Member postings for David Taylor 18

To see the capability of a scrollsaw for cutting sheet metal, take a look at the video of a highly skilled amateur clock maker a this link. (I am not worthy!). It looks like he's using a Hegner, but I could be wrong. Hope it's of interest:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8Y146v8HxE

I've got a 6" Elektra Bekum bandsaw, and a 3" Axminster one for smaller jobs, plus an SIP scrollsaw which I don't often use, but as has been said, you can't cut internal holes with a bandsaw - it's got to be either a scrollsaw, or jigsaw for that.

David.

Edited By David Taylor 18 on 08/10/2016 18:14:05

I have a small ancient (1920s?) German Lorch Schmidt watchmakers' lathe - a basic mini-lathe with a 60mm 3 jaw self-centring chuck. Despite its limitations, the lathe does all that I want from it, but the run-out on the chuck has progressively got worse over the five years or so that I've had the lathe, and reached the stage where it was unacceptable. (25 thou in fact). Some of the items I turn on the lathe are from 50mm diam plastic bar and don't call for great accuracy, so 25 thou is tolerable. However, I make other things from 6mm brass rod, drilled out to 2.5mm so 25 thou is out of the question.

I've tried all the suggestions I've found on internet to reduce or cure the run-out, none of which have brought about an improvement, including dismantling it and cleaning the scroll etc in an ultrasonic bath prior to re-assembly . There is no run-out on the backplate or body of the chuck, but there is on stock of any size inserted into the chuck. I concluded that quite simply, the chuck has gone to the 'workshop in the sky' and must be replaced.

I know that self-centring scroll chucks aren't noted for their accuracy, and am prepared to sacrifice a little accuracy for the convenience of a self-centring chuck. I searched around and thee aren't too many 60mm chucks on the market - the one that caught my eye was a 'Zither' Indian made chuck from Arc Euro Trade. (Their Part Ref No: 040-040-00900). I was as sceptical about buying an Indian made chuck as I would be about a Chinese one so I made the trip down from Hull to Leicester to see a chuck for myself before I took the plunge. I was impressed by the spec: within .08mm (3 thou) on a test bar, and .03mm (1 thou) on the face and periphery of a test ring held internally and externally. The chuck and its two sets of jaws were all stamped with the same serial number and the test certificate which accompanied the chuck indicated that it was within tolerance.

I had to make a back-plate for the new chuck as the thread on the spindle of my lathe is the rather odd size of 19mm x 1mm pitch. I got a chum with screw-cutting facilities to cut me the thread in the back-plate, which I then mounted onto my lathe to carefully turn it down to register with the new chuck, and to drill and tap the three M5 holes in the back-plate to secure the chuck to it.

I have to say that I'm delighted with the chuck, which shows no run-out at all on a DTI. I've since looked up Zither on internet to find out more about the firm, (who I'd never heard of), and note that they've been in business since 1948 and are an ISO 90001 company. Arc Euro Trade stock a range of Zither chucks as well as Chinese ones - the Zither ones being a little more expensive, but still excellent value for money from my perspective.

Based on my experience I'd have no hesitation in recommending this make to others, and for the avoidance of doubt, I should add that I've no connection with Arc Euro Trade (or any other firm come to that), other than as a satisfied customer. (I've found Ian there very helpful, knowledgeable, and courteous).

I hope this feedback might be of help to others in a similar predicament with a dodgy self-centring(not!) chuck.

Quite simply, if you've tried the cowboys, why not try the Indians?!!!

No category of paint of whatever brand in the European Community is quite what it was prior to 2007. Every manufacturer has to contend with the European Decopaint Directive 2004/42/EC which limits the total volume of Volatile Organic Compounds ('VOCs' in paints, varnishes and vehicle refinishing products in order to reduce VOC emissions and to reduce the generation of ozone in the lower atmosphere.

Any paint, varnish or vehicle re-finishing product must not exceed the maximum VOC level for that particular class of product and must carry a label stating the grammes/Litre of VOCs for that product in its ready to use condition. For decorative paints and varnishes ANNEX 2A sets out two limits of values, the first of which applied from 1 Jan 2007 - the second, and stricter limits, applied from 1 Jan 2010. For vehicle re-finishing products, Annex 2B sets out the limits applicable since 2007.

Manufacturers of paints have received torrents of complaints about household decorative paints, in particular white paint (80% of household paint used), turning yellow. They try to turn the VOC limits into a marketing advantage by referring to their products as 'low odour'. Many varnishes and gloss paints these days are water based and boast 'Low VOCs' but as anyone who has used water based varnishes will attest, the finish they produce is dreadful as compared to oil based ones. Neither does it adhere well - you can scratch it off with a fingernail.

I don't know the present situation with Hammerite and VOCs but I'd suspect that any change in formula is to comply with the Decopaint Directive. Hammerite used to be Finnigans, which was owned by Hunting Petroleum Services Ltd, but yes, it's now Akzo-Nobel. I have a tin in front of me - no idea how old, but the label says 'High VOCs - VOC content 25 - 50%. I don't think that label complies with the current directive which requires the label to state what the Directive Limit is for that class of paint, and what the actual is in g/L. I won't mention the (well known) brand of water based varnish I have which is destined to be binned, but it's rubbish and states 'low VOC 0.3%'. I also have Sadolin Extra Durable Woodstain, which is excellent and states: 'EU limit for this product is 400g/L 2010. This product contains 399 g/L, so it seems clear to me that in the interests of producing an excellent product, the makers have taken the VOVs to the limit.

Sorry it's so long-winded, but I hope it's of interest and relevance. Whatever paint you're using, if you're not happy with the finish the VOC limit might be the culprit. Personally, any paint that states 'low VOCs' stays on the shop shelf.

Same situation with rubbish water based 'decorative' (rather then 'preservative' finishes for sheds and fences these days. Makers still try but fail to convince us that they're as effective as creosote, (banned for domestic use by the EU some years ago).