Member postings for Gordon Wass

I have a home made anvil also. Main thing is to use a lump of tree as a stand. You will most likely find a point becomes a must, but can be fitted later, weld on. I would grind/ machine the top flat, with a sharp corner on one edge and a radius on the other. Also a few holes as suggested. An anvil is one of those things that you wonder how you ever managed without.

I know all this has been done before but new people keep coming along!. I have no problem using shim, any old shim, end up with a tin full after a year. Stick the main shim to the tool and use a thin shim if needed after sharpening. I looked at QCT's but decided to just buy another 4way toolholder, covers 90% of needs, and I'm sure is more rigid.

I had to go and check mine, for the first time. A bit of silver steel about 30 mm out it was 0. o6mm. Pretty reasonable for a dirty 5 year old chinese chuck I think.

Stick to the advice above. My lathe is similar construction and have no bothers. Maybe after some practice and use you may feel the need to upgrade and it is not difficult, but probably will not need it in normal turning.

It's not all about moaning and content. Money is getting scarce for some, and of all the things that could be cut magazine subs. are a first choice, for me anyway. I will miss them, but would miss beer more. Grumpy ? me a Yorkshireman living in Aberdeenshire.

Gray ,off topic I know, But you don't have a profile. I was reading an old ME, about 1954 I think, there was an article about a lathe with two drive motors. Very good idea I thought. The chaps name was G Meek, any relation ? You must have been about 10 at the time.

Is it possible to search by topic on this forum ? I have been searching for info. on heat jointing plastic drive belts, with no luck. Do I need the exact thread title ?

Jason - now you have started something.

Petrol blowlamps and stoves aren't dangerous, putting petrol in a paraffin stove is. I know.

Years ago we skimmed cyl. heads on a specialised grinder, a flat iron table with a horizontal segmental wheel. The casting pushed over the table by hand and the wheel raised until cutting started. Used for iron and alloy heads, no coolant. These little jobs were "government work " so may well not have been the correct way.

Another point I have not seen mentioned- It's not unknown for the cooling fan to be loose on the shaft. Some cheap ones are just pushed on to " splines "

Testing the injector spray pattern outside the engine is standard full size practice ,in my house anyway. True it will not be the same under pressure but it's a good start. I don't know what sort of pump / injector you have made, can't imagine it even, but the relative bore sizes should give a good idea of press. differences, similar to a steam injector ?

I use a set of 1/4" hex tips , they come in all styles and quality, great for everyday use. But no good for small things because of the shank size. My old drivers needed replacing so bought a set of 8 very cheaply, to my suprise they are very good accurate fit and non broke, so far. got from a pound shop, maybe just lucky. As already stated the quality of the screw is important and often outside our control.

I don't get upset because some people own, use ,and write about CNC machines. I do not get upset because people like drawing in CAD and reading CAD drawings. People can do whatever they like. I do get upset ( well a little bit ) when I am called a Luddite or Flat Earther , especially by people who do not understand the terms, just because I do not.

The stepperhead lathe is a very interesting machine and is well written up. I do not have the skill, patience, or need for such a machine. But I do read the articles, because the methods of construction and the designs might well be of use for a different project. Keeep it up. But you have not yet told us what colour the workshop walls are, or what the grandkids are doing.

If I had a shop that sold MEW any where near me I would cancel my sub. Not so much the content but the endless pages of puffery ( is that a word ?) just to fill somebodies pocket I presume.

Just for interest, I found a worm drive g/box that might well do for a power feed conversion. It's off a grass cutter, this has a clutch to drive rear wheels. The gear box is worm and wheel, about 8 to 1 and has a neat multi-plate clutch built in. The whole thing is a cast ally box about 3" cube. I think the mower was Aus. made.

The best way to remove paint, if at all possible , is a blowlamp and wire brush. Acrylic is a bit difficult as it just goes hard and powdery instead of burning, but still comes off.

If it helps I've run a real full size lister with a piston like that, a bit of slap and a bit of oil burning but otherwise ok.

If these students aren't being taught any basic eng. ( as seems so ) would it be a bad idea for them to get hold of an old i/c engine and take it to bits ? There are loads about for scrap price.