From: none@none.com99   
      
   On 3/4/2026 12:23 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:   
   > On 3/4/2026 12:11 PM, Snag wrote:   
   >> On 3/4/2026 12:30 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:   
   >>> On 3/3/2026 9:30 AM, Bob La Londe wrote:   
   >>>> After modifying the cheap Harbor Freight tube notcher so it (should)   
   >>>> work okay for the NAU BAJA SAE team, I had a realization.  All you   
   >>>> need is a clamp and a spindle.  In theory I could use (almost) any   
   >>>> half decent swivel base vise with pipe jaws or prismatic jaws, and   
   >>>> improvise a spindle.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Yes, Jim, you could certainly CNC it, but programming and modeling   
   >>>> to get good results I think will take longer than just doing it with   
   >>>> a manual purpose built tool.  (a live tooling CNC lathe would be   
   >>>> better than a CNC mill, but it would likely cost a lot more.)   It   
   >>>> would only be beneficial if you could more fully automate it with a   
   >>>> parts loader so you could walk away and let it run multiple parts on   
   >>>> its own... and then there is the fact that my CNC machines are   
   >>>> better spent cutting more valuable parts in the small quantities I   
   >>>> would make.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Here is my idea.  Make the spindle with two expanding locating pins   
   >>>> that drop into the standard grid on a welding table.  Fabricobble   
   >>>> something similar for a purpose built vise, or just use a swivel   
   >>>> base vise with prismatic jaws.  5/8 (nominal 16mm) holes on a 2 inch   
   >>>> grid are the most common grid pattern on hobbyist and small   
   >>>> production tables, but it could be made for any size grid table.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> There would be no need to make a fancy indexable telescoping spindle   
   >>>> mount like I did for the Harbor Freight monstrosity.  Just position   
   >>>> the vise and the spindle where ever you need them to make the cuts   
   >>>> you need to make.  If you need to reposition for long 30 degree   
   >>>> notches you just move the spindle.  Alignment will remain as good as   
   >>>> the grid holes on the table.  It's self indexing.  A cheaper to   
   >>>> make, but more pain to use version is to just have threaded holes in   
   >>>> the alignment pins and bolt it from the bottom.  Even more crude/   
   >>>> simple options can be done for single or low use as well, but the   
   >>>> less time you spend in design and build the more time you spend in use.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Here is the biggest benefit.  Because my shop not only suffers from   
   >>>> HSD (horizontal surface disease) it suffers from ACUTE HSD (yes its   
   >>>> killing me), the notcher can be tossed in a box on a shelf or in   
   >>>> drawer when not in use, and it only requires clearing the edge of   
   >>>> the table when needed.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> The only major requirement that requires some planning really is   
   >>>> that the vise tube slot and the spindle axis of rotation are   
   >>>> parallel, and the tube when held and the spindle are at the same   
   >>>> center height. Roughly by machining standards.  We are after all   
   >>>> talking about fabrication work, not machine work.  That being said   
   >>>> as long as both center lines are parallel to the mounting surface,   
   >>>> the height can be shimmed if need be for an improvise solution.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> I think I could build such a notcher in a fraction of the time it   
   >>>> took me to make parts to make the harbor freight notcher work   
   >>>> better. Partly, of course because I have already figured out some of   
   >>>> the problems by fixing the Harbor Freight notcher.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> I doubt I would make and sell this.  I'm not a machinery dealer, so   
   >>>> I am putting it out there in the open.  Maybe its a dumb idea.   
   >>>> Maybe its a great idea.  I don't know, but its worth atleast as much   
   >>>> as you paid for it.  Maybe Jason over at Fireball Tools would be   
   >>>> interested in making something like that as an accessory to his   
   >>>> welding tables. He has the reputation to be able to sell something   
   >>>> like that at a price that would make money, and the knowledge and   
   >>>> skills to produce them efficiently.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> P.S.  After picking up the HF notcher my son told me he is going to   
   >>>> try to get the team to put TWO (of my stickers on their race car.   
   >>>> One on each side.  LOL.  Me?  I'm going to try to get them to all   
   >>>> wear my company hats anytime they don't have a racing helmet on.  LOL.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> HERE IS THE BIG PROBLEM.  My welding table doesn't have any holes in   
   >>>> it.   I don't do a lot of welding and fabrication.  Most is repair   
   >>>> work in situ, and often outdoors and out of position.  For the few   
   >>>> repeat assemblies I've done on the table that require repeat   
   >>>> indexing I weld stops on the table and grind them off when I am   
   >>>> done.  I have a solution for making the grid pattern. I've got a mag   
   >>>> drill and the right size annular cutter.  I've got the steel to make   
   >>>> the giant t- square and grid hole spacers for aligning and moving   
   >>>> the square.  I just haven't had the three days I think I'll need to   
   >>>> do it.  Well, I haven't had them and not wanted to go fishing more.   
   >>>>   
   >>>>   
   >>>   
   >>> Getting back to the original idea.   
   >>>   
   >>> By using a commercial or commercial like welding table as the base:   
   >>> 1.  You don't have to make a base plate.   
   >>> 2.  You can adjust the distance between the cutting spindle and the   
   >>> tube vise without loosing your angle.   
   >>> 3.  The base plate (table) is going to be flatter than the typical   
   >>> bent and welded base plate that comes with many tube notchers.   
   >>> 4.  Its an out of the box solution that will produce quality   
   >>> repeatable results without spend half your day cobbling up a   
   >>> makeshift solution.   
   >>>   
   >>> I've spent way to much of my mental budget thinking about this, and I   
   >>> have solutions for tables with different dog hole sizes and grid   
   >>> pattern spacing.  To a limited extent even for tables with erratic   
   >>> grid spacing, but maybe not for tables with radically erratic dog   
   >>> hole sizes.  LOL.   
   >>>   
   >>> Making the spindle fit multiple tables is easier than making the vise   
   >>> do so, but both are possible.  You still have the same accuracy (more   
   >>> or less) as the grid itself.   
   >>>   
   >>>   
   >>   
   >> How about a portable version . The spindle is on a pivot with the   
   >> other leg a pipe clamp . Clamp the device to the pipe/tube , set the   
   >> angle , and Robert's yer mother's brother .   
   >   
   >   
   > Harbor Freight already makes that and its terrible.  LOL   
   >   
      
   Damn-It Snag!  I just visualized a portable version that would work far   
   better than the Harbor Fright version.  It has one of the same problems   
   as the HF notcher.  You either have to make part of it telescoping, or   
   make part of it really long with a really long spindle sliding assembly.   
      
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