Member postings for Tony Pratt 1

A quick way for the UK to reduce consumption of unnecessary power would be turn off office lighting when the office stands empty

Depends on whether or not the lights can be switched off - I have a recollection that some office blocks were built without light switches, as it was deemed cheaper to run the lights all the time than install switches when the block was built.

Currently looking into having a DEFRA approved wood burning fire installed in place of a hopelessly inefficient coal-effect gas fire. At least I would have one room capable of being kept warm if the power went off - house has gas CH, but it still requires electric to run.

Worst case scenario would be to decamp to the motorhome on the drive during power outages, as the heating is gas with control electrics being from the 12v habitation battery that is recharged from a solar panel.

Nigel B.

Whenever possible I like to machine stuff off the end of stock by passing the whole bar through the headstock. I have space for about a metre hanging out of the end of the lathe.

My hint is to take great care to control the protrusion! A rod becomes a deadly flail if it kinks whilst turning.

Short overhangs can be controlled by making a supportive plug-washer thingy to fit into the open end of the spindle. Don't like wooden wedges because they can vibrate loose.

Longer protrusions need some sort of stand: passing the overhang through a hole bored through a length 2x4" wood clamped into a Black & Decker Workmate works OK. But keep well away, spinning a long overhang is one of the most dangerous things you can do on a lathe, even a baby one!

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 25/07/2022 14:27:16

.

The rationale is easy … They are either trying to bully you, or taking advantage of your slipstream

Both perfectly reasonable on the racetrack … BUT

MichaelG.

If there is a person at the end of the line why be nasty to him/her. Try to have a chat or tell a joke. These people are just pawns in a very nasty game. It may just make one of them happy.

JA

The only reason other than vanity for a homeshop lathe to have a QCTP is if you are using hss tooling. Every time it is sharpened, it gets a little lower and the adjustable height is then useful.

All that you can't do without a topslide is short tapers and screw cutting. Even that can be done, just not as well. Topslide is in the way 90% of the time, Tubal Cain even designed a Gibraltar tool post to replace it on Myford S7

Not that I advocate breaking the one you've got of course

Edited By duncan webster on 09/07/2022 20:22:18

I’ve tried several types of parting tools and these are without doubt the best I’ve tried so far. If it’s really hard stock then I’ll use an insert parting tool.