Member postings for magpie

Hi Jamie. I had a MD65 some years ago but sold it when I needed to work bigger things. There is plenty of good advice on here about any problems you may have. Regarding cutting tools, I use both HSS & tipped tools but these days I only use HSS for plastics. Lots of tipped tools to be had from lots of suppliers and my main reason for using them is because I am getting very lazy in my old age, and can't be bothered re-grinding HSS despite having a Quorn. JB cutting tools would be a good place to look for tipped tools and their various tips for different jobs. I have no connection to them, just a satisfied customer.

Excuse me while I just go and bury my fibre optic clock and give up my workshop. Absolutely incredible.

Austin, good advice from Dave, and an excellent choice to buy from Arc Euro. Our local Men in Sheds bought a mini lathe from them about 4 years ago, it really gets tested by some of the most ham fisted blokes I have ever encountered and is still running well. Although my machines a bigger, I have been buying tooling from Arc Euro for very many years and always found the very helpful and good on price. No connection to the company, just a satisfied customer.

Dek.

Hi Derek. I am not really into clocks, but I did teach myself to use a lathe, with a lot of help from this forum, whilst building my Electro-Mechanical Fibre Optic Clock.

You can see how useful the forum was if you take a look at my build thread in the clocks section.

I had never used a lathe or milling machine prior to building the clock and some of the strange shapes were my way of experimenting with ways of using the two machines. I am still learning with the help of all the many very skilled men on here.

Cheers, Dek.

Emgee, the same thing happened to a tin full I had some years ago, but I bought some in a plastic bottle from the Midlands show a few years ago. It is still clean with no leaks.

Thanks to Mike Poole for the info, and to mechman48 for the laugh.

The nuts and threaded tube are new ones and were by my standards expensive, which is why I didn't want to try something I have never done before with them, IE solder on zinc plating.

A simple question. Is it possible to soft solder BZP items. I want to solder some BZP nuts onto some BZP threaded tube. I have a small solder bath, and both bakers fluid and solder paste. Would this be possible of should I use Locktite.

Dek.

Neil, Ketan has in the past given full explanations of the cost, and reasons for not attending the shows. I know his explanations to be true because I owned a company some years ago, that specialised in exhibition work. Although I complained about the catering, it was more a case of it not coping too well with the number of visitors, rather than the quality of the food. I enjoyed the show, and I attend both the Midland and Doncaster shows whenever my health allows. It would be a great loss if we were to lose either one.

Dek.

With regard to the age of those attending, I am 79 and the shows are one of the few places where I don't feel my age. Being surrounded by other senior citizens means I don't stand out as an old codger.

I went on Thursday and was not far short of being crushed to death. To say it was packed is an understatement. I agree with all the above comments about the catering, it was abysmal. Mark has it right when he says it is not in the same league as the Harrogate or now Doncaster shows. I confess that my main reason for going to the shows these days, is to top up on bits and pieces and tooling, although there are very few bargains to be had. Gone are the days when lots of traders were competing with each other by bringing down the prices. I like to see things before I buy so it's a shame that the traders are being priced out of attending.

If any of you spot the bloke on the left at the Midlands show on Thursday, say hello Dek. I don't bite because I have no teeth. The photo is of me showing a trustee of AgeUK how my fibre optic clock works.

Wait until Adam Stevenson is better, and advertise on the Homeworkshop site. I have never failed to sell and get a fair price on there.

Dek.

Thanks Stew.

Would the organizers like me to bring my clock if I can persuade a mate to bring me. ???

Hi Lee,

Welcome to the forum. You should find plenty to interest you here, and lots of advice on any problems you may have regarding model engineering. Lots of clubs around the country hold open days to show of their efforts, but there are 3 main exhibitions each year. The northern one is in Doncaster early in the year, another is in the midlands later in the year, and one in London close to the new year. I am sure some members will add more info about them.

For places to visit re the industrial revolution, most are in the north and midlands and it would take a very long time to list them all. I hope you do come over again and enjoy our very rich heritage.

Always had great service from Arc. Ketan is a top bloke.

Add another to those wishing Adam a very speedy recovery.

Derek.

A timing belt, a strip of metal, and some super glue.

Very well explained Silly Old Duffer. I have had my Chinese build lathe & mill for quite a few years now, and they have done everything I hoped they would and trouble free. The lathe came with 3&4 jaw chucks, backplate, steadies, centres, toolpost, everything you need except the cutting tools. The only extras I have bought for the lathe are a quick change toolpost and lots of holders, none of which I would want to be without now.

If using insert tools, once you have set centre height in each holder that is then fixed, when you change the tip it is still spot on. A great time saver.

This forum is a great place to get advice on just about any subject you can think of, however, you will get as many different answers as you get posts. When I first bought my machines, both made in China, I had never used a lathe or milling machine before so I was a complete novice. Much of the advice I was given was not really relevant to the things I wanted to do, so I just went my own way and learned which was the best way for my needs.

So far I have had no real problems and I have enjoyed the learning process. As with any hobby, the results will depend on your skill level, patience, and whatever you consider to be a good finish. Keep on asking the questions and be prepared to ignore a lot of the answers.

Welcome to the forum Tommy, from another Cheshire bloke. I too have built a clock, but just the one and I doubt I will ever build another. The build thread for mine is in the clock section, and you will see why I doubt I will ever do it again.

Cheers Dek.