Member postings for Rod Renshaw

Hi

Some good advice re Vallorbe and Tome Feteira above.

But just to emphasise what Martin said, the traditional watchmakers' advice is that one should keep a set of files for use on brass and never let them anywhere near steel. Apparently any use on steel will take the sharp edge off the teeth and from then on they will only be useful on steel.

Whereas, if kept for use only on brass then one set of decent quality can last a lifetime. So perhaps a buy a good set and a cheap set, and remember which is which?

Rod

Impressive videos, I don't aspire to do anything like that in my shed!

I wonder what the workpieces are used for/ destined to be part of.

Rod

I bought the Aldi one that Dave H refers to above and have been pleased with it. Some reported problems with the vice but mine has been fine. It is small and light enough to move off the bench if it's in the way. It's not as powerful as the 6 X 4 it replaced but it takes up much less space. Mine has a trigger switch, with no hold on feature so I have to stand over it while it is cutting, but for smallish sections that's no problem. It's a bit like a bandsaw version of a cut off saw, and the mechanical layout has some resemblance to an angle grinder. The conversion from hand held to use on the stand is fiddly and awkward but I generally only use it on the stand. .I have bought spare blades from Tuffsaws but, so far, the original blade is still going strong. I would be interested to see details if anyone has fitted a hold on switch and/or a down feed adjuster. I would have preferred a Fermi but for £150.00, including post and 3 year warrenty, the Aldi one is fine.

Rod

Hi

After experiencing problems like those of Alan, I keep mine in a wide-mouthed jar with a screw top lid which I think once contained pickled onions. I keep the jar on a shelf and don't tip it so the oil never gets up to the screw thread or the lid. When I want some oil I get the jar down carefully and open it carefully and take some oil out with a stick or a paint brush without letting any oil touch the lip of the jar. It's a little cumbersome but it works well as I only seem to need a small amount of oil at a time. If I needed more oil at at a time I would see if I could find a pipette or similar. This was never a problem back in the days of glass bottles and real corks!

Rod

+1 for DC31k's analysis.

The system as drawn will not act as a clamp at all.

The "Centre Fulcrum" at the base of the vertical lever is shown as a pivot and is not rigid at all, so as the pressure in the cylinder rises the horizontal lever will press just a little on the work and then move to the left as there is nothing to restrain it from so doing.

Did I just repeat what DC31k said in less accurate language?

All that wasted maths!

Rod

Congratulations to all who did the research on this. I am amazed that this obviously old and apparently obsolete design is still being made. What advantages do we think it might have which have led to it's survival into the 21st century?

Rod

I seem to remember a recent thread on these gauges which emphasised that a decent make of telescopic gauge works well, with practice, but a cheap gauge lacks the smoothly sliding action needed to get a good feel for the bore. Also, for the same reason, older gauges which have been "broken in" by much use work better than new ones. I agree with others that they may not be as easy to use as 3 point gauges, but they are much more affordable for the ocasional user.

Rod

Failing all else, was it Mikron that used to polish the cast iron parts of their (expensive) lathes and just leave it at that?

And the finish was always admired.

Rod

My 1970s vintage Mercury bench-top drill appears to be built to Imperial standards and the depth stop thread measures as 5/8 " X 14 TPI and the thread gauge seems to confirm 55 degree angle thread, though I can't find an actual nut to confirm, all my stuff is smaller than that. I wonder if the O P has been sent the wrong size nuts, it does happen, young people now only get taught about metric!

Anyone got a spare 5/8" BSF nut they could send him?

Rod

Well, the idea of a list of ME suppliers open and closed seemed like a good one .

I had thought, when I heard that Arc were closing, that others would follow. But, based on the information from everyone it seems most of the smaller suppliers are open and we don't really need a list.

Thanks to everyone who supplied information to establish this "most suppliers are open" picture.

Rod

Hmm... some for the idea of a list ( those posting information) and some against, mostly because of the changing situation.I wonder if the one-man bands, locked up in their shops, might be safer and less likely to close than the larger firms with staff to consider?

So lets try, if it's not useful we will only have lost a little time, and if it works the MEs can save time and phone calls etc and the suppliers might get more orders. The hobby depends on the small suppliers, if they are trying to stay open it would surely be useful know this.

The list can only give a guide, and a phone call to confirm and order might be safer than ordering from a website which might just swallow your money for the duration if the firm is closed.

So far we have:-

Arc Euro Tools - closed Opening again for mail order

Bearingboys Ltd - open

Chronos - open

CuP alloys -open

EKP - open

GLR- open

GWR Fasteners -open

Live Steam Models -open

Macc models - open

M Machine Metals - open

Myford - open

RGD tools - open

Screwfix - open for pre-orders

Toolstation - open for pre-orders

Tracy tools - open

Moderators, or someone with IT skills, is there an easier way to update the list than rewriting it as new info comes in?

rod

Edited By Rod Renshaw on 08/04/2020 10:30:53

Edited By JasonB on 09/04/2020 15:31:21

Hi all

At this difficult time many of our usual suppliers are not open for business for good reasons. But some are still open, and there are a lot of modellers and potential modellers who suddenly have more time on their hands.This situation could go on for months.

Might there be value in having a thread which contained an alphabetical list of suppliers with an "open or closed" note to give a handy reference for those needing materials or tools? Either forum users or the suppliers themselves could add information. It might save a lot of phone calls to suppliers who are open, and who could do without a lot of "Are you open?" calls.

It will probably need a moderator to give this idea shape, but as a starting point I am aware of :-

Arc Euro Tools - closed Opening again for mail order

Macc Models - open for mail order

There are dozens of other suppliers but I, for one, have no idea who is open and who is not.

Rod

Edited By JasonB on 09/04/2020 15:30:16

Perhaps relevant to know that, IFAIK, Joe "is" Macc Models. There is only him, and one might imagine him being busy because so many other suppliers have shut up shop and because so many modellers are suddenly having to stay home and model. If he is having supply problems because his suppliers are also busy/short handed or shut then it's little wonder he is getting behind with his orders ( is there an old joke there?) So look after him, he is doing his best.

Rod

Thanks to everyone who responded to this question and all the suggestions made.

I have not really decided which to go with, and this time it may be a matter of seeing what is actually available since so many firms are not operatng normally.

I am rather taken with the idea of Wagu connectors as they don't have lots of little screws and are cheaper than XLR.

Rod

I have mounted a lot of LED lamps around and about my lathe, several in the locker spaces in the lathe stand, more under shelves above and behind the lathe and more shining down on the lathe itself, both fixed and mobile. It looks bright and is functional and I am pleased with the set up which sort of "grew" over time.

I am not so pleased with the rats nest of bell wire which has developed behind the lathe and which connects all the lamps up to the same 12 v supply. To make the system tidy and also adaptable to any future changes it needs a socket strip rather like a miniature version of the mains power strips which are readily available. I had thought of using XLR or phono type plugs on each lamp lead but I can't seem to source a power strip. Clearly, I could buy a lot of sockets and a box and make one, but are commercial ones made? It does not have to be XLR or phono, just something suitable for 12 volts and a few hundred milliamps max.

thanks Rod

Thanks to pgk pgk and Martin for their input on the virus transmission by pets issue. I will continue to walk the dog in our local country park which is hundreds of acres in extent and almost deserted at 7.00am.

Rod

Perhaps so, but it will be difficult to explain to a dog, and who knows what cats get up to when they are out?

I did hear of a cat owner who wondered what her cat got up to and put a note on its collar asking any human it interacted with to get in touch with her. She discovered it was being fed by about 6 families in her neibourhood. Might be an interesting exercise for all cat owners to try?

Rod

Hi all

I am a dog owner and I have been taking the dog out each day, as allowed, for exercise.

An acquaintance says she has read on Facebook that dogs and cats can carry the virus on their coats, and that as they interact with each other they can pass the virus on from one animal to another, and hence from one household to another. Anyone else heard this? I am aware we have at least one vet on the forum, anything in this do you think?

Facebook is hardly an authoritive source and the language of the item "virus can cling to" seems very unscientific, but perhaps?

Rod

As others have said, this is clearly a large machine. It will be very heavy and may be very expensive to move. Mills are notoriously top heavy and tricky to move - even for specialists. You might want to reflect on WHY you are being offered it at a very low price. Were you the first to be offered it? - and have others turned it down because of the cost of moving it versus its utility.

AFAIK both meths and surgical spirit are about 90% alcohol and both will dry out the skin. So both could be used as sanitizer in an emergency, but best to use moisturiser as well.

Rod