One of those things you hear about and hope that will never happen to you. I had a tragedy happen to me the other day. I some how managed to have one of my favorite tools break on me. And I always felt that I couldn't break this tool if I was trying to...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yi_3D9ZJPnBEQiV70-F_9gv-k7Z5FVT15pGvFOkLOQvznLyvAaMoCJ9sYT1Iy0-uqP9rw6X6zkBiZ-YoPlv08-TxMmr1FK_64GqEoMEtpYBBqIqcqviK3RU4bP-JyvD71kBJwe8tYOXa/s320/broken+reduction+box+and+rolling+mill+together+s.jpg) |
The rolling mill how it should look... |
I was working on a commission piece that I hope to share soon, when all of a sudden I heard a big CRACK! and my rolling mill came apart into two parts!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEATpMzbOlPGKnSDTlJ_iywH8lhyphenhyphenhbiplUUmp3kKh8SXlOivlyeyNKQ5KluLx1D-Juco28wBk5KwjyipaiPbxe1V0WrcnvfDjvZAFfGfogLm9lC2pzLxHzNRmtTAIZlfZ5YV-NDU4x6eB2/s320/broken+reduction+box+and+rolling+mill+the+break+s.jpg) |
The rolling mill and how the handle/"reduction gear box" broke off. |
Needless to say, I was shocked, surprised, frustrated and sad (quite the roller coaster of emotions). Mostly shocked and surprised. . . I felt like I could cry but, after all it is just a little "
spilt milk".
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxrQZoz4X7JyVobXr26YJapnE-GpjBdiB-rwAsMkYn6Yj2oKhF5EL7XIEFZVEi5X6Z1stgY57MXujIZL73F3XDMnfhbk_cd5_-wVjcRW_3tDOYbbhOCJ11x1dC-FBgLsMwWTQjp8Z69NV/s320/broken+reduction+box+and+rolling+mill+2+s.jpg) |
Rolling mill (on left), reduction gear box (on right). In this picture you can see how the roller looks like it sheared off like a twisted wire! |
As you can see from the picture above it looks as though the connecting rod (which is part of the bottom roller) appears to have sheared off like a twisted wire. Never, ever expected anything like this to happen. I have heard plenty of stories of rolling mills breaking before, but never in this way.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0cbUcthjCypka1TCBUD92NHdvWWeR7ZJ7Lkhp5n3eeUt9i5f_vkExPBABeuyDMwfOZFQ6RNCJXJK5apa1wZ8cmJTxBgOnrEfH_9gPwpfhQ9ax6MYOd0mMZKyB-lVP05GiCacLBZmG3sH/s320/Broken+Roller+in+Gear+assembly+s.jpg) |
Bottom roller (left) and gear assembly (right). |
After disassembling the entire rolling mill I was able to remove the broken part (the bottom roller). Unfortunately the roller broke off inside of the reduction gear box assembly and I have not been able to remove the broken part of the roller from the gear assembly. If anybody out there has any suggestions for how I could get these pieces apart, I would love to get some input.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dtIWeIp0tyPHxExfBpkEYShJ4_Jtr616UVjF_k6ER5L0_pOemtRtrb3e39ue2uELB2knZfHTwC-qivMPE90xqQRMfWkUa9q3wI4ykoNppYQupKAvXZBXyG4bvTKhawxuUoNBI6Gosgpd/s320/Broken+Roller+in+Gear+assembly+3+s.jpg) |
Broken bottom roller (on left) and the piece that broke off of the roller stuck in the gear assembly (on right). |
I have already contacted the manufacturer of the rolling mill and will hopefully have the needed parts to repair the mill soon... (Not soon enough though...) In the mean while I am actually quite excited, this set back will force me to be more creative and figure out new ways to fabricate pieces without using sheet metal. I am trying to make this tragedy into a fun challenge for myself. Hopefully it will all work out for the best and I will be sure to make a few posts about how this situation works out.
Be back soon with more.
Until next time.
Peace and Love