Member postings for larry phelan 1

Martin, the point I was making was that single point thread cutting is easy enough, even for a beginner [as I know only too well ]. A piece of HSS is dirt cheap, easy to shape, easy to mount. You dont need inserts, I would regard them as overkill for such a job.

The advice regarding a stocks with guide bushes is good, I made one long ago, but it only works for longer threads, no use for short ones.

I regret that you took exception to my post, it was not my intention to cause offence and I still think you should try it, if only as part of your learning curve as you may have use for it later on. As others have said, starting a die on a bar is never easy.

Regards.

But you might get them right first time ????

Just saying .

As has been pointed out, single point thread cutting is simple enough and cost effective. One tool will cut many different threads, and cut them well, no bumps or bends.

For something like that, the last thing I would use would be a stocks and die, too much messing around.

Give it a try in the lathe, you might be surprised.

Ah yes, "pre delivery inspection", from your friendly supplier, where would we be without it ?

I found three pieces of chewed up screws floating around the spindle of my Lux milling machine, bought new, and only found when I set about correcting something else. I assume they were there from new since there is no place they could have come from, yet they were not noticed during "pre delivery to customer", or in my case, collection.

I felt bad about throwing them out, after having them for so long. !

Perhaps "inspection " means shaking the machine to see if any bits fall off ?

Pigs are such nice animals, we used to keep them in the parlour over here, years ago.

So they said, anyway.

Hi Robert,

Yes, I think you are right about those screws, so I just put everything back together again. Still have a little tightness in the quill, but I,ll live with it. That return spring takes some effort to rewind, while just waiting to chop your fingers off ! I ended up making a clamp with a handle to wind it back. Works great, no more cut fingers.

All in all, it was time well spent, I now know the machine a lot better.

Regards and keep well.

Well Taf, at least you have got a few replies regarding your problem with your Lux Mill.

When I had a problem with my Lux Mill some time ago [still never solved it ], I received great help from Robart Butler, but strange to say, no one else seemed to have anything to offer. [ Thanks Robert ]

I never noticed any difficulty moving the head up or down, I just fitted a longer handle. Never checked the table- column for square, just assumed it was. Have never had any trouble with the gearbox [touch wood ! ]

That manual mentioned by Robert is well worth downloading, the Chester one is useless.

I must say my experience has been much the same as Jelly,s, except that my converter cost me a LOT more !

As he said, there is no minimum load, this is confirmed by the paperwork I received with the unit, and surprise, surprise, it does run everything, just plug in and go !

I did try a static converter early on [ it was on loan to me to try it out ], but I found it to be useless to run my wood planer or spindle moulder, although it was a fair sized unit.

Would be nice if the second hand market here was a bit bigger and better, but that,s not going to happen any time soon, and trying to get anything from England now is a P-I-T-A. !

If John intends to buy other 3Phase machines [easier to find 2nd hand ], a Transwave rotary converter might be the best way to go. I bought one some years ago, when I moved to the sticks, and it runs all my 3Phase gear, often two or three machines at the same time [when pals come to "help" ] It,s much easier than running around from one unit to another, just switch on and power the lot, no need to be tweaking this or that. Plus, 3Phase is so much smoother.

Just my experience.

Never came across one of those before !

I wonder could it be the gear selector slipping ?, this is not unknown in lathe gearboxes.

Might be worth a stripdown, since it wont just go away.

Came across a few Progress drills in my time, all belt driven. Dont ever recall seeing one with a gearbox ?

He who has not eaten fish and chips from a newspaper wrapping ,has not lived !!

My first thought was, why would anyone think about silver soldering 30x30x5 angle iron ?

Surely that would be a job for a welder, Mig or otherwise, both quicker and cheaper.

Many moons ago, I did silver solder 1/2" round MS bars, using two blowlamps, seemed to take forever !

Take it to a welder.

I think you got it right, Not done it yet, some people do indeed need to grow up !

How they ever survived in workshops, I dont know !

Glad to see that there some people around who know the difference between real food and crap.

A friend brought one of their offerings home to me one time, I declined to touch it [the smell of it was bad enough ], so he gave it to my dog, who is not too fussy. She took a smell of it, gave me a look which said it all and walked away.

Enough said !

Fish and chips is one thing, but things are something else, and I hate to think just what !

I,m always amused to hear about people or groups holding "Workshops" about this, that, or the other.

I imagine a group of them holding up a building, while gabbering away to each other.

I regard a workshop as a place where work is performed , items are made/repaired and tools are used [and tea consumed ], but then, I have lived a very sheltered life.

No such thing as a Free Lunch !

Thought everyone knew that.

I think DC31K might have it right !

I seem to recall coming across something like those items, many moons ago, maybe 60 years ago, so at this stage, I,m not too sure where I saw them or what they were for, but they did exist !

Anyone else have any ideas ?

How do they get the figs into the fig rolls ???

Should be easy enough to make up a support unit to deal with the overhang, I use a length of timber with two or three blocks screwed to it, drilled to suit the stock. The unit can be as long as required. Never had any trouble with it so far.