Member postings for OuBallie

28° and rising in the carport today.

Yesterday it was nudging 30°.

The big fan I bought years ago is now working full time and at least working on the Austin Seven is bearable.

The carport is just too large to use the aircon unit I think, may try it to see.

Geoff - Inside cooling down

Got this from the AustinSevenFriends.com forum, and thought it would be of interest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buZMpx2A3es

Two Austin Seven engines coupled to a standard Seven gearbox.

Wonderful is all I can say about it, and pretty quiet as well.

Would have our regulators in apoplexy.

Pity this ingenuity has (vertically) been banned/destroyed here & in Euroland.

Geoff - Now how about a V-8

edit/

Must learn how to do links properly!

/edit

Edited By OuBallie on 12/07/2013 10:53:26

Apologies for the double post.

Geoff - Internet slow today.

Edited By OuBallie on 12/07/2013 09:40:37

Michael,

Edited By OuBallie on 12/07/2013 09:42:09

Kai,

Years of experience of what you mentioned.

2010 I fitted doors to the carport extension I did the previous year and needed to fill a gap above the normal sidedoor.

Made a frame out of square steel tube, ends cut at 45° and those 'useless' bits went into an ice cream container I keep for such items.

Come the time to glaze above the up&over door, that I hinged, I needed something/s to but the glass up against, and no guesses what I used

Those 'useless' pieces of 45° square tube ends where screwed into the steel cross beam and the glass rested against them - jobs a good 'un. Nuf sed.

Geoff - Sod's law says it will be cooler from now on. So what's new?

Nick,

They are indeed quality items, with neat binding/stitching and no frayed bits in sight.

If, however, I was buying for commercial use I would split one open just to make sure, but for my purpose they are fine, being nice and supple.

I did use a couple of those single layer stiffish nylon ones when I moved the machines into the garage.

These new ones are much easier to handle, especially for lifting the things I will.

Geoff - Coffee time then workshop time, headache just about gone

Yesterday finalized the method of lifting the chucks using newly installed 'crane' system.

The 30° temp in the carport just about fried me, boiled is a better description, but job done.

My original post and My Photos added to.

Geoff - Recovering from yesterday.

Well, the heavy base ones seem to be out of stock, and the only ones on Internet order are the floor standing jobbies.

For the life of me I can find neither hide nor hair of the Guest login, so registered, for all the good that has done me

BAH to Ikea!

Geoff - Letting off steam, and headache not helping much either.

Update.

I bought a couple of the slings that Nick mentioned, before JohnS' post, and they arrived yesterday.

Thanks to Nick's description of the way he lifted his chucks, I did the same using a piece of steel tube but with one sling only.

The chuck lifted easily, and much more safely as well this time.

I, however, made some wood cradles for the chucks to be lowered onto and nearly melting in the 30 deg temp in the carport, the cut-out in the wood positioning the chucks at spindle height, so all that's needed is to push it up to the spindel and screw the chuck on. So so much easier now!

For the 3-jaw I had to cut a groove in the centre of the cut-out for the jaw adjusting screws as they are proud of the chuck circumference. Did think of turning them flush, but sense prevailed.

If I was lifting the chucks by means of the cradles, I would have made them wider of course.

Just need to figure out how/where to store the chucks now.

More photos added.

Geoff - Changing chucks now a pleasure

JohnS,

Where in hecks name are you putting all of them?

When I collected those ME mags, I couldn't see much of the floor all those years ago.

You done a DIY Tardis or what?

Geoff - About to repeat the taxi service on what looks to be the hottest day so far, but thank goodness for aircon!

Thanks all for the comments.

A the time I bought the 41x21 Unistrut, I didn't realise that 41x41mm was available which would be better in providing more 'meat' above the bearing axles. Cannot see mine breaking through though.

Ian S C,

Your idea never entered my head. Nice one.

MichaelG,

Yes you are right, it is much lighter to lift than I intimated at. Was in a hurry to pick relative up, so didn't do a proper proof read before posting.

Nick,

I forgot to state that the 'S' hook used was only temporary, and just to test the system, and that a more secure way was being investigated, but thanks to your brilliant idea I now have a solution at hand.

As a final thought, I have absolutely no idea what weight my system will lift, but no doubt more than I would ever wish to work with.

Geoff - Too much wine yesterday, so must promise not to keep up with youngsters in future!

After hefting that 30lb lump of 4-jaw chuck a couple of times from floor to spindle, it was only a matter of time before I dropped it.

Dropping it would result in either a broken foot, even though I wear steel toe capped boots, or a mangles chuck, none of which appealed to me in the least.

Time to install a crane system of some sorts that could be used for lathe and milling machine use.

Hours of searching on the internet revealed systems ranging from Heath Robinson affairs to those that would no disgrace the ISS.

None, however, suited my particular needs of spanning all three machines, a distance of just over 3m.

Much head scratching about using channel section steel, when I came across Unistrut and that fired the brain up in devising a way to mount it with the open side facing downwards, and a trolley of some sorts to run on the upturned ends, with a pulley system attached to it.

As is my wont, I started to think up all sorts of weird, wonderful and complicated ways of suspending the Unistrut from the garage roof beams, to clear the power points.

I found a suitable piece of aluminium and decided that two axles with roller bearings should word, as they where low profile compared to roller ones.

These where ordered together with a double pulley system, and when received, I measured and drilled the trolley blank for the axles and pulley retaining strips then turned the ends of the axles for the bearings, still not having resolved how to fix the 'strut to the beams.

Sitting on the throne one morning, I said to myself "stupid old fart, just screw spacers onto the beams, and the Unistrut onto them" so problem solved.

The Unistrut was temporarily suspended from the beams to check if my solution would work, and so it proved.

Measuring up later, all that was needed where bits of 1" wood, so 5 pieces where cut and screwed into place, with the Unistrut onto them.

The securing screws needed csk holes, as there was only a milimeter or so clearance between the trolley and 'strut.

With the Unistrut in position the assembled trolley was slid into place and it whizzed along the rail without any problem, but the real test was yet to come.

First thing up was the standard faceplate that felt feather light, proving my system worked, so the real test was next.

The 30lb (15kg) 4-jaw chuck that 20 years ago would have meant anything to lift, but age and BigC treatment meant I wasn't happly lifting that to spindle height.

Now I needed to find a way to hook the lower pulley to the chuck, but a large S hook came to the rescue, it being hooked round one jaw with the others tightened up againt it. Nice and firm.

The test.

A gentle pull on the nylon rope/string had that chunk of metal rising into the air as if it was half the weight, and no creaking of wood or sound of screws parting company with wood, prooved my desing.

WhooHoo it worked like a dream, and the 3m length of Unistrut covered all three machines.

All I need to do now is make something to store the chuck and large faceplate I have.

I am chuffed to say the least at the outcome.

Geoff - About to act as taxi to collect Her Indoors' neice visiting from Europe so in a rush.

E&OE

Edit/

New folder added to My Photos.

/Edit

Edited By OuBallie on 05/07/2013 13:13:01

Just finished the overhead 'crane' system.

I will use it to lift heavy chucks & other items on and off of the lathe & milling machines.

New folder added to my photos.

Writeup to follow.

Geoff - Well pleased with the results

JohnS,

Didn't realise you are now living across the pond.

Enjoy the cheaper prices there

Geoff - Hoovering this morning

Thanks for the photos MichaelG.

Watched the last two last night, and can recommend the short series without hesitation, even with the inaccuracies mentioned,

Not ME, but I spent all of yesterday afternoon attempting to resuscitate a cold water tank valve that was leaking.

Only saw the leak whilst cleaning out the gutters a couple of weeks ago, and saw water dripping from the overflow.

No idea how long that has going on for though.

Into the loft to check, and sure enough, water dripping from the water deflector on the valve, which is covered in lime scale. It's probably been up there from day one of the bungalow build in the early '70s.

Took the normal procedure of pushing the float down a few times to move the plunger in the valve, but to no avail.

Ok, time to dismantle, so down to shut water off.

Collect two shifters, adjustable pliers, and back up, but before taking the vale off, took the float/arm off and gave it more of a bend than it already had, but to no luck.

Remove float, disconnect water supply, then undo the plastic nuts, both of which came undone easily.

Down again with the offending valve, and close inspection made me realise that all that gung needed to come off before any attempt at dismantling, so the diaphragm end was dunked into a jar with a mixture of proprietory lime scale remover, lime and lemon juice added.

Wow, the stream of minuscule bubbles issuing forth was a good sign.

Left it in the solution for an hour whilst I had something to eat and a coffee.

Said hour later, the valve came out almost looking like new, with ALL the scale gone!

Now to do battle in removing the end nut that keeps the plunger housing/float fixing thingy in place.

Into the vice, and quite a heave on the adjustable pliers needed, and relief when it moved. Unscrewed and found the rubber diaphragm in what appeared good condition (This assumption was incorrect).

Reassembled and re-installed, water on, but still leaking!

Water off, valve removed and plunger end removed, and a walk to my local plumber supplies, and it's drizzling. I didn't take the plunger bits with me!

Show the valve and diaphragm to the guy, mention its possible age, and get the usual sucking through teeth response, but he soon find a pack of five diaphragms that appear the correct size trying to compare with them whilst in the plastic bag, so £2.06 later I remove one and they fit!

Back home I go feeling very very confident that the leak is now history.

Repeat assembly, reinstall, water on, into the lofty with said total confidence that I would be calling the fix a success.

Well the air turned a very very deep blue, and to say I was, by them, well and truly pi55ed off is an understatement. It was still frigging leaking!!

Sod this for a lark says I, new valve time and no more up and down the ladder.

Valve off again to take with me to check thread, and by then it's a near deluge outside, but need to get to supplier before they close for the weekend.

New sparkling valve produced, but no float, so ask for one, as knowing how this valve rescue was going, the old float would not fit, so £10.00 later I had new everything.

Pushing the plunger in on the new valve revealed much more travel compated with the old, and with much more give, and only then did I notice the ring indentation on the old diaphragm made by the water inlet 'jet' that it's pushed against. Rubber gone hard.

Back home in the downpour, into the loft, and about to put the new valve and mains pipe in place, and thought I'd better give the float arm a tweak to get the float into a lower position.

Water mains on, into the loft.

NO MORE LEAKING!

Tidy up, replace tank cover down for hopefully the last time, ladder back up into the loft, trap door closed, end of saga.

By now I'm cream crackered from those trips up and down the loft ladder, so a calming cup of 'Calm' tea called for.

Having the cuppa, I pondered on why I had spent the whole afternoon f*rting around with that old valve, when a new on with fload only cost a tenner, and fitted in 10 minutes.

Geoff - Now I can continue making the overhead trolley/pulley system.

Edited By OuBallie on 29/06/2013 11:44:56

Edited By OuBallie on 29/06/2013 11:46:48

Just watched the first one, and his credibility was somewhat clouded when he said the Egyptian Cubit was the forerunner of today's Rulers!

Rule, rule, RULE.

Still highly educational and worth watching though, so will be viewing the others tonight.

Oh, just don't start me off about the latest car craze described as drifting when it should be POWER SLIDING!

Power sliding is easy with enough HP, but drifting a car requires more finesse as I found out in my 105E Anglia going into Sunset at Kyalami, the original F1 circuit, in the 70s.

Geoff - Time to get into the roof space to sort out water tank valve that's leaking.