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Friday, August 14, 2015

Destroy and repurpose



I got bored and went to work on our old washer with the cut off wheel and cordless dremel last night. It was hot, miserable, and humid down here in the gumbo mud. Just the way I like it because everyone leaves me alone cept' for my hounds and the SHLBGS brings me a cold sip every now and then of her sweet tea. It never hurts to get outside and open up the pores a bit. I love to be in my barn and I'd sleep out there if I had a bed in it.

I now clearly understand what makes these things so damn heavy. It ain't the drum folks. It's the concrete blocks, motor, and casing injected with concrete that goes around the drum to keep it weighted and from beating itself to death as it spins. I'd say I unbolted at least 70 lbs out from around the drum to bust her loose. The motor is going to go to good use too. I have plans on making it a stationary table router with the help of my welder/machinist bro who favors drinking my wine, a lot. Good folks to know them machinist cats they be. A quick disconnect or set screw bit holder can be easily machined and attached to the shaft says he, and the mounts on the motor will allow me to anchor it pretty good to a solid table for use. It's not rocket science he says. The door is going on the chirrens playhouse as a porthole, starboard side.

 


 
SHLBGS comes out to bring me a sip and see just what exactly her live in gorilla has been banging and clanging on since he disappeared earlier to the comforts of The Backyard... Still not sure what I did to win that golden heart, but whatever it was, it worked.


And of course MD, my super sweet micro mini Pit Bull Bitch, decided to come see what her pop was up to as well. She's damn near blind from being fed by rat poison on purpose by the piece of shit who owned her previously and dumped her on the side of the road to die while pregnant. She's come a long way since we rescued and took her in. To see her outside after dark means she was really really interested in what I was up to. We don't skip chest and arm day around these parts... Hold me closer tiny pit bull, count the headlights on the highway, lay me down in sheets of linen, you had a busy day today...


 



It came out okay I guess. I even saved the belt pulley and slipped it back over the drum shaft reversed to give it a little base to sit on. It lights up like a disco ball all around it. It's stainless steel so I'm not real sure how it's going to end up after a good and hot red oak fire burning in it, but it didn't cost me anything to make but a little sweat equity either. Here's to getting your hands dirty and creating something useful... Y'all have a good one.

8 comments:

Phil said...

Lol!
That drum looks like an industrial strength cheese grater!

Stackz O Magz said...

Phil I thought the same thing, or even a damn colander you keep under the sink. When it cools off here in January, I'll finally light it and see how it really looks with a fire in it. We are under a burn ban anyways.

North Texan said...

Looks good Stax.

PioneerPreppy said...

Interesting. I have heard of people turning old washing machines into honey extractors somehow. Now that I see all the pieces I see how it might work.

JC said...

The drums are often used as crab traps, or moulting shelters (soft-shell crab anyone?) Gotta be an app for the timer switch - just gimme a couple minutes. The solenoid valves for the water supply? I'm sure you can think of a dozen uses. Not to mention the waste water pump...

Stackz O Magz said...

Good points JC. I was actually thinking about using the waste water pump for a circulation pump on a hydroponic tomato garden I've got in mind to build for the SHLBGS. Put it on a timer to flush out the old water twice a day to be refilled with fresh vitamin filled water. I swear, I'll have the general store of the apocalypse if it ever comes to that. I have so much crap piled up that can be reused it ain't even funny.

Stackz O Magz said...

My guess is using the rotation to separate honey from comb. But it'd get messy real quick if it spun too fast I think.

Anonymous said...

On that router table...I built a plywood extension on the end of my table saw. It gives me extra room on the table when I don't have the router mounted and it lets me use the rip fence for the router guide. Nice work BTW