SNS 211 Part 1: Clapper Box Restoration, Big Taper Shank Drill Bit 

Watching you use a file correctly took me back 60 years to my metal work class at school. Like most kids I hated it at the time but the skills have been useful ever since. You are really giving that abused clapper a birthday - nice work from the UK.

Is it just me or do others feel sorry for the way this machine has been treated and feel happy it is now being treated with love and respect. It's enough to make a grown Man cry.

I like the music during filing ,nice touch!

Just noticed the soft music in the background while filing. Don't know if you have done that on any of your machining videos before but great addition! Kind of adds to the relaxation of filing and just getting lost into your work. Keep up the awesome work!

Brilliant this channel, it’s like David Attenborough for engineering people. I’m discovering new things every time, the explanations cover every aspect and the camera work is always perfect. The work looks fantastic too, much thanks and appreciation from Scotland.

That shaper could not have found a better home Adam. Another great video!

Hi Adam, the clapper is repaired by letting in a chunk of cast iron into one side of the clapper and scraping it back in to fit. That's what my pal advised me. He spent his time rebuilding planers and large shapers in production shops around Manchester. His view was try to achieve less than 0.0003 fit.

That Clapper Box Is A Thing Of Beauty , Even With Its Scars ,Because Of Its Scars , I Truly Love To See Hand Filing , Almost A Lost Art ! Your Score Is A + +

Really enjoyed this. Your videos are like therapy. It's really relaxing to watch you work. Thanks so much, Adam.

I don't get how people can bash a machine like that. love the love your putting into it Adam.

Enjoyed watching the gentle side of Abom. Could have put it on a mill, but instead showing your care of preservation for this old machine, and passion for your field of work, gently worked at each part, bringing it to your desired state. Nice work, I was never bored with watching the attention you gave to bringing that old machine back to life!

Respect from Russia, спасибо за интересные видео)

Seeing that big drill bit cut was the coolest thing I've seen in a long time. Love seeing the oddball tools being used.

You still might want to consider making a new clapper box (assuming you have some scrap stock big enough); looks like a project that can keep you busy for a few SNS episodes! 😎 That, and you’d have a brand, spanking new clapper box for your shaper! You can always keep the original as a spare.

Hi Adam, what a nice clean up! Iron sure does look pretty when the proper amounts of skill, attitude, and a good file are put to the task! Not boring at all, the results are amazing!! Keep at it!!!

i probably comment this on every video... your calm, methodical approach is a lesson to all of us. even when the chip "got you mad" you still maintain your calm soothing demeanor and just work through the problem step by step.

You know life is good when you can organise your work around the days' barbeques.

learned many years ago from someone i forgot is that the sharpest part of a file even an old one is the first inch or so at the end away from the handle, this part almost never gets used. thanks for the video

I have never used machines like these I have no idea what the part does... but I really enjoy watching someone bring it back to life and use it again...so from the uk thank you and keep putting these great blogs out I'm addicted..

We always seem to fall back on our basic skills,good job !

I imagine that shaper is like a happy little rescue dog now that it's in your hands.

Nice work on the clapper box. I have never done filing like that, but always enjoy seeing Tom Lipton do it. Love the 3.875" drill!

This is another reason I think sets you apart from the pack. Its not enough for the machine to do a good job. It has to look good doing it. My 35 year old Rockwell router looks as good as my new Porter Cable. There is no reason for a tool to look like a piece of junk. Just lack of respect. Your tools and work environment say a lot about your character. I would easily trust that your jobs would be top notch. Even if I hadn't watched all your videos. Thank you for taking the time and effort to produce great content and entertaining videos. Your doing a great job on editing also.

No lack of effort here, great stuff Adam, I always learn something when you’re in the shop, thanks

Please make a video of that monstrous drill bit getting sharpened!

Not just a machinist .. a true craftsman. Watching the file work with your choice of background music was sych an incredible experience. Thank you for those moments ... i almost felt like i was intruding into a moment between a man and his machine :)

This filing and stoning is some next level asmr.

So much filing I thought I was watching an Oxtools video! Hi Tom!

Adam - making a new grabber plate might be a nice project for the shaper.

Definition of hand filing: Labor of LOVE.

Great job on the clapper box. She still has a few scars but she's earned them! Don't want to make it look brand new! Great video of the drilling operation...love those chips!

The attention to detail(s) is what's so great about your video's. Your care, your passion shine's through. Great video. No way, am I every going to be using (pushing) a drill bit that big. Leave that for you Adam. Abom size.

Those chips from the 3 7/8" drill sound like they'd make a nice wind chime. A friend's five year old daughter was visiting yesterday, and we always try to do something in the machine shop together when she's over. The highlight of yesterday was the "fairy chimes" sound made when I sprinkled a handful of 6061 milling chips on the floor. I think she'd love to hear the chips coming off your G&E shaper.

When I watch you hand file and lap parts I know some folks are thinking OCD. I know it's relaxing and I also do some otherwise menial, labor intensive things I think of as Craftsmanship. Keep it up and you'll make a good steam locomotive mechanic.

Damn that planer guage is an awesome tool and seeing draw filing takes me back to my apprenticeship..

I call filing putting on some Liptonite.

It's so good to see a true "fitter" at work using files!

Watching that hand filing with lights at correct angle for showing surface texture after each pass just melts any stress away.

Watching that big drill eat iron was amazing!!

Adam, you could grind or hand scrape the clapper box true but somewhat over size then use your flame spray capability to build up the clapper then have it ground to fit. Craig

I had tears in my eyes watching the Setco Ad. I don't usually watch Ads. They appear to be really good. You, too, Adam!

so awesome to see those big chips on that epic huge bit ! Clapper box is looks SWEET ! Enjoyed Adam ..

Thanks for the instruction on the planer gage as an adjustable parallel. I had no idea. I think the way that box was beat on tells you a lot about the quality of the man that used it. There are ways to do things without beating the stuffing out of it. Seems there are few craftsmen, a lot of marginal to decent workers, and few that should only use brooms in machine shops.... I really like what you are doing with this machine.

ive always enjoyed the satisfaction hand filing, grinding, honing and sharpening gives me. something about it. hands might cramp after while but theres just something about it very gratifying to me.

You are one of the most skilled meachines I have ever seen

I'm a bit late to the party but for future information there are ways to refit the clapper/clapper box without having to risk warping from the heat of welding. There are many plating options out there that is suitable for this application. There are even plating options that has high hardness and low friction properties. I work on plastic injection molds and when our tools start getting worn and tolerances and fitments are too much we will have parts plated and refit. Typically we use nickel plating for most applications but when we only want to add a couple thousands or less we'll have the part flash chromed. And we don't normally have to machine the part after flash chroming it. Just stick it back into the mold and run it.

It was difficult to see (on camera?) how beat up it was until you started smoothing it out. That really brought out the contrast of high and low spots. Then watching you smooth them out...butter.

I would try a little torch heat straightening action on that box to tighten it up.

Ladies and Gentlemen, what Adam is doing is the definition of Tenacity. Gorgeous. And flat. Slim and flat. Very nice.

Adam, music is ok, I dig it ! Very relaxing. Thanks, Cliff

That is one heck of a material removal rate on that drill!

Never thought i would be so entertained by watching a bit of filing. Nice job Adam.

Adam you are a hero! Toni from germany

Thoroughly enjoyed the video, as always. Many thanks! All the Best Adrian

The sections you had of you working just with music as backing were very enjoyable. Keep it up!

Adam you never do anything halfassed! Right on buddy

Very satisfying to watch that thing come back to life.

All this draw filing, feels like Clickspring in here :)

You sir are a true machining artisan. I smashed the like button for this video. Thank you!

Glad to see you finally using those files.

Hey Adam, nice work on the clapper box. My tool slide on my 16" G&E is only 4 1/2" wide so I made my clapper box 4" wide (it did not have one when on got it). But after seeing a close up of yours I should have made the clapper part a little thicker, the clapper is only 3/4" thick. Glad the bit got to make some chips. Thanks for showing it. Buddy

That abom size drill’s chips look really beautiful.thanks for another great video adam

Love those spiral chips. Could glue some together as a flower for the lady :)

You do fine work brother. My respects for you once more time.

watching the clapper box getting worked on was fun, but the pictures and footage of the drill in ductile iron were my favorite parts. simply because i thought the chips that were produced looked beautiful the way they piled up and such :) thanks for sharing Abom :)

A cool little project and video idea would be to make a clapper and clapper box from scratch. Put it aside as a second spare or even use as a primary if it's good enough.

Man Adam I really wish you would have showed more of that 3 7/8 bit plunging into that cast!!! That was an awesome and mesmerizing shot!!! Damn good vijeo once again!!! Off to part 2!!

Maybe that clapper box can be fixed up with something like Turcite/Moglice or something. If it can, that would be some good video seeing you learn the process.

There is always Turcite or Rulon if you need to tighten the clapper... would make a great video showing what you learned in Richard's scraping class!

I saw a very interesting method of filing corners round on an overseas site. The way they teach apprentices is to start with the file on the far side of the work, then while moving the file away, you start on the far side of the cut and move the contact point toward yourself while moving the handle down and the tip upward. I have always started near and moved the contact away. The new way works better for me!

awesome job love you choice of music during the filing and always at the end

Thanks for showing the planner shaper gauge usage. I always wondered how they were used

GREAT VIDEO !!! EVEN A LEAD HAMMER WILL PUT THOSE DINGS IN , OVER TIME .

At last someone using a file correctly, cheers, Andy

Self taught and hobby machinests now know why machinist appreticeships start with weeks of filework. This is also an ancient technique of precision metal shaping

It appears, from the condition of the shaper, that some people still operate bush mechanic's rules - When in doubt, get a bigger hammer and give it another whack. Great videos, thank you.

Careful with the hypnotic filing episodes - next thing you know you'll be making an Abom-sized clock...

Those chips/shavings would make great Christmas tree decorations. :P

The drill bit footage looked like a swarm of hornets coming out to defend the hive. Beautiful chips!!

Sitting here waiting on this. Caught it on the first notification. Luv ‘em all; grilling also. Eric, The BBQ guy from Tennessee PS: still have three phase panels with your name on them

The Half-round Bastard file is the file for the apocalypse! Never be w/o one.

I'm betting a metal artist would love those conical chips

An option to letting in a fresh piece of iron into the box would be to flat knurl one side of the clapper, and fit it to what you have. Should be able to get the fit to a thou or a bit less fairly easily. Great job, and love the editing.

i don't know how you make 40 minutes pass so quickly

Nice work Adam, that's one hell of a hole maker

You should build a cart on rollers with a motor with a crank and rod, with a weight on tfe end of the rod . And make a shaker table, so the part can be sat on the paper in the plate and moved under the part, using the mass to slide the plate under the part, a speed control is required. It may require a hand to keep the part centered Jon the plate and paper! But pressure would be as even as the mass of the part is even. Maybe use a stick on weight to keep the mass evenly spread!

You MAY know this but just in case you dont when you use the surface plate to lap you should go in a figure eight to properly lap a piece.I really enjoy your vids Adam, good job.

I'm having a hard time understanding how these clappers turn lamps on and off...

I loved this new style of video. Good work as always.

My wife thought you could make some flowers with those chips just spot weld them to some wire. Lol

I would like to see you build that clapper up with welding, machining it down and then scraping it for a final finish to bring it to "as new".

Great video! Really professional production. Really enjoyed it.

Fantastic job Adam.

nice job with cleaning up the clapper box. That drill cut great. I will assume you would only use that on softer material. Certainly saves some time if you need a hole that large to machine from.

I use a few small files in my jobs. A local welding shop carries them... So when I need a new one I tell my wife to "Go down to the welding shop and get me a bastard." She says that's not nice.

Random rant Adam, your work is awesome. I was the lead Metrlogist aboard the USS Carl Vinson from 2011 to 2013. The Nuke guys (nuclear reactor) were a pain in the ass, OOh we a re running a nuclear reactor our measurements are the best. My response is that boats (ships) do not fall out of the sky! Airplanes do! So cal labs on AC Carriers are run by (avionics technicians) AT's. Yes that is me. Avionics Technician Chief Petty Officer, Lead Metrlogist (retired now) on the USS Carl Vinson. It was fun but, the pace of the deployments now are insane. No one will want to stay in the Navy now. It makes me feel sad.

Adam, you are doing a wonderful job reconditioning this old machine. It is shocking to me to see that a hammer was used on any part of the machine. Such an action in the shop where I worked with have resulted in summary execution....and justifiably so! Eric

I loved the 'chips' coming off the drill! Also i now know what 'clapped out' means...

Another great video Adam, There is nothing like the sound of a new sharp file doing it's job. A person would think if a guy just had to hit a delicate machine with a hammer he would use a plastic or lead faced hammer to tap it not beat it to death. I have a dumb request,,,, if sometime you have time during a video would you show and give a pointer or two on drill bit sharpening? I am 63 yrs. old and have never been able to do that, would start off with a 4" long bit and end up with a 1"er and still dull as hell! lol thanks for posting.

Just a thought after watching the filing, although I know the basics maybe you could touch on when to draw-file instead of regular filing.