Member postings for Grindstone Cowboy

I expect the scientists know better than me, but if I was asked to measure carbon dioxide, I wouldn't choose to do it on the side of an active volcano...

Rob

Everyone (and everything, including lamp-posts) on the road is out to kill you. Can't go far wrong thinking that, and it's mostly true.

Rob

Could be done, but possibly too complex to explain at a distance.

A simpler way might just be to sort on Column C, thus grouping all of the unmarked rows together, whence they can be selected as a group and deleted or hidden as preferred.

Rob

I did read (in a US Army training manual, I think) that it's OK, indeed recommended, to drag it on the return if the metal is soft, as it helps to unclog the teeth. On hard materials, do not drag it.

Having said that, I agree with Speedy that the force applied on the push stroke is so much greater than the pull, I don't see any harm in keeping the file in contact all the time.

Just an aside on ratchets, I was taught to always depress the button when applying a car handbrake, so as not to wear out the teeth and pawl.

Rob

A photo of the motor and, more importantly, any information on it (probably stamped on a plate) would be most useful.

Rob

Earthquake, member of family or pet. Possibly something else, but I'd suspect those first (in reverse order).

Rob

There is a video doing the rounds showing a chap stranded in the desert with a flat battery on his EV, so he smugly opens the boot, pulls out a petrol generator but then has to walk miles to a garage with the empty petrol can as he's also out of fuel

Rob

Just spotted this article about an award-winning dashboard. Not entirely convinced...

Rob

Links to https://interestingengineering.com/shy-car-dashboard-only-appears-when-needed

Lots of 7/8" BSW taps on Ebay from around £10. Might be worthwhile.

Rob

As I understand it, heat pumps will basically need to be run 24/7 throughout the colder periods in order to keep the mass of the building warm - coming home to a cold house and then turning the heating on to warm the place up for the evening will no longer be an option. It may just about work in well-insulated structures with low thermal inertia, but not in traditional UK builds. Additional heating will be a necessity, along with long woolen underwear. Winter draws on, as they used to say

Rob

Another friend works for the firm constructing these houses near Lancaster. Apparently no heating is being installed, all heat is supposed to come from appliances used in the homes, such as TVs, cookers, computers, lighting, etc. and the very high standards of insulation keep it in.

I'm just wondering how their air-tightness works alongside current government advice to open all your windows for ten minutes several times a day

Rob

Links to https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/futuristic-homes-built-lancaster-new-20333681

A friend works for a large construction/services company, and he tells me they are taking out gas boilers they installed only three years ago from schools, replacing them with heat pumps. Mainly because there are government grants available for the change. He also mentioned they are having to double the number of radiators too.

When installing replacement boilers (which they are being asked to do for some commercial properties in advance of restrictions coming in around 2025 (which are not applicable to domestic systems)), it is becoming apparent that the amount of gas coming through the mains is inadequate - they are finding there is an unacceptable drop in pressure, such that it falls below the manufacturer's safe lower limit. Apparently the "solution" is for the gas suppliers to reduce the pressure in surrounding properties - the proper fix would be to replace the aged cast-iron main with something larger, but in one case that would involve digging up the Mancunian Way (one of the main routes into Manchester), so that's unlikely to happen.

Rob

Not sure if it's still available, but Finnegan's Brown Velvet used to be quite good (probably similar to the rustbeater mentioned by Nigel). Used it on some already rusted pressed steel light fittings in an open seaside environment (50 yards from the sea) many years ago and they lasted quite well before the rust started showing through again - about three years.

Rob

I seem to have noticed an increase in gas boiler adverts recently - getting rid of stock, or am I just cynical? Might just be the time of year.

Interestingly, the one for Worcester Bosch states they are hydrogen compatible (or some such phrase), so presumably there are plans to add hydrogen to the gas mix.

Speaking of hydrogen, I was watching an old episode of Top Gear yesterday which featured a hydrogen-cell powered Honda (now no longer produced), which to me would seem to be the best idea of all if they can get fuel distribution sorted out. Link here to the Wikipedia article for the vehicle.

Rob

Links to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Clarity#Honda_FCX_Clarity_(2008%E2%80%932014)

Another big fan of Renaissance Wax here - I'm sure it does not contain any silicones. About six months ago I polished up an old brass oil lamp (didn't get three wishes, though) using Autosol, then gave it a coat of Renaissance Wax, nothing done to it since. The bright mirror finish dulled very slightly immediately the wax was applied, but has remained exactly like that since with no further dulling. Stored indoors, no heat applied, so can't say how it might react on, say, a working boiler, but I'd certainly give it a try.

Rob

Thank you, I'm teaching myself how to use Solid Edge, so thought I'd try to draw something useful for a change - there's no doubt a proper way to do threads, but I've not got that far yet

Rob

Thanks everyone, very informative

Rob

To round this off, my Starrett Redstripe blades just arrived from Cromwell Tools (and as an aside, remarkably quickly, I ordered in the wee small hours of Monday morning, delivered early Tuesday afternoon) - I've just tried them and the difference to the alleged Eclipse blades I had is chalk and cheese. These are the sort of blades I remember, actually cutting metal without the teeth disappearing in short order. The cut was at a bit of an angle though, but that's just inept operator, I think.

So many thanks to all. Off to the workshop now, happy

Rob

Hi all

Just idle musings really - I don't have a 3D printer, but I have a friend who has a friend who does - and was wondering how standard PLA prints cope with hot water, up to boiling temps to be on the safe side? From what I've read, it seems PLA is slightly absorbent(?) but to what extent? For example, If I had a PLA printed cup permanently full of room temperature water, how long would it last? And how long with boiling water? Minutes, days, years?

Would other printable materials be better in relation to water?

No specific project in mind, just trying to learn more about the capabiities.

Thanks for any advice/thoughts on the matter,

Rob

I've always wondered what effect land reclamation has on sea levels - building an entire island (e.g. the Hong Kong airport, various projects in Dubai, Dutch polders, etc.) must displace an appreciable amount of water.

Rob