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Since it looks like Tom's Tool Store has gone the way of many of our old suppliers. I used the Way Back Machine Internet search engine and located his old site. I was then able to download his old online catalog so I have the information and photos for the Unimats.?
I did the same thing for the old Unimat Parts, both of these old sites are full of great photos and information. You can go to these sites and save each page and create a folder to keep this information.
It looks like Blue Ridge Machnery also no longer has any Unimat parts.
Jeff
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So we identify who/what no longer exists for Unimat supplies.? Now what is the conclusion?? There is nowhere to buy anything?? Do Unimat owners buy everything on Ebay only?? Does this mean that all of us should stock up this way on any Unimat item that we might conceivably need in the future?
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Ebay: Yes Stock up: Yes, yrs ago.
So we identify who/what no longer exists for Unimat supplies.? Now what is the conclusion?? There is nowhere to buy anything?? Do Unimat owners buy everything on Ebay only?? Does this mean that all of us should stock up this way on any Unimat item that we might conceivably need in the future?
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Shouldn't you all be making your own parts by now ?
On Saturday, 26 August 2023 at 19:02:43 BST, John K5MO <johnk5mo@...> wrote:
Ebay: Yes Stock up: Yes, yrs ago.
So we identify who/what no longer exists for Unimat supplies.? Now what is the conclusion?? There is nowhere to buy anything?? Do Unimat owners buy everything on Ebay only?? Does this mean that all of us should stock up this way on any Unimat item that we might conceivably need in the future?
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This idea of making your own parts is too difficult and time consuming.? I have lathes, etc., to make things for my hobby, model trains.? My hobby is not to be supporting the Unimat.? Many Unimats and their accessories I keep as a collector.? When I want to do work, I frequently turn to other machines:? Emco, Sherline, Cowells, Taig.? I am fortunate to have them, but they are a lifetime of collecting.
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? ? ? ?I have reached an age where time is not unlimited.? Therefore I prefer to use my time for making things other than more lathe accessories.? YouTube often shows me ways of machining something w/o giving in to the temptation of acquiring additional lathe tooling.....
This idea of making your own parts is too difficult and time consuming.? I have lathes, etc., to make things for my hobby, model trains.? My hobby is not to be supporting the Unimat.? Many Unimats and their accessories I keep as a collector.? When I want to do work, I frequently turn to other machines:? Emco, Sherline, Cowells, Taig.? I am fortunate to have them, but they are a lifetime of collecting.
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Yes, we probably should be making our own parts for our own machines,?although not all Unimat owners are willing to expend their time on making their own?parts for their machines. I for one enjoy building my own Unimat parts. I like the freedom from reliance?on others for my replacement parts. I do?not need to be dependent?on others and the?high prices they charge.
On Saturday, August 26, 2023, 2:46 PM, Jeffrey Kropp <jeffreykropp1@...> wrote: ? ? ? ?I have reached an age where time is not unlimited.? Therefore I prefer to use my time for making things other than more lathe accessories.? YouTube often shows me ways of machining something w/o giving in to the temptation of acquiring additional lathe tooling..... This idea of making your own parts is too difficult and time consuming.? I have lathes, etc., to make things for my hobby, model trains.? My hobby is not to be supporting the Unimat.? Many Unimats and their accessories I keep as a collector.? When I want to do work, I frequently turn to other machines:? Emco, Sherline, Cowells, Taig.? I am fortunate to have them, but they are a lifetime of collecting.
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?SMALL TURRET TOOL POST PLANS?
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What sort of stuff should we be making? Bearings? Drive belts? I grind my own hss, but i¡¯m not making any end mills or drill bits.
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On Aug 26, 2023, at 8:54 PM, OldToolmaker via groups.io <old_toolmaker@...> wrote: ?
Yes, we probably should be making our own parts for our own machines,?although not all Unimat owners are willing to expend their time on making their own?parts for their machines. I for one enjoy building my own Unimat parts. I like the freedom from reliance?on others for my replacement parts. I do?not need to be dependent?on others and the?high prices they charge. Dick
On Saturday, August 26, 2023, 2:46 PM, Jeffrey Kropp <jeffreykropp1@...> wrote: ? ? ? ?I have reached an age where time is not unlimited.? Therefore I prefer to use my time for making things other than more lathe accessories.? YouTube often shows me ways of machining something w/o giving in to the temptation of acquiring additional lathe tooling..... This idea of making your own parts is too difficult and time consuming.? I have lathes, etc., to make things for my hobby, model trains.? My hobby is not to be supporting the Unimat.? Many Unimats and their accessories I keep as a collector.? When I want to do work, I frequently turn to other machines:? Emco, Sherline, Cowells, Taig.? I am fortunate to have them, but they are a lifetime of collecting.
-- http://www.homemadetools.net/ forum/ ?OFF-SET-tailstock-center-65965#post105972?SMALL TURRET TOOL POST PLANS??LARGE TURRET TOOL POST PLANS?MINI-LATHE CARRIAGE LOCK PLANS?SMALL QC TOOL POST PLANS??QUICK CHANGE LATHE TURRET?MINI LATHE COMPOUND PIVOT MODIFICATION
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This is like most hobbies where people have a range of interests and points of view.? None are inherently wrong.? One person's view may be different from that of another, but that does not negate anyone's view.
In the business world, "make or buy" decisions tend to be strongly based on hard facts like cost, time, and in-house capability.? In a hobby, nobody has to follow these rules.? They can do whatever they want.? And not do whatever they don't want..
For example, on the largest mini-lathe group, there are countless projects being done to improve the quality of the lathe and make all manner of attachments.? This exists to the point where you seldom see a non-lathe project actually made on the lathe.? And there is nothing wrong with that.? Many are first time lathe owners where the lathe itself becomes a project and the get a lot of fun and satisfaction.
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
On Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 07:59:05 PM PDT, John Entwistle via groups.io <jentwistle3@...> wrote:
What sort of stuff should we be making? Bearings? Drive belts? I grind my own hss, but i¡¯m not making any end mills or drill bits.
On Aug 26, 2023, at 8:54 PM, OldToolmaker via groups.io <old_toolmaker@...> wrote: ?
Yes, we probably should be making our own parts for our own machines,?although not all Unimat owners are willing to expend their time on making their own?parts for their machines. I for one enjoy building my own Unimat parts. I like the freedom from reliance?on others for my replacement parts. I do?not need to be dependent?on others and the?high prices they charge. Dick
On Saturday, August 26, 2023, 2:46 PM, Jeffrey Kropp <jeffreykropp1@...> wrote: ? ? ? ?I have reached an age where time is not unlimited.? Therefore I prefer to use my time for making things other than more lathe accessories.? YouTube often shows me ways of machining something w/o giving in to the temptation of acquiring additional lathe tooling..... This idea of making your own parts is too difficult and time consuming.? I have lathes, etc., to make things for my hobby, model trains.? My hobby is not to be supporting the Unimat.? Many Unimats and their accessories I keep as a collector.? When I want to do work, I frequently turn to other machines:? Emco, Sherline, Cowells, Taig.? I am fortunate to have them, but they are a lifetime of collecting.
-- http://www.homemadetools.net/ forum/ ?OFF- SET-tailstock-center-65965#post105972?SMALL TURRET TOOL POST PLANS??LARGE TURRET TOOL POST PLANS?MINI- LATHE CARRIAGE LOCK PLANS?SMALL QC TOOL POST PLANS??QUICK CHANGE LATHE TURRET?MINI LATHE COMPOUND PIVOT MODIFICATION
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Hello, John
Yes, I have lifetime supply of belt making materials and years ago happened upon a package of ten DB-200 headstock bearings at an auction. Also picked up a box of used spindles.
Dick
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http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/?OFF-SET-tailstock-center-65965#post105972
?SMALL TURRET TOOL POST PLANS?
?LARGE TURRET TOOL POST PLANS
?MINI-LATHE CARRIAGE LOCK PLANS
?SMALL QC TOOL POST PLANS?
?QUICK CHANGE LATHE TURRET
?MINI LATHE COMPOUND PIVOT MODIFICATION
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On Sat, Aug 26, 2023 at 05:14 PM, Jkle379184 wrote:
Tom's Tool Store has gone the way of many of our old suppliers. I used the Way Back Machine Internet search engine and located his old site. I was then able to download his old online catalog so I have the information and photos for the Unimats.?
I'm pretty sure all the information, but with detailed drawings and part numbers of many more parts, is available in the files section where there are Unimat manuals for the DB/SL and the U3. Not sure about the U4 or the PC/Basic.
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Hello Jeffrey,
I agree every one of us has only a limited amount of time and non of us knows how much time that is so we make the most it while we are still able.
Dick
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http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/?OFF-SET-tailstock-center-65965#post105972
?SMALL TURRET TOOL POST PLANS?
?LARGE TURRET TOOL POST PLANS
?MINI-LATHE CARRIAGE LOCK PLANS
?SMALL QC TOOL POST PLANS?
?QUICK CHANGE LATHE TURRET
?MINI LATHE COMPOUND PIVOT MODIFICATION
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Hello John,
I built a Quorn tool and cutter grinder a few years back so I do have the capability of making my own cutters also. I enjoy grinding my own cutters when the need arises. As I commented before, being self sufficient to a point is a positive thing.
Dick
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http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/?OFF-SET-tailstock-center-65965#post105972
?SMALL TURRET TOOL POST PLANS?
?LARGE TURRET TOOL POST PLANS
?MINI-LATHE CARRIAGE LOCK PLANS
?SMALL QC TOOL POST PLANS?
?QUICK CHANGE LATHE TURRET
?MINI LATHE COMPOUND PIVOT MODIFICATION
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OldToolmaker
John Entwistle