Member postings for Danny M2Z

While we are discussing teeth, these tiny brushes are great for cleaning model engine spraybars and removing swarf from small tapped holes (especially blind holes) Interdental Brushes

Does this qualify for MEW 'Readers' Tips' Neil?

* Danny M *

ps. Why does 'swarf' get underlined with a red squiggle, surely it's a common word on this forum?

I have noticed that a few gunsmiths advocate this technique. They are cutting a barrel tenon away from a fixed shoulder and I must admit that it is new to me but it seems to make sense - here is a linky UDRT

Any thoughts on this as a general technique considering that most forum members to not thread barrels?

You beat me to it Howard. An aluminium bush bored and split in the 3 jaw would be an inexpensive but accurate way to hold the lead screw.

Les, also watch out for the drop bears, they love new immigrants Drop Bears. Get used to eating Vegemite, it seems to deter them.

When I lived in Brizzy, cane toads sometimes visited my workshop Cane Toads. Many people used to practice their golf swing on them but in today's PC world this is frowned upon even though they are a known environmental pest.

Hopper, what is the current technique to deal with them?

* Danny M *

When I used to work on military radar systems my supervisor called them 'American screwdrivers' and woe betide anybody that he caught using one!

Also known as a 'Monkey Wrench' in some places

As an aside, we had weekly toolbox checks to ensure that all contents were complete and serviceable. Also all tools were required to be individually marked (colour coded) so that any tools found lying around could be traced to the owner ( I used a blue and white stripes). This was to ensure that if we were deployed in a hurry we could do our job. My supervisor had just returned from active service in Vietnam so knew his stuff.

One good thing that I learned was the use of a 'Shadow board' and this paid off when my children used to use my tools for bicycle repairs.

Sorry to stray a little of topic so now I betta hit the froggin.

* Danny M *

The question on cars puzzled me, Sedan vs saloon, what century we talking about????

If it's got a roof it's a car. If it ain't got a roof it's a sports car. If it ain't got a boot but can carry a few jumbucks in the back with a few Kelpies then it;s a ute. Simples!

Avabluddygoodaymate - Nowurries, she's apples

* Danny M *

I was nicely surprised when the first pictures of a black hole were published **LINK**

I waited a day but no posting from our esteemed Neil, he's probably still getting over the excitement

How fascinating that Albert Einstein could have predicted such mysterious things so long ago. We still live in interesting times.

My current black hole is my workshop - Things randomly disappear if I drop them so my workshop floor is my own 'event horizon'.

30 years ago my first black hole was my desk, or rather the computers that came and went from it's surface although my first home built Z-80 PC still survives from 1983 in working condition (with it's green screen).

* Danny M *

Amen to that observation! I usually measure from another (convenient) location on the ruler such as the 100cm graduation when slicing things (balsawood) to repeatable dimensions.

* Danny M *

G/F (SWMBO) soundly lambasted me almost ten years ago when I invested $315Au in the then new Bitcoin fad.

As I had won $800 on lotto, I reclaimed my stake of $18, took her out to dinner and spent half of the remainder on my 'investment'.

Over the years I have redeemed enough to recover my $315 a few times over (to purchase workshop goodies and a new 'crypto-mining' PC).

Biggest problem nowadays is the dreaded 'Capital Gains Tax' if the balance are redeemed here in Oz.

Buy new, buy wisely and go with your instincts - as I once heard "There are no pockets in a shroud laddie"

* Danny M *

I really like this one Ian. It's going to come in handy when I am making model fuel tanks to a precise capacity for team racing purposes as I can adapt it for bending the flanges.

* Danny M *

Using the 'Three Wire' method of accurately measuring threads used to drive me to exasperation until I learned (on a gunsmith's forum) that a dob of grease on the threads makes this task much easier.

It was on this forum (or in a MEW) that I learned the trick of using a bit of 'Blu Tack' or a piece of Plasticine to hold a pin for a simple but quite accurate wobbler for locating a centre pop hole under my mill prior to drilling a hole.

There must be many other such simple hints and tips out there, so how about sharing them around?

Regards * Danny M *

RE: Bunnings.

I recently looked for some decent quality drill bits etc in Bunnings (Wodonga). Sutton tools are of better quality than some of the other stuff that they sell Sutton Tools

I found what I wanted (a long shank 3mm drill bit) and the salesperson remarked that Bunnings would soon be dropping this brand so I asked him when the clearance sale would be as often prices are reduced to dispose of old stock. "Don't know" was the answer. Handy to keep an eye on.

So how trustworthy is this ruler?

Had a nice (pathetic) email yesterday,

"Your mailbox is full, please click here to fix the problem"

Traced the IP to an Eastern European server so obviously not on Australia.

* Danny M *

Nigel, I have used this to preserve my machinery for over ten years now, no rust whatsoever Inox MX3 I am not sure about the availability in the UK though. It's also great as a cutting fluid for Aluminium when I run out of kerosine.

This is very similar to what you were referring to Lanox MX4 A friend uses it on the metal fittings on his very expensive ocean racing yacht.

* Danny M *

Today I started test flights on a new Free Flight model from a 1952 design that has kept me busy in the workshop for the last month (Aussie Nats in April). It's looking promising

Only use of the C3 Mini-lathe was to manufacture the fuel shut-off and tweak the ports of the equally ancient FROG 150 model diesel engine.

If anybody is interested in such things, here is a linky **LINK**

* Danny M *

I found this instructional video well worth watching, it seems like a handy technique if one has the kit. **LINK**

* Danny M *

When I snapped a Mills 1.3 crankshaft in a partially turned 2024 aluminium alloy spinner-nut I put it into a plastic yogurt container, covered it with sulphuric acid (battery concentration) and left it in the garden.

After six weeks the steel shaft finally turned to a black powder that was easily flushed out.

There were a few dark spots in the aluminium which had turned gray but it was only on the surface and machined away easily.

* Danny M *

If it only reads to a tenth of an inch then I would find it easier to use a ruler.

Possibly used to measure Land Rover Discovery pistons

* Danny M *

It appears that our (Australian) govt. has committed funds to a new locally designed advanced combat drone Australian Drone

* Danny M *