Grrrrrrrr... well there's your problem

[harryball]

I hate to admit it, but I don't have a metal detector in my shop... but now that the barn has burned down it's on the way.

This is one of those things everybody should have in their shop. I thought I'd share my experience real quick just in case there are any more out there like me.

NOTE: Not paying for and having a good metal detector is false economy.

I used my carbide metal detector (the small thingy that resembles a router bit) on my bot. It would seem somebody drove some roofing nails into the sides of the sheet goods. I've seen nails and staples before and remove them... this time the head of the nail had come off so I didn't SEE it. The bot located it rather quickly. Fortunately it was only a $20 bit... but it was new with plenty of life left. It is now missing part of a flute and I'd venture to say unsafe to run.

I ordered mine from Amazon, about $70 and it has a vibrate feature. With the addition of this bit I've now ruined more bits/blades than the detector cost. So now I have learned... have you?

Robert

[brian_h]

Hmmm... another gadget? Ok, you've got my attention (don't tell my wife). Are you saying there's a metal detector that mounts on the bot? Show us, please.

Oh, I get it... sorta like the rule that *if* there's any metal in the wood, the chance of finding that is directly proportional to the COST of the bit.

[harryball]

well... there is a metal detector for the bot like a backhoe is an underground cable locator.

To speak clearly, I hit hidden metal in sheet goods with a carbide bit on the bot. I SHOULD have used the hand held metal detector to scan the sheet good quickly before using it. I've used them at other shops, a quick pass around the outer edge of the entire stack generally is all that is required. You can also check lumber with it, especially used lumber.

I've personally chewed up a set of planer knives, a sanding spindle and now this carbide bit simply by being too cheap to just buy the detector and use it. I've been REAL careful... but in the end the detector would have paid for itself by now.

It is another gadget though... and I won't tell your wife though my wife is ticked since she told me I should have bought one a year ago. She's right.

Robert