Shop Burglary Caught on Tape! (PT 2) - Episode 3

The burglary of my shop caught on tape! and another installment of doing lathe work on the mill.

In the next episode (episode 4), I will share a trade secret regarding press fitting bronze bushings into a housing with zero machine work on the bore of the housing itself.

American Fabricator is an entertaining and educational show revolving around the lost art of metal fabrication. Join me as I weld, machine, and have fun in the shop.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• americanfabricator
• welding
• CNC
• machining
• metalworking
• fabrication
• machine
• shop
• mill
• lathe
• mig
• tig
• steel

[Spinnygrass]

What kind of draw bar setup is on that mill? Some type of pneumatic motor? Looks nice!

[AmericanFabricator]

Yeah, it is a Torque-rite pneumatic drawbar - made in America. Had it since 1996 and costs about $800.00 by the time I pushed the button for the first time.  The company is out of business as far as I can tell but it has held up without service for more than 12 years. It is a godsend for jobs requiring repeated center drill/pilot drill/final drill/tap or ream. There is an impact wrench component that you can fine tune the torque just right. I have not worn out a drawbar since.

[AmericanFabricator]

Of course to be fair, I don't use this mill much anymore since installing my Bridgeport CNC VMC in 2002. Thanks for watching!

[Spinnygrass]

Ah, very cool! I've never seen a setup like that, only pneumatic rams to pull the draw bar. Then again, have not been into machining long. I'm only 16.

Does the impact have some type of spline setup so when you lower the spindle shaft it disconnects from the draw bar, or is it always engaged?

Sorry for the questions, I wouldn't mind trying to make something like this for my own mill.

BTW- I love your cold saw setup!

[AmericanFabricator]

The top of the drawbar has an 8-tooth spline. Only under air pressure will the female "wrench" actuate downward and engage the drawbar. Without air pressure, it is retracted to home position under spring load so it is not spinning the with the wrench full time.

Thanks!

[mikejensen07]

Certainly that music couldn't have come from the car. No burglar wants to draw attention to them. But I think the video poster added the music because he wanted to send the message that the thieves were Latinos.

[AmericanFabricator]

Very astute observation, thank you very much!

[scflyer55]

That security system even picked up the music playing in the van! I want one!

[dancegypsy]

You said you considered yourself lucky; I'd call it wise. You protected yourself and your shop and it paid off.

You said they had put the welder in their van without even removing the gas tank, THEY were the lucky ones the whole thing didn't explode. It's twice the crime when the law won't do anything to apprehend and convict these guys. Very interesting footage.

[masterfenixxx]

this music sux ass..gotta listen 2 that shit all day @ work LOL...btw glad they didnt get u 2!

[hunter69denys]

Wont even come out to investigate a CRIME scene ?! what good are they ? lousy dougnut dunkers !!! and they say call 911 in case of emergency HA ! I dial 357 :)

[SniperSpade]

Damn mexicans, And I wouldnt have an audible alarm just a silent one that calls the cops. that way they get caught in the act if the cops put down the donuts in time to get there. Most of them dont care and would probally show up hours later, if at all.

[fritzkat]

no real cops anymore just law enforcement.

[dirtTdude]

Well Hollywood, in the real world some of us work hard and claw our way to simply stay afloat, insurance is a luxury, a gamble and you can't eat it when you are barely making ends meet. If your tools were all stolen and no insurance, you would loose everything and find your self homeless, most likely what happened to this guy. Tragic...