Tools of the Trade

[capnswanny]

I'm no seasoned professional....here's last nights late night-6 pack idea. Quick built, prop sharpening stand.
Worked out well....beat holding it in my hand or using the vice.
Corey

[capnswanny]

I had noticed that too, thanks for the tip Mike!

[kevinpratt823]

Just bought this
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-inch-...nder-2485.html
and this
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-inch-...her-94071.html
along with some polishing compound, so far I am very pleased.

[kevinpratt823]

my prop stationSAM_0114.jpg
I keep the small blue sponge wet and use it to cool the props in between to keep things moving along, and the 2"x4" setup I had around, so I use it to place a piece of fine grip paper over the edge for fine tuning the edges, the litle buffing wheel on the grinder works nicely.

[twissted]

I like your station. I would like to try that belt sander. Is that a Harbor Freight item?

[kevinpratt823]

I like your station. I would like to try that belt sander. Is that a Harbor Freight item?

Yes, I just posted a link for a coupon they sent me, $35! Print it and go get it, great for rough work. The belt it comes with is 80 or 120 grit I think, your prop will be ruined quick, I got some finer 1"x30" belts on ebay. The little grinder/buffer was also from Harbor Frieght, as was the polishing compound, and a set of $3 needle files, but they're pretty rough.

[siberianhusky]

What do you do to control the dust? That stuff is seriously bad for you, looks like your just firing it all over the place!
It's not only the dust while working it's the residual dust you can't clean up that could seriously harm your family!
Do some reading about the dangers of berrylium, it's nasty stuff and the effects are cumulative, you do not want friends, family, pets inhaling that stuff.
Personally I will not use power tools to do prop work, impossible to clean up properly afterwards. For me it's all files and wet/dry paper over a tub of water to keep everything wet, LOL then the water gets dumped down the wash tub and everything well rinsed, not sure what else to do with it!
A wet sponge will not do much at all to control the dust. I still wear a full respirator and surgical gloves even though I use all hand tools in water.
Nasty, nasty sickness, not at all the way I want to go out! And I certainly don't want to poison family members for a toy boat prop!

[dana]

I agree with Siberian. Beryllium is extremely hazardous to health. Hope you at least wear a respirator

[kevinpratt823]

I wear a mask, and vacuum up with a wet vac with water in it, covering the outlet of the vac with a dust mask just in case. I'm looking to hook the vac directly up to the belt sander as well. You're right, I do need some better provisions.

[dana]

Kevin, especially with your fish tanks. Copper is a killer of fish. Don't want Any of that stuff near those nice tanks man

[siberianhusky]

WOW especially if you have salt water reef tanks! I miss my tanks, no saltwater, a few 100 gallon+ freshwater tanks.
Too many hobbies, something had to go, still have a big box of stuff in the attic, really just need a tank again............

[ray schrauwen]

I usually suit up in old clothes, respirator and cover my lap with a towel. I also wear gloves.

And people wonder why a SBP cost so much more than a raw prop...

[kevinpratt823]

My reef tanks have seen better days, but I do still have about 800gal of saltwater circulating my home, including a few barren frag/farm tanks in the basement, never even thought about the copper.........RC has taken full hold on me now, and some tanks will be broken down this winter anyhow, including the basement system.
I have only been doing props a couple months now, and I will definitely work the bugs out of my system, but I do not intend to go overboard and have a full on hazmat site going on. I understand it is hazardous, and will fine tune the precautions I take, but I will not become paranoid about it. If I had children in the house on the other hand, things may be different.

[Basstronics]

I spent some time with a prop and a file today. I got back to it after a long break. I took a X430 TFL knock off prop, detongued it, thinned it out, sharpened it, balanced then polished it with upto 600 grit wet dry. Total time- approx 4 hrs into it.

I went to Harbor Freight today. I looked at the deal Tony has, but I didnt want the hassle of a big vise. SO I bought the belt sander. It was on sale for $40 so it was painless. I removed the backing plate which will allow the belt to flex to the shape of the blade. Sure I will have to do the one face manually, but thats only a little work.

[ray schrauwen]

Are those your beef jerky pictures? If so do you have the recipe?