Official Luthiers Forum!

This Sunday afternoon was a heck of a day. I had high hopes of getting lots of work done. I entered the shop with the first task of adding side dots to a bound fret board. I set up the drill press to do the task. Started the drill and drilled the first hole. No problems there, but when I went to turn the drill press off the switch would not turn off. I took it apart and the circuit is shorted open and will not close. No biggie besides I have a foot switch so I installed that for now and finish up that process. So now I go to the band saw to saw up some rough in neck blocks. Exact same issue same issue. The switch shorts in the open position. So I move the foot switch over to the band saw and finish up.. Next I go to attach a body I am working on to my vacuum clamp (venture generator operated) and it appeared tht I was short on air pressure to the venture generator. So I checked on my compressor and noticed it was constantly running and the pressure was never getting over 45 psi. So I stopped and looked it over tested the pressure switch (it was fine) tested the regulator on my portable compressor, it was fine. So I broke the head off the cylinder and sure enough the low pressure gasket was a goner. Since I was in the cylinder anyway I thought I would check the compression ring. Yep it was in need or replacement. The only good news is the cylinder wall is not damaged at all.

So I took the rest of the day and watched football

Michael,

It's unusual that both your band saw and drill press on/off switches were shorted in the on position at the same time. It could be indicative of something more than just the switches. What kind of current are you pulling through those switches? Any spikes in your supply? Are you really loading up the tools in such a manner that they might be pulling more current than anticipated. Switch contacts loose and showing signs of arcing? Have the heaters in the motors kicked out recently? Might be worth checking.....

And as far as your compressor..... well, it might of been better to just watch football ALL DAY .. and waited until Monday to tear it down...

Keep in mind that it's all fun... just in various stages and levels of enjoyment...

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Peter

Peter both machines are on separate circuits and relatively newly wired both are 120V 20amp circuits. While I can not exclude service spikes and brown outs I do know both machines are of similar age and hours of use and both are properly grounded but I am looking into wiring issues as the main feed wiring to the shop is get close to 50 years old.

Sorry about your Murphy`s law day Michael.We all have them.This is the reason I keep my shotgun on stand by.
James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

At my lab where I have two ion microprobes, that kind of circumstance is referred to as "Cameca Syndrome" and it seems to spike up, and spread to other parts of the lab, just before major deadlines.

Now Michael, the real question is "Did your football team win?" But I probably can guess the answer....

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The member formerly known as erikbojerik....