL34XYZ]

I love CEE. Nice jab at him.

[@erichill5208]

New school machines like CNC plasma or laser cutting tables are fantastic when everything works. But just something about the old school simplicity that just works reliably. I remember way back in the mid 1970s when I was a kid. Going to work with dad who was a master welder. And watching him use a pattern torch like you only on a much bigger table with multiple torches capabilities. I haven’t seen one of those in many years. Very cool video

[@19672701]

Sometimes it's satisfying to see a manual machine bailout modern machinery. Worked in a old weld shop and used one simular to what you have. Great video.

[@djamelhamdia134]

That metal worker is a beast!

[@hobtink]

A local machine shop has a high pressure water jet cutter that does a fantastic job clean cuts and no heat distortion that I know of.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I use water jet shops frequently. I have several large quantity parts I farm out. They beat the laser and plasma guys on price and quality.

[@chainspending6343]

great job Josh

[@denisredfern2976]

Nice video. Thanks. I've never seen one of those machines before. Am building a CNC plasma table. Having second thoughts now 🙂

[@berniejanssen2863]

Topper, If you are using a victor style tip a #1 should work wth 5/8" plate and acetylene. The should be a neutral flame with a slight more oxygen. Most videos I watch they use way too much preheat on the flame and melt the edge of the plate. And if there's too much slag on the plate it will clog the tip and make a bad cut. A needle gun can be used to remove it before cutting. And the comments about have no bars under the cut are correct in making a better cut. I've found after 42 years things get better with practice. Ifyou have the speed and oxygen right you will have minimal slag on the bottom.

[@berniejanssen2863]

Along with a new keyboard on my new phone. That i keep screwing up on

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Thanks Bernie, Everything takes time to learn. Hopefully I get enough practice with it to get better. I do enjoy running it. I will remove the slats under the cut on the next batch.

[@pulppeeler]

Nice to get tips to improve and I'm not familiar with this machine but that is a beautiful cut I would be super happy with!! I do all sorts of this stuff for my own mostly, sometimes for others, after 10 hour shifts in a sawmill so I hear you on 16+ hour days!! Keep up the awesome channel and thank you for sharing.

[@mikeking7470]

If you decide to put water in the slag pan a drain pipe would be a useful addition to the pan.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

After the first few cuts, I decided against water. There was no visible burning/melting of the pan, and the slag lifted right out. Also, I dont want that much humidity going into the shop. Hard enough keeping things from rusting.

[@SgtCude59]

Great upgrade on the tracer cutter

[@kimber1958]

Nicely done

[@gwharton68]

Old school wins again!

[@bostedtap8399]

Great cutting table update Josh, guessing you could use wooden patterns if needs must?. Great job and video, thanks for sharing. Regards John from the Black Country UK 🇬🇧 God save the Queen, long live the King.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

It requires a steel pattern, but they are not hard to make. Sorry to hear about the queen!

[@bostedtap8399]

@@TopperMachineLLC Many thanks for your kind words.

[@riliwi]

You weren't listening its magnetic! wood Ha

[@ValiRossi]

Great work. You have an amazing collection of machines.

[@TheUncleRuckus]

When it's 5am and you have to be up for work at 9am but Josh just released a new video. Hmm decisions, decisions... Ah screw it's only another 20 minutes, who needs sleep. 😂👍👍

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Sleep when we die, that's what I say. Lol

[@BillyTpower]

I laughed at his 12 hrs, slacker, lol. 12 hrs here on the farm is just about the time I get my second wind

[@ypaulbrown]

The guy who started Torchmate, now owned by Lincoln Electric.....was making kits back in the 80's for a pattern torch like yours, which I have used the Victor model like yours....he then, in about 1999 started making kits for his cnc plasma tables,,,,a do it your self setup, he hired a friend of mine tin North Carolina o build a few and I got to help with the builds......lost touch with him when I moved from North Carolina, next thing I see is Torchmate has gone big time......nice little setup, you should be able to cut at least 4 inch thick material with that set up......I cut some 2 inch with a Torchmate table and an oxy/fuel setup,

[@ypaulbrown]

wonderful...cheers from florida, Paul

[@GardenTractorBoy]

I like the upgrades and it looks like you have it working really well. That is such a useful tool

[@shawnchurch316]

Sounds like your neighbor should of built their cnc plasma table from scratch themselves. I spent $4500 building a 5x10 plasma table with servo motor ball screw drive system. It is actually the third table I built for myself since I wanted to make it bigger each time and add features. Since I built it myself I can solve any problem that could possibly arise.

[@joefalmo5528]

I just work half days, you know 12 hours

[@tentotwo8290]

Great video. Could you take away any of the slats under the work piece that don’t need to be there? Thanks for sharing 👍

[@RolandElliottFirstG]

Here in Aussie land we try and keep a balance of work and home or leisure time, life should be equall in both, not one-sided, some companies are also trying a 4 day work week which has apparently worked out very well and increased productivity for them. If you run your own business then its up to you to try and work out how to make a profit and stay in business while also having time for your family and time off for yourself, if its a matter of putting up your costings on jobs then do so. If you are very good at what you do or produce a superior product then you are in front of all those that undercut you, remember quality, trust, and doing it right, the customer will always come back while also spreading the word, they customer will never use a company or person a second time around that produces a poor quality job or product no matter what the cost.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I know it is hard for others to understand, but here we take leisure time in the summer months and work every waking hour in the winter. Winters are so miserable here, that working is the only thing you can really do besides lay around, get fat, and watch tv. We work much shorter days in the good couple of months and spend our free time doing what we enjoy.

[@kentuckytrapper780]

Looks great Josh, makes some great looking part's, my shop will always be manual machinery that's just my way..

[@joell439]

Simple may sometimes take longer…… but it works👍😎👍

[@pep2tize]

perhaps you could use the same setup to buildup a pattern like a metal printer !🤫 Z direction!

[@trashpanda9433]

What might be some easy additions for convenience and repeatability are a second set of adjustments, so that your main ones can stay stuck on settings you like, and the second turn on and off the torch, as well as a depth gauge for consistent offset (maybe use an Oring like they do for mountain bike shocks). And lastly, I'm not sure how well it would work, but starting the torch as it's already moving instead of lead in

[@lwilton]

You might experiment with a selection of smallish magnets to use for lead-ins. Just stick the magnet to the side of the pattern and start the follower on it, then pull it off the pattern before the follower gets back around to it. Obviously there will be some sort of interaction with the follower magnet, depending on how strong the magnetic blocks are and which pole you have stuck to the workpiece. But it might work out fine, and would be real simple.

[@JJW]

Hallo! How do you get those motors tho? I believe it has a magnet at the shaft tip isn't it

[@irishlocksmith]

You may want to cut that cable tie holding the documents and attachments before a rogue spark puts all in ash!

[@PaulCade]

I'm an Aussie and before I retired I was working 7 days a week, 90-100 hours a week running my repetition machine shop, 12 hour days would have been a sheer luxury 😂

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Running your own business is no joke. It takes way more time than anyone thinks. Even when the wife forces me to take a day off, I am still working on something. Phone calls, emails, writing articles for the magazine, you name it. Sleep when I die. LOL

[@MyMiniHomeWorkshop]

@@TopperMachineLLC Yeap, it all comes under what I call, "The joys of being self-employed"

[@TopperMachineLLC]

@@MyMiniHomeWorkshop those who are not self-employed will never understand.

[@edethrington6175]

I would remove some of those slats, with the thickness of that steel it won't sag, slats will last longer just a thought

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I have since been doing this. When I get into the thick stuff I'll need more, but for the 1/2" I use 2

[@cjtroutt8092]

Josh that sad that your Neighbor has so much problems with his plasma table. I built my and it been flawless running for 7 years I did up date the controller 3 years back and never look back I use it as portable system in my enclosed trailer on job site work and when done I just roll it out back in the shop.

[@BrucePierson]

Nice upgrades to the Pattern Torch. How about making some H shaped slats to keep the area under the cut clear, so that you aren't cutting your slats. It might also slightly improve the cut with not cutting the slat. This unit uses KIS technology: Keep It Simple. So it's likely to be more reliable than a highly technical CNC machine. Could also be that your neighbour bought the wrong brand of CNC machine?

[@randytravis3998]

one thing I would do if that was my machine would be too make it taller on the cutting table height ..I have neck and a lower back injury .. I don't bend over very well ..table a bit higher would cut down on the bending of your body .. just a thought ..

[@tiredoldmechanic1791]

I've always found that the smallest tip that will do the job cuts down on slag.

[@candyjanusch3716]

josh are the patters exactly the same size as finished product? or do they have to be scaled up or down for the thickness of the cut?

[@TopperMachineLLC]

they need to be scaled a bit. Based on torch kerf and stylus used. I will eventually get a spreadsheet together of data for pattern making to speed up the process.

[@johnjohannemann1220]

I enjoyed watching your upgrades but wonder why there was no drain valve installed in the catch pan to facilitate easy draining of the water?

[@TopperMachineLLC]

It will be added later. I needed to get up and running to bail out the CNC shop.

[@glennmoreland6457]

Good video When are you going to cut a drain hole in that pan...? 🇬🇧😐

[@lukepearson4899]

I was thinking about your slag pan ,Could you fit it with a drain valve to empty it when you decide to fill it with water to make it easier to remove for cleaning out , it may help extend the life of the pan

[@TopperMachineLLC]

It will be added soon, just needed to get it together for the bail out job.

[@tonyodempsey6755]

Why doesn't the torch also cut the slats?

[@mabmachine]

Love this. So with the CNC plasma you can define the kerf width when you post process the file to compensate for the plasma tip being used. What kind of adjustment does the pattern torch have for when you change cutting tips? I assume the pattern it cut to actual size.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

The pattern is made to the size needed and you must figure in stylus diameter and kerf. It is tricky, but with practice I should get a system and have a spreadsheet of dimensions.

[@deconteesawyer5758]

@@TopperMachineLLC A selection of stylus diameters would make life a lot easier than cobbling up new patterns especially when you have a to size part to use in the first place.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

@@deconteesawyer5758 I have all 3 of the standard sizes. Been thinking about making more.

[@curtishatfield9629]

How do you like your Edwards ironworker? I was thinking of purchasing one myself.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

It was a great investment. I bought it used from a local shop that closed. Had very little use on it. Owner retired due to health.

[@JamesSmith-jr2rc]

Are you also cutting into the slats? But they are replaceable.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Yes. They are a consumable.

[@dennisleadbetter7721]

Some sand in the tray might be a better option than water.

[@fricknjeep]

HI THERE good show both of you are good john

[@brianguest561]

great video I'm going to stop reading comments. Opinions are like arm pits everyone has 2 and they both stink . anyone with any sense knows you were joking.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Yeah, some people have no clue. I'm guessing that Kurtis actually worked 16-20 hours in that day with the out of shop stuff. Owning a business is a 24hour job. Even when sleeping you will never get away.

[@komoru]

What machines (brand and models) is your neighbor having problems with so I know what NOT to buy ?

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Laguna and Mazak.

[@alanm3438]

You sure do download your videos early in the morning. Good to see you and I am glad that you were able to help your neighbor. It is cool that you were able to get good advice from your viewers. I have a water table under my CNC Torchmate plasma cutter. I only cut thin steel. I like it because it helps to control the smoke and the water splashes on the steel to reduce warping. I used to cut a lot of metal art and a lead in reduces damage to the part. When I was working, I ran a old Strippit punch and laser machine. I got replaced by a new laser and a younger operator and that machined cuts 1200 inches per minute. Nice job on the cut table. Thanks for the video!!!😃😃😃

[@berniejanssen2863]

Actually I should have said mill scsle instead of slag. When the flame hits itwill chip off and clog the tip.

[@vesslewiththepesstle]

Having his best girl and his dog at his side must make Curtis more productive than you perhaps

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Having Karen do his filming definitely helps. But being the only shop in a 50 mile radius makes me super busy also.

[@jiminalaska]

I could run that, no programming !

[@ypaulbrown]

12 hours is a Half Day.......haha.....

[@neiljensen9585]

12 hours is only half a day lol

[@bchdsailor]

I do hope your comment about Kurtis at CEE was a joke or was a typical US primal scream? There is an enormous difference between working to live and living to work - efficiency is a major part of the equation 🙂

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Yes, it was a joke. Although, I am working stupid hours as there is severe shortages in this country right now. I hope that changes, but I will keep plugging away until it does.

[@bchdsailor]

@@TopperMachineLLC I'm a Norwegian, started working as an apprentice (ship engine mechanic) back in 1972, since 1981 working in oil service (Well Intervention) - maxed out some 3200hours in a year. Last 20years onshore as operation support, office hours but always available, retiring 1st of January 2023.

[@tapplyfamily4020]

OMG. Surely you can tell the difference between having a “go” at someone and when It’s serious. Love both the channels @CEE and Josh. Can’t wait for Fridays to learn a lot.

[@bchdsailor]

@@tapplyfamily4020 Just had to get it confirmed, both channels are on my "have to watch" list

[@adamculpepper5571]

That "typical US primal scream" sure came in handy for you guys in the 40's, didnt it? I guess snarky eurotrash comments didnt save the day? I know its trendy for you guys to sneer at us, but you really should learn to respect your betters. Concentrate on what matters and maybe youll be more than a footnote in the history books.

[@rogerdeane3608]

I also watched Kurtis's video it was based on what he done in the work shop in 12hrs. I would say he would put in many more Hrs at home with office work customer liaising planning etc. Your line of work is no where near the level of what Kurtis does.

[@pogan1983]

I am surprised by Josh's comment on Kurtis's worktime. I used to work all day long and it burnt me out. If needed and sporadically, it's fine to work-sleep-work, but in the long run it's detrimental to the body and the mind. There's nothing to be proud of working more than others if you see yourself better than others. On the contrary - sometimes it means that the career path has led to workaholism and wasn't the best of all to take because where's any time for proper relax and having fun? I have learnt about the price to pay the hard way. In other words, working hard is commendable, and I am still proud of my achievements, however working smart is way above it. P.S. I mean no harm, it's just what I think.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

If you don't like what I do, don't watch or comment stupidly. It was a joke. He understands that.

[@ericmcrae7758]

I also watch Kurtis and Karen along with Uncle Keith and Abom who is now traing on CNC machines. All there guys have my admiration and support for the pleasure i get.

[@ВоваВарзугин]

если лошара то это навсегда)))

[@swarf4083]

When or if you become the craftsman that Cutis is you’ll only need 12 hours a day

[@TopperMachineLLC]

If I am really that bad, why do you watch? Obviously, I know what I am doing if I am growing my business and channel. F Off!

[@swarf4083]

Wow. You have really tinder feelings. I simply said if or when you get to the level that Curtis is then 12 hours will be sufficient. If you spent as much time honing your skills as you do pissing and moaning about not getting the attention of other creators you might turn into something. Your negative attitude towards everything won’t help you.

[@ElmerJFudd-oi9kj]

That remark of the working hours is really kind of stupid. 16 hours of work and eight hours of sleep leaves no time to eat drink shopping household dog walking washing taking a piss or shit. Josh you either exaggerate or lead a filthy boring exhausting life.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

You are right. I actually only sleep about 3-4 hours a night now. I am trying to cut back on work, but the problem is that I want to be debt free in the next few years. I could use some help here, but that is not possible.

[@ElmerJFudd-oi9kj]

@@TopperMachineLLC Just stay healthy my friend.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

@@ElmerJFudd-oi9kj the long days will come to an end soon enough. Then it's time to reassess my life. Lol. Getting too old to waste my life working.

[@ElmerJFudd-oi9kj]

@@TopperMachineLLC Wight you are, and its wabbit hunting season soon!