Member postings for larry phelan 1

Brian,is there no end to your talents ?

A friend of mine came across something similar a while ago,same problem,same answer. It seems these these things are prone to this. One of the reasons why I dislike electronics,apart from the fact that I dont understand them anyway.

Gear boxes and belt drives,I,m OK with them,but the other stuff----------------??

Found this a very interesting subject, many moons ago I made small point motors for my nephew,s model railway. They were just simple coils of wire wound on to pieces of tube with a piston free running through the tube connected to the track to be changed. Two such coils were wound on the same tube so the piston could be moved either way.

The best part was that the coils were wound using a simple hand drill,not an electric drill,the old turn-the-handle -type.Worked out the ratio of the handle /spindle in order to get the same number of turns on each coil. Worked out great. How did I know how many turns to put on ? I did,nt jus gave a guess.

Model Engineering on the way out? I dont think so,just seems to be moving in a different direction. Nothing wrong with that,since not everyone is interested in spending their entire life building a model of this or that locomotive from a bygone age.Engineering embraces a much wider field than that,although to read some of the Posts here of experiences people have had while trying to join clubs,you would never think so. When they explained that they were not building this or that engine,they were snubbed. Not the best way to get new members.

There are many people out there who,like myself,have neither the interest nor the skill to take on this kind of work,and I do admit that it takes great skill,but I just dont have it! However,that does not prevent me from getting great satisfaction and enjoyment from using such equipment as best I can. So what if I dont produce a masterpiece,or leave it behind me,unfinished,when I go on my merry way ?

There will always be those who worship the steam engine,the same as those who worship motorbikes,cars,aircraft,ect,There,s room for them all,that,s what engineering,Model or Fullsized is all about.

Clubs need to remember that,and adapt to it.That way,the movement will live on,not die. I have made many things over the years,most of them useless or nearly so,but it,s the making of them,not the end product that matters. It, all part of the "Learning Curve" [For me anyway ]

On the subject of shops closing down,this happens all the time as trading conditions change. For better or worse,the Internet is here to stay,so one just has to adept to it. I know it,s not the same as going into your local dealer to buy and chat,but that,s the way things are moving. In a few years time,there may be no local dealers I dont have the answer to this,does anyone ? but you must admit that the Internet has opened up a whole new world to small operators like us,and long may it last.

OK,That,s my rant,for what it,s worth,and sorry if I walked on a few corns,but as my Mother used to say "You,ll get over it "

It,s worth remembering that the water in a stream never stands still.

Hi John,

Dont worry about not being sure what to make. I bought my lathe over 20 years ago and you might ask "What did you make over that time ?" Not sure,but I think I must have made something [along with many,many mistakes ] Even if you never make anything useful,it,s a great way to let of steam or pass a wet Sunday.

Beware ! You are on a slippery slope and there,s no going back ! How do I know? ask me !

Enjoy your new hobby,I do ! Once you get started you will find loads of things to make/repair. It,s great fun,and there,s no one breeding down your neck,and you can clock in and out any time you feel like it. What more could you want ?

Only takes a moment to do it,result ? no more gashed fingers.!

Yes,I always clean up cut ends,the damage they can do has to be seen to be believed [been there,done that,but not any longer ! ]

Try it,you get used to it !

I could never understand why the AF system was not more widely used. It seemed to make a lot more sense than the Whit/Bsf system. You just measured the nut/bolt head,and you had the size required,simple as that,no arsing around.

That idea of One-and-a-half Dia+ 1/8" went out with the steam engine and the oil lamp.

I dont understand the Metric system any better. What is the relationship between a 6mm nut and a no 10 spanner,or a 12mm bolt and a no19 spanner ?

Answers on a postcard please.

Am now going for my tin hat,before the flak starts to fly !!!.

I buy hand cleaner in Aldi [for bathroom use ],comes in a small pump action bottle,which might serve your purpose. Might need to extend the outlet,not a major job. I found them to be very useful,second time around.

Brian,

To the rescue,once again ! I dont have a lathe like that,but I found your reply of great interest. Was never quite sure about those DP,s,another piece of useful info to be noted.

Thanks once again.

Like Tesco says "Every little helps "

I seem to remember that Sparey covered all that ground in his book,years ago. Yes,I know he,s regarded as "Old Hat" these days,but there,s still a great deal of information [and in simple terms ] to be found there. Always worth a read.

I think your question has been answered,and explained,in that book.

As others have said,what difference does it make what thread you use,provided it,s the same on both parts.

Remember that with tubing,the wall thickness plays a big part when it comes to threading !

Never thought to check that on my bandsaw. Think it might be a bit late now? [How many years ago ?,dont even ask !!! ]

I hate reading things like this !!!

From the number of Posts generated by the above subject,it seems I was right when I said that many of us have problems parting off [OK,some dont,as we know ].

Front post,back post,door post ,goalpost,you name it,above center,below center,even off center !

It seems that what works for one is dead meat for another,and as for setting the tool height to a thou ????,wishful thinking for most of us,who can just about see the tool,never mind the tip !

It has been very enlightening reading the different views and one does learn something from them and helps to point out where one might be going wrong. We,at the bottom of the heap,will just have to try a bit harder,since we have a long way to go,if some of the claims are to be believed.

PS The vision of a lump of 10" round whizzing around is SCARY to say the least ! not that I doubt it has been done.

Did someone else part off 18" in the good old days ? Brave men !

Has anyone fitted anything like to a Lux mill ? I have the same problem.

That,s what they call "Buying-a-pig-in-a-poke"

See first,buy second [or not at all ]

Hi Ray Jones,

Our post office has a service whereby they will collect items delivered to an address in America,and arrange for collection in my local Post Office,for a small charge.

Dont know if this would be of any interest to you,but it,s a bit nearer to your home patch.

Just a thought !!

That will be the day !!!!!

After all that,what did I do To day ? Not a lot,cut a few more blanks to use for making gears for which I have no real use,but it,s raining ,so what else is there to do ?

I have two Irish Red Setter dogs,now 8 years old. When they were young they went through mobile phone chargers,main line phones,hair driers [plugged in ] and a fan heater,also plugged in,and working,and they are still here ! Dont ask me how !

I remember years ago that in the works I was employed [sometimes I even worked there ] the power cables were eaten by rats and resulted in bringing the entire machine shop to a halt. Whatever material was in the cables was to their fancy. The result was that the entire cable system had to be replaced. As my Mother used to say "There,s no accounting for taste"

Would love to be able to part off 125mm just like that,as the late Tommy Cooper used to say [God rest him ]

For now,I,d be happy with 50mm. Anybody with me ?

To those who dont understand why others have trouble parting off,it,s very simple,we just dont know how !!

Perhaps we are using the wrong material to begin with. The next time I visit my supplier,I ,ll ask him if he has a few bits of 10" round kicking around that I could practice on.

Just thought of something----my chuck is only 6" ! Problems,problems,problems !!

The fact of the matter is that many,if not most people find parting off a difficult operation,and not all of them amateurs.

I suppose when you get used to it,you can have a cup of tea while you,re at it..

For the rest of us Dream on.

Many moons ago,2004/2005 ?,I was over in Chester for one of their "Open Days",and while there I bought two of their machine lights [like mini searchlights ]. Neither light had a bulb,but my friend,who worked in the Motor trade,pointed out that a 24 volt bulb,as used in truck headlamps would fit,and were easy to get in any Motor factors.

Now,2018,those lamps are still working away,on both mill and lathe,bulbs have never failed,but if they do,are easy to find.

Just a thought,might help.

PS Just remembered,they were flogging those lamps for £5 at the time !