Member postings for Chris Gill

That may be it. The hammer was hidden under the floor near the old lead-work. It was certainly hard enough when it hit me on the head! I'd have been very tempted by the shackle mawl if I'd inherited the thing - one grandfather designed battleships.

Interesting - I didn't think of that option. The set is conveniently labelled "foreign", as we did in those days. So no clues about material or maker! I think it'll stay in the curiosity box.

The suggestions for the tapered drill make sense but it seems odd to use a number (#15) drill for this.

And I wouldn't have thought of a saw-set for the other one. Maybe I'll try it on my 5-foot tree saw sometime.

Many thanks all - sorry I can't seem to quote everyone properly

While explaining the contents of a socket set to my little grand daughter, after she'd tipped them all over the floor, I remembered I still have some tools that I haven't identified yet. Can anyone help me out?

My first one is obviously a hammer but I don't know what job it was intended for. I discovered it 30-odd years ago when I was replacing my lead pipes with copper. Two of them refused to come out so I wrapped one around each arm, put a foot against the wall and pulled hard. Part of the ceiling came down (I intended to dry-line it anyway) and this hammer bounced off my head. I reckon it had been there since about 1935 but what was it for?

My second one is, I'm told, often seen at car boot sales but I still don't know what it is. One slot is worn and the tip is shaped like a screwdriver bit.

My third one is a 1/8" drill that was in the remains of a jobber's set. The flutes all appear quite coarsley ground and this one the flutes even reverse direction. On one of the others the flutes go straight before continuing in the usual way. But why?

Finally, another drill. This is a short #15 with a flat on the shank and tapered flutes. What sort of material would require this one?

As usual, thanks in advance

Ah, b**er, don't think I did.

Ah, yes. I'd tightened gibs and backlash to the point where it was getting too tight. I'd set the tool height but there's a question mark here and clearance was good. Swarf was my original thought - may need to invest in decent coolant feed (or hose pipe)

Ah, interesting. It's a while since I checked my height setting tool. Making a better one has been on my "one day" list. Maybe I should have a go.

Thanks

Hi, I wonder if someone can help me understand what happened today.

I was boring out a 20mm hole in a bit of 12mm thick BMS. I'd drilled to 18mm and roughed out with a carbide tool and swapped to HS for finishing off but the tool chattered so badly I swapped back to carbide.

I was only running at 320 rpm because the workpiece centre of gravity was way off-axis. I was cutting on the back-stroke in the hope of getting a finer cut (yes, OK, carbide - slow - fine don't work together). And then, with 1 thou to go, it dug in and left a gouge in the middle of the hole.

Not a catastrophy in this case but scruffy and something I'd like to avoid if I could just figure out what I did wrong.

Thanks, Chris

Hi Eric

I didn't realise until I did a trial assembly.

If it's any consolation I had to remake a part today because I got the first one upside down for part of the marking up. Doh!

Chris

I'm busy making this engine at the moment and I believe I've spotted a small error on page 513 (April 2015).

I think the central portion of part 39 (the parallel shaft) should be 26mm long, which is the sum of the central portion of part 22 (14mm) and two copies of part 24 (6mm). This means the overall length of part 39 will be 46mm.

I'd also suggest making the studs (part 41) a bit longer, say 36mm, as the existing length only engages 3mm at each end. I made mine from 4mm threaded rod to save time.

Otherwise, looking forward to seeing it run

Chris

I agree with the spanner - I had a feeling it was for beds. But I think the two-blade thing is a hole cutter for wood (it fits my old brace drill). Still not sure about the other one

Chris

Today I visited my mum to repair and sharpen her gardening shears and replace a leaky old outdoor tap. Not serious engineering, I know, but we ended up rumaging in cupboards and she pulled out an old tape measure like the one below (which is mine).

Her tape is 25ft and mine's 50ft, they're identical fabric tapes in polished leather cases marked up in feet & inches (no fractions) and links (that's 7.92 inches or 66/100 feet). Interestingly, though we think they were both my grandfather's, mine shows the maker as Chesterman of Sheffield while my mum's is John Rabone & Sons of Hockley Abbey.

Other finds, in a random assortment of broken drills, old wine-making kit and other bits we found two interesting drills (I'm sure there's a better word) and a cast iron spanner.

Look out children, you'll inherit these one day!

Hi Brian

At the moment I'm just starting work on my second Stuart Hart model. No doubt it'll be interrupted by the need to make some new tool or other. After that, probably more static engines, but who knows ...

Hi all

I recently borrowed one of these TTA's and wrote up some notes. I've created a post "Harrison Taper Turning Attachment for M250/300" in the "Workshop tools & tooling" forum. Hope it helps.

Chris

Hi

I recently borrowed a Harrison TTA and used it on my M250. My friend asked if I would write up some notes as he wanted to use it on his M300. I've converted the notes into a PDF which I'm happy to upload if I can find a way.

In the meantime, I hope this Dropbox link will work:

**LINK**

Chris

Hi everyone

I'm a relative newcomer to the world of model engineering so I often trawl the magazines and forum for ideas. All being well, I'll be able to make some contributions before long.

In terms of background, I spent about 40 years in the world of IT although the first 8 were in or around many of the industries of the North-East, especially British Steel at Redcar (RIP).

Oddly enough blast furnaces, chemical plants, nuclear medicine and all the rest didn't introduce me to the Harrison M250 that still seems to have plenty to teach me!

Chris