[CarveOne]

Yes, adding the bevel "on the vector" and going deeper gave me what I was wanting to do, but when I cut another test tray I found out that it is very critical to center the front and back exactly centered in the same place. It doesn't have to be off by much at all to have the front side bevel wider on one end of the tray. 1/64" error is very noticeable. It isn't noticeable if I just round it over with a trim router or sanding block. On this one I didn't re-zero on the back side before cutting it. I have the piece of plywood nested into a 90 degree corner on my table top.

I stained this one with Early American just to show the restaurant manager what it will look like when the text cuts are made darker by the same liquid stain that is on the rest of the surfaces. They will look pretty good when the cooking oil saturates the wood from use. He should probably not stain the pockets and just wipe cooking oil on the stained parts before use.

I have a small backlash issue along the left/right axis (X) that leaves marks with either type of tool path. That will be cured when I upgrade to an all new PC 7518 Z assembly (I hope) but I don't know when that might be. For now I'll try reducing the step-over from 70% to 50 % and see if that helps. It's done with a Bosch 3/4" router bit.

I made the standard tabs 0.15" thick x 0.75" wide to make sure that cutting from front and back left enough tab thickness. You can do the same with a end mill, but it will leave a step if the front and back cuts aren't dead centered with each other.

[tauntdesigns]

Does the stains put off any gases?

[CarveOne]

Does the stains put off any gases?

Yes. Definitely. It is an oil based stain. The smell is gone after a few days though. Putting it in the sun to dry speeds up the drying time and it goes away sooner. I don't know if a water based stain would cause swelling and warping. Never tried any.

[CarveOne]

Nice job And thanks for the pics! I'm sure the video will be great!

The video has been created and saved. Now I need to find time to upload it to YouTube and link to it here.

[CarveOne]

Here is the link to the Fajita Tray video. Hope it is worth the wait. A surprise ending for you too.

2014 Fajita Tray Video - YouTube

[Donny M. Carter]

That's one smooth operating machine! Thanks for the great video CarveOne!

[CarveOne]

Thanks Donny,

It has a pleasure building it multiple times to get it looking and working like this. This has been an unintended "start big and go bigger" exercise.

[CarveOne]

I mentioned in earlier posts that I was going to take a break from the CNC projects for a while and now have the chance to do so. Looks like I'll be working most days at the LSA America airplane factory for 1-1/2 to 3 months machining parts until they can hire a full time machinist. They have 15 airplanes to build with a renewable contract for more. They called yesterday morning.

I helped them when they first started the business. Might be fun. They have a 15x60 lathe and a large knee mill now. It's a temporary job that is expected to last 45 to 90 days. I needed a break from the home project work anyway. The extra income will undoubtedly spawn some new CNC home projects.

[Jason Marsha]

What happens if you are better than the other machinist that comes? They might make you an offer you cannot refuse.


Jason

[tauntdesigns]

Sounds like fun.

I'd like to make some money for new projects too.

Cheers,

[CarveOne]

What happens if you are better than the other machinist that comes? They might make you an offer you cannot refuse.


Jason

From the description of him, it sounds like he is a real machinist by trade, not a self taught hobbyist like me. He's someone that is used to holding tight tolerances for production work while I'm someone that just makes usable parts for my own needs. I have the job offer because I did similar work for them when they first set up business. I was recommended to them by an electrician friend that did some wiring upgrades for the old building.they leased. They have interviewed a few applicants and found that the applicants were not as well trained as they claimed to be. Well, getting familiar with any complicated machine that is new to me isn't going to go fast with me either. The lathe I used today is a 16 x 60 and has some features that my 12x36 doesn't have. Their lathe has X and Y digital readout, but no tail stock digital readout. I needed that for the parts I made today. Can't complain though. My lathe has no digital readouts at all. I don't normally work with metric measurements but that's what all of the parts on these airplanes use. I didn't find it to be any problem though. Some of the text on the part drawing was a little hard to read if you can't read Czech Republic standard notation. That's where the airplane was originally designed and built.

I don't think this small company can make an offer that good.

[CarveOne]

Sounds like fun.

I'd like to make some money for new projects too.

Cheers,

I think it will be fun to some degree. Challenging for some of the parts, and boring to some degree also. I'm not fond of making the same thing over and over. Standing up all day in essentially one spot is going to be hard to get used to.

[tauntdesigns]

I think it will be fun to some degree. Challenging for some of the parts, and boring to some degree also. I'm not fond of making the same thing over and over. Standing up all day in essentially one spot is going to be hard to get used to.

It sounded fun until you brought up the boring things I'd forgot about.

[CarveOne]

We added another layer of foam padding on the floor where I stand today and I picked up some gel insoles for the work shoes on the way home. Those should help a lot.

I don't think they would go for a lounge chair, Dropcam with big screen monitor, and remote control for the lathe. I wish my Harbor Freight 12x36 lathe ran as smooth as this one..It's a GMC model GML-1660GD.

[revwarguy]

Hi C1, long time, no see!

How goes building Allegros? Saw them at Oshkosh and thought of you, wondered which part you made - probably engine parts, no?

Made a "wedding box" for a family member and could have used some advice - despite my best efforts at dust control and wipe on techniques, I am still plagued by dust in my clear finishes. Its not horrible, but I find it irritating. Still want to use a gel stain, but I am looking for something less problematic than poly. Tried Danish Oil over the gel, but it didn't work so well even if I let the gel dry for 2 weeks. Any ideas?

Anyway, hope the grind of standing hasn't been too bad for you,

[revwarguy]

PS You going to the Woodworking in America show?