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Member postings for the artfull-codger

Here is a list of all the postings the artfull-codger has made in our forums. Click on a thread name to jump to the thread.

Thread: Painting Brass
09/10/2012 19:53:41

As Chris Trice says ici etch primer, I use it for alloy,brass,steel & everything else, I painted some alloy castings I made with cellulose primer & the stuff just chipped off with my fingernail,I blasted it all off & brushed on [no need to spray as it's self levelling] ici 2pack etch, I could not scrape it off at all & I've sprayed enamels,cellulose & 2k on top of it & no bother,as with any paint job you need a good primer, I accidently spilled some on my tea mug [glazed surface]in the workshop & it went through the dishwasher for over a year & didn't wash off & dishwashers take the logo's of most mugs!!eventually, I've not used it but 2pack epoxy primer is even better as it's water resistant so you can prime frames etc & leave it for yrs.

Thread: Casting strangely shaped lumps of lead
08/04/2012 13:52:45

I've never smelted lead, only melted scrap, & the dross allways floats to the top of the melt without any flux but I might try beeswax next time as I used to keep bees & have lbs of it, I also have typemetal which as stated above gives good definition as it remains the same size when cool as when molten, I also have ''roses metal'' which expands on cooling we used it in the glass trade to secure armourplate doors before rubber gaskets & the hydraulic press was introduced.

graham ''t''

07/04/2012 14:08:06

I've done a number of lead castings in the home foundry & used co2 sand for long case clock weights

& quite a few castings using ''petrobond'' sand & the beauty of petrobond is that the lead's not hot enough do any damage to the sand ie it's 100% reusable, unlike when you cast bronze/alloy etc you loose the burned sand in contact of the metal.

graham 't'

Thread: Eyesight problems
23/02/2012 21:57:00

Hi Stephen, I've been looking for some sort of magnifier [it's my age!!!] I was looking at what appeared good quality headband loups with glass lenses from ''the loupe store'' after much ringing & emailing by my brother & myself they didn't even bother to reply so I'm interested in an optivisor, sounds just like the piece of equipment I'v been looking[he he] for.

Thread: Bandsaw Blades
19/02/2012 22:35:56

I also make my own & I've not seen many cheap redundant stock rolls[I'm allways on the look out] most of what I've bought is from auto jumbles, I got a roll last week for £25 3/4" x100ft, starrett I'll get 12 blades out of that so it works out @ just over £2.00 a blade as opposed to machine mart price about £11.69.each but as you say there doesn't seem to be much about.

Thread: Metal thefts
05/02/2012 21:17:07
It's a shame that all you seem to hear on the news regarding scrap thefts is about large companies/public buildings etc,but equally upsetting is the ''small man in the street'' like you or I, last year I was cleaned out of £2,000 worth of gear, moulding boxes,lathe chucks,material etc,the ignorant ''scrapmen'' probably only got about £50 for the lot.
Thread: Did you make one of these at school or as an apprentice?
03/10/2011 22:12:55
Now that would be a gr8 idea Neil, I'm all for that, that's what the country's sadly lacking, lads with hands on skills!!
 

02/10/2011 19:55:37
I work as a school design & technology technician & looking through our library one day I discovered the steam engine book, I built one straight away for my grandson & some of the lads showed intrest, so I decided to run a lunchtime ''model club'', I made a pattern for the baseplate as opposed to the original folded steel ones & the lads cast them in alloy in our foundry [me pouring of course] & to date we've built 12 of them & they're a really robust little engine. I wrote an article & it was published in the model engineer on 8th april 2009 [& I got paid for it!!!] a colleague built the hot air engine & it runs very well so I made a pattern for the baseplate for that & cast & machined a few of them up & have started to make a couple, apparently Mr TE haynes was still alive a couple of yrs ago as someone wrote to M.E. kindly commenting on my article & informing us, he also wrote one on making an electric motor as well,[ a really good craftsman& writer!!]
Thread: Traction engine tyres
07/03/2011 18:29:40
I suppose they could come off, mine have been on for 2 seasons now without trouble, one of the reasons I fitted them, was £10 + £10 for the adhesive!!!!!!
06/03/2011 18:33:00
I used conveyor belting for my 4" foster, for the rear I cut "rubber strakes" to fit in between the steel strakes & made them a good fit & glued them on,mabye not as good as "proper" tyres but they retain the look of the original straked wheels & the difference driving on the road is great, the front ones I glued a band of thinner conveyor belting on & of course the main advantage is they didn't cost much!!! [offcuts from a conveyor belt company]
Thread: Die Filer files
12/10/2010 23:03:38
bogs,
          what great sentiments, you're so right about manners & courtesy these days, a lot of people now just ''can't be bothered'' it's refreshingly nice to meet someone like yourself, I'm of the firm opinion that you treat people how you would like to be treated yourself, I've learned all sorts from people over the years & contributed myself in no small way, that's what the hobby's all about.
          kind regards  the artfull codger.
         
11/10/2010 21:19:40
bogs, usefull info on the files, I just have a homemade filing machine but it's really usefull,I also got ripped off by customs & the post office a couple of years ago when I sent for my first ''diamond'' tool holder, I bought another larger one when I was in ozz & felt a bit better about that one when I brought it back myself & of course you can buy them in this country now.
Thread: Bead/shot blasting.
09/09/2010 21:08:20
paul, if you're going to buy one there's some pressurised pot ones at the autojumbles for around the £100 odd mark, they're much more powerfull than the old suction type, sand blasters use quite a lot of cfm as well, sand is illegal in industry [I've used it myself on many occasions] with a mask on, otherwise if you're not ''in the know'' it's probably good old machine mart!! grit.  hope this helps.regards graham
Thread: Marking out
06/09/2010 22:56:28
there's two types of marking blue [I have both] there's the translucent type for marking bright metals & also the opaque type for marking black bar etc,I like the idea of dipping a felt tip into marking blue, you get the best of both worlds!!
Thread: Countersinking - guidance please...?
13/06/2010 22:02:14
I have used my ''home modified'' countersink bits for years, especially on aluminiun which tends to build up on the cutting edges, I use broken twist drill bits found in the scrap bin, I turn the shanks down to fit in the drill chuck & then grind them to 90 degrees & the secret is to round off one of the cutting lips off so only one lip cuts & the other just rubs round, after a little''fine tuning'' on the grinder they cut with no chatter, run at a slowspeed & I use ''rocol'' on steel or ''trend'' cutting wax on aluminium, you can use any diameter & the best bit is ''they are free''.
 
  slan go fol
Thread: Blowers / lighting the fire.
17/05/2010 22:23:54
I find electric blowers are o-k for loco men & small[11'2 2""] traction engines but I just use a chimney extension for my 4" foster, no messing on with batteries etc & I face the ashpan into the wind if possible, I usually take about 3/4 to 1 hr to fully raise steam.
 

Thread: Brazing Pickle
03/05/2010 19:59:36
I agree with Hugh regarding hydrofluoric acid penetrating the skin & through to the bone, we used to use gallons of the stuff in the glass trade for embossing / decorating glass as it dissolves glass but makes beutifull designs on glass, for myself I'm a little bit old fashioned & I still use dilute sulphuric acid on the boilers I / we make, usual precautions taken of course.
Thread: welding
07/10/2009 15:40:24
Hi Versaboss,
                         '' Every little helps'' as tesco says,a little bit more info' to mull over, many thanks for the reply, this forum is a gr8 resource for us all ,you can find out all sorts & it helps you make decisions on purchases & workshop info.
                                                        Regards Graham.
26/09/2009 21:27:51
Hi Ian, Russell &Andy,
                                  Thanks for taking the time to reply to my posting, I'm  allways a bit suspicius of ''buzz'' words in adverts & 4psi is about what I use with a boc gun anyway, but obviously both Russell & Andy have got one of these torches & it ''does what it says on the tin'' (or box!!) so I am really gratefull for your comments,& thanks Andy , if I need any more info I will give you my phone number, I shall certainly be keeping my eyes open for one. thanks once again
                                    Regards Graham.
22/09/2009 18:39:12
hello, has anyone had, or does anyone use a cobra dhc 2000 welding torch?, I've watched the video & it looks like gr8 tool, but not spoken to anyone who has actually used one to say if it's good bad or indifferent, your comments would be greatly appreciated.
            many thanks  Graham.
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