Member postings for Samsaranda

Muzzer, I don’t think “identifiable and approved officials” are checked that often, as a Councilor in past years I was frequently called upon by individuals to counter sign Passport Applications. I was never aware of any checks being carried out to ascertain my validity as a qualified person entitled to sign said documents. In the light of how serious a document is then a Passport comes a fair way up the list of importance I would have thought. I think it is surprisingly easy nowadays to forge someone’s identity if you are determined.

Dave W

Mark , thanks for that, probably explains the VP aspect of the product which links it to the VPI paper and hence the anti corrosion properties. Think I will pass on Neil’s suggestion of molasses.

Dave W

There is always discussion on what products are best for lubricating, protecting from corrosion and dispelling moisture, as a Sunday morning Clay Pigeon Shooter, ( no live animals injured or killed during this pastime) I use a product called “Napier Gun Cleaner and Lubricant with VP90” to clean and protect the barrels of my 12 bore. It comes in various sizes of aerosols ranging from 125 ml upwards, with a starting price of in the region of £9.00 and is available from Amazon, EBay and gunsmiths. I also use it as a useful lubricant for padlocks where they are exposed to the elements outside, it is also very useful as a general lubricant which has moisture dispelling properties in the workshop, I find it works much better than the so called moisture dispersants such as WD40 etc. The product contains a substance called VP90 which is alleged to give corrosion protection after application, one wonders what mystical properties that it does possess because in my case it certainly does what it says on the tin. I realise that the product is not cheap to purchase but neither are parts and tools that could be ruined by corrosion etc.

Dave W

Surely a 2BA bolt is a better fuse substitute - only joking.

Dave W

Mark, I have reservations about the Jerry Howell engine “Bill” being able to power anything but a very small boat. I am currently building one and although it looks a fair size, the cylinder bore is only 1 inch, that isn’t going to generate much power. My choice to power a boat of any size would probably be the V Twin that Jerry Howell designed, should also give a pleasant exhaust note. I must say that since starting my “Bill” I am impressed with Jerry’s design. Good luck with your project.

Dave W

Sam, Yachting Monthly “road tested” your unit and quoted the blade is made of unhardened 316 Stainless Steel, so that should resolve your material specification, in respect of gauge plate I would expect it to corrode if only in the vicinity of sea water let alone immersion.

Dave W

Hi Colin our workshop containers were all wired for power which was supplied by generators, the only power available out on the airfield. Some had windows fitted, we didn’t have to worry about the heat in the Falkland Islands but it got pretty cold so we were glad of the plywood lining. We were accommodated on ships located in Stanley harbour, the vessel that I was on had been extended with an extra deck on top which was mainly shipping containers fixed together forming cabins and we lived three to a cabin, quite cosy the way they had been fitted out, glad to get home after my four months was up, do appreciate accommodation made out of bricks and mortar.

Dave W

Shipping containers make excellent workshop accommodation although you do need to line with ply or OSB to insulate and give a surface for fixings. We had many such containers converted for use as workshops when I served at RAF Stanley in the Falkland Islands. Big advantage was the weight which ensured they stayed put when the wind blew which was pretty much all the time whilst I was there, winds there were pretty ferocious. The downside of steel containers is they are not aesthetically pleasing but there obvious advantage is durability.

Dave W

Above should read Dr Antivirus, apologies for the typo.

Dave W

Had problems with email on my Apple IMac, couldn’t receive or send with my Sky email account no problems with my outlook account. If I tried to reset it refused to accept the password specific to the Sky email account, no problems with the same account on IPad and IPhone, suspect malicious software infiltration on the IMac, first such problem in seven years of IMac use. Eventually after much manipulating of the parameters and unloading and reloading software the programme suddenly accepted the password and everything returned to normal. Checked the system with virus scanning software and nothing found so a mystery as to what caused the problem. I preach to others how reliable Apple equipment and software are, I do use a scanning virus software which to date has intercepted the odd malevolent programme so this episode is unexplained, perhaps those who seek to disrupt our computers are being more covert in their attempts, my opinion remains unchanged Apple far more reliable than Microsoft, I couldn’t go back to all the hassle pre my IMac. Virus programme that I use is Dr Antivirurus,always running and constantly updating, We can never be 100% safe as malevolent programmes are continually being constructed and evolving.

Dave W

For those who choose to use them, sulphuric and hydrochloric acids are readily available by mail order from both EBay and Amazon, in whatever quantities you choose, me I will be sticking with Citric Acid, don’t want to temp fate, have enough personal injuries from screwdrivers and Stanley knives.

Dave W

Could be the seal on the piston?

Dave W

Citric Acid may be more gentle in its action but this is an advantage as nowhere near as aggressive as other acids so much safer to use, it takes longer but are we all in such a rush that we can’t spare the odd hour or two. Citric Acid readily available in any quantity that you want on EBay and Amazon.

Dave W

HTP, high test peroxide was used as fuel on the Blue Steel nuclear weapons carried by the RAF V Bombers in years gone by, very stringent safety procedures when using it to fuel the weapons, very nasty stuff not something to play around with at home.

Dave W

I worked in an engineering establishment and was responsible for checking and calibrating our test house pressure gauges using a budenberg deadweight tester identical to the one featured, the only parameter that we worried about was temperature, made sure the gauges to be tested stabilised to the same temperature as the test rig. For a model engineering set up I wouldn’t worry about any of the parameters except extremes of temperature difference between test rig and gauges being tested. Have fun.

Dave W

James I thought Ebola was a virus, how can you smell it?

Dave W

Thanks Bert, I was sure there was some legislation relating to the plugs, not very clever of the manufacturer/supplier saying cut off the plug and fit another one.

Dave W

Not so fond memories of having to drive regularly distances of 300 miles or more in a Minivan during the 70’s, I now suffer from chronic back problems, that and long journeys in land rovers certainly contributed to my current back problems. Most comfortable car I owned then was a 1200 beetle, seats were really comfortable and heating system in winter was brilliant, definitely modern cars are a world apart from those times.

Dave W

I remember back in the 60’s we used portable X-Ray tubes that I believe had a beryllium copper window on the tube where the X-Ray beam exited the tube, never aware of any safety requirements regarding the beryllium copper, the X-Rays were dangerous enough. It’s amazing just how much beryllium was floating around in various equipments.

Dave W

PS the pump was CE marked for what it was worth.