Member postings for Derek999

Iain

I have suffered exactly your problems, and ended up fitting a larger motor driving the spindle through a 2 speed belt drive, using a spare KB controller. I had been working on this conversion in any case, but I was finally driven to finish it more quickly than planned.

However, the problem in my case turned out to be a badly worn oilite type bearing on the top of the countershaft.

This was sufficiently worn to allow marginal meshing between the countershaft and spindle gears, which was both noisy and ultimately destructive, Fortunately the motor and controller survived and are now for sale, complete with all new gears etc.

If you have not already done so, check for any play in these bearings, and replace them if you find any. They take quite a heavy load and are quite cheap. I noticed a vast improvement all round when I did this.

I hope this will help, and wish you good luck with sorting it out.

Regards

Derek

Thank you Alan.

Unfortunately, if manufacturers care so little that these preservatives even find their way into lipstick, eyeliner and even lip salve, which of course remain in contact with the skin and hence, are even worse, it is not surprising that they are also in sun cream and most probably in baby products. Who knows, they could be an underlying cause of nappy rash.

Fortunately I have discovered that Carex hand wash is clear of it and cleans off any remains on my hands after I remove the light weight warehouse glove I use when working.

We have been used as guinea pigs by these unscrupulous manufacturers for years, let alone unknowing cash cows. I am not a fan of the EU, but if they can force in legislation against these callous actions then they will maybe get my vote later when (if) it comes to it.

I'll let you get back to engineering now, sorry to have gone off topic. I felt it was worthwhile.

Derek

Hello all.

I used washing up liquid for years until recently when i found out it was responsible for an allergic skin reaction where the tips of my fingers will split open right down to the underlying flesh. Obviously both painful and a prime situation for further infection etc.

It has turned out to be due to the 'preservatives' added to such products as washing up liquid, shampoo, soaps and hand creams, plus very many cosmetic products from even the biggest, most well known brands. Why such products could need preservatives escapes me totally, but these preservatives, called MI and MIT, are the subject of many warnings from British and European skin specialist bodies, with the result that the cosmetic industry is actively banning them, although only on what they called washed off products!

British detergent manufacturers seem to be ignoring the research body warnings, by adding both products to very many items.

Google "MI preservatives" to read the full details. It is unpleasant to say the least

Once sensitized by these products full skin recovery can only be obtained after months of non-exposure to the products containing the additives, and I can tell you that it is difficult to find washing up liquid without them. At present I can only use one type (from Lidl!) without spending around £6 for a fully organic product which hardly works at all as a washing up liquid!

I would seriously advise checking hand cleaners carefully before buying, as this allergy has my life hell for some years now, and even worse in cold weather as I also suffer from Reynaulds syndrome.

Best regards

Derek

Hello Izack

Last year I purchased a tool used by jewelers to adjust expanding watch straps. It works just like a chain link extractor, and has a small drive pin which should extract those in coping saw blades.

It cost me less than £5 on ebay and although you might need to modify it slightly to cope with the difference in dimensions between a watch strap and the saw blade, it should easily cope with the task at hand. I cannot find it at present in order to photograph it, but a quick google for 'watch strap pin remover' produced plenty of results from £0.99 upwards.

I hope this helps you.

Best regards

Derek

Hello Neil

My thanks for your message.

I took out both subscriptions at the same time which is what has puzzled me, but next time I get the magazine delivered I will compare the number on it's wrapper with what I have on record. Hopefully this will help sort out the problem.

Having the issues permanently stored would be a great help as our wifi does not work well in the garage/shed, and the printer has given up the ghost!

Seasons greetings to all

Derek

Thanks for the info Steve, I'll have a better look through his site later but it certainly is a runner

Videos here

I have had auto renewal subscriptions for ME and MEW for 18 months, but can still only access ME through the pocketmag system. MEW simply does not appear in the drop-down list. How could it be delivered twice a month if I have no subscription?

Despite numerous emails they cannot help other than to keep telling me that i have to register for a pocketmags account. How then could I access ME if I had not already done that?

Their last suggestion was to contact the publishers. After 18 months I have lost the will to live now, and dare not upgrade to W 8 if it causes even more problems.

I'm going to the Pub!!

Derek

Hello Lee.

I had a similar problem a few weeks ago with 60mm holes in 3/8" plate and a drill which was too fast.

The answer i found was to chain drill just inside the 60mm, then run the hole saw through very carefully. This gave the swarf an entry to the outside world to help keep the teeth cool.

Just a cleaning up job afterwards and job done!

Gee whiz, it worked!

Good luck

Derek

Why is the weight so much of a problem?

A more substantially built machine, correctly set-up, should produce far less chatter than a lighter one, and this is the most likely source of objectionable noise. My neighbours (all properties in the road are detatched) were asking me what I was dismantling until mine was properly sorted!

Also, a C3 sized machine comes without the shortcomings that others have pointed to, and probably for considerably less money, together with superb back-up from Ketan for example (usual disclaimers).

The extra weight makes it less portable, but then who wishes to dance around the workshop with it in their arms?The range of accessories is almost infinite compared with the machine shown, and the community which has grown with these Chinese models is incredible.

It's a no-brainer in my opinion. You'll have far more fun, far more help, and have a much more versatile lathe to boot.

Mine has given me some headaches, but all due to my own shortcomings and lack of knowledge, and has taught me a great deal, which as you approach your seventies, is no small thing. I love it!

The very best of luck with whatever you decide to purchase, but DO consider all of the alternatives first.

Derek

I read this item in absolute awe, admiration and, I have to admit, a level of jealousy.

There have been other builds I have followed similarly, and all served to show what wonderfully capable engineers we have amongst our ranks. I believe that our engineers made Great Britain great, but that our failure to train their replacements could ultimately mark our downfal.

When will this country wake up to what is happening here, or indeed, what is not? It saddens me when I hear of the lack of engineering training in our schools and universities, who are selling off the equipment which WE paid for, it seems, on the altar of the HSE and their lunatic antics. I retired recently after years of annoying and frustrating arguments over manufacturing procedures when we had accident free record.

All I can say is that I am grateful to be at this end of my time here than the other!

We will soon become a nation which buys everything but makes little except for the smaller,dedicated few companies who continue despite the ultimate pirating of their efforts.

All this makes wish that I had trained as an engineer properly when younger, but I am enjoying enormously the opportunity to do it ( rather more slowly) now, in my later years, arthritis and back problems permitting.

This magazine has become at the same time, my teacher,encyclopedia and inspiration, and my thanks go to all who contribute and produce both it and this forum.

Keep it coming!

Derek