Member postings for Danny M2Z

G'day Neil et al.

My minilathe 7x14 is mounted on a sealed 1" marine plywood base with holes countersunk 1/4" for the rubber feet all sitting on a commercial lathe stand with holes drilled through for the bolts. The bolt torque was adjusted to slightly compress the feet without twisting the bed. Fine for the last 9 years but occasionally I do find missing items hiding under the machine.

I also keep a piece of wood under the headstock end to slip across the bed when changing chucks.

* Danny M *

Edited By Danny M2Z on 23/01/2015 07:34:33

Edited By Danny M2Z on 23/01/2015 07:35:12

Nice T-slotted topslide for the mini-lathe Neil.

Any more details? - Enquiring minds need to know!

* Danny M *

Even a UPS requires maintenance.

As a qualified electronics maintenance engineer (retired) I still look after a few local businesses p.c's. Apart from literally twisting arms to implement sound backup practices, all vital equipment is 'protected' by UPS's.

But the UPS's themseves require periodic inspection and servicing. The batteries do not last forever and so I advise that they should be changed every 3 years. (I do not sell batteries or UPS's btw).

This is what happened to the batteries in a UPS after 4 years in an air-conditioned office.

Notice that the 'valve-regulation' does not appear to have been very successful at protecting the battery.

Reliability of the electronic boards in our lathes and mills does not depend on where it was made.
It does, however depend upon quality control - Of the assembly, of the components, of the inspection.

It is not unknown for fake, cloned components (such as electrolytic capacitors) to appear in consumer electronics.

Without going to MilSpec extremes how many people are prepared to pay 20%-50% more for a product if it has been built and assembled up to a 'standard' and not down to a price? The bottom end of the market is very competitive. At the end of the day one get's what one is prepared to pay for and after that it's up to the user to provide a reasonable environment.

* Danny M *

G'day all.

Another forgotten engineering technique seems to be the ancient art of 'Fettling'

Now I think that I have a rough idea as to what it means. 'To fiddle, faff and fart around making bits fit' and one often sees it mentioned in engineering. But I cannot find it in my Macquarie Dictionary (Aust ver).

Another mysterious ancient technique is 'Building from scratch'

This elusive material has eluded me for many a moon. But now and then when I ask somebody where did the perfect item come from the answer is often "Built it from scratch"

I have checked the site ad's, *bay and goggled the net but nowhere can I find this mysterious substance.

The nearest things that I find are on Harold Hall's website. Somehow I suspect that HH knows all about this elusive 'Scratch' but he's not letting on.

Oh well, the nearest that I shall get is to scratch my head and ponder.

Regards from down-under

* Danny M *

Edited By Danny M2Z on 15/01/2015 04:37:17

OK Larry and Clive et al.

Larry, A friend of mine has a son who is an environmental scientist (CSRIO). He investigated the fish-kills in Gladstone, Qld. and suddenly the info dried-up, was censored or whatever. Even his father conceded that big-business (mining exports) mean more to vested interests than the poor punters who live there.

(For the rest of the world, just google Eddie Obeid to see what happens when corruption hits the greed of some Australian ministers).

Clive et al, I actually do believe that the climate is changing, but do resent the fact that us poor bunnies are copping the blame for what may well be a natural event dictated by forces over which us Earthlings have very little control.

Who copped the blame back in the days when the Thames and most of the rivers froze over? **LINK**

What is more of a personal worry is that this forum could degenerate into a debate on climate change when I am more interested in the forgotten engineering techniques of yesteryear.

The tallow stuff has been very interesting btw. In today's age of precision surface grinding, dare I mention scraping as a way to finish a surface? I have actually tried it but what a pita to learn! The old guys must have spent a lifetime learning that skill.

* Danny M *

Edited By Danny M2Z on 13/01/2015 03:36:14

G'day Colin.

Perfect tool for cutting cylinder fins in aluminium heads for small engines.

Like has already been said, grind the relief and back-rake slowly so as not to kill the temper (I used a small stone point in a Dremel). Minimum projection for the job.

Probably make an interesting project for my Harold Hall grinding table to make a suitable tool holder - that would give repeatable angles.

* Danny M *

That wouln't be Mr Sweeny Todd who used to run a barber's shop near where I went to school in Bethnal Green? He was a nice piece of work! Only got discovered when a patron of his pie shop found a fingernail in a pie.

So what modern alternatives to tallow would be useful for piston fits in small engines?

* Danny M *

Hi Phil....that was the longest rant that I have ever seen on this forum.

But it was worth reading to the end, as what you said made some very valid points.

Well done!

* Danny M *

The lard comes from the pig, Best to make sure it's dead first,. If you have seen 'Dirty Harry' and his .44 magnum the case is 1 inch long. So double it to 2 inches and add a 200 grain hollowpoint Hornady then you have a.,444.

I hunt a bit but noway is the tucker allowed to suffer, I respect what food comes to the table and never dreamed of shooting a goanna. I thought that they were protected. Feral introduced pests like rabbits and foxes and pigs are enough to keep me happy. We have more feral camels than Saudi Arabia btw.

* Danny M *

Edited By Danny M2Z on 10/01/2015 06:56:19

Edited By Danny M2Z on 10/01/2015 06:57:33

I have a friend who is a qualified electrician here in Australia and has over 40 years experience at the job.

We live on the border of NSW & Vic.

Last year he was was informed that he had to obtain a certificate to climb a ladder in Vic.

The 'obligatory' 3 hour training course cost him $450. (+ the cost of a 'flouro orange jacket'

I think that the elfin safety mob are out of control and just another cash machine for people who are paid to sit in front of their computers and dream up another scam for the tradies.

* Danny M *

Over the last week every time I try to read what you lot have been up to I am reminded to log-in first.

Now this could be a problem at my end, but I have not changed any settings recently.

So, is it me or is it the website?

* Danny M *

G'day all.

When reading my well thumbed copy of 'Model Aero Engine Encylopædia' the section on building an engine mentions using tallow to prevent parts sticking when attempting precise fits (piston to cylinder).

So I hunted down a wild pig with a .444 Marlin lever action to obtain the tallow for a mate who makes smoked sausages and ham from pigs, he rendered me some tallow as part of the deal.

Apart from the smell, it is perfect for the job. In fact, I have never found anything better!

* Danny M *

Edited By Danny M2Z on 10/01/2015 04:03:55

Posted by XD 351 on 09/01/2015 04:57:12:

I use a Neco Gauge for my cases and had pondered its uses for model IC engines to check crankshafts and camshafts.

Are you going to make an internal anvil so you can check case wall concentricity ?

Ian.

To check internal run out I just put the DTI probe inside the neck. The carriers have a magnet in the base btw.

I never thought of using the device to measure cam-lift but that's a great idea. Would need a degree wheel though.

At the end of the day, something worked as I got this from the club.

* Danny M *

Edited By Danny M2Z on 09/01/2015 18:57:07

Ok. The bubble is still work in progress, this is where I'm up to, the glass was pinched from an ancient turntable levelling device btw.

The wind flags were made after I realised how even a slight breeze can affect a projectile. Notice how some ****hole took a poke at one of them. The culprit was identified and is on warning for a 6 month suspension if it happens again.

The concentricity gauge was a labour of love, it took me a whole year of 'should I or shouldn't I finish the project' - but it was worth it, only to prove that modern .22 ammo from reputable manufacturers is very good and .

As for the commercial offerings, you be the judge.

At the end of the day I got this deja-vue thought.

' If only I knew at 20 what I know now *

G'day John

Lovely thread but judging by last years contributions have you considered 'What Did You Do This Month'?

Now as for home made wine, as a Christmas 'treat' I was offered some 'grappa' from a mate of European ancestry.

All I remember was waking up the next day and observing that the potion might be useful as a universal paint stripper/degreaser.

In the workshop I manufactured a concentricity gauge and a bubble level to remove a few more excuses as to why I can't hit the bull with an Anschutz . Then made some wind flags, they worked! (photo's available if anybody is interested) but probably not model engineering although the concentricity gauge may be useful for checking crankshafts.

* Danny M *

Edited By Danny M2Z on 08/01/2015 04:29:52

Thanks Les.

I knew it was always lurkling in the back of my mind, something always drags me back to chemical sharpening as a viable technique but most people remain silent about the matter. Sorry that I raised the topic again.

Moderators - please delete his thread

* Danny M *

G'day. Christmas here in Australia is usually hot and humid. Plenty of thunderstorms about so I like to catch a few native fish (Golden Perch 'Yellowbelly' ...)  near where I live as they thrive in the conditions and my neighbour loves them (in his fish-smoker).

When I was casting a lure I got thinking about the sharpness of my Mustad and Gamakatsu chemically sharpened hooks.

They are seriously sharp .. enough to pierce one's skin if dropped onto an exposed toe.

So, as one does when waiting for a bite, I pondered about lathe cutting tools, hunting knives and sharpness in general.

As I discovered many years ago whilst following one of Harold Hall's excellent books (Tool and Cutter Sharpening - Workshop Practice Series #38) - Sharp tools work!

This led me to ponder about the possibility of chemical sharpening of lathe tools.

Research led me to a few patents, mostly involving electro-chemical sharpening (fishhooks again), but some mentioned cutting tools for lathe and mill such as **LINK**
and **LINK**

Any thoughts from the forum.?

* Danny M *

Edited By Danny M2Z on 27/12/2014 07:38:36

Edited By Danny M2Z on 27/12/2014 07:56:07

Thank you Neil.

MEW eagerly awaited here down-under.

Also thanks to the contributers whom make the magazine worth buying.

Have a great Christmas

* Danny M *