Member postings for Allen Norris

Ah, I had not checked that, mine is a 146’ I have just looked.

Hi Martin. Mine measures 2 3/4 inches with 15/16 hole.
Regards

Allen

Michael, I have a cheap Titan version which weighs a ton but works OK. I have had it for years but it only gets occasional use. Seems to work far better than I expected. It is however 240v. I have used it successfully with a generator. You do need to keep it packed with grease and it sprays grease out so fine for outdoor use but be careful if using indoors.

We have three different types which extends the season quite nicely. We did have a forth but unfortunately the chickens got out and ate it. According to the books chickens don’t eat rhubarb as it is poisonous to them. Ours obviously cannot read and so ignored the advice. Didn’t seem to do them any harm but decimated the plant!

I am sure I read somewhere that Jojoba oil had a very similar composition to whale oil. I have never tried it maybe someone else has?

I am delighted to pay credit to both ArcEurotrade and the Post Office once again for excellent service. I purchased a device from Arc a week or so ago. I fitted it yesterday and encountered a problem which could not have been seen as the device was packed in an oil bag and box. I phoned Arc yesterday afternoon and explained the problem. A replacement part arrived today. It slotted straight in and I am up and running.
To my mind that is excellent service from both Arc and indeed the PO who delivered it. I am delighted to acknowledge such service once again. I have no link with either Arc nor the PO but I am a very satisfied customer.

Fair point Hopper and now I understand thank you. I also took a look at the threads on this website covering the use and setting up of fixed steadies. The method you describe does seem to be that most favoured and I take the point about thinking about what one is actually measuring.

An interesting thread and I endorse Hoppers outline of helpful video production…….but he is also guilty of one of the greatest failings so for as I as a relative beginner am concerned. I refer to the Blondihacks example given. Now Quinn is way more experienced than I but Hopper says spot the mistake, fine but don’t leave beginners like me in ignorance, what in his opinion is the mistake? We all make mistakes, but unless someone kindly explains we will rarely learn from them!

I would like to reactivate this thread to pay tribute to both Tracy Tools and Royal Mail for outstanding service. I placed an Internet order late on Thursday evening. Kev phoned me with a query and recommendation on Friday morning and my order arrived today( Saturday). Now bear in mind that half the country’s transport system was down due to Storm Eunice and this is remarkable service. Credit where it is due, I would like to thank and congratulate all concerned at both Tracy Tools and Royal Mail. Well done.

I have no link to either Tracy Tools nor Royal Mail other than as a very satisfied customer.

I would like to commend Westfield Fasteners. I ran out of a couple of socket head screws yesterday. I ordered them from Westfield yesterday on line and they have arrived here this morning! That is excellent service at any time but between Christmas and New Year it is exceptional. I have no connection with Westfield other than as a very satisfied customer.

I must also mention the good old Post Office who delivered them, well done.

Finally may I wish everyone on this useful forum a Happy New Year for 2022. For someone like me, a wood worker not an engineer it is an invaluable resource and a fountain of wisdom and entertainment.

I have one of the 70s versions, ply top and an alloy frame. Very useful piece of kit. Over the years I have managed to put a twist in the alloy frame probably due to overloading. Still use it but I wonder has anyone tried to take the twist out of one of these frames? I had thought of putting it in a vice and trying to straighten it but rather feared it might snap. Anyone any better idea?

I also need to drill out and rethread one of the bottom brackets on the frame as the twist has now allowed the retaining bolt to oval the thread in the bracket. I was thinking that the best solution might be to drill the bracket out and fit a mild steel bush threaded to the correct bolt size. As I have said before I am no engineer but a wood turner so any advice is gratefully received.

Allen

In addition to those mentioned I would add Tracy Tools who have given me very prompt service for taps and dies, drill bits etc. and Macc Models who I have found very useful for materials.

Just a further point about Danish Oil. There is no standard formulation for this so different brands may contain different oils. I have found Liberon and Chestnut to be pretty reliable. Osmo oils have a number of variations including one formulated for use on dense hardwoods. I have found Osmo very good on floors and window frames (different formulations). Worth checking their website.

As a beginner myself I must say I found this discussion informative and Martin's explanation of the turning forces helpful. I am sure we all use set ups that are not ideal from time to time for expedience but unless someone points out the limitations this can easily lead to poor practice.

I am grateful to Martin for starting this discussion and I agree the more that the forum can do to promote good practice the better for us all, especially those with little direct metal working experience.

Allen

Reference above to the Eccentric tangential tool prompts me to enquire which size tool holder people have found most suited to the ML7 with the standard clamp down tool post? The Eccentric website refers to measuring the centre height to base of tool post height which as referred to above is around 15-16mm. Eccentric seem to do a 16mm and also a 12mm. Would I be correct to assume that thicker would be better as it would be more rigid? I can see that 16 might be ‘too close’ for comfort and that 12 mm might therefore be preferable but does anyone have any experience to share?

I had also wondered whether one should just stick to 8mm as per the normal HSS tooling but other than the possibility that such a tool would fit in a QCTP should one decide to go down that route at a later date I can’t really see any advantage to doing so. Any thought please?

Thanks Allen

Thanks for the suggestions gents. I tried cutting down a new spring and after a fiddle I did manage to get it in. The pen spring idea is a bit more complicated because the top of the spring has to be a larger diameter so that when the securing cap is fitted the spring engages with a brass conductor. I also tried rewinding the old damaged spring and have it almost the right size so will hang onto it as a spare.

That all said and done it’s still not working so I shall have to explore further to see what other fault there is. Bit of a pain as it means I have to take the brush caps off again so I can open the body again. Oh well, I like a challenge.

Allen

I had thought I might have to try that Roy. They are tapered so one end is fitted into the cap whilst the other is secured onto the brush. Time to get out my copy of Workshop Practice on springs I guess! Allen

May I please pick the collective brains on this one. I am trying to replace the carbon brushes on my Dremel. I have new brushes but the original brushes had springs attached that were about 1.5 cm long. The new ones have springs that are nearer 2.5 cm long. Try as I might I cannot get the new springs to compress sufficiently to allow the securing caps to be screwed down. The springs just bend over and get jammed. Unfortunately I only managed to recover one of the old springs the other getting bent and stretched when I removed the old brushes.

So far I have managed to mangle two new springs in my frustrated attempts to fit them. Does anyone have a bright idea how I might fit these? Am I missing something blindingly obvious? I have looked at t’tube without success. There are plenty of videos but none that I can find successfully fitting these longer springs.

As an aside does anyone have any idea why the length of the springs was changed? I am assuming I have the correct brushes and springs. The part number is correct on the pack with reference to the Bosch Dremel website.

Any advice gratefully received before I go completely mad with the things. Thanks Allen

I would like to take the opportunity to pay tribute to Tracy Tools for amazing service in the present circumstances. I placed a small order with them late on Thursday and it arrived safe and sound first thing this morning. Not only that but I ordered carbon steel taps and they have kindly substituted HSS at no additional cost. Such service deserves recognition, all the more so in these troubled times. Thank you all.

I have also had similar excellent service from Chronos and Axminster in the past week.

It shows how fortunate we are in this country with such dedicated suppliers, but also the service we enjoy from those who actually carry out the deliveries and are trying so hard to keep things going, our thanks should also be extended to them.

I have no affiliation with Tracy Tools, Chronos or Axminster other than as a very satisfied customer.

Allen

Thomas Flinn in Sheffield England still make Gents Saws. They are wood workers tools in the main but might be worth trying. **LINK**

For wood work they are very useful tools I have found.

Allen