Member postings for John Coates

Why would you want to Alan? The clapper being free to lift is what keeps the tool clear of the workpiece on the return stroke

Thanks guys. I really enjoyed reading about Fred's first day

Yup !

I don't feel guilty about the envy I have for immaculately clean workshops. I plan to built a separate workshop this year so the bikes can stay on the garage and the machinery can move into the new workshop. An improved cleanliness regime will also be part of the new approach

As a fellow motorcycle tinkerer I can appreciate why. The smallest bit of metal inadvertently introduced into a freshly built and tuned engine can wreck 100's of hours of meticulous work. Most professional restorers and tuners and race teams have workshops as clean as your friend's. Then again there are the guys doing the same in garden sheds akin to that BBC programme "Speed dreams: Bonneville" which could not be described to be as clean as an operating theatre

I visit daily, usually twice, first in my lunch break then at home of an evening. I do the same with three other motorcycle forums and my email account. It's up there with my virtual essentials in life.

I have benefited from some very helpful advice since getting my lathe in September 2009. People have been very helpful. Now I realise that my life would be dramatically improved by a purpose built heated workshop with a PC in there so that's is my current project.

I would miss it if it were not here. I am a member of an Amercian based forum but it's not the same. The posts are the wrong way round (latest first) and it's very "big is best" so I have dropped off visiting there.

John

I like having several articles on the same subject. I recently needed to make a mandrel draw bar for my lathe. I have invested in all the back issues so was able to search the Excel index and find relevant articles and read them all. Each contributed a little to the eventual design. I don't have a Myford so can't just copy an article and replicate the design. I draw inspiration from several authors and concoct my own hybrid.

MEW is like an old friend who I sit down with and share some quality time. Great pleasure is drawn from selecting a random sequence of 10 back issues then reading through them with a mug of tea or a pint.

Miscellaneous Mutterings or Random Ramblings

and what's the recipe 'cos I'm interested ! <-- drooling smiley

Sorry John - mea culpa !

I'm a big fan of the Darwin Awards. Personal favourite being the chap who strapped a turbo boost jet engine to his Chevy Impala. Or maybe the rattlesnake juggling rednecks!

t'other John

I was exactly the opposite thinking how much they could get done in their back gardens by not adhering to the H&S nazis! Wonderful, calamitous, bizarre inventing. I know that two of the backyard crews were professionals (Chris and Oz) as they both worked in Chris' chopper shop but it was fantastic. Reminded me of reading Sparey's book. Life must have been less boring and more exciting int he sheds of the 50's and 60's

Thanks Michael. Missed that one

Anybody else watch Speed Dreams about blokes building race bikes in their garden sheds to take them to the Bonneville salt flats?

Lots of lathes (saw a big Emco) pillar drills and an Elliott shaper in action

Being a biker who bought a lathe, mill and shaper to mod my bikes I thoroughly enjoyed it

World's Fastest Indian for Brits! There is a guy from Norfolk with an Indian

I bought an inverter from Drives Direct and they made me up a remote control pod to my specification (start, stop, forward, reverse, jog and variable speed) to go with it. Well happy and would recommend them.

During the summer they take it out and run it up and down the airstrip. It's a regular bike night so folks can incorporate a motorbike ride and see the Lanc trundle up and down. Costs about £10 to go and see. One advantage to being a Tyke in Yellowbelly land

Edited By John Coates on 02/01/2013 12:15:35

I was considering one of these but found most reviews uncomplimentary as the combined nature limits both machines so it is the worst of both worlds. The mill is not rigid enough and only good for putting holes or slots in round workpieces held in the lathe chuck. And all that extra weight affects the lathe.

So I went separate instead of buying one

Terry

I only got the Elliott last March (very cheap as it was mis-advertised locally) but it is now a firm favourite for making true flat surfaces. The DVD by Rudy K was a great overview and introduction on the basic operations and how to do them. In fact all I need now is a new vice of about 6" size as my Vertex K4 seems a bit undersized. Luckily the t-nuts for my Champion mill fit the Elliott table as well.

Someone lent me DVD showing by Rudy Kouhoupt on how to use a shaper and this was exactly how a slot or dovetail is cut

**LINK**

The feed on the tool holder is finer than the table which is probably why the cutter jammed in the workpiece. You just have to turn the micrometer when the cutter has cleared the workpiece on the return stroke. I agree with Clive that to put a slot in the end of a long bar like that you would normally clamp it to the side of the box and have it vertical

John (Elliot 10M)

A merry Xmas to all and thanks for the past three years since I joined which have been illuminating

Thanks for answering my dumb questions

Hope Xmas is fun for all and you're looking forward to 2013

At the moment I have a 16" BMS rod on the lathe making a drawbar for a collet chuck

2013 will see modifications to all three of my motorbikes and a few weekends away in the saddle enjoying the scenery

John

Nice bike BTW

It is and I soooo wanted to get out on it this weekend but domestic chores got in the way. Am now hoping the better weather stays

Done it !

Stopped with the TiN and cobalt 3mm drills and used a normal black jobber 3.5mm and it bit and made the pilot hole. Didn't tap in the end just made it 6mm and put a nut on the other side

The Bosch is hi-speed but did try it a different speeds but they just weren't biting

Anyway that's done, now onto making a chuck guard. I'm fed up of swarf flying off around the garage and getting near the bikes

Quick internet search reveals

gCAD3D

at **LINK**

from the review at **LINK**

Edited By John Coates on 16/12/2012 15:56:48