I'm a bit of an old hand with woodworking and construction, looking for a new online home

I worked in some shops in Tucson for several years between careers, that was a financial struggle but a great way to get a ton of experience so I've never regretted it a bit!

My day job is as an engineer for an observatory, keeping a large telescope ready for operation each night.

Welcome.  Have a seat and make yourself at home.  Look forward to your participation.

Welcome to the forum. by the way we like pictures

Welcome, John.  What and where is the observatory where you work in NM?

Thanks guys.

 

Gene - It's on the mountain next to Alamogordo.  Owned by a research consortium with a dozen or more member institutions.  I don't bother remembering all of them, but they are all universities.  I used to work at radio telescopes in AZ, both owned and run by the U of A, one on Kitt Peak and the other on Mt. Graham.  Couldn't beat the schedule as a telescope operator - 12 hour shift, living facilities on site, 7 days on 7 days off.  I got a lot of woodworking done on the off week!

 

Pictures - How about a couple machines I just drove up to CO to get in April?

 

A Northfield 12" heavy jointer and a PM160 planer.  I have better wheels on the planer now, still figuring out a mobile base for the jointer, previous owner's efforts are too tall for my taste.  I may have to break down and buy some steel for it, the scraps I have on hand aren't inspiring me.  The jointer has a single phase motor that the previous owner installed, planer is 3 phase so it's going to need a new motor or a variable frequency drive.

 

My shop is down in a walk out basement so these may have to live in the garage.  I can get an old Toyota pickup up the trail to the shop, but these are too heavy for the little crane I have in the Toyota.

Welcome to the forum. I love that aircraft carrier jointer you have, be sure to post pics after your new base is on; I agree that one the PO made would make things a little tough.

Hey welcome to our community JWD! Great to have ya aboard and nice looking old machinery you got there! Take up a seat and participate often and regularly if you will.

If you need any help finding your way around here just ask, we all are ready to jump in and help  

Welcome board JWD.  Some great looking old machinery have there. That joiner looks like it would fit wall to wall in my shop. Great group of guys here;

Welcome aboard. Looks like you have an attachment to old Arn. Do you have more of it in the shop or just adding to what you have?

Yes, I definitely prefer old machines, I have a bunch more smaller ones in the shop.  PM100 planer and an old Rockwell/Crescent 8" jointer are the heaviest.  Unisaw from the 50's or 60's with a new motor replacing the old repulsion-induction motor.  Most of my old machines came from a used tool vendor in Tucson, it was amazing some of the stuff that would turn up in his store.

 

The main thing that attracted my eye on that Northfield is the little lever near the bottom of the outfeed table ways.  That dips the table about 1.5 degrees from horizontal for making sprung joints.  Only company I ever saw build that in.  I don't think the previous owner knew what it was for, he mentioned having to shim the tables to level

Beds are a bit rough but still flat.  Dark brown like an old musket.  Doesn't hurt anything as long as they are flat, just offends the eye.

John, was that tool vendor in Tucson Kents?

Yes, sure was.  I still go in when I'm back in town, though there's not much I need any more.  I rarely get over that way now, my mom lived in Tucson until she passed in 2018, I used to go over at least once a year when she was still alive.  But I still have a couple friends there so I try to go over and visit once every few years.

2 hours ago, JWD said:

Yes, sure was.  I still go in when I'm back in town, though there's not much I need any more.  I rarely get over that way now, my mom lived in Tucson until she passed in 2018, I used to go over at least once a year when she was still alive.  But I still have a couple friends there so I try to go over and visit once every few years.

Next time you're coming this way, pm me. We could have a coffee.

36 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Next time you're coming this way, pm me. We could have a coffee.

Sounds good, I will let you know.

Late to the party @JWD. I suppose the donuts are gone? Welcome to The Patriot Woodworker John. Great to have you on board and posting away. I think you'll find this a great place to hang out and share what's happening in your shop as well as life in general. Glad you found us.

 

Awesome looking old 'arn you have as well as your description of other orphans. It is addicting for sure.

 

And speaking of donuts, new guy always provides donuts. Your day is tomorrow. Just leave them in the break room. I'll take care of the distribution.