Member postings for OuBallie

Another smart alec

Ah but, if I really try, I can just see into the workshop from the window, so there.

Geoff - Just back from seeing GD, so worn out, but content.

MikeW,

Brilliant idea, as we are so used to them now, what with computers and road signs. Oh yes!

Bazyle,

You beat me to it That bench is far too clean and devoid of stuff.

Just received a grinding wheel dresser and took it into my HobbyRoom indoors, (who knows why) together with the remote control unit for the milling machines' VFD as I needed to put a speed control pot in it, and then spent about 30min searching for it, with much Anglo-Saxon being voiced.

Found it on top of a book where I put it of course.

JohnS,

How in blue blazes did you squeeze that machine in?

You must have a magic wand or summit.

Geoff - Reading posting.

You never disappoint John, nice one

Geoff - VFD for the TS & Marlow to do.

Ah yes, missed that, but depends of course to which/what military organisation and country you refer to.

Merlin & Bazyle,

I do indeed intend to have a record on computer, DVD/CD, iPhone as well as iPad.

The one on the iPhone will of course accompany me when out and about, making it easy to check what I have or don't, thus preventing me from duplicating tools, which incidentally, I have been known to  do, much to my annoyance.

I do have a DB of the books I have, and that has stopped me from duplicating some.

I've ordered a can of foam, too expensive to buy locally, so will be trying that soon.

Waiting for a handle to be delivered to finish off fitting the QC to the BH600G.

Watch this, and my other, posts for updates soon.

Geoff - It's sunny again!

Edited By OuBallie on 31/05/2013 18:31:34

Thanks for all the excellent ideas, much appreciated.

I do like the foam idea, but with so many drawers, it could soon become somewhat expensive. Nevertheless, I will try one just to see how it performs and how many drawers one can will do.

Using the foam method, was thinking of the following procedure:

1)laying some cling wrap on the drawer bottom

2)place the tools into position

3)more cling wrap over them

4)then more foam

5)then the weight

Depending on how the foam performs, I may also try the paper mâché method (haven't played with this for 50 odd years!)

I shall be playing around with DB as well as spreadsheet to make a list, although I did make a manual one when I did the last bit of organising. I still found it quicker to do a physical search of the drawers as I always seemed to miss the item when searching the lists.

Military description should of course have read:

"Mug, tin for the use of" Memory does sort of work sometime.

Geoff - Caffeine jolt before workshop

Thanks Norman.

Good ideas.

The military way of describing stuff is the best.

"tin mug, for the use of" etc

Geoff - ideas floating around now

Hello all,

Welcome to the fold Frank.

I second what Nobby said with regards a second hand lathe.

My BH600G was second hand, sight unseen, but from a Model Engineer, and I have absolutely no regret, but do inspect it first.

Do, however, join your local Society and ask around for lathes and other tools.

The type of steam engine/s you intend building will govern the size of lathe, BUT, it will ALWAYS end up too small at some point, hence all the wonderful methods devised to swing that just too large a flywheel or disc etc.

I think the maxim of Model Engineering has to be "It's never big enough!"

Can't believe that my first lathe was an Emco Unimat on which I wanted to build a Tich. Reality soon showed the wisdom of that idea, with a V10P purchased PDQ.

One more thing, buy tools as and when needed. Take this from someone who has tools that will never be used!

Geoff - About to use the QC for the first time.

I threaded the QC Toolpost stud using the Jog feature.

Mark,

Welcome to the hobby.

If like myself and no doubt every other member, you will very quickly have a life time's worth of projecta to do, and discounting those on the wish list

If in doubt, ask for advise.

The only advise I can add is, that you take your time, measure 3-5 times then cut, and soon it will be like riding a bike.

After a 30+ year absence, my past experience is gradually coming back, and I am now less frequently shaking my head in dismay at the stupid mistakes I make. So far the biggest of these is me winding the saddle the wrong way and having the tool bit dig into the workpiece. Luckily I have the lathe belts slack, with the Diamont Tool Holder bit being pushed down, otherwise it could very well have been an "Oh bleep, bleep what have I done?" moment, which for a fraction of a second it was.

You will make mistakes, but learn by them, and once again take your time with your first project.

My first few times at the lathe and milling machine where a little nerve wracking, but it soon became much easier, and immensely enjoyable, with hours passing without notice.

I am very much in your shoes, but have past experience to dredge from the depths of the old brain.

You are fortunate in having access to the fount of knowledge on this Forum, so take advantage.

Enough waffle.

Geoff - Ready to put the QC into action!

Thanks Chris.

I've been thinking of using magnets, but can see them being covered in swarf in no time.

Your solutions seem to be the best approach.

My local DIY emporium, that stocked clear Perspex, went belly up a month ago, and the new enterprise don't stock that. Every time I walked past the Perspex I always told myself to buy a sheet, but never did.

When oh when will I learn to heed myself!

Geoff - mal à la tête

Stealth cutter Chris?

Is that shield standard or DIY and how is it mounted?

I'm enquiring, as I need to make similar for my machines.

Geoff - Early coffee

It's done!

Photos added.

The last time I did anything on a lathe was in the mid 1980s, and oh man has it been an awakening.

Things that have been brought home with a wallop;

1) Everything is taking 3-4 times longer than expected,

2) Silly mistakes due to lack of practice, like me winding the saddle in the wrong direction, as I've posted about,

3) Attempting to use a totally wrong method to put a thread on the Toolpost stud,

4) Having to measure and check 3-5 times before putting cutting tool to metal or wood,

5) It is still, however, so so satisfying to do something useful, and have friends marvel at it (The Toolpost hold down nut in question)

6) I'm not going to finish a quarter of the projects I have planned, and that is a bummer!

7) With luck and perseverance, however, things should improve from now on as my previous experience comes to the fore.

Must admit that the BH600G is so much better at removing metal compared to the Emco V10P I had, and the VFD means that I will no longer make a clutch for it.

These last weeks have brought back memories of me when I first started to use the Emco, and not knowing what I was doing.

Parting off is one thing that has changed dramatically, and now no longer the nightmare it was.

With the QC fitted, I may postpone making a rear Toolpost, and concentrate on getting my drawers organized and labelled [tools drawers that is ].

Right now I have absolutely no idea which one holds what, and I'm sick and tired of having to look through each bl**dy one to find anything.

Geoff - A happy bunny.

Forgot to add that I will be placing a card washer under the QC, and will probably have to take a scrim off of the hold down nut to get the handle into a more convenient position.

8) I drilled and tapped the hold down nut for the handle, even thought I told myself beforehand to wait until it was fitted - DUH!

Edited By OuBallie on 17/05/2013 19:09:58

Loading fine using iPad 3 with iOS 6.1.3

Geoff - Cheese on toast in its proper place, coffee following.

That's the one.

Next to a QC Toolpost, this is the best investment you could make.

There is a square bar screwed onto the tip holder that will fit the Toolpost.

A VFD comes ahead of these, having now had experience using such.

Geoff - Cheese on toast then coffee.

Edited By OuBallie on 15/05/2013 13:18:47

Confession time.

When I had my V10P, I gave up on parting off due to the problems as described by Petro1head, and resorted to using a hacksaw. I'm wearing flame retardant cotton .

Now to the present with my BH600G.

Greenwood Q-Tip is the answer, for me anyway. (Disclaimer)

Expensive, but it makes parting off a pleasure, used dry but even better with a little cutting oil.

I have the cross feed set to the slowest possible and adjust the speed, via VFD, until the parting off sounds like frying bacon, with the chips curling inwards and falling clear. Just makes the cost of the VFD justified for this alone.

60mm is the maximum so far, but have no hesitation in going for maximum now.

What a revelation to be able to part off without the fear of seeing and hearing the crash bang of a dig-in.

Lathe work now a pleasure as it should be.

Will try and do a video of using the tool, but don't hold collective breaths.

Oh, the facility of the Diamond Tool Holder bit to be pushed downward was clearly illustrated yesterday, when I had a brain f*rt and moved the saddle towards the chuck instead of the other way, and the tool dug into the work.

Luckely I have set the drive belt loose, so nothing catastrophic happened. Old age is a bu**er.

Something I couldn't do with the Emco, it having a geared head. Uh, never thought, until now, of the drive belt from motor the headstock. Brain working a little late on that problem.

Geoff - Still busy with the QC T-nut and stud.

Chris,

I do like all those tools you've made for the rear Toolpost.

It's given me ideas for mine.

Edited By OuBallie on 15/05/2013 10:34:48

Test.

No luck.

iPad 3.

Went through the process of selecting a photo, via the camera icon above, as described in a number of posts, but nothing appears to happen when I press, not click, the green OK button.

Oops. Didn't register that this thread is about photos on external sites. Hanging head.

Geoff - This is when I'm tempted to hurl something, but later to regret.

Edited By OuBallie on 13/05/2013 16:03:12

Edited By OuBallie on 13/05/2013 16:05:29

Ingenious Andy.