Member postings for Henry Gillett

Now that is goddam clever!

Jason - yes, that's pretty much the same thing.I've now done one by that method, so only another 7 to go. I just hope I don't trash the slot drill, as ones with sufficient reach are hard to come by, which is why i would prefer the saw. You have made a cracking job there!

Peter - thank you -worth a try, I think.

Martin - they are closed, so it looks like it has to be the slot drill..

Michael G - you're not wrong!

Apologies if this is a clumsy way of replying to individuals; I couldn't see how to do separate open replies. Enlighten me if appropriate, please.

I am making Anthony Mount's model Simpson and Shipton's engine and need to cut a number of 1/16th inch wide slots 3/16 inch long in a piece of steel 1/2inch deep.One of Mount's recommended ways to do this is to drill holes at each end of the slot and join them using a "slotting saw". These saws, he says, "are like a large piercing saw but come in different thicknesses - 1.6mm will suit." I have been unable to find any reference to these at all, let alone a supply. As the alternative involves 1/16 slot drills at full depth presented from each side, I am keen to find a source of these blades.

Can anyone help?

My thanks for all those very useful contributions. I occasionally get seduced into a sort of mission creep, thinking I’d like to do things in the most swagger mode possible. It’s often (usually) a mistake and unnecessarily complicates things and doesn’t produce better results. I had been wondering if perhaps there was some advantage in accurate levelling of the table that I hadn’t realised, but it seems clear that, for me, there isn’t, so thanks again and I can stop shopping for 6mm flats.

I have a Pinnacle mill, combined vertical and horizontal, table size 750mm x 180mm.

Recently I acquired a decent spirit level, stuck it on the table, and of course it showed things were far from level in all directions. The mill is equipped with tapped holes at the corners, so I can fit jacking screws, but it sits on a floor which is timber, although very strong. It’s a wood lining, for insulation, on a concrete base. I could fit some 6mm steel strips across front and back and I guess- it is a guess - that the jacking screws would bear on these and the whole caboodle could be brought level.

My question is- is it worth it? I like a project and it’s about the right sort of thing, ie not too complex or expensive, but I suspect there’s not much to be gained.

Views, please.