Member postings for Jack Foreman 1

I do have a couple of very old Baxi Brazillia gas heaters in my workshop. But it is three years since I last used them, And I'm reluctant to take the risk of blowing myself to kingdom come, before I've had a chance to really become familiar with the new mill.

Drawbar is made. Complete with a brass compression washer
Also the ball bearing race for truing pieces up in the chuck.
The vice handle is next ~ but it's a bit cold in the workshop today. So I may set up a heater tomorrow and do it then.

Edited By Jack Foreman 1 on 25/11/2014 14:59:57

Wow. Thank you all for your input. Varied and interesting too. Much appreciated.
I never envisaged that there would be so much variety.

By a process of elimination I have found it to be a 1/2" x 12tpi BSW thread. I found a 1/2" x 13tpi thread which bound up at 3.1/2 turns, so I tried a 12tpi thread gauge and it appeared to fit. Then I found a 1/2" x 12tpi BSW plug tap and it was perfect. And, miraculously, I also found the 1/2" x 12tpi BSW die, to go with it.

So tomorrow, I will make the drawbar and the vice handle.

Once again, many thanks.
(oh, I got my ticket for Sandown Park today too. I'll see some of you there, no doubt.)

An AEW Viceroy Horizon, Nick

Horizontal at 25 - 2039 revs, with lots of cutters
But also a vertical head with the aforementioned Clarkson chuck (sans drawbar) with 4 collets from 1/4" -- 3/4" and a selection of cutters. And a hefty vice (with no handle) A genuine ex school machine. Absolutely filthy with muck/oil and grease. but no play on X, Y or Z. And it has cleaned up beautifully. Under 6'-00" tall and only a 25" square footprint. So ideal for my workshop. But it does have a 36" x 8" bed.

The drawbar and vice handles are the first jobs to be done.

Edited By Jack Foreman 1 on 24/11/2014 18:50:37

Edited By Jack Foreman 1 on 24/11/2014 18:50:54

A bit of a shot in the dark.

Can anyone, offhand, tell me the size of the internal drawbar thread in a Clarkson 30INT chuck please? I have to make the drawbar for the mill to secure the chuck.

Thanks
Jack

I have a mill - following a number of weeks searching, viewing, missing out on good buys and avoiding the 'dogs'.
A Viceroy - apparently from a school - absolutely filthy with accumulated oil and dirt; but no rust: and, the thing that prompted me to buy it, virtually no play or backlash in any of the three axis, and a spotless unmarked bed. Oh, and the price. Probably a 1/3rd of what it is worth.

It was set up as a horizontal, with a lot of horizontal cutters. But it also has a vertical head, a Clarkson chuck [minus drawbar] and 1/4; 1/2; 5/8 & 3/4" collets
I've cleaned the muck and crud off it and am becoming more pleased with my purchase by th minute. The 3HP inverter arrived today, so tomorrow and Friday I will be rearranging the workshop to get it set up and running beside the Bantam. I have the drawbar to make too.

Photos to follow, next week.

Then I need to learn to use it it. I have never operated a mill - though I have bought Harold Hall's book and am inwardly digesting it, with interest.

Thank you all.
I doubt that I will rush out to buy a set in the near future.

Can someone please explain what Gauge Blocks are?
And what are they used for?

Thanks,
Jack

Thank you Jason.
Now that I've looked at the fittings on your link I understand what you have explained. I'll check that my spigots are greater than 3/8" (I'm sure they are because I had no idea what size or type of thread to use - so I'm sure that I've left them larger than anticipated)

For this first occasion I will buy a pack of nuts & ferrules - to see exactly what they look like and from which I can procure dimensions ~ plus a 3/8" x 32TPI ME tap and die, so that I can subsequently make them myself.

At the moment, because I need to learn and gain experience, I am resistant to buying 'kits to machine' and simply assembling.

OK - all the pieces ordered from Steam Fittings

Edited By Jack Foreman 1 on 24/10/2014 22:07:35

Following the posts in my '4 Jaw Work' thread, and having suggested that I may try to make an injector,

I've started on making an injector ~ again, out of a billet of aluminium, for no other reason than this is what I have a stock of, in appropriate sizes. I started by doing a sketch from the *LINK* information which several of you kindly provided; to ensure that I had a steam inlet, a water inlet, an overflow & a safety valve which incorporates the outlet to the boiler. That done I put some dimensions to it, which would enable me to access all of the internal parts to fit the pressure cone. (one cone will do for the purpose of the exercise)
So - the body is machined ~ I don't yet have a mill, so some of the drilling was done in the pillar drill and some done on the lathe in the 4 jaw chuck. All of the openings line up and are where I anticipated they would be [internally] and I have bored out the two ends to take the cover caps which I have also made. These will bolt onto two BA studs each. (I do appreciate that the real injector would have more than two fixings, but two on each end is sufficient for this exercise purpose)
My next task is to machine the four spigots for steam in, water in, overflow and high pressurized steam out. I intend to make the cone and the external connections with brass and use 1/4" copper pipework.

Can you please advise on the thread type and pitch for brass gland and compression nuts ?

Thanks
Jack

I've started on making an injector ~ again, out of a billet of aluminium, for no other reason than this is what I have a stock of, in appropriate sizes. I started by doing a sketch from the *LINK* information which several of you kindly provided; to ensure that I had a steam inlet, a water inlet, an overflow & a safety valve which incorporates the outlet to the boiler. That done I put some dimensions to it, which would enable me to access all of the internal parts to fit the pressure cone. (one cone will do for the purpose of the exercise)
So - the body is machined ~ I don't yet have a mill, so some of the drilling was done in the pillar drill and some done on the lathe in the 4 jaw chuck. All of the openings line up and are where I anticipated they would be [internally] and I have bored out the two ends to take the cover caps which I have also made. These will bolt onto two BA studs each. (I do appreciate that the real injector would have more than two fixings, but two on each end is sufficient for this exercise purpose)
My next task is to machine the four spigots for steam in, water in, overflow and high pressurized steam out. I intend to make the cone and the external connections with brass and use 1/4" copper pipework.

Can you please advise on the thread type and pitch for gland and connection nuts ?

Thanks
Jack

Could you explain how to use the lathe as a shaper, in this respect, Ian please?

A good buy there Nick Well done.

I went with an experienced friend. And have had a very enjoyable time at the exhibition. Bought a couple of T1 QC toolpost holders and an angle plate for my cross slide.
Being my first visit to an exhibition of this nature I was enthralled by some of the exhibits, showpieces and working engines. One company had a turbines for helicopters, which ran up to 14K RPM. That drew a big crowd.
I spotted lots of things on different suppliers stands which i was able to discuss with my friend, and gain a better understanding of lathe and mill work.

For me, as a complete beginner and novice, it was a very worthwhile day out. And judging by the numbers attending the 1st of the 4 days, I suspect that it will prove to be a great success.

Well worth a visit, in my opinion.

I shall be following this thread with great interest Nick - as what I know about milling is significantly less than you proclaim to know
Thank you for asking the questions.
Do please let us know how you get on, when your mill arrives.

Edited By Jack Foreman 1 on 14/10/2014 15:13:24

Thank you Nigel. That is very sound practical advice. And very much appreciated.
I'll do some research into the Harrison.
I honestly can't profess to be a model engineer - and it is extremely unlikely that I will ever build a loco. But it is equally unlikely that I will ever restore a motorcycle or a car. Much of what I am doing and intend to do, in the foreseeable future, is to make items for my wood lathe, picture framing work and tool/application items around the workshop.
I am looking at a school Senior, which appears to be in very good condition, as would be expected. I will go back and check on the dimensional issues you have raised.

Kind regards,
Jack

I thought that might be the case Good for you. Hang onto what is precious to you.
I never really imagined that you may be persuaded, & may your cold dead hands be many, many years away.

ATB
Jack

What would be the requirement to assist you in reversing that reluctance Barry???

Thanks Phil. I've read the lathes.co.uk material. Quite comprehensive, isn't it?