Member postings for Colin Heseltine

Neil,

I had just driven down A38 from Pudsey to Lichfield and got caught in it. Got home to just outside Lichfield, all bone dry. Went to Cannock and heavens opened. Perhaps that tells you something about Cannock

Where abouts are you located?

Colin

I also use varifocals all the time and agree with Bill that looking under machines and such can be difficult, also working upside down. But a bright light certainly helps me. When I had my first ones, if I swivelled my line of view whilst looking at a straight line then the vision went all wavy. When I spoke to the optician he said some versions of glass do that, unfortunately this meant I had to move to a much better quality of glass. Only problem is that it was quite a bit more expensive, but it did cure the problem.

Regards,

Colin

Watching with interest as I also have a Colchester Student (squarehead) lathe. Need to check its level and turning accuracy.

Best of luck with this Hugh.

Regards,

Colin

Did not manage to stop the flood from flowing through workshop and partially filling the pit. Spent three hours vacuuming and drying out the floor. For a change there was not too much kit on floor, so no actual damage.

Colin

Hugh,

Thanks for the photo and the size info. Looks as though I need to invest (again). Will look out on Ebay for T2 QCTP. Would also like a QCTP for my Cowells.

Colin

Hugh,

I cant help with your chamfering issue but am interested in which QCTP you are using. I also have a Colchester Student lathe (squarehead) and am looking to obtain a QCTP for this lathe rather than use the not very nice 4 way toolpost.

Thanks,

Colin

Just finished reassembling my recent Fleabay purchase, a Corbetts XL 7" shaper. Fully stripped it down to bare casting, repainted completely, made few new Gib adjustment screws. Just need to make a adjustable motor base plate for the new motor which can be seen behind it. Waiting for steel which should appear later this week. All I need now is to make/acquire some tooling for it and have a play.

Colin.

I am refurbishing the Corbetts XL 7" motorized shaper I have just obtained. See picture below. It is now stripped to all component parts and existing paint is being removed as I write using Nitromors.

What are peoples recommendations for painting. I am likely to handpaint unless advised otherwise. I was think of using Hammerite smooth but have struggled a bit in the past to get a good smooth finish. Would I be better with some form of enamel or Urethane type finish paint. Having visited local Wickes store they have Hammerite but also their own similar type of paint but theirs is water based as opposed to the Hammerite being spirit based. Any thoughts anyone?

What type of Primer should I use.  Would red lead based metal primer be suitable.  I want to paint all the inside of the castings as well as external surfaces.

Does anyone know what colour this machine was originally. It looks as though it was possibly a Green colour.

Thanks in advance,

Colin

Edited By Colin Heseltine on 27/02/2014 13:16:23

I have been looking at small shapers like the Adept on Fleabay recently but preferred a powered unit. I found a Corbetts 7" XL powered shaper which is nicely made and has a small footprint. It has had the motor drive modified slightly from original but if I can find a suitable motor I am tempted to change back to original as it will make the machine a few inches shorter. I have put a picture below. The www.lathes.co.uk has pictures of an original layout Corbetts shaper. Just need to source/make suitable vice and tooling now.

I can see how people say they are quite calming to watch.

Have fun with your Adept.

Regards,

Colin

I went today and it was very busy. As others have said its a pity some of the larger players were not there. Catering left a bit to be desired. Went to grab a sandwich at 1:15 only to find they had sold out of them completely. Suggest you take your own.

Have a good visit.

Colin

I regularly have to work very low to the ground and trying to read miniscule serial numbers is damn near impossible, especially if in a poorly lit area. I quite like the idea of the trifocal glasses mentioned above, muist talk to optician.

Colin

I have one of these and it's lots older than 1960. Have the instructions as well, but at the moment its location eludes me. As soon as found will scan and send.

As far as can remember set all the dials to zero by loosening centre screw slightly. Hold it against centre of item, e.g. item in chuck as the chuck is spinning. As it starts to spin the dials will rotate and the count will increment. Stop after say 15 seconds, read the value of the dials, multiply by four to get rpm.

Colin

Colin