Member postings for chris stephens

Hi Russell,

That sounds like something in the EN19/EN24 range, both available in "T" condition and easily worked in home workshops.

chriStephens

Edit, just remembered that somewhere I have a book that converts K&E steels to these newfangled Emergency Numbers, well it is an old book! If I can find it in a reasonable length of time will post results

Edited By chris stephens on 08/03/2013 17:16:31

hi David,

From the photo it looks like you have the top slide set to the wrong angle. If you insist on using an off set top slide method (it really isn't the only way), you want the top slide set to half the thread angle not from the lathe axis but from the cross slide axis. Using the protractor markings you don't want 27.5 deg but 62.5 (BSW/BSF threads). in other words, swing the top slide to be in line with and over the cross slide, then move it back 27.5 deg. It is a common mistake to read in books about setting half the thread angle and assuming you read the protractor for this purpose, but it is not that simple. Following what you thought you read you will end up with an unequal thread.

Hope this helps.

chriStephens

Hi Mike,

Just to keep on topic, well it involves "John Stevenson", over on Keith Fenner's youtube channel a John Stephenson has made a donation to Keith's toolbox giveaway.. I guess it wasn't our John who gave a tool to the cause, but it goes to show that there is yet another one out there! If any of you enjoy watching an old school machinist at work, take a look at the channel.

chriStephens

Hi DC1

There certainly are more than one, as my father was John that makes me John Stephens' son. and I'm a motorcyclist (that a "biker" for you modernists)

chriStephens

Hi DG, you could just say look at approx 2/5th the way down the home page.

Hi Ian, As for the advert, it's for an item of feminie hygene and has no place on a

geriatric targeted forum.

chriStephens (now officially considered as geriatric )

It is rather like that TV advert where the girl keeps showing her knickers; OOOPS (smiley intended)

chriStephens

Hi Guys,

My opinion may be biassed 'coz I own a precision level ( it wasn't when I bought it for a few Quid, but that is another story) but I would not recommend removing twist from the bed by anything held between centres. Logically you have to set the lathe up to an equal level of levelness(?) with a precision level, as you can have no idea how well your tail stock has been set true. Tail stocks generally have a system for turning slight tapers and trying to get rid of twist with an off set tail stock is asking for hair pulling problems. Leave test bars for setting the tail stock for parallel turning. If there is a flaw in my logic I have no doubt that one of you chaps will speak up.

As for twist in round beds (Drummonds), can you not still use a precision level by mounting it on the cross slide and by moving it from end to end of the bed?

chriStephens

Hi Neil,

"Don't forget to wind the tool out of contact with the bore before winding it back." Why?

I find a cut taken "backwards" often produces a far better finish. This applies to internal and external turning. Can you explain why it should be necessary to do as you suggest, is there something else I don't know?

chriStephens

Hi DC1,

Is that picture on the cover the new giveaway for subscribers, if so I shall send my cheque this PM?

There is nothing wrong with having articles on subjects previously covered, with the proviso that they are re-written and just not reprints. Two views on a subject can help the hard of thinking and so can be helpful and not be a "con", as some might think of them.

Now for Harold, it is a mistake to think that you can come up with something new in this field. There is a very good chance that some clever Victorian got there first. All we can hope to do is to bring new ideas (to the reader) and if they turn out to be truly original then it is feather in cap time. but it should not be expected. A classic example would be the swing up threading tool holder, a brilliant idea fore sure but it now turns out to have been patented in 1880's!

chriStephens

Hi Guys'

Derek's drill sharpener is not a "wishbone" but his own design and is a very good design basis. If you look at http://www.gadgetbuilder.com/DrillSharp.html#Four_Facet you will see a modification of his design that has wheels. I must admit that i made another change to the design by putting grinding stops to save the need to constantly look through high power magnification to see when to stop sharpening. I also made one, with stops, that sharpens up to 7mm. Such a pleasure to be able to use a sharp drill, I would recommend their use to all.

chriStephens

Hi Guys,

The other day, whilst frozen out of the engineerium, I was browsing You Tube and came across this site.

http://www.youtube.com/user/MaProNL/videos?view=0

An SKF bearing site showing how to do bearing fitting in an approved manner. Well, approved if you have a fortune to spend on their special kit! Even with this in mind, some are worth watching. It is always nice to know how things should be done, even if you have no chance of doing it that way.

chriStephens

Hi DC,

You sure Bazyle was not referring to Prof. Hugel's excellent example?

chriStephens

Hi Chris,

Goes to show that not all tips are equal, just 'cos it's carbide does not mean it's going to be perfect every time, but Sumitomo are one of the better ones (provided you get one suitable for your own needs of course).

chriStephens

I say Kwil, that would have been my quip but you beat me to it.

chriStephens

Hi David,

Thanks for that, it saved me another wasted 14 mile round trip, l will wait till Wednesday before venturing out again.

I am somewhat surprized that you found two staff able to talk to each other, in Uxbridge they seem to rely on automated tills and only have one lonely person on the real tills, who is needed for us techno-phobes and other assorted oldies.

chriStephens

Hi Peter,

Delivery to Smiths is usually pretty good, the only times it is late is when it is Christmas or ME has changed hands, yet again. The recently heard sound of singing, accompanied by bell ringing, in the road outside tells me it must be near to Christmas, so don't worry too soon.

chriStephens

To all British viewers, don't worry about rounding your corners as "rounded corners" do not conform to the standards required for a patent to be granted. If the requirements for a Yankee one are so pathetic, I want to apply for a patent on breathing, so that every one the other side of the pond can pay me 10 cent per year in royalties. That should pay for a nice warm workshop, something I am sadly missing at the moment.

chriStephens

Hi Phil,

A word of caution re JB and Petrol, modern alcohol "fortified" petrol eats epoxy!

chriStephens

Spot face, see someone in a crowd you recognise

Slightly different one, as reported by my local neighbourhood watch chappie, delivery man calls with a package and says there is a top up delivery charge and he can only take a card in payment. Guess what, his boss wont let him take cash to avoid fraud by his staff!!!! Anyway, if you believe him, in moments his card machine has your card details AND your PIN. Sounds feasible doesn't it, so if you are gullible be warned.

chriStephens