Member postings for ega

John Pace:

Thanks for your very interesting post. If my spindle should fail then I shall know what to do!

In the introduction to his 1997 book Harprit Sandhu invites corrections. I wonder whether it would be possible for him to be invited to comment?

I bought the book partly because, having faced the challenge of building the Quorn spindle I was interested in knowing if there were easier ways to achieve the desired result.

Edited By ega on 14/01/2019 10:59:05

PS to my post:

The photograph on p33 of Ian Bradley's Manual shows a much deeper facing than that on my 1960s machine although there appears to be still just one row of tapped holes. If this was a production change then perhaps the reason was indeed to accommodate a milling attachment.

The same photo shows the tailstock barrel clamp in the early position which may give a clue as to the date of the machine concerned (I can't make out the serial number in the photo).

If, as suggested above, you make up a plate to retain the felt then the plate could be used as a drill jig to assist in drilling out the broken screw.

ARC list a suitable-looking diamond wheel with 15 deg taper.

There is some disagreement about the suitability of diamond wheels for grinding steel but I have found it helpful to use a dressing stick on glazed CBN and diamond resin-bonded wheels (my stick came from Abtec).

Joe

As you would expect there are other, purpose made waxes, with or without silicone. One, not tried by me, is:

https://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-machine-wax-400g-101582

I appreciate that there is no local branch and that your environment is a mixed blessing!

Another relevant item available here in the UK from the Halfords cycle shops is a cover which they sell as "bike pyjamas"; just the right shape for a long machine like a planer/thicknesser.

Edited By ega on 11/01/2019 00:22:29

Ian Usmar:

I am in Medway and, assuming you mean that Chatham, would be glad to help if I can.

I suggest you PM me with your email or phone and I will contact you to discuss what needs to be done. I am guessing that your barrel will sit comfortably in a collet in the spindle of my Willson.

Good point. I confess I did not know that the VMA could be fitted to the Seven.

The flat is also used for the multistop (in conjunction with the capstan) which like the TTA involves light loads in line with the bed.

Edited By ega on 10/01/2019 18:28:20

JasonB:

It's a machined facing and, AFAIK, a standard feature.

Plus one for shop-made raising blocks. Tubal Cain gives a design for "jacking screws" in WPS 15.

Neil:

Whilst not claiming eagle eyes I did,of course, notice the slip; it made no difference in my case since I had decided to go with a large washer rather than the pressure bar used by Rod. I also dispensed with his brass washer, using moly grease instead.

Incidentally, the hand knob was salvaged from an old office chair.

Thanks to Rod Renshaw for the description (pp26-8) of his implementation of Jim Whetren's idea for an easy-to-use clamp.

Thinking about my own small Astra drill and re-reading Jim Whetren's description led me to a slightly simplified version:

The vice is free to slide fore and aft and is instantly clamped by the knob under the table:

In my version the clamping pressure is applied by the large washer and I have adopted Rod's suggestion of knurled top hat nuts.

Did you try wax of any kind?

Or Nylatron.

Interesting.

Does this mean that, say, a 5/16" UNC screw in a 5/16" BSW hole will be as strong (or stronger) than a like for like pairing?

Judging by the impressive security fence outside the NPL, they must be doing some important work.

I use the deep fat fryer.

I don't see Holly Golightly going out of her way to see this.

I use a vacuum cleaner belt on my Quorn.

Good idea but how did you provide front rake on the tool?

A "Conecut" drill can be used to make a tapered hole which is then cut back to produce a semicircular tool.

Michael Gilligan:

Many thanks for the link. It seems that the bulk dealers will have a sufficient incentive not to be contaminating Niels' steel. I would guess that a great many blunt masonry bits are discarded and, unfortunately, it seems likely that a many of these end up as "steel" scrap.