Member postings for Philip Rowe

Many thanks for all the advice, it would seem that my original thoughts were justified. However as it has been pointed out if I don't go for six stations at some point l will inevitably wish I had. So at the moment my plan is to machine the casting to accommodate 6 but when I'm using it just populate with as many holders as I need. It's funny but every time I do a drilling and tapping operation in the lathe which is a minimum of three steps, centre drill, drill, tap I curse the fact that I've had this unmade kit under the bench for so long.

Phil

I've decided that after 30 odd years of sitting under the bench it is high time I made the Sparery design of tailstock turret kit that I have. The drawing shows six stations but to my mind this looks rather crowded, thinking about how I'm likely to use it, perhaps station 1 centre drill, 2 pilot drill, 3 full size drill, 4 tap, 5 spare. I can't think of a situation where I would want 6 stations so at the moment I'm thinking of making it with only 5 but I would appreciate the wisdom and practical experience of any users of such a device. I see that the commercial offerings from ME suppliers seem to all have 6 stations so maybe I'm worrying unnecessarily but I would still like to hear the thoughts and observations from the members here. Thanks, Phil

Thanks Andrew, why l didn't think of that I don't know. Obvious really and no potential problems involved with removing the bushes from a tapered mandrel.

Phil

Gentlemen,

I want to modify some aluminium bushes, top hat in section, 10mm bore and around 25mm long. The only way that I can now hold them to turn the new diameters is with a tapered mandrel as there is insufficient material to grip in a chuck or collet. My question is what is the most suitable material to use for the mandrel that will provide sufficient grip and not jam in the bush when it comes to removal? I only need to take around 0.4mm off the bushes so will only be a very light cut.

I've been a model engineer for over 50 years and have only ever used a tapered mandrel once before to grip loco cylinders for facing the ends and I cannot remember what I used!

Thanks in advance for any pointers.

Phil

Apologies for going slightly off topic, but I think relevant, what do users of Avo 8s do nowadays about the special 15volt battery that it used? I switched to DMMs probably 25 years ago because I could no longer obtain that battery. Also as others have said its too big for table top use.

Phil

Funny, I always thought coach built car bodies were built on an ash frame.

Phil

Many years ago I purchased an ex WD valve cooling blower for i think 5/- from one of those surplus shops on the Tottenham Court Road, remember them? It was a 24volt motor but I only used 12volts, worked very well as a steam raising fan on my 2 1/2" gauge Annie Bodie which was built by my grandfather. One thing that I didn't appreciate was the impeller blade on the blower was die cast metal, after prolonged use partially molten bits of blade were being ejected from the blower outlet. As a 14 year old I did not realise how hot the gases were coming from the loco.

Phil

As I found out to my cost many years ago and the motor pulley slipping on the belt virtually 'burnt' it's way through the belt. The belt was ruined as you can imagine.

Phil

Glad to see others still using these. I use mine every time I need to drill into the masonry in my house, for some reason the the surface skim coat is very brittle and if I use a standard rotary masonry drill I will end up with a terrible mess around the hole. However using the Rawl plug jumper with light taps of the hammer I can get through the brittle surface and end up with a clean hole. Originally belonged to my father so must be at least 60 years old.

Phil

Yes you are quite correct, I've just dug out my copy and the author is indeed Joseph Martin, just shows my memory is not what it was. I did however find that it was published in 1960.

Phil

I can't really add very much to this apart from I recall reading in a book by Martin Evans titled "The World of Model Railways" almost exactly the same statement that he would 'slip away to his lathe' which I feel is rather unusual terminology. I don't know the exact publication date of Evan's book but it would have been the early sixties. Coincidence perhaps, who knows?

Phil

Yes I've noticed that too but I thought in my case it was due to my recently having the Call Safe facility installed by my phone provider.

Phil

Well I never! I've been using a tablet for maybe 7 years and I never knew that.

Thanks Michael.

Phil

Interestingly, I inquired recently at a local high street jewellers to have an automatic Seiko serviced. This watch was a retirement present to my late father so holds some sentimental value, I wear it occasionally but it has become a little erratic in it's operation, hence the inquiry. I was astounded to be told that the service charge would be £175 plus parts! I politely declined this service and decided to stick with my £30 battery operated Seconda which I replace with a new one each time the battery dies.

Phil

Ah, that update seems like value for money in comparison to my Nissan dealer who quoted me £190 for my sat nav update. You can buy an awful lot of maps for that money!

Sorry for wandering off topic.

Phil

One thing that I do to help with the motivation is to try and finish in the workshop with a component that is set up ready for machining when I start the next session. Obviously I will check over everything before switching on, but this approach has always helped me as I know I can start a session without having to spend a lot of time thinking about what I'm going to do. Always useful with advancing years and a failing memory.

Phil

This is not an answer to your specific question as I only have the MKl D/W, but that was supplied to me by Model Engineering Services with a small canister of extremely thick grease. I've used this religiously over the last 40 years and it works well and to a degree reduces the very loud noises that this type of gearbox produces. I'm not aware of the MKll gearbox design but I would have thought that any grade of oil would want to flow downwards I.e. away from the parts that you are trying to lubricate.

Phil

Not sure if this is unusual but it has certainly impressed me. In the mid eighties I bought a Phillips battery razor for the occasional vanity shave as I normally use a wet razor. I don't recall what the battery life was in it's early days but I had occasion to use it the other day and the batteries died mid shave. When I took the old batteries out I was amazed to see that they had a best before date of March 2002. I don't use it that often maybe 4 - 5 times a year but for there to be any life in the batteries after all this time has impressed me, whether the razor was used or not. Whilst not wishing to contravene any advertising rules I stress that I am just a very satisfied user of Duracell batteries.

Phil

Don't worry about the oilers, it would appear to be an odd quirk of the S7, mine does this as well and has done so from when the lathe was purchased new in 1973.

Phil

Interestingly I had all but forgotten about the anti static chains and straps hanging from the rear of cars, never see them nowadays. Does this mean that cars no longer produce static or have we all become immune? I'm sure some of the boffins on this forum will be able to provide an answer.

Phil