Member postings for Chris Evans 6

Spurry, my test cost £49 and was all complete in 20 minutes including eyesight.

I did mine at 70 around 18 months ago, ticked the box to retain towing a trailer and 7.5t vehicles. It involved a simple medical to attain the entitlement as "Grandfather Rights"

Welcome along Jim, I hope you get your lathe.

Colin, if you have a use for it there is about 100ft of 25mm x 25mm tube here.

Chris.

And here's me about to book in to see GP because I don't feel as lively as usual. It is most likely overwork trying to look after two daughters properties as well as my own and time in the workshop. At 71 maybe time is catching up with me ? Prostate OP 7 years ago and just one tablet a day since then, never smoked or overweight.

Have a look at some of the standard lead screw manufactures like Automotion Components. There prices are really good. I bought a 1 metre length of 16mm x 4mm pitch left hand and a nut to suit for around £60 I had enough o make 3 cross slide screws.

Hi Steven, welcome along. Good luck with the search for a shaper.

Welcome along Wallybox.

Have a look at the "WDS" webpage. I have their catalogue and it stocks all of these sort of things.

A timely thread resurrection, I have just walked the dog to Fradley Junction from home in Kings Bromley. I will look out for the original crane on my next walk.

I can't help with clocks but welcome along Dave

I tend to buy most of my steel by the bar length. Usually 3 metres long, this is cheaper and I like having a good stock.

As standard practise I cut the first 2"/50mm off the end and throw it in the scrap box.

Welcome along Dave, what sort of things interest you ?

I have a Brierley supplied cutter grinder (American made "Cuttermaster" I have seen You Tube operating instructions / Demonstrations for my machine. Worth a search for the drill grinder ?

Chris 123 your location/county added to your profile is a great help for folk suggesting places to get work done.

Here in the Midlands we have a good choice.

RMA Plus one for Excel Taiwanese lathes. Mine is from the 80s and still good.

Clive, your comment re dirty contactors is valid as it is a route I went down with some improvement in running time before tripping out. When the improvement was real I replaced the contactors but did not gain improved running time. My cable from house to inverter is on a 32 amp supply and in 6mm (cooker/hob) size cable. Lathe runs well but seems to occasionally have a vicious start. The 3HP lathe is Taiwanese and no clutch just a microswitch. My VFD on the Bridgeport has now seen over six years service on a machine that runs a few hours a week.

If my experience with a Transwave static and a Varidrive Bridgeport motor is usual it may never work.

My machine would run for a few minutes then a contact would trip. I had good support from Transwave and a visit to my workshop to fix the issue. Sadly even after that the machine would not run for long and I bought a Huan Yang VFD from China for around £90. With this installed I have no problems. The Transwave does run my 3HP lathe without issues.

I spent my 50 year working life as a Toolmaker (Mould and Die) 22 of those years managing a company with 35 toolmakers. If I was in Italy or Germany I would be referred to as "Ing" and have some status for my skills. Here in the UK it is very much a blue collar/manual trade sneered at by many.