Member postings for Ian Hewson

If you have a belt linisher they are great for rounding ends etc, even the cheap ones work well, saves a lot of filing.

learned to file and hacksaw 60 years ago at the R.o.f Barnbow, and it taught me that a machine was much better sweating over the work than me.

Ian

I used an old spark plug that I cut a spiral groove down the thread with an hacksaw when I needed to clean out spark plug threads. That worked well for me.

Ian

It’s not the technology that’s the real problem, but the number of people on this planet that use it.

Seems I was right to think posting that my Lidl saw was working ok might jinx it. It packed up this afternoon, no drive from motor to gearbox as I was cutting some 30mm bar. Packed up and returned to Lidl for a no quible refund.

Now ordered the Scheppach from Aldi, fingers crossed with this one.

Ian

Bought the Lidl saw on Sunday, worked straight from the box, cut 20mm steel with no trouble.

Yes, it’s not toolroom quality, but it’s also not toolroom price. For £99.00 it’s a bargain.

The blade doe’s jump, but no more than on the other larger bandsaw I used to have d before my move.

The vice is easily modified by any competent engineer, if you want to.

It is compact and fills my needs adequately, with a three year guarantee, would I by again? Yes.

The Femi is a nice saw I believe, but is it better value for another £350.

Just had a look on the Lidl NI web site and the saw is £10-00 cheaper for some reason

Ian

After my post last week about Rage circular saws and deciding against them I saw the heads up on the Lidl bandsaws and piped down today and bought one.

Set it up and tried it, very pleased with it(fingers x that doesn’t jinx it), cut through 1/2 inch mild steel bar like butter. Cut square and clean, fits on the bench nicely, should be just what I need.

Vice may need looking at as there’s a bit of an overhang, but for the money it seems a buy.

Ian

Hi Ketan

had quite a few deliveries from you lately, as I set up my new workshop and I must say Parcelforce have been fine as have DPD.

Great service from you and them.

Might just be lucky where I live as all other firms deliveries have been fine during covoid.

Ian

For non too delicate tools, screwdrivers spanner’s etc, a sharp rap on the vice will often demagnetise them.

Hi guys

Thanks for all the reply’s, think that I won’t be getting one after your advice, noise would be a consideration, just got a nice set of quiet neighbours.

Thanks for your generous offer Alan, much appreciated, but it looks like I will be using the old Armstrong hacksaw for now.

Thanks for the fast reply Frances, that is the kind of info I am looking for, online videos are all very well, but someone with practical experience of the for our kind of use is invaluable.

Ian

Last year I moved house and sold nearly all of my workshop equipment as we were downsizing.
I have now got withdrawal symptoms and have bought a mini lathe and mill which fit in to my garden shed. As space is limited I was considering the evolution rage 2 chop saw for cutting metal.

Has anyone got any information on these saws regarding performance and noise levels please?

Look for digital tachometer on the bay, £8-99 or so. Easy to fit and work well

After moving house a year ago and downsizing I had sold 95% of my workshop.
my new shop is a small shed, so I have gone the route of a mini lathe and mill to while away the approaching winter.

The additional chuck I bought for the lathe had more runout for a sc Chuck, so I contacted Arc and spoke to Ian.

The upshot was he agreed with my assessment and arranged an immediate replacement without any problems.

It arrived in less than 24 hrs.

Needless to say a very happy customer, thanks to Arc and Ian, if only all retailers were like them😀.

Ian

Hi

You won’t get anything like you would think, especially if you need to sell fast, dealers offers are ridiculously low and private sales take time.

I was in the same boat last year and sold, gave away all my workshop for a lot less than it would have cost me to buy.

That said, I have not yet missed the workshop with all the jobs in the new house that appear.

Use it as an opportunity to do new things and you may not be disappointed, good luck with your move👍.

Ian

Myfordboys site gives size of motor etc, works well on mine, but I think you will find limit switches are a good idea, you can get more than a gentle hum if you reach too far.

Have a look at Myfordboys website for fitting stepper motors to your mill, not using arduino for control, but works well for feeding fast and slow feeds. Some pics on my albums of the stepper fitted to my mill, no gearing needed.

The pillar is a heavy lump to turn down, and quite a lot of heat is needed to silver solder the cylinder casting together.

Quite a nice engine to make though. I have some pics on my album of it nearly finished.

I would have posted a video of the finished engine running on air if I knew how.

Just to make my earlier post clearer, the table is locked with the nut and bolt arrangement, no inserts, whilst the head uses the arrangement shown above with the internal clamps.

The support collar fitted under the head to support it whilst moving is also a nut and bolt arrangement.

My table locks with the handle shown in Ian Parkins post without any undue force.

Just had a look at my Star, and the table is clamped by a bolt straight through to the locking handle, no collars.

The split is not the whole length of the collar.

The head casting is locked via two clamps pulling on to the column.