Member postings for Peter Sansom

I use both Linux and windows daily. Windows 10 is my work PC and a dual boot Ubuntu/Windows.

Have booted Windows once in 3 months to use a Photo processing application. Everything else I can do under Linux. There is a Linux application "Wine", that will run a number of Windows application without installing a Virtual Machine.

Libre Office us a reasonable substitute for MS Office and Libre CAD is reasonable for 2D Drawings.

Sometimes you need more than the GUI, Google is your best friend. I use linux servers regularly for for work and still use Google.

Peter

You have given me food for thought. Have just purchased an 18" Macson, Australian lathe manufacture. It appears to be an Alba 4s copy. Will have a better idea when I get it home on Friday. It requires a fair bit of work as it has been sitting outside under a tarp for a while at a local historical village.

Peter

Definitely crane rail. Used to use a similar profile for overhead cranes in a steelworks where I worked many years ago.

Peter

You have the number 1 problem problem with welding, distortion caused by the heat from welding. Tack weld the frame first, getting it square as you tack.

Then weld it in small sections to minimize heat distortion, welding opposite corners, allowing each welding area to cool, before doing any more welding in that area.

The lighter weight the steel the greater the distortion. You will see distortion in welding steel any size. It is a Boilermakers art to minimize distoration. This may be followed by heat treatment to minimize the stresses.

Just don't rush.

Peter

Just make sure you use a thread cutting compound such as Trefolex. The tapped hole will be cleaner and less chance of breaking the tap.

Peter