Michael it did not come across as a dig I was just clarifying what I thought. I have been around many forums hopefully to know the difference.

I still have so much to learn on this side of things even though I was a plant mechanic many years being taught how to scrape bearing and even making a straight edge on a surface plate to be used and still have it. Which I am sure is not shown today

I put Stevenson assuming that was the name of the item rather than a manufacturer I am not bothered by who's name brand but would like something of good quality.

I am still learning and this post has given some pointers to my question. The next part will be to decide which collet size to go for in the blocks but looking at the sizes I may go for the c5 as it gives a wider range in respects of size.

I appriciate that the size to buy is dictated by what I wish to build/make and what size of cross section of the rod is to be used as the C5 has round, square and hexagon collets.

Again thank you all I will look at some of those that are mentioned.

XD 351 Arc may get theirs from china but I would imagine that quality control is good. I am talking about the entry hole of those on e bay looks rough in most of them. Even though I have relitives with cards I would rather not keep pestering them but that is just a personal thing.

Paul Rayner I know what you mean about some search engines on sites but then I am not any good with any search facility I always end up with something completely different to what I want.

JasonB I will have a look at those and see what they say

Thank you both for the reply's Vic, Amazon has the same problem for me. I seem to managed through life without credit cards which on occassions can be a bind but that is only very rarely.

Where can I buy descent set of Stevenson collet block other than Arceurotrade.

I have seen them on E bay but the quality does not look that good

Please note this is not anything personal against the company just it does not allow for my payment method

For sharpening my HSS turning tools I use a diamond card with a little window cleaner as a lubricant, so I would go with a round diamond file and do the same Once you have it very close to shape

Today finished cleaning and repairing a small collection of bits and pieces I either brought from the weekend steam rally or been given the weekend before. The first was a vacuum pump which was from someone who brought it new and it made noises it should not the company supplied a new one and told him to throw it in the bin.

An hour working on it now up and running like new well it was new but now repaired

Next was a clean up of a selection of tools from the rally costing either £1 or £2 most had a very light rust. many items are Moore and Wright

And lastly again from the rally a compressor cost of £16 and the switch did not turn off but everything else worked so another £12.79 and now all up and running.

So that was my little list for todays work in the shop

Myself and the wife did a weekend with our wares me with woodturning and the wife with her knitting while there I had the opertunity to look and talk with owners of some very nice traction engines.

HERE are some of those that are present, I will not put pictures of our stall as it of no interest here

I admit that I know very little when it comes to railway signs and could not tell if it is genuine or not It was just something I found that a man was selling at a rally I attended.

But I just thought it was just a bit of light heartedness to show it.

I am sure there are many railway signs out there and some are very amusing ones. This is one I found this weekend

This GUY makes blades to suit many needs I use him for all my bandsaw blades.

Reading this I am so happy to have a 25year old car with none of this technology, it is controlled by me. If something happens it is down to me.

I think many people will blame the car when something goes wrong or something happens instead of down to them for not being in control

I have a packet of pins that have a little right angle to them (They are one piece) I just measured them and they are just under the 5mm. These are the ones I have

I am no expert but all the bits I have seen that plate does not appear on other ML4 s that I have seen around.

Not something that anyone would want but I disagree after seeing this

Edited By Derek Lane 2 on 09/04/2019 11:14:50

It does not matter what hobby people persuethey should be aware of dangers. As many know I would like to eventually get some equipment and make some models in metal whether it be a small steam engine or a train. At the moment I do a lot of wood turning and have had a piece fly off of the lathe hitting me full in the face, wood had hidden faults in it .I was prudent enough to have some protective equipment on not only for the protection of things hitting me in the face but also lung protection.

I may look silly wearing it but it is my safety I worry about more. The jacket has a high neck line which when closed looks like a poloneck jumper

The tubes that denture cleaning tablets come in are a handy storage source from holding scrollsaw blades to swarf collectors with magnets inside as well as keeping drill bits and the like in. The ones we get have a lid that has no printing on them so permanent markers can be used to identify the contents

We use the tablets to remove tea stains in cups

Edited By Derek Lane 2 on 07/04/2019 10:58:25

I have an bandsaw from Axminster and there are twin belt pulleys, it states that one is for wood and the other metal cutting. Have not tried cutting metal on it as I would need to buy another blade

I get told that I am so like my late father in so many ways as he used his hands alot tinkering in the shed. The only thing that I have not tried to folowhim in is making a wooden greenhouse in the living room the wife would kill me.

Again thank you all, looks like I will be looking at some stainless balls instead of going for the bearing ball type. They also seem to be more readily available as well as being easier to drill. Making a holder will be no problem

Where it is to be drilled will not be obvious but still a good idea for future pieces thank you.