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Member postings for Peter G. Shaw

Here is a list of all the postings Peter G. Shaw has made in our forums. Click on a thread name to jump to the thread.

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Thread: Acceptable runout
27/03/2011 21:00:15
Stop it! Please, please STOP IT before I collapse or get carted off for laughing insanely!
 
Regards & thanks. Best thing that's happened all day.
 
Peter G. Shaw
Thread: Tony Jeffree's Grinder letter in MEW175
26/03/2011 21:04:41
Well, for what it is worth, I found Tony's bit about the stores (MEW174) and the letter in MEW175 very funny indeed.
I thought the word picture painted about the storeman absolutely spot on and I could almost literally see him - I suppose it comes from a lifetime of reading and thus developing a good imagination.
Don't suppose I should say this, but I ended up with a cross between Arkwright (Open All Hours) and The Two Ronnies "4 Candle" Sketch.
 
Tony, keep it up - it makes the magazine worth buying.
 
Regards, and thanks,
 
Peter G. Shaw
Thread: Amateurs
24/03/2011 09:13:25
Donald (Wittman, not Mitchell),
 
Regarding your comment that there is often only one way to do something.
 
The late Tubal Cain said in one of his writings something along the lines of "that there is never a wrong way to do something in engineering". Sorry, I cannot easily find the reference, nor can I remember it exactly so you will just have to take it as Gospel. Anyway, I take it that this means that as long as the eventual result performs its purpose adequately, then that will be satisfactory.
 
In case you don't know, Tubal Cain, or T. D. Walshaw to give him his correct name, was a highly skilled engineer and author of a number of books aimed at the amateur. He was, in his time, also a diesel engine designer and there are at least two books written by him on this subject.
 
I rather think that he knew what he was talking about. And I for one, as a very humble and low level self-teaching the hard way amateur, am extremely grateful for his writings. As I am for the kind help that has been given to me in this forum. Comments such as yours do not help.
 
Regards,
 
Peter G. Shaw
Thread: Getting slitting saw to run true
23/03/2011 19:05:51
Dias,
Thanks for that.
 
mgj,
Don't do "sexy" any more, if indeed I ever did according to SWMBO! And anyway, it sounds a bit too complex for me. Simple stuff for a simple bloke!
 
Regards,
 
Peter G. Shaw

Thread: Amateurs
23/03/2011 19:00:10
Donald,
 
Are you really saying that because I am not a time served turner, I should not be attempting to turn? Because if you are, then to me that either displays an arrogance of the highest order or that you are a fully paid up member of the union demarcation bully boys, something I thought we had managed to get rid of.
 
Peter G. Shaw

Thread: Getting slitting saw to run true
22/03/2011 19:21:11
I have a new and unused slitting saw, my first ever, and a new, but now useless mounting arbor and all the comments above rather frighten me. Useless due to my bodged up attempts at trying to skim down the imperial shaft to fit a metric collet.

So, I have to make myself a new arbor. So how about this for an idea. Determine the point of maximum offset of the slitting saw and make an arbor with a matching offset in the opposite direction. Now ok it will probably be unbalanced, but would it work?

And yes, I understand that I would then need a new arbor for the next slitting saw.

Regards,

Peter G. Shaw


 
Thread: Strange angle ?
06/03/2011 17:22:44
How about what may well be a silly answer. I don't suppose that either the fiducial mark, or the scale are adjustable are they?
 
On the otherhand, is there another fiducial mark elsewhere?
 
Just a thought.
 
Regards,
 
Peter G. Shaw
Thread: Bending HSS
02/03/2011 09:45:27
Hi Graham,
 
Thanks for the commiserations, although as I said, my tinnitus is tolerable, in fact the whole lot is tolerable, especially when as an ex-part-time taxi/minimus driver I have met people with real disabilities who put my problems in the shade. It is all a matter of perspective.
 
Anyway, thanks for the idea of using gauge plate. I have a lump, 6" x 2" x ¼" or thereabouts sat there doing nothing which I had forgotten about. I must be getting old - forgetting about things like that.
 
Reminds me of the old joke:
 
There are three ways of telling when you are getting old: the first is that you start forgetting things; the second is, er.......... Can't remember !!!!!!!!!
 
And with that I will go away.
 
Regards,
 
Peter G. Shaw
 
 

01/03/2011 11:00:28
Hi Nick,
 
I too have tinnitus. I describe it as being mild because although it is permanently there, a mild "shhhh" sound all the time, I can ignore it. I can understand the frustration of people who do not have hearing problems, but it says more about them than it does the deaf person. My biggest problem is that as a choir singer, I have to ensure that I am on the correct side of my section in order to ensure that I can hear the other section members. Otherwise it can feel as if I am singing solo.
 
I think one of the problems is that until we actually experience something like deafness or blindness, we tend to think it will not happen to us. Another problem is that years ago, there was not this emphasis on personal safety even though all the safety aids were available.
 
For example. I can remember 50 years ago standing in front of a large diesel generator watching it start up and thinking what a lovely sound. And working in the middle of racks of registers (any ex-exchange technicians will know what I mean). Both places being very noisy when working flat out. No ear protection at all. Also, checking very large lead-acid batteries which due to the charging and discharging produced a smelly atmosphere. Not sure what it was, but I do not think it would be particularly healthy. But again, no eyeglasses and no breathing protection.
 
Today, having effectively lost one ear, I do wear ear protectors when running the milling machine, but the grinder, being a 150 W motor is not that loud, even when grinding. Generally, the other engineering tools do not seem particularly loud so I do not use the ear protectors. On reflection, the mains drill (400W), and the two angle grinders (9" & 5") do seem loud, so perhaps I should consider using the ear protectors with them.
 
In terms of eye protection, I have always used eye protection when grinding, less so on the milling machine, seldom on the lathe and drilling machine, and never with the hand held drills. Perhaps I should reconsider, especially as I do have them, and my grandson automatically uses them when he visits. Maybe the grandson should teach this grandad to suck eggs. (Apologies to non-UK readers who may not understand that last sentance.)
 
Regards,
 
Peter G. Shaw
28/02/2011 17:09:33
Apologies Chris. It's just that ever since I got chewed up by an old biddy for describing some people as being mentally disabled, which is an accurate description of what they were, and then being told that the "PC" term was something else, I forget what, I object to PC language. I suppose I'm really being over-sensitive.

Now before I get jumped on, let me say that I have two definite disabilities - one is that I have a disease of the back which leads to restricted movement, and then other is that due to Menieres Disease, I now am almost completely deaf in one ear. So if anyone wants to dress it up as something else, then look out for a first class row - I have two disabilities and I don't care who knows. And by the same token, I do not dress up other peoples disabilities. That does not mean that I am not sympathetic, just that I call a spade a spade, not something else.
 
Agree with "learning by doing". I freely admit to passing certain examinations purely because I was working on that particular equipment at the time of the examinations.
 
Regards,

Peter G. Shaw
27/02/2011 14:02:58
re We never have a failure. We have learning experiences.
 
Sorry Chris, I do not believe in that sort of PC language, although I understand what you are saying. I much prefer the older saying: "It is better to have tried and failed, than to have never tried." And the other one: The man who never tries, never achieves anything". Much the same I suppose.
 
And anyway, don't forget the senior body: The Society of Model and Experimental Engineers, not that I would call myself an engineer, but I do like the experimental bit.
 
Regards,
 
Peter G. Shaw
26/02/2011 20:02:51
Hi Chris,
 
Everything you say is true in all respects, but it could just have worked so worth a try.
 
Anyway, all it's cost me is 25mm of HSS. I still have 100mm left to use as is.
 
Regards,
 
Peter G. Shaw
 

26/02/2011 17:41:11
Hi folks,
 
Just a follow-up on what I did.
 
Cut off a 25mm length of HSS from a 125mm x 10mm x 10mm length from Amadeal. Cut a length of mild steel bar, bent it and shaped it to form a ledge. Ground it and the HSS to fit and silver soldered together. Ok, it took a couple of attempts, in part due to running out of gas, but it eventually worked.
 
Ground up the HSS to make a tool. Some very ugly pictures on page 2 of "Tip Build Up".
 
Cleaned it up this afternoon, and tried again on some other steel. Again I think it must have been either a hard, or hardened steel. Anyway, the steel was eventually ruined by tearing when using other tools, but the HSS was worn circular. Set about cleaning it up again, and thought about trying to file it. Yes, I have managed to soften the HSS whilst brazing. So that was a waste of time.
 
I tried the file on the remaining part of the HSS bar and sure enough that is still hard. Which suggests that this particular HSS is not suitable for brazing onto mild steel shanks and then using to cut steel. I suppose it may be suitable for aluminium and other softer metals. Interestingly, it did seem to try to work on the tube I was trying to turn (see "Tip Build Up" thread).
 
Oh well, back to the drawing board.
 
Regards,
 
Peter G. Shaw
Thread: Some thoughts on Model Engineering
24/02/2011 17:38:34
Terry,
 
re Mr. Moody.
 
On the face of it, yes, but unfortunately, the complainant was an ex-council official who had his own strict ideas about what was suitable for domestic premises. There may have been more, but without looking it up, I cannot say for sure. Suffice to say that ever since I have been most careful about what I do and how equipment has been delivered, even going so far as to arrange for my milling machine to be delivered elsewhere and then transported to my house in the back of my car.
 
In addition, I always try to limit my noisy engineering activities to normal working hours, eg daytime, and avoid Sundays.
 
One thing that did come out was that as long as the council do not find out, you can do anything you wish in your domestic premises. However, once a complaint has been made, the council can then step in and prevent you from doing whatever it was, and require you to obtain planning permission, even though whatever you were doing dd not need planning permission in the first place.
 
Regards,
 
Peter G. Shaw
 
 
24/02/2011 15:47:12
Kwil,
 
If you re-read my post, you will see that every time I mentioned a possible alternative name for the hobby, I always followed up with !or something similar", thereby showing that I did not necessarily want to follow the American names. I quite agree with workshop, although since the issue of the Jesse Moody affair I have always tried to avoid using the word "workshop".*
 
To other readers.
 
I quite agree that "model" is the wrong word for our hobby. Having said that, my dictionary gives a number of definitions for the word "model", the first of which does indeed state "in miniature" in the first definition, however the second definition states: "a pattern or standard to copy;". All of which suggests to me that it depends on what is exactly meant by "model" as it may be either a miniature, a full size (however large or small that may be) article, or even as I think Tubal Cain said in one of his books, something larger than full size in order to more easily examine it.
 
Given that all forms of constructional activity take place, I doubt very much that an all-embracing name could be devised, unless it was on the lines of "Hobby Construction" which would cover all branches and indicate that it is a hobby. Within that we could have various branches - Air Models, Land Models, Water Models etc. Somehow I do not see this happening, so staying with our particular version hobby, I think possibly a better name could be "Amateur Engineering at Home" or more simply "Home or Hobby Engineering". Unfortunately, I do think we are stuck with "Model Engineering".
 
Right after that, it's time to disappear into the wo, oops, er Garage, and think about the next stage in the present project.

Regards,
 
Peter G. Shaw

*
(Jesse Moody affair. In 1994, Moody was reported by a neighbour to his local council for carrying on an engineering business at his domestic house. From memory, it seems some rail had been delivered to his house for use at his local club, and he had also done some construction work for the same project. Under these circumstances, despite the local planners not wishing to become involved, they were legally obliged to investigate, and in the meantime Moody was banned from using his workshop. The case was eventually not proceeded with and Moody allowed to continue albeit with the local council reserving their rights or whatever it is. One thing that came out from this saga was a suggestion that whatever else you do, never mention the word "workshop" in any communication, verbal or otherwise, with the council as they will in all probability think "commercial". Use the word "hobby" instead.)
24/02/2011 11:11:31
I have long thought, as Ian SC suggests, that Homeshop Mechanics or Homeshop Engineering, or something similar would be a much better name for that part of the modelling hobby that uses tools to make items.
 
You see, as I have stated many times before, I am simply not interested in building models of any description, plastic, wood, metal, or whatever. All I want to do is to be able to learn how to use the tools, improve my skills, and in doing so make additional tooling. I still remember the joy of making my first cutting tool from silver steel. And if, as does sometimes happen, I find myself making, or repairing some other item that would otherwise either be unobtainable or scrapped, then that is an added bonus.
 
That does not mean that I do not, or can not admire those fully functional working models of Flying Scotsman, or that radio controlled skeleton rowing the boat, because I do, but that sort of work is not for me.
 
On another thread, there has been some discussion about beginners to the hobby, and the help, or lack of, given by established model engineers at societies around the country. It does seem to me that a lot of these people are actually people who wish to become "engineers" in the American sense of the person who drives a locomotive and that they are possibly using the creative side of the hobby in order to achieve that ambition. Possibly the same applies to traction engine builders. Steam propulsion, of course, is what Model Engineer is mainly about: the other facets of the hobby, such as clocks, toolmaking etc being minor elements which would otherwise have no place to discuss their operations.
 
I am not belittling these people, far from it, but as that particular thread mentions, what does a newcomer to Model Engineering do when on joining a club, it is found that most discussion is on the merits of Walshaerts (spelling?) gear versus Stephenson gears, when all the newcomer wants to do is to find out how to screwcut using the lathe?
 
This is why I would be in favour of changing the name of the hobby to Home, or Homeshop Mechanics or Engineering, or something similar. Unfortunately, this may not suit those who work in plastic, wood, or radio controlled cars, planes & helicopters. Perhaps, then, a generic name of Hobby Construction with different branches therein.
 
Regards,
 
Peter G. Shaw
 
Thread: MEW for Beginners
23/02/2011 13:01:54
Thanks Terry.
 
I think probably the reason I had forgotten about it is that it is a photocopy onto A4 paper, ie two pages at a time on each side and so has to be held in landscape fashion which does make it rather difficult to hold. Hence does not get read as often as perhaps it should.
 
Regards,

Peter
22/02/2011 17:12:10
Terry,
 
Is this book the "Know Your Lathe" book. Because if it is, I'd forgotten I have it, and yes it does have some generic information in it. Again, it is probably available via the library service which I think is where I first found it.
 
Regards,
 
Peter
Thread: Lathe and tap and dies for begiiner to purchase
22/02/2011 13:51:53
I would second the comments about lathes, and would add that for taps and dies, it is probably best to buy individually when you know what you need. Buying a set can result having a number of taps and dies which will never be used. How do I know? I will leave you to work that out for yourself.
 
Another point is to consider carbon or HSS. According to Tubal Cain, carbon steel taps and dies are actually sharper and better than HSS, but they are much more easily damaged by overheating. Only this morning has a friend and I done some screwcutting with a die only to find the die getting rather hot, hot enough I think to have damaged carbon steel.
 
Also, I would suggest buying well known makes - Presto & Dormer are two that come to mind. Buying a cheapish set of unknown and most likely unmarked equipment may have a number of problems, eg blunt to start, not cutting square, carbon not HSS.
 
I have nothing against carbon provided you are aware of the heat problem, and for a one-off job may well be adequate. They will certainly be cheaper.
 
Regards,
 
Peter G. Shaw
Thread: MEW for Beginners
22/02/2011 13:15:38
Interesting request from Colin because I do not consider myself to be particularly knowledgable in engineering, or anything else for that matter especially since my expertise at work has now been totally superceded by modern digital systems.
 
But anyway, moving on from something slightly off topic...
 
I have a local friend who has recently taken up Model Engineering. He, being a retired chemical engineer, is reasonably intelligent, but appears to know even less than I did when I first started some 16 or so years ago. As a result, I am having to show and explain quite a lot of basic material.
 
I have also been contacted via another forum by a gentleman who has obtained the same lathe as myself. Again, I am having to explain via emails certain things as we go along. To be fair, this last person is mainly asking questions about the lathe, not the procedures involved, but the first person, is also asking about procedures.
 
I have taken the liberty of recommending certain book to these people. I say liberty because I am aware that one writers style may suit one person but does not necessarily suit another, however the recommendations do appear to have been generally well received.
 
With that in mind, and as someone who has had to learn by reading and experimenting, I would recommend as a starter book, "Using the Small Lathe" by L C Mason. My friend describes this book as being written by someone writing for the amateur. It is an old book, but nevertheless the techniques and ideas are still valid and don't go into the same details as do Bradley, Sparey and Thomas. All three writers assume that you already know something about the subject.
 
For further reading I would certainly recommend any of the books by Tubal Cain. I find that I can always understand what he is saying, although remembering it is something else entirely.

For general engineering, The Peter Wright book, "Model Engineering. A Foundation Course" is quite good.

As I always do, I would strongly recommend applying to the local library in the first instance as this way you can discover whether or not the books are suitable for your needs.
 
Hope this helps.
 
Peter G. Shaw
 
ps.
For anyone with queries about the Warco 220 lathe, I am always willing to explain what I know by email - use the personal message system.
 
I actually live near Cockermouth in West Cumbria, and whilst I know there are other much more highly skilled Model Engineers around I would be willing to offer limited assistance to anyone starting. I say limited because I do not have much knowledge, but what I do have, I am quite willing to share. First contact via the personal messaging system please.
 
 
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