Hi John, bearing in mind the comments above then it could be too good an oportunity to miss if the price is right.

If it dosnt meet all of the criteria then Mike said it all in the last post.

instead of getting a contoller sell it to a potter etc and then put the profit towards what you realy do want.

Even if it is a top loader is there any reason why it could not be put on its side to make it safer for hot use.?

Regards Clive

I would use the granite and sieve it to a suitable size. It will work best if there is an even grain size .

Say 4mm - 6mm. Most of the pyramid madia are ceramic or silica based and that is the main constituent of most granites.

Make sure you take out ny soft rocks as they will quickly form a sludge that dampens the general tumbling action.

The other thing tou could do is look at lapidary ~( rock polishing ) suppliers and buy carbide grit.

Fleabay?

Regards Clive

I,ve just had a nice cup of tea in the sunshine this morning and flipped through page by page 155 to current and it is not in there.

Tonight i will work back from 154 rechecking each page.

Thanks for your help Norman. I will check again before I start just in case you are lucky for me.

regards Clive

Thanks Norman, I know the one you meen and it uses 6900ZZ unfortunately that is not what i am looking for.

The one I am after is the thrust bearings that go on the end of the lead screw at the same time as adding the extension shaft and hand wheel.

Regards Clive

Hello guys I need some help quickly please as my wife is visiting ARC on Wednesady to get some spares and I want to be a comprehensive as possible.

I followed the series on the mini lathe in mags 130 to 154 + and have the worshop series number 43 book.

I have done most of the mods and have a good little machine.

I have not yet done the handwhell / lead screw mod, that is next. I have the article that uses the M12 half nuts but I am sure there was a small " additional " 1/4 page alticle towards the end of the series that used flat thrust bearings to get rid of all the end float.

I have skimmed through my mags and can not find it. Nor in any of the indexes I came across.

I know its a long shot but does anyone know which one it is in ? or have i just been dreaming it.

Regards Clive

Glad to be of help Bill.

A good source of reasonable priced blades is Trucut of Ross on Wye

www.trucutbandsaws.co.uk/

No link just good service

Regards Clive

I have one of these and yes it is a good machine.

Dont worry about crowning the belt as it is built into the pully.

I did get spares and I know they were easy to get at the time ( 4 years ago ) but I can not remember who from sorry.

Burgess, Axminster, Machine Mart, Charnwood all spring to mind.

Most likely is machine mart as Chris has said.

regards Clive

I have converted mine and yes the belts are very difficult to find.

A friend on another forum got mine for me from a place in Hull.

Unfortunately that is of no use as I can not remeber who.

I'll have a bit of a dig around in my records and If I can think of anything I will post again.

It is very worth doing so good luck.

regards Clive

M-Machine at Darlington.

Cast iron bar certainly whether it is true Meehanite I could not say.

regards Clive