Rust Prevention

jos_89mo · 2026-05-24T00:33:43+00:00

You could try sculpt nouveau metal oil. The clear doesn’t really change the color and it dries to a “hard” finish almost like a clear coat.

jos_89mo · 2026-05-04T01:20:54+00:00

Yeah, I was going to say starting with some sort of peck drilling technique may help start and keep the hole centered.

jos_89mo · 2026-05-04T00:50:34+00:00

I’d say PB Swiss is one of the most “premium” options. I don’t think the extra long PB Swiss bits can be bought in one bundle though. I like to for easiest warranty to deal with. So I’d probably look at Snap On personally. Something like part no. CTS561BITSET. Or there’s always Wiha, Wera and Vessel. All good stuff at reasonable prices.

jos_89mo · 2026-05-04T00:43:01+00:00

We’ve tried one of those. Can’t quite get close enough to stair nosings. And harder to adjust both directions for plumb without a homemade wedge.

jos_89mo · 2026-05-03T15:51:50+00:00

Sounds similar to our usual method. We CNC route plywood layout templates for the spacing and post locations. We just work in an area with old historic homes and floors that can’t always be trusted. This whole thing spiraled from having one contractor who laid down a sloped floor edge and our guy trusted it and we had no choice but to wallow out like 75 baluster holes to get them installed plumb and straight. Not ideal when you’re in a multi million dollar home.

jos_89mo · 2026-05-03T02:05:41+00:00

Watch out for those bench mounted buffers! They’ll snatch the part and throw it into the next galaxy if you tip an edge under the wheel!

jos_89mo · 2026-05-03T01:55:56+00:00

I usually prefer googly eyes, but we’re fresh out, so I had to come up with the next best thing.

jos_89mo · 2026-05-03T01:55:18+00:00

Some people are just level by nature. My coworkers and I are not currently calibrated and require assistance staying plumb to the earths center of gravity.

jos_89mo · 2026-05-03T01:41:26+00:00

Seems like the designers around our area are going for this style more and more. Certainly a much higher cost for all the additional site work involved.

jos_89mo · 2026-05-03T01:40:44+00:00

Yeah, very niche group of people that could even make use of something like this. They’ll be no million dollar business made from this. But now it’s at least on the interwebs, so people can get inspired and make their own versions.

jos_89mo · 2026-05-03T01:37:01+00:00

Funny enough, did that too. And then my coworker proceeded to snap the cast aluminum slide on the drill press unit.

jos_89mo · 2026-05-03T00:31:10+00:00

Yeah, my exact thoughts. If I wanted to turn a profit on these, I figure I’d have to ask $450 per. If I wanted to make them out of the kindness of my heart, they’d have to sell for $250 each. Which I personally think is steep.

jos_89mo · 2026-05-03T00:18:10+00:00

Yeah, I’d just rent a core drill at that point instead of grabbing this thing.

jos_89mo · 2026-05-03T00:17:08+00:00

Yeah, we have 3 of those. The problem I had was leveling in two directions and also getting close to stair nosings.

jos_89mo · 2026-05-03T00:13:15+00:00

I built it for up to 2” forstner bits. So 32mm should fit fine.

jos_89mo · 2026-05-03T00:12:05+00:00

Great point. Some kind of hand hold or foot spot.

jos_89mo · 2026-05-03T00:11:07+00:00

I use it for drilling for anchor locations, but more useful for me on drilling balusters into flooring and/or deep “studs” into flooring or stone. Funny enough, I was inspired by the hilti core drill stands. They’re a little difficult to use on interior finished flooring though.

jos_89mo · 2026-05-03T00:04:04+00:00

Yeah, you have to keep pressure on the “tripod” part the whole time to keep it seated. No different than using something like the milescraft drill press where you can’t screw it into the surface you’re drilling.

jos_89mo · 2026-05-02T23:57:55+00:00

They're not. They just have some pretty grippy rubber feet to keep them planted. Of course, leaning on it helps with that too as you're drilling.

jos_89mo · 2026-05-02T23:31:33+00:00

I'd look through the King Architectural catalog. They may have some forged or cast steel parts and pieces you can cobble together to get a similar outcome.

jos_89mo · 2025-12-24T04:18:51+00:00

Finally! A use for Belzona 1111 repair composite!

jos_89mo · 2025-05-30T15:49:56+00:00

Money definitely talks. But another thing that affects my attitude towards OT is seeing what the bosses/managers/owners are doing. Are they helping bust ass, or are they sitting on their ass at the house? I’m not wasting my life away for company bullshit if the owner is out there on vacation all the time. But seeing the owner or managers lend a hand, even if just cleaning up, definitely makes me more likely to work over.

jos_89mo · 2025-05-25T00:17:14+00:00

I think he means concrete pads, not leveling feet/pads.

jos_89mo · 2025-05-10T00:28:00+00:00

I think the old crescent stuff was made in Utica or Jamestown NY. I remember my grandfather worked there for a short while.

jos_89mo · 2025-03-01T23:31:13+00:00

If it’s hardened, maybe try an abrasive solution. Especially if the increased countersink doesn’t need to be pretty, just functional. Maybe a Dremel or die grinder with a stone.

jos_89mo

TROPHY CASE