Member postings for Dr. MC Black

They don’t have cookery, sewing or stuff like that either.

in fact, schools teach very little to prepare children for the “real world”.

When I was a schoolmaster, I told the children that they should pay attention to one particular day’s lesson because it could save their lives.

Readers may disagree but that lesson was how to wire a 13A plug.

Much more useful than knowing who won the first battle Barnet (and who came second), for example.

I sold my Pillar Drill and put the cash towards my Mill. I need the space on my bench.

If I need a drill and I can’t use the Mill, I put a pistol drill into a fairly inexpensive drill stand and clamp that in the bench vice.

I do not regret selling the Drill - not least because it wasn’t very good and it came to me from Freecycle! I now know why the previous owner gave it away!!

Screwfix sell these latex blocks 150x76mm for £8.49. Their part reference 16210.

I expect Toolstation do too but I can’t find it in the catalogue index.

MC

From time to time I receive telephone calls which begin suspiciously. I explain that I’m cooking and ask the caller to hold on. After fifteen or twenty minutes, I return to the call and explain (if the caller is still waiting) that he or she will have to hold a little longer because I’ve come to crucial part of the recipe.

Invariably, the caller has gone away by the time I return to the call.

This means that he or she can’t bother anybody else while waiting for me (and his or her company has to pay for the call) !

MC

I would not want to use anything that was not designed to put in one’s mouth.

So Milton (or supermarket own brand version) is ok as is denture cleaner.

Washing powder, bleach, do not “tick the boxes” for me!

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I have told all my banks that I do not want to receive communications other than by Royal Mail Letterpost and that I shall ignore anything that arrives electronically.

I closed my Barclaycard account today because they are incapable of addressing me correctly.

They have been blundering about this problem for nearly 50 years and I am sick and tired of it.

I have had the identical problem with Amazon. I complained directly to the Chief Executive- see ceoemail.com - and received an apology and a £20 gift card.

MC

I have used denture cleaner powder to remove tea stains from Stainless steel teapots for years. A small pile of powder in pot, add boiling water to the rim and leave overnight. If badly stained, it may require repeated dose.

MC Black

When I was a Schoolmaster half a lifetime ago, we put a glass fibre (i think) sheath around the cable so that the young gentlemen would NOT melt the cable with the iron!

It was a simple job within the skills of our laboratory technician and saved a lot of problems in the long run.

MC

Have a look at Chestnut Products.

Their finishes are aimed at Woodworkers and there's a good selection. (usual disclaimers)

It's a small company that care about customers and responds promptly to queries.

I use a set of Buffing Wheels to put a high gloss on wood.

Where are you located? You would be welcome to polish your wooden base here (near Hertford) after Covid-19 pandemic lockdown is relaxed.

MC

Have you considered using 4BA socket screws and turning the thread down to the outside diameter of 5BA and then cutting a 5BA thread on them using a die?

Fiddly but it's NOT a large number

MC

There’s a website www.ba-bolts.co.uk

Have you tried them?

MC Black

I have such a chart on the back of the workshop door.

The number is 961 without suffix

There's no tenths vernier.

Thank you for taking the time to respond.I have carefully looked at the Micrometer

Unfortunately there's no Serial Number - just "961"

I think that was produced over a long period.

I'll try taking photographs and see if I can find a contact for M&W

MCB

The Victorian pumping engines at Crossness are being restored slowly but it’s a fascinating visit. I went with a group from the Institute of Physics London &South East Retired Members Section. The visitor centre has a great exhibition and a Café. Well worth going if one has the chance.

The Victorian plan was to store the sewage collected by the main Southern sewer in large underground tanks and then pump it all out into the Thames at low tide!!

MC

What size Hex Key?

Where do you live? I have all sorts of large Hex and Allen Keys

MC

This might be a naive question but have you rung Warco and asked for advice?

MC

I have my late Father's M&W micrometer in its Spectacle Case.

It looks as good today as it did when it was new.

I think it must date back before WWII when he joined the family company - is there any easy way of finding out when it was manufactured ?

I would use it - except that I have both metric and digital micrometers.

MC

I have requested a catalogue and price ist but the Royal Mail seems to have problems. I received 36 items of post today!

MC