Category Archives: workshop

First Small Engine Repair Meetup Recap

Posted on by Luglio, Daniel

First Small Engine Repair Meetup Recap
 Resurrecting a Snow Blower, Just in Time for Easter

Just in time for Easter, a group of gearheads—and aspiring gearheads—gathered for our very first Small Engine Repair meetup with one shared mission: see if we could bring Mike T’s snow blower back from the dead. (Spoiler alert: we did!)

Starting Off

We kicked off the night with introductions and a discussion of everyone’s previous experience, as well as what they hoped to learn from the meetups. It was a great mix—some folks with deep mechanical know-how, others just starting out and eager to get their hands dirty.

We decided that a great starting point for tackling any small engine problem (especially one with a carburetor) would be learning how to clean a carburetor—a key piece of knowledge for anyone working on these kinds of machines.

Carb Talk

What followed was an open group discussion and knowledge share on carburetors—what they do, how they work, and how they fail. Ryan jumped in with some super helpful explanations, and we all gathered around the screen to watch a YouTube video that walked through the repair of the exact type of carburetor on a similar snow blower. (Link below!)

The Resurrection

Working in Dan L’s rented space, we got our hands on the real deal. After removing all the guards and parts necessary to access the snow blower’s carburetor, we tore it down, carefully cleaned out all the orifices, and reassembled and reinstalled it. We also replaced the spark plug just to cover all our bases.

Throughout the process, we shared tips on tool usage, tricks for getting stubborn parts unstuck, and the finer points of gaskets and seals. We even had some good laughs about tool terminology—and the importance of knowing the difference between an open-end wrench and a #1 Phillips screwdriver when someone’s shouting for help. (Or you are looking for a tool yourself)

Community in Action

It was awesome to see everyone sharing their knowledge, asking questions, and learning by doing. Whether you were elbow-deep in the carburetor or just soaking in the process, there was something for everyone.

Vroom Vrrom

After just a simple cleaning and spark plug change, an Easter miracle Mike’s blower roared back to life on the third crank in fulfillment of the service manual. 

…. Actually,     it started on the first crank, but that didn’t make as good an Easter joke…..

 

Resources for Further study.

Want to dive deeper? Here are some of the resources we used or mentioned during the meetup:

The Planet, Dude… And Space Rules

As part of our discussion, we covered the dos and don’ts of working on engines. It is your responsibility to clean up after yourself. Extra care MUST be taken to ensure that your mess is contained, and that oils, fuels, paints, and other materials cannot possibly be released into the environment, make a mess for others, or get anywhere near a drain. YOUR EQUIPMENT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

Regarding the recycling of oil, any AutoZone or auto parts store is required to accept used oil from individuals.
 AutoZone Recycling

For oil, old gas, or any other hazardous materials (such as old paint, etc.), the City of Milwaukee will accept hazmat materials from Milwaukee residents for free. Again, this is your responsibility; MMS cannot recycle these materials for you. Your machine, your mess, your cleanup.
 City of Milwaukee Hazardous Waste Disposal

Lastly, space rules currently state that no car work involving fluids can be done at the space due to previous issues with people not cleaning up after themselves. Let’s continue to show that small engine owners are responsible and do not make a mess. Remember Smokey the Bear and Woodsy Owl? Treat your projects, no matter what they are, just like hiking in the woods: leave no trace when working at MMS. Dont start wild fires either.

Watch and Listen to Woodsy Owl Give a Hoot Don’t Pollute

Whats next

If you have another idea for a small engine project, please post it on the members-only message board or let Dan L know that we had so much fun with this one, let’s do other group projects in the future.

 

Iron Casting: Spring Iron Pour

Posted on by Arnold, David

The Casting Area is running another Iron Pour.

This Event will be open to participants, Members and Non-Members.

Please contact Dave directly if you are a Visiting Artist/Non-member and need studio time to make your own artist mold. All non-members must sign the “Iron Casting Waiver” to participate.

Studio Time is to be scheduled in advance. If you plan on bringing a mold or making a mold all weights must be estimated and metal must be broken by said attendee. If you are unable to break iron due to medical reasons please reach out to Dave.  

Resin-bonded sand molds are weighed before they get to the pour floor. 

Artist Tile and Doodle Bowl Workshops:

Saturday 03-23-24 @ 12:30-3:30
Sunday 04-07-24 @ 12:30-3:30
Saturday 04-20-24 @ 12:30-3:30

Saturday April 27th 
We are planning to have the Safety Meeting at noon. If you plan on participating on the pour floor, show up to the safety meeting and sign the waiver, it’s required. Observation will be available from the north side of the pour floor. Observation will only be accessible from Norwich Ave. The proposed Schedule is the following:

8:00am Pour floor setup (leveling and placing molds)
9:00am Scratch blocks & Doodle Bowls available for sale.

10:30am burn-in (preheat furnace with immersion burner forced air and natural gas) 

12:00 safety meeting Immediately after the safety meeting, we go on blast.

*Going on Blast – removing immersion burner and attaching Blower to the furnace and entirely running of forced air and Coke Start charging iron/coke as it settles

1:00pm Should have first tap, Tapping every 13 minutes. 

4:00pm Drop bottom when all molds are filled – brief clean up.

 

Sunday, April 28th 

10:00am Clean-up and devesting molds:

Clean-up is required if you have an artist mold on the pour floor. All Artist Tiles/Doodle Bowls will be out on display for pickup. No additional payment is required for these items. For Artist Molds, gating and pour cups may be cut off and thrown in the iron pile.

Please weigh your castings and provide payment in the donation bin or via Wild Aprocot bit.ly/3wKtOcS Please Refer to the rates section for pricing https://wiki.milwaukeemakerspace.org/areas/casting/rates

Contact Dave for more information at dave@davidmarnold.com or via cell phone 4142150499

Cerveza and Ceramics

Posted on by Carl Stevens

Every Wednesday at for the past few months Jeff has been hosting “Cervesia and Ceramics”.  It’s an evening playing with clay fueled by the power of beer.  Over the past few months I have seen Jeff do wheel throwing classes, hand building seminars, and general clay based standup comedy (mostly while sitting at a wheel). 

Every week members stop by just to hang out a chat or to join us for a beer.  Some of those on lookers even get talked into getting their hands full of clay.  If you have never picked up a lump of clay ask Tom Klein about his experience a couple weeks ago when Jeff peer pressured him into sitting down at a wheel for the first time.  

Stop in tomorrow or any Wednesday.  The Milwaukee Makerspace is by far the best ceramics studio in the Milaukee area also the most affordable.

Contact Mic & Circuit Bending Workshop with CMKT4 January 28

Posted on by plural

Join the members of the circuit-bent rock band CMKT4 for a workshop on building your very own EconoMIC Bottle Cap Contact Microphone (from Creme DeMentia). CMKT4 will show you how to solder up a piezo-electric pickup and house it sturdily in a recycled bottle-cap housing of their own design! Stick around for a set from the band as the tool-handle dip on your freshly built contact microphone dries.

CMKT4 is also going to offer their Build a Bending Buddy workshop. Attendees should bring simple electronic toys that make fun noises for experimentation. There will be some examples of some already bent toys and a little show and tell/performance. CMKT4 will provide literature on how to wire up different bends and ICs, for which the Bending Buddy will be good preparation.

Additional take-home kits and other surprises will be available, come build a mic and see and hear some of the circuit-bent instruments you’ve read about on www.GetLofi.com up close. Bring your own instruments and objects to amplify!

The Contact Mic workshop will be $15 and the Bending workshop will be $20. You can do both for $30. Additional kits will be on sale for $10, and there will be fully assembled mics in several varieties for sale as well. We’ll have some other fun goodies also. Interested onlookers are encouraged to donate if they don’t want to build a kit.

CMKT 4 are Austin Cliffe, Zach Adams, and Jeff Cox. The circuit-bent/rock trio has made it their mission to leave no hackerspace behind on their way to their next Maker Faire; they want to bring new devices, sounds, and ideas to your town. They are constantly working to make new and interesting devices and music.

The workshop is from 1-6PM on Saturday January 28th, 2012. We hope to see you there making some noise with us!