Member postings for Frank Gorse

It’s a line from another Python song that keeps playing in my mind- “pray that there’s intelligent life somewhere up in space ‘cause there’s beggar all down here on earth”

I think that’s a question for a naturalist rather than a naturist.

Don’t know anything about the other stuff but ,if it is JK, spraying glyphosate on it is worse than useless. It’s a major industrial process to get rid of it. Luckily for you it sounds as though it is your neighbour’s estate who would be responsible for the cost.

That weed also sounds a lot like Japanese Knotweed. If it is you have a problem, not from seeds but from the root system spreading underground. You really need to identify it without delay.

Never used the “ignore member” button till now but don’t want to read anything else fulmen has to say

I placed an order with CuPalloys on Wednesday night,had an email at 0826 next morning to say it had been posted and it arrived via the much maligned Royal Mail around midday today. 10/10 to both organisations.

I tried digging a hole in front of the machine Andrew but it just filled up with swarf.

I’m about the same height as you Jelly and I know I couldn’t work with machines at ‘standard’ heights.Apart from the effect on your back it’s harder to see what’s happening,another thing that doesn’t improve with age.

My miller stands on 6” of concrete,another one that I had was raised by 8”. My lathe is on a purpose made stand so I’ve no idea how that compares to the manufacturer’s one except that it’s a lot higher.

My advice would be to cast a concrete slab,slightly bigger all round than the base, with bolts cast in. It’s not that much work and once it’s done it’s done.

I made one of these recently. It was from an old casting from Ivan Law,I think,but I’m sure the new ones are the same. I cut it in half first of all and only gave the back faces a bit of a rub on wet and dry on a flat surface,that’s all it needed.

Then made the hinge using a 1/4” s&f cutter on the vertical mill, cut very nicely,then treated it as one piece. I clamped it to a n angle plate to drill the holes for the fingers,one at a time of course.

They are great machines and that one looks to be in fair condition but I would have thought it was on the big side for clockmaking, especially as you say your space is limited.

Also,if you plan to do both horizontal and vertical milling you will soon get fed up with lifting the vh on and off and will be looking for a raising block- see correspondence on this site.

I’ve got a Tom Senior ‘E’ type now which suits me much better and would probably do all you need.

M- machine metals will have something very close and give very good service.

Pepin the Short?

Henry VI was only 8 months old when he succeeded so he must have been a right short- arse.

I fitted a motor/inverter package to my S type. (Newton Tesla,very happy,usual disclaimer) Had to open up the recess in the mounting plate a bit but it was easily done on the Myford faceplate,soft ally and no special accuracy required. Also needed to elongate the screwholes a bit,easier if you have access to another milling machine.

The “Stuartturnersteam.com” website shows examples with and without and also one with “Stuart Turner” on it . The maker’s own website shows it without ,presumably patterns got lost over the years and it was easier to make a plain replacement. Seems a shame,really

Please could you point me there too?

Be aware that there are two slightly different widths of dovetail-the vh that I had wouldn’t fit the machine without the raiser,quite apart from the advantages of having the (long) block in place.

And shop around for the aluminium. I paid about £100 for mine,several years ago. One supplier wanted nearly twice that for the same stuff.

Me too,thanks Michael

Think carefully about the height of the table. My new acquisition stands on a 6” slab,cast in place with hold down bolts cast in. Takes care of the flatness problem too.Admittedly I’m on the tall side but most machines seem to be designed for the more compact user.

I think all those Centec VH’s leak slightly,mine did. I’ve seen a picture of one in Cherry Hill’s workshop- in an old MEW I think- with a little tin hanging from it to catch the drips. If it’s good enough for her…

Edited By Frank Gorse on 27/09/2022 19:55:12

Thanks for the recommendation,I’ve just ordered a copy. Not from amazon.