Member postings for Bill Dawes

You are ideally placed for Macc Model Engineers, I use them most of the time these days apart from any odd stuff they don't do.

Good website & prices and delivery virtually by return I have found.

Bill D.

I put a post on here a couple of months ago asking what was best digital caliper.

The consensus was Mitotoyo, so was duly put on my santa/birthday list (my birthday is today) guess what, a nice new Mitotyo caliper from my loving wife.

The real point of this post is to say how impressed she was with Machine DRO service, speedy delivery and e-mails keeping her informed of what was happening.

Well done to them, a happy wife is a happy husband..

Bill D.

I will have another look. At first I thought I had found the carriage lock mentioned in the manual.

There are four socket head screws, two each side which I assume hold the carriage to the apron and a further two nearer the bed, one each side of the cross slide, I thought these were the carriage locking ones as you can see them going into a stepped block underneath the slideway. Locking them up however left a few thou gap so when Warco confirmed that there is no lock I decided the block was to prevent lifting of the carriage.

Bill D

I have had a couple of small problems in my recently aquired 290V lathe that required a replacement part, both times the response was immediate and parts despatched same day

I also raised a query with them about absence of a carriage lock that was shown in the operators manual, their response was to offer to collect and refund cost.

The sales blurb does not suggest a carriage lock to be fair.

I decided to live with it rather than all the hassle of removing it and I do like the lathe, lots of features and quality as good as you might reasonably expect for the money.

My thanks to Warco for excellent customer care.

Bill D

Looks like Mitotoyu then, thanks for all the replies guys.

Bill D.

Hi all, my current caliper is beginning to show it's cheap generic origin so thinking of upgrading to a better quality. (a few unsubtle christmas hints maybe)

I was thinking of Mitotoyu, any comments on these or a less expensive alternative (but better quality than the 20 quid ones) would be appreciated.

Bill D.

These topics are interesting. As a long time user of industrial motors (Brook, Siemens, ABB, WEG etc) I take quoted motor power at face value, ie it is power output (in kw) input (in amps) being stated on the nameplate.

Will look at power ratings on non industrial stuff more closely in future.

Bill D.

Hi all, had a bit of a break from Emma, ripped my workshop apart to make way for new 290V lathe and rearranging storage racks, tools etc. Looking at the engine to recap on what I had done so far my attention was grabbed by the smoke box saddle. I wasn't too happy with my workmanship on the fabricated design when I did it (as with a few other parts-this is my first engine) and started wondering if there was a casting from another design that might fit. As Emma is a freelance I guess it will not be a problem to deviate slightly from the design cosmetically. Any ideas on one that might fit or should I man up and remake it.

Bill D

290V all installed, took a bit of grunting and shoving, those engine hoists never seem to have the feet in the place you need them. Sorry guys, looking back at posts realise I forgot to take pictures of the back end showing the motor.

It is quite tightly packed in, other clones might be slightly different I guess. The separate cooling fan starts up as soon as power is switched on. Found the noise a bit irritating at first (having spent over 50 years in industrial fan engineering, me complaining about fan noise is a bit like a fishmonger complaining about the smell of fish!) However felt around the back and could certainly feel an airflow, so feel happier about that.

Probably my new hearing aids added to the problem (incidentally, looking at my lathe it suddenly struck me that all this kit cost less than my hearing aids)

The other comment I would make at this early stage is how impressive the digital readout looks, however am I right in assuming that it is a bit over the top for a simple X-Y lathe readout, anyone else got the same display.

Just got to get my workshop back in order, taking the opportunity to have a few changes around.

Bill D.

Thanks John, stand all fastened down today, big lift tomorrow.

Bill D.

Thanks for the tip John, I did wonder about stability. Will have to devise some inventive strapping.

Bill

Brian, reply I had off Warco was that gap between guard and fan cowl is not airtight so air will pass over motor.

I will leave it that I think as it is obvious that that is the only position so I guess it works ok.

My workshop floor (partitioned off garage) is concrete but a straight edge showed it not to be flat where the lath was going, have put a screed of self levelling compound, fingers crossed it doesn't break up.

The big day is Friday, engine hoist hire arranged and wife/ number 2 son at the ready to assist.

It's turned out to be a big job as I had to remove some of the partitioning and decided while it was all in a mess to re-arrange my storage/extend work bench.

Might get back to building Emma Victoria one day.

Bill D

Hi Thor, what sparked my interest in this is that as an engineering manager of an industrial fan company I am familiar with the importance of adequate clearance for cooling air into the motor cowl, (normal motor where the cooling fan is driven off the NDE of the motor shaft) in your case I would say a couple of inches is fine for a small motor like that.

Bowber, the separate cooling fan is an excellent idea for a variable speed motor, I just can't see where the air goes into the fan. as I said to Warco I am sure it is ok, the question was to satisfy my curiosity.

Bill D.

Had delivery of my new 290V lathe, not installed yet but got lid off crate and quality looks good. One thing that concerned me was that the inlet of the cooling fan cowl of the motor was hard against the splash guard, this cutting off the airflow as far as I can see. Anyone else noticed this?

Just e-mailed Warco so expect reply next working day, found their service excellent in my dealings with them with the purchase.

Demolishing my work shop as I decided to change a few things around, hopefully will have it installed next week.

Bill D.

Just received delivery of my new Warco 290V lathe, got lid of the crate and looks good, can't wait to get it up and running. The new design stand is really good. Main reason for this post is to say what excellent service I have had from the people at Warco.

Bill D.

Yes I bought one of those AR Max jobbies, can't remember how much it cost, about half a million quid I think.

Had to install an inverter as it only came with a 3 phase motor, makes the 13 amp socket smoke a bit I admit.

Pumps up bike tyres a treat, Western Power complain when I switch it on, hurry up with Hinckley Point I say.

Bill D.

A couple of years ago I laid down some foam flooring from Machine Mart. Did have some doubts about how long it would last but so far it is wearing well, far better to stand on than bare concrete.

Bill D.

Peter, I am not a graduate engineer, just HNC with a lifetime in engineering (only a small proportion on the shop floor)

However as far as ME is concerned what impresses me is the final product not the qualifications of the guy that did it (for guy read male/female of course) I am in awe at the quality of the workmanship of the models I have seen at exhibitions, some times to the point of thinking I could never achieve such standards. These could be made by highly qualified engineers in the true sense or people with just a wonderful feel for working with the hands.

Bill D.

Hi John, I have not actually started the boiler yet, (bought the boiler tube though) I like to try and think ahead to sort any questions banging around in my head and as a bit of light relief from some of the more time consuming jobs, doing the valve gear at the mo) I did wonder about the 22mm tube, my immediate thought was it was at odds with all the imperial stuff, having said that I have not yet researched it so would be interested in other peoples thoughts.

Fizzy, Joe does now sell C106 Oxygen free copper. This is what started off my query on correct grade as the, eg, 2.5mm C101 is £35, C106 £54.

Bill D.

Oompa Lumpa's reference to a capstan lathe reminded me that the machine shop foreman gave me the task of learning how to use this machine, there were three Herbert's, quite new but the previous operator had left and the old guys weren't interested. So off I went, keen as mustard to see how fast I could machine some cast iron hubs, got it down to 4 minutes one side and 3 the other, all finished apart from keywaying.

My pride was short lived however as the works were on piece rates and I had a right ear bending as they usually booked two hours on each one!

Another job I had was drilling & tapping some blind holes in the gearbox casing for hand driven fans we made for the Army. The drill had one of those reversing tapping devices, trouble was even the lowest speed was too fast, the tap had smashed before you had time to react, talk about sweating blood I still have nightmares about it.

The foreman came along to see what the problem was, "never be frightened of your machine" he said, moving me over to show how its done. Bang! same happened, " ok, carry on you'll soon get the hang of it" not the slightest hint of a blush of embarrassment.

Happy days, only about 5 years actually on the shop floor but it has stood me in good stead for my following life both DIY and my career in tech sales finally as engineering director.

Still work 2 days a week, helps with my meager pension.

Bill D.