Member postings for Oompa Lumpa

Neil, did you produce this on your C3? (if so there is hope for me yet!)

That really does look very good.

graham.

Edited By Oompa Lumpa on 28/02/2014 23:06:48

Edited By Oompa Lumpa on 28/02/2014 23:07:19

Michael Williams wrote:
"When I first got started things were a bit different to now . The majority of beginners did know something about engineering and about steam engines and lots of related topics just from their general experience . Many people then worked in industry or knew someone who did or they maintained their own motorcycles . The point being that the concept of making things and how to set about it was not entirely alien when they took up model engineering ."

I recently asked a vendor of Liquid Product if he would sell me a gallon or two. The chap had half a dozen 45 gallon drums of his stuff in the back of his wagon amongst other containers of various thinners and solvents. He looked positively panicked at the question. It was almost the basis of an outright refusal. The problem? The poor fellow didn't know what a gallon was. Last year I was asked if I could confirm there were twelve inches to the foot.

I really wish I was making this up, sadly I am not. I have a really terrifying vision of some youth downloading the plan (in digital form) of some component, sticking it in the print que for his digital printer and calling himself an "Engineer" but again, sadly, I think this has already happened.

graham.

The OP has quite clearly stated he is in Droylsden, that is in Manchester if you don't have a map.

We need to lighten up in the UK.

In the US you buy an old (ancient) Huey from a dealer, slap "Experimental" stickers on it and go fly. Try THAT in the UK. Here you can't hire a Hydraulic Lift because of elf n pastry, but you can buy one!

There is a new member on this forum, he has NO experience of machining, he is going to build a scale undercarriage. I wonder how many of you thought "Good luck with that" and how many thought "Go for it" - I am in the latter camp. The man can't possibly fail, he will learn something along the way.

A new - unknown to many - currency format is emerging, whether you like it/understand it or not. It is here and has been for a while. To me it makes perfect sense, I am going to be having a 500w (or thereabouts) night heater in my workshops/sheds so why not drag a few of the computers presently propping a worktop up into daylight and press them into service? I understand the technology, I have the hardware and it is something that would not really exercise my grey matter to accomplish. Just need to buy a couple of cards and get the kit hooked up.

The UK - Great Britain - used to lead the world in innovation. In my humble opinion we are the authors of our own downfall, we are always looking for the easier, softer way. Well that way is not always the most rewarding but when you do succeed in the UK you are "lucky". I am sick of hearing it. Sure, there might be a "right place right time" element. But if you don't get off your backside in the first place..........

I am not saying this is for everyone either, I am just being philosophical today. And trying to remember the spec of a couple of those computers

graham.

I have both of these things on my desk.

And that is where they are going to stay. God knows the tin of worms if I actually used them. There is very good reason that parents tell their children the Pandora's Box fable!

graham.

"on Ebay last night and not been on there for a bit and it's a total minefield now."

Do you think? I have no idea how people new to ebay manage to be honest.

"End of the day I'll have to pay 10 to 15% fees so is it that good a deal ?"

And now every local auction house has cottened on to this so their fees have gone up too. Let's not forget the Paypal fees too. How it is, in this day and age, that Paypal are not a regulated financial institution is beyond me. Just think, if they ever did become regulated and someone started a class action suit over the fees AND WON........

"I got my lathe and a lot of its tooling from a chap who was getting too old to use it anymore and I must admit that I felt emotional when I took it away."

A wise man, knew when to throw in the towel. Some of us are just too obstinate. I know my youngest son would use all my kit so he is probably going to end up with it though my eldest would get the vintage items off my desk as he really appreciates them - even though he cannot use so much as a hammer! Well we all can't do everything.

graham.

"Maybe a bucket of sand could be handy or a CO² fire extinguisher."

Magnesium on a Mission would just laugh them off. As I mentioned in another thread I am melting Aluminium, I check very carefully for magnesium because once lit in the furnace there is no putting it out - The Chernobyl Effect.

Simple test is a couple drops of vinegar, if there is a reaction it is Magnesium.

You seem to have some biggish chunks, be respectful of them or they will bite you.

graham.

Edited By Oompa Lumpa on 23/02/2014 21:48:36

I started to make some special toolholders to machine Polyurathene, it is proving a challenge and a bit like re-inventing the wheel:

graham.

Well, this is my recent story.

I answered an advert that was offering a machine for sale. I arrived at the House (Alladins Cave) to have a look and see if it was "as described" (we have all been there). The machine was indeed exactly as the lady described it and we got chatting.

Turns out her elderly father had been an avid engineer but had suffered in the latter days of his life with ill health, but connected to the Internet. Now, I have discussed the story with a couple of my friends and frankly, if I had been the gentleman in question - I would have done the same. To all intents and purposes, he say at his computer and ordered stuff - "For when he got Better".

V-Blocks? How many did you want? Four sets still in their boxes, Drill Sets? Twelve months later and there are at LEAST thirty sets still there. Calipers? What would you like? Digital, analogue or Dial - What size did you want? Parallels? Four sets, boxed. I won't go on, this was a double garage so packed (on Industrial Shelving) you couldn't get in the place. Drill chucks? Still about forty lying about. Toolholders for the QCTP? I counted fifty and stopped. Times three though as there were three different toolholders. And lathe tools? Holy Moly!

You will have seen some of my posts trying to identify some of the stuff. There wasn't a lathe - there were five or six. With all the changewheels and everything all stored in the most unlikely places. And Changewheels Backplates Chucks and you name it for machinery the chap no longer owned. I have been going back and forth for six months now and finally we have ONE workbench cleared. There are three more to go. I am not receiving a penny for my efforts though I have kindly been given stuff I have not asked for. I am just hopeful that if anything happens to me someone will come along and help my family out.

I am also fortunate. My good lady knows what the stuff costs and in many instances - Ketan's kit from ARC for example - the price is on the label. And when I do buy stuff second hand I try not to take advantage. Though I will say that ebay is the exception and if I get it for a bargain - in my eyes - then it IS a bargain and the seller really should have tried harder. Though many older bits of kit, as John has pointed out, although expensive at time of purchase no longer are as desirable or as expensive so you cannot hope to attain what they were worth. It is what they will fetch now. I have however obtained some vintage kit that I covet and it is obviously valuable, but it sits on my desk because I think it is beautifully made.

This is a really tough one and having now gone through the whole experience I will certainly be planning ahead.

graham.

Absolutely no need apologising to me, my thanks to you for expanding my horizons.

graham.

It is a slipping clutch Neil. However, it had been tightened way beyond acceptable and the lugs on the clutch plates torn off or damaged beyond repair. I have now made new plates and it will be fine.

graham.

So, with many thanks to Shaun I fixed the chuck. He kindly sent me some material and half an hour with the fretsaw and it is now all back together, good as new!

Once again, my thanks to Shaun and those that identified the material. I have enough of the stuff now stashed away that I could repair it again, AND again if I get too over enthusiastic with it.

graham.

I would tend to agree with you, though I am not a civil or structural engineer.

These sort of sudden changes can also (I am not suggesting this is the case) be put down to the reversing of the fork truck into the machine and the paint marks from said bright yellow vehicle.

Not that I have any experience of this you understand.

graham.

Well, yes and no. I could throw my Chuck in the bin and replace it, but I would much rather repair it. Besides, I want to use it in the Lathe tailstock.

So, thinking about this Jens I think you may have confused Clutch with Chuck, two different things. Please excuse me if I am wrong.

graham.

Apparently it is indeed Clive. That link is very worthwhile too.

I am off back into the BatCave to measure up and see if Shaun has a big enough chunk to help out. Fortunately the new pack of fine toothed blades for my Fretsaw arrived yesterday

graham.

So, I have myself a nice Archer tapping head.

The snag is, the clutch is totally mullered. I would like to replace the material but what would be suitable? You can see from the pics that the clutch has been overtightened and this is the result:

There are parts of the lugs remaining on one of the plates but the others are completely stripped. I remember when, back in the mists of time, you could actually buy replacement brake linings complete with copper rivets so you could re-line your own brake shoes. I don't think they do now though

graham.

Nope. And you can add Chopsaw Hand held Circular Saws and Polishing machines to that list. Chop saw is shortly going in the crusher, it is quite dangerous.

graham.

Ahhh! Terrific. Sent you a note Ian.

graham.

I wish to thank you all for your valuable contributions, it has been very, very helpful.

graham.

....no prizes though, unfortunately.

So, I am helping a friend dispose of her late father's engineering stuff. It has been pretty easy so far, all of the stuff was pretty standard kit. But now we are starting to get to some of the more obscure bits. Over the years the chap collected a good deal of "spares" (like you do) but unfortunately there is no indication of what these bits fit/are used for.

I have asked two people whose knowledge is quite broad regarding these things, but we are all struggling. I would be grateful therefore if anyone could shed any light on the following items.

First up, some Grey Changewheels:

Now, for variety, some Red ones

A toolpost that I suspect may be to make spheres:

A couple of Cross Slides:

Another:

Finally, this is obviously not a tool but if anyone knows which engine this is from, or could be made into, I would be grateful: