Member postings for Cornish Jack

Muzzer - Yep, I'm sure you're right! See below ...

Duncan - many thanks, not just for the measurement note but for re-jigging my few remaining brain cells!! "lot more than 4*" Why can one read something and SEE something quite different (in this case the direct opposite!!!) The drive centre distance should not be LESS than 4 x large pulley diam. My requirement is to fit shaper and drive motor on a horizontal surface offering a MAXIMUM of 27" between drive centres. Soooo ... methinks jockey wheel it will be.

rgds

Bill - exits, hitting forehead with palm of hand.

Don't let M OL see it or your cheapo trip to an airfield miles from your intended destination will be 'sans chauffeur!!

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Bill

John, Ian and Gordon - thank you gemtlemen. Useful options there. I have now got an accurate figure for the large pulley diameter - 8" , so 32" ideally centre to centre ; too far!! So looks like it's jockey pulleys to the fore!

Given that Robbo's belt is an A50 - 50" total length (as I understand it), there would appear to be quite a bit of adaptability in the useable belt lengths????

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Bill

Just an update on my quest for minimum shaft separation for belt drives - the details I recalled seeing were ... in my bookcase!! Newnes Complete Engineer Vol 3. Drive centres should not exceed 4 times the largest pulley diameter, unless a jockey pulley is used. Intended installation might just work; otherwise rummaging for a jockey pulley begins

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Bill

Thank you Robbo - my original was there or thereabouts but I'm trying to make it as short as possible for a particular bench installation. I'm sure I've seen a set of related tables on allowable shaft centre distances but can't find it at the moment

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Bill

Ian S C - thank you - 18" is problematical for what I was intending.

John H - thank you also. Your set up is just as mine was when I had it installed previously. What I was hoping to do was set up a horizontal drive on a shorter 'between centres' distance but it seems that your set up (and my previous) is the maker's preferred.

Neil - Very probably - As with a lot of Lidl's items, they appear for a few days and then vanish. Will have to keep watch for a reappearance.

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Bill

Spent yet another day de-rusting workshop items recovered from the 2013 trashing. I HATE RUST!!! I have more or less settled on white vinegar to do the major effort but (somewhat late in the day) found that B&D drill plus round wire brush is MUCH quicker (and less bother). Evaporust was alright but not noticeably more effective than vinegar. What did work particularly well was a derusting spray from Lidls - Pattex manufactured - and, of course I only bought one can and haven't seen it since.

One item almost ready for reinstatement is the Perfecto shaper. The motor pulley is about 3" diameter and the drive pulley approx 12". Does anybody have the tables giving minimum shaft separation for good drive transmission, please?

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Bill

Re. the 380 arrival, the engine pods look to be too low slung to allow a 'wing-down, forward slip' approach, so he's kicking off drift but ... ummm, slightly over enthusiastic. However, as a demo of just how tough the 380 gear is, that was quite remarkable. I think I might have wanted the techies to do a VERY thorough after-flight inspection, mind you!

rgds Bill

NOT a Perfecto, but still worth hanging onto. The fixing points on the table will be very worthwhile.

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Bill

Very definitely KEEP IT!!

While the hand -powered version may seem less attractive than the powered variety, it does have the advantage of not needing space for the motor - which is a big bonus. I speak as one who has the powered version.

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Bill

Surprised that noone has, so far, mentioned the statistics compiled for the "More or Less" programme on the Beeb - "The 16 largest marine bulk carriers produce MORE pollution than ALL the world's motor vehicles put together" !!

OK, so it's statistics manipulation in essence (as are all the other hysterical reactions) but, the fact remains, ships use "bunker fuel" which is the filthiest , most air polluting of all the distillates and what is heard of it?? "Nah, don't bovver wiv ships, mate - they're out at sea an out of sight, ain't they". Still, if the great unwashed are wittering on about the evils of diesel pollution they won't have time to notice the REAL problems we're facing!!

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Bill

From the Beeb website - breathtaking skills:

**LINK**

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Bill

This was spotted on www.PPrune.org and would seem to combine motor cycling with a demonstration of some Law of Physics ... or just "Sod's Law of Inanimate Objects"!

**LINK**

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Bill

Leaf blower on BLOW to pile them up and on SUCK to pick them up - sorted?

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Bill

Today saw the successful conclusion of some 17 days of efforts to remove the face plate from a Cowells Dividing Head spindle!!

It has been subjected to 5 days and nights of white vinegar (plus salt) soaking, Mole grips and hammers and not a sign of movement until today. I hacksaw-ed two small flats on the spindle register and clamped it in engineering clamps and applied a heavy copper head hammer via a large punch. Even then it had to be continued until the last thread! The rusting had accumulated since the old workshop was trashed in 2013 and it has been languishing in 'storage' ever since. The brass worm has also been slightly savaged in the process so will need a little tlc with the Swiss files but given the Cowells price list for for the D/H it has to be worth it!!

One thought which occured during all this was that loco builders who are concerned about security of their driving wheels might consider soaking their axles and wheel hubs in sea water and allowing them a 'rest' period. On the basis of this episode, they will never need to concern themselves over the security of fixing!!

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Bill

and ... "Lessons will be learned" - probably the most often repeated phrases nowadays, and they suppose that things were different in the past. Not so, I think. The problem lies with one standard aspect of human nature - greed and the 'something for nothing' culture. It motivated the thieves who stole belongings from bombed out houses in WW2, the landlords who rip off tenants, the people who falsify insurance claims etc., etc. It's not new and it's no more prevalent now than in the past; maybe on a bigger scale and more reported but, really, just more of the same.

The answer? - Theoretically, a Leader or Leaders who exemplify policies and behaviour which would make such actions socially unacceptable. Needles in haystacks ...?

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Bill

Is 'cod's' not a diminutive of 'codswallop' ? ... known as far afield as Kernow -as we 'Janners' call it.

Personally, my measure of accuracy derives from 35+ years of Auntie Betty's Flying Club - "Close enough for Government work"

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Bill

The tailstock problem sounds very odd - in particular the 12mm dimension. That size was the spindle thread size for the Unimat SL version - most definitely not compatible!

Cowell spares are, indeed, expensive, but their customer service was excellent in the couple of times I have contacted them.

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Bill

Similar idea - hoist from Lidl, Jib from Ebay and the post (Steel tube) was also from Ebay, cut exactly to required length. Only used a couple of times but enabled me to get my Fobco Star from floor level onto its mobile bench, on my own - (81+ and knackered knee and back!) Very worth while.

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Bill

I have an Arcoy jig to be disposed of but not sure (will check in the shed tomorrow) what sizes it covers.

rgds

Bill