Member postings for steve ellis 1

Thanks Pete. I have been poking different sized wooden dowels down the headstock hole tonight (because I am a joiner, and so I dont scratch the taper) and its definately tapered like you say. I have measured the opening, and it suits a #1 morse. Thank you.

Mind you, me being impatient, chucked a bit of scrap Phosphor Bronze 5/16" tonight, and used the tailstock dead centre, and turned the centre (con rod) section down to 1/16". I must admit, it went well. I am making a piston for the Tubal Cain "Polly" engine, which I assume, every engineer knows about?. This was just a trial piston, but in your opinion, would it be better to sort out the MT1, the catch plate, and drive dog, and do the finished piston this way?.

If you need to know anything about woodwork, I can help you out with that. lol.

Thanks for that Pete. I have a lot to learn..... Its funny, as I can tell anyone about Joinery and Carpentry, and probably lose them within seconds. A lifetimes experience (about 48 years worth) adds up to a lot of knowledge. Its nice to pass stuff on to help people out though.

Many thanks, Steve.

Thank you Thor and Pete. What brilliant (and fast) replies. They both make perfect sense. That would be great if you could check tonight Pete. Thank you.

Hi. I have bought an old Zyto lathe, and although no engineer (a joiner by trade), I knew it was pretty tight, and should be accurate. After a bit of fettling, it seems to be cutting fine. I am making something from a book, that calls for bits I don't have with the lathe. I have a plate with the pin in it, that goes in the place of the chuck, but I now need a centre (is it called a "dead centre"?). I have a No 2 morse taper centre in the tailstock, but now need one in the headstock end, to mount the workpeice between the two points. When I remove the chuck, there is of course, a hole through the shaft that material can pass through. This does not appear to have a morse taper to it though?. How do I fit a pointed centre into the shaft, so that I can screw the round plate to the shaft?. Hope that makes sense?. A month ago, I knew zero about metal lathes, and thought I was doing well till I got to this bit. lol