Member postings for Chris Evans 6

Depending where you are based Rotagrip in Birmingham used to offer the strip down service. Worth a call to see if still available ?

I've run a Transwave static inverter for about 8 years now. It powers my 3hp lathe ok but would not run the 2hp Bridgeport mill for more than a few minutes. Never did sort out why and fitted a VFD to the mill.

With the lathe running I turned the setting knob to show around 400 volts on the meter and have not touched it since. On odd occasions the motor will sound "Wrong" powering down and back on again restores normal service. Only downside I can think of with the inverter is no soft start. Every now and again the lathe starts with a bit of a sudden clonk, does not seem to have done any harm though.

Welcome along Terence, you have the excitement of waiting for the lathe and planning the workshop installation. What have you in mind to make ?

For gentle seating in the vice or tapping things true I use a Thor copper/hide Size "A" mallet. This is the smallest one, works well and they last for years. There should be no need to really clobber things on a machine. My number three and four copper/hide mallets are reserved for belting old Land Rover and farm equipment apart.

Have you asked MSC ? as an American company they do tend to list a lot of imperial stuff. They may have to order in as most of the UK has gone metric.

For most tapping I do especially for small sizes I drill at least 0.1mm oversize. Usually 0.2mm and mostly tap on the mill with a guide to keep vertical. Rocol or similar RTD and a squirt of tapping fluid as well. I haven't broken a tap in the last 15 or 20 years. Edit, all my taps are HSS.

Edited By Chris Evans 6 on 01/09/2020 14:28:22

Plus 1 for a day at Crich. The box on a post stirs memories of the bus or tram inspectors at a local terminus opening the box. Maybe it just held a clock to keep on schedule ?

Welcome along Jon from a fellow motorcycle tinkerer. Mainly pre-war stuff for me. Where in the world are you ? Lots of help with any queries on the forum. Enjoy.

Welcome to the forum Matt, the LeBlond is a nice machine to own. Enjoy the learning and ask away for any answers, someone on here will know.

I have recently bought a new charger for a Lenovo laptop. £18 off the bay, needed when the new puppy chewed the old lead. Be sure to check power outputs and jack plug sizes as they differ between models.

Welcome along Glenn from an old Rocker who still plays at restoring motorcycles. Enjoy the lathe when you get one, have you considered the through spindle bore size for parts you intend to turn ? Some of the smaller lathes are a bit restricted. Chris.

Welcome along Paul from an adopted Brummie. (Born in Bewdley) Spent most of my working life working with Black Country lads. Enjoy the forum.

Plus 1 for 303

Over the years I have made a set of angle setting "Wedges" from 1/4 degree to 50 degrees. for most work they are good enough. I do have 2" 3" and 5" sine bars but they are only used occasionally.

Welcome along Tom. Does your lathe still have the original two speed motor ? Some Bantams I have seen are fitted with a single speed motor and VFD inverter.

Chris. ( another vintage bike guy)

I can't help with the problem but welcome to the forum David.

People moan about Luas electrics but forget they had to be made to a price the OE customer would pay.

I have an auto-electrician friend, Lucas trained and can repair any of the parts on my old Pre War bikes claiming all to be simple.

Welcome along Maurice, we are a mixed bunch on here from model makers to car/clock and motorcycle folk.

Where in the world are they located ?

Plus 1 for the saddle stop.