Member postings for Chris Evans 6

I seem to recall information for all the common collet/arbor tapers are in ARC's catalogue. I have several homemade R8 arbors all turned to this information and checked to "Blue" in the Bridgeport spindle. Easier to get right on an R8 than a morse because the R8 is so much shorter.

Mine did that until I replaced the casting that carries the two gauges and air outlets. About £11 for the new casting /gauges/pressure switch. It now holds pressure for days. Take a look on eBay for compressor spares.

Normally a torx screw but no tapered hole in the picture shown. Probably of the style that lets the hole locate on a round peg and then uses a top clamp over the chip breaker groove.

Whenever the machinery subject is raised we get the same tale. Buy old/buy new..If it where not for the imported machinery the vast majority of folk would never get started. My Taiwanese built lathe is now 20 years old and still going well.

I tend to have a regular sweep up and odd session with the Henry vacuum. A really good clean down and wash down of bench coverings before engine or gearbox assembly. I do admire the folk who keep their machinery clean, mine tend to get a brush down/wipe over and oil when it is time to empty the chip tray.

When I served my time as a mould and die toolmaker we had several MorrisFlex machines for polishing the dies. Basicly a motor driving a flexi shaft mounted on wheels, the motor pivoted to allow the shaft to move through an angle.

Most (all?) of my counterbores are also bigger around the head than I would like. One day if I can be bothered I will spin them down on the cutter grinder. Got to get energy levels back after a recent stroke first though.

Another vote for Purdy. I gave up with Hamiltons a few years ago. I did use some "Brittan" brushes that where very good but not seen any for many years.

Taps/Dies/Reamers are all stored in A4 size "Bisley" drawers with a simple hand written label on the drawer. Regularly used cutters are in Ikea wooden drawers with the size range written on. Most other cutters are in a selection of boxes which I sort through to find what I need. I can remember where most stuff is but with several hundred cutters it sometimes takes a search.

I wear gloves a lot when working on the cars or old bikes. I never wear them on the lathe or mill and can't subscribe to the theory that they will tear and not do harm.

Welcome along Nick, enjoy your new hobby. Nearest bit of South Derbyshire to me is Lullington about 10 miles away.

A beautiful county.

In my working life I used a few hydraulic motors for our applications. All where made by "Danfoss". Worth a Google to see if they are still around ?

Try Simply bearings, they are my go to supplier. If not listed on their web page they may still be able to get them for you.

I have used a mate's Myford grinder a few times. I will ask him what model it is and if he has any info for you. May be a delay with the copying if he has info due to the covid 19

I guess once the lathe arrives it will be a few weeks before installation is completed. Be nice to know it got there safely though.

Bridgeport is well worth the effort Craig. I must get around to fixing the table feed on mine one day. Some threads on this site re table feed if you do a search.

The wire cut EDM process is done with water. Either power flushed or submerged. If the distillation of the water is slightly out or the part left a while after cutting you get the results shown. As far as I am aware only the very early Japanese "Sodik" brand machines used a paraffin type dielectric like a normal solid sink EDM (spark erosion) machine At the end of the day it is down to slight impurities.

Welcome along Craig, enjoy the banter and knowledge.

Welcome along Mark.

My 3 HP Excel lathe runs from a Transwave static inverter and has done for 8 years. On odd occasions it sounds "Wrong" turning the inverter of for a while and restarting cures it. Talk to Transwave to see if it would run a two speed motor, I have my doubts.