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New from Old / Re: Restoring an Old, Tired Mini-Dozer
« Last post by awemawson on June 25, 2026, 02:48:56 PM »I've seen far worse stuff come back to life - I'll be watching with interest.
Recent Posts
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New from Old / Restoring an Old, Tired Mini-Dozer
« Last post by rleete on June 25, 2026, 10:27:51 AM »I recently bought a Struck MD mini-dozer that has seen better days. Missing parts, lots of tacky modifications and plenty of rust.
As it was when I bought it:
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Since then, I have completely disassembled everything. I cut the flimsy backrest and rusted seat off and cut out the rusted back panel. There is more rust to cut away, and I have acquired an 11 ga. steel panel to replace those sections and plug the multiple holes cut into it all over. Once that is done it will be primered and painted.
The plan is to get a zero turn mower and use the hydraulic drive from that to power it.
As it was when I bought it:
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Since then, I have completely disassembled everything. I cut the flimsy backrest and rusted seat off and cut out the rusted back panel. There is more rust to cut away, and I have acquired an 11 ga. steel panel to replace those sections and plug the multiple holes cut into it all over. Once that is done it will be primered and painted.
The plan is to get a zero turn mower and use the hydraulic drive from that to power it.
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Member Videos / USS Monitor Building Project Video
« Last post by Rich Carlstedt on June 22, 2026, 08:41:26 PM »As many of you know, I built a miniature replica of the Monitors Steam Engine(s) 20 years ago.
Also many years of research went into that project as there were no detailed drawings until now of it's construction
The Mariners Museum in Newport News Virginia is the repository of the engine remains and are doing the recovery work
on it's conservation. They are doing a video series (4) on the engine using my input and can be seen at
the link below. _ it is part one of the 4 parts and the other 3 will eventually be released
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nnP5UBQRPnmVQW8_SHNqUIAWkp6mXNxY/view
I also did a Lecture a few weeks ago at the Museum on how I did the 40 years of research in order to draw the engine and to build a miniature replica that you may find of interest.
Rich
Also many years of research went into that project as there were no detailed drawings until now of it's construction
The Mariners Museum in Newport News Virginia is the repository of the engine remains and are doing the recovery work
on it's conservation. They are doing a video series (4) on the engine using my input and can be seen at
the link below. _ it is part one of the 4 parts and the other 3 will eventually be released
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nnP5UBQRPnmVQW8_SHNqUIAWkp6mXNxY/view
I also did a Lecture a few weeks ago at the Museum on how I did the 40 years of research in order to draw the engine and to build a miniature replica that you may find of interest.
Rich
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Member Videos / Flame Licker Engine & USA made 1930's Empire Water Pump
« Last post by Jim Dobson on June 21, 2026, 06:38:33 PM »Had some fun setting this up and wasn't sure if the Retrol VE 01 Flame Licker would be able to run the old 1930's to 1950's Empire Water Pump Model Number 50, but it ran it effortlessly and it was a blast seeing it running the pump from the brass drive wheel that I modded the engine with and hobbed it so that it would grip the drive belt.
I did a restoration on the Empire Pump some years and when I resprayed it, I didn't respray the beautiful brass spigot which I think looks better left unpainted.
I did a restoration on the Empire Pump some years and when I resprayed it, I didn't respray the beautiful brass spigot which I think looks better left unpainted.
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CNC / Re: 3D printer tool changer
« Last post by shipto on June 21, 2026, 07:54:18 AM »Magnetic mounts are not a great idea , IMO.Yeah I haven't got to the extruder mounting yet this idea was just for docking the head while not in use.
You might want to go to three point {kinetic) fixing , to give better repeatability. There are considerable forces on the print head at large accelerations , hence the positive locks used on prusa and snapmaker machines, thst might cause issues with a spring loaded catch.
My main source of inspiration is this guy:
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CNC / Re: 3D printer tool changer
« Last post by BillTodd on June 21, 2026, 01:26:32 AM »Magnetic mounts are not a great idea , IMO.
You might want to go to three point {kinetic) fixing , to give better repeatability. There are considerable forces on the print head at large accelerations , hence the positive locks used on prusa and snapmaker machines, thst might cause issues with a spring loaded catch.
You might want to go to three point {kinetic) fixing , to give better repeatability. There are considerable forces on the print head at large accelerations , hence the positive locks used on prusa and snapmaker machines, thst might cause issues with a spring loaded catch.
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Member Videos / Re: My week this week, my workshop videos!
« Last post by kayzed1 on June 20, 2026, 03:36:44 PM »Got this:
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Member Videos / Re: My week this week, my workshop videos!
« Last post by hermetic on June 20, 2026, 11:08:19 AM »Hi Folks,
Football maybe a game of two half?s, but this was a week of two days due to me being down with a stomach bug! Thursday I finished the Fender Guitar amp, and it has gone back to its owner, and Friday I went to my mates house in the wilds of Easy Yorkshire to fix a three phase spindle moulder which had developed an annoying intermittent fault! Looks like the monsoon is almost over and its back to scorchio summer weather!
Phil In the wet oven of East Yorkshire!
Football maybe a game of two half?s, but this was a week of two days due to me being down with a stomach bug! Thursday I finished the Fender Guitar amp, and it has gone back to its owner, and Friday I went to my mates house in the wilds of Easy Yorkshire to fix a three phase spindle moulder which had developed an annoying intermittent fault! Looks like the monsoon is almost over and its back to scorchio summer weather!
Phil In the wet oven of East Yorkshire!
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CNC / 3D printer tool changer
« Last post by shipto on June 19, 2026, 12:56:49 PM »I have been thinking lately about making a tool changing 3d printer and searching for inspiration, I found some with many (as in loads) of magnets but I think I may have a solution which would require none and I thought I would float the idea.
first off the mounting hardware will be the type of screws used to mount hdd's in place but without the rubber bits, the tool head would be inserted into the dock and moved sideways. rather than just a flat surface for the underside on the screw to sit on there is a recess this with the aid of a spring loaded pad will lock the tool head in place, see cad pic below.
This would mean that unless there was pressure to move the tool head back a touch it would be locked in place. I have printed up a test piece and included a picture this will not do as it is because the slots are in the way of the cooler channel.
first off the mounting hardware will be the type of screws used to mount hdd's in place but without the rubber bits, the tool head would be inserted into the dock and moved sideways. rather than just a flat surface for the underside on the screw to sit on there is a recess this with the aid of a spring loaded pad will lock the tool head in place, see cad pic below.
This would mean that unless there was pressure to move the tool head back a touch it would be locked in place. I have printed up a test piece and included a picture this will not do as it is because the slots are in the way of the cooler channel.
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Member Videos / Re: OKMO RETROL 1/4 Scale Lister D Engine with some Mods.
« Last post by Jim Dobson on June 15, 2026, 11:41:57 PM »The method of using a tap in the chuck of the lathe and the pulley on post for hobbing works really well. I made this brass pulley up this morning and hobbed it.
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