INTO REDGUM
by John
Maybe that’s what I meant with the “Interregnum” post.
This is a 20 tonne hydraulic press, bending 3mm steel.
Nothing too special. Except that the anvil is made of wood.
The bar is 45×45 steel, machined to an 80 degree edge, and that steel bar is pushing into it with all of 20 tonnes. And at the end of it, a nice 90 degree fold in the steel, an not a mark or a dent in the redgum. Redgum is amazing.
I used the wood because I did not have a piece of steel large enough to hand, and I knew from past experience just how tough this wood is. Our house rested on it for 80 years (wooden stumps, changed for concrete due to under ground rotting.)
Another photo follows to show some details.
johnsmachines 
More has an e at the end
Peter W Viggers 0429 184 092
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So did Thomas and he had his head chopped off!
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So does that make woodworking a more difficult pursuit? Working with Australian timbers that can challenge steel? š Redgum is not the hardest timber out there either!
We don’t have the luxury of a homogenous material that forms great ribbons of swarf from a cut, instead it tries to bite, sending tools and timber flying. š
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The hardest wood is easier than the easiest metal!
Iron wood (not iron bark) is the hardest wood I have machined, and it was tricky, because it changed shape dramatically after machining.
Those ribbons of swarf have razor sharp edges, and are hot.
And tools and work go flying in metalwork too. (less often as I get older and more cautious… I know how long flesh takes to heal).
And steel cups and warps and moves after machining…. just smaller measurements.
It is nice to machine wood in the steel working lathe and mill. The material just melts away. And at that micron accuracy.
Wood and metal both have challenges. I think that the degree of difficulty is largely related to the degree of perfection which we aim for, so is a personal thing. I still enjoy both, which is the main thing.
Thanks for the comments. Keep them coming!
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One of these days, I am going to have to work in both camps. As you once wrote – there is a great deal of benefit to the woodworking workshop to have the ability to work metal. I am constantly running up against problems requiring a metal solution (jigs, repairs, tool ideas etc), and have no way to make what I need.
A lathe and mill sound very tempting. Wonder what Louise would think?
Stu’s Metalworking Shed?
Stu’s Even Bigger Shed?
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Go for it!
I took out a loan for my first metalworking lathe & mill & horizontal bandsaw and tooling, and paid them off over 4 years. They were new, and because I knew nothing, I bought them “off the shelf”. They were not the best investment, and after a few years I parted company with all of them, except the horizontal bandsaw.
Having caught the metalworking disease, I now have 9 lathes, and while you might think that is excessive, I cannot bear to part with any of them. They were all bought second hand, mostly ebayed. Admittedly 3 of them are tiny jewellers lathes, which I rarely use but often admire like a work of art.
Now I have an additional disease…. CNC. One of the 9 lathes is a 30 year old tech school training CNC lathe, from which a talented friend removed the electronic innards, (thanks again Stuart T) and replaced them with new items, so it runs on Mach3 software.
CNC is different sort of fun. You spend a lot of time at the computer, then watch in fascination while the CNC machine goes through its motions to produce the part. Many an evening I have gone to the workshop at midnight, having done the design and programming in front of the TV, then produced the part or parts in the wee small hours.
SWMBO is also my main impediment to purchases. Probably just as well.
CNC mill or a trip to Europe darling? Oh OK, thanks, you prefer me to get a mill (he dreams).
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Good post however , I was wanting to know if yoou could write a litte more on this subject?
I’d be very thankfl iff you could elaborate
a little bit more. Thanks!
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Not sure which subject you are asking about. Could you be more specific?
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Your style is really unique compared to other people I’ve read stuff from.
I appreciate you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I’ll just bookmark this site.
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