Member postings for Steven Vine

If the vfd control panel is very close to the cut out (or in line with it) then a soft clear plastic cover should do the job. Something like the flexible plastic on a see through umbrella, or fold up map cover etc.

Steve

I'm around two miles from the exchange. There is fibre from the exchange to the green cabinet. The green cabinet is about 200m down the road. It is copper from the green cabinet to the house.

The computers are connected to the router/hub via Lan cabling, and I get 76mb download and around 16mb upload. I connect MY computer to the GigaBit socket on the router/hub, for max speed.

The wireless connection to the router is crap, and is around 3.5mb download and 4.5mb upload. It is usable at those speeds, but I do notice the lag.

Yeah, I'm paying BT about £45 for unlimited broadband and unlimited phone calls. I've had one problem in 20 years ... the Broadband went down one night, which was a nightmare; it was the worst night of my life!

I use the 'BT Wholsale Speed Test' checker

Steve

(Perhaps we need a broadband speed thread, because the only thing I did today was check my speeds)

Please sir, is there a mistake in question number 1?

Steve

Aw Rick. Is that too harsh? I think I've learned all I need to know about consumer units and electrical equipment from this thread. I am now even confident enough to go change my consumer unit, in case it goes up in flames due to the rubber wiring. I plan to go down the local pub and pick up some more information and 'hearsay' from the drinkers before I start. I'll probably thumb through the Screwfix catalog as well, as it contains a wealth of information for potential installers! And of course I will wear thick heavy gloves as I dismantle the consumer unit, in case the rats get me. LOL. (Ps, I'll probably do it live, as I am one of those with a different immunity to electric shocks).

Steve

Edited By Steven Vine on 08/01/2017 11:18:37

Edited By Steven Vine on 08/01/2017 11:31:02

+1 on that. Once it goes, there is no way you can stop it! Been there and learned the hard way.

Steve

Mine is 2mt. No oil came out at all. I'm pretty sure it is greased. 19mm and 3/4AF spanner fits the head bolt.

I've been pondering on some mechanism to raise and lower the table (motorised threaded rod, modified bottle jack, modified scissor jack etc). Let us know what you come up with whenever you get round to it.

Steve

Edited By Steven Vine on 06/01/2017 17:34:47

Hi Toby

I got hold of an MF4 last year. When I went to collect it the seller, a very nice guy indeed, helped out.

In case it is useful, this is how I did the move.

We took the motor off to reduce weight and prevent damage.
We took the pulley cover off to reduce weight and prevent damage. There is a clear plastic screen on the side of the pulley cover that is easily damaged.
There is a chuck key plate just below the head, that is also secured around the column. For safety, there is a sticker on the head, that states, 'Do not release this collar until the above head HAS BEEN LOCKED OR SUPPORTED'.
I stood on a Workmate bench next to the MF4.
The pinch bolt (cotter pin), as indicated in the photograph, was undone, and I lifted the head a little way up the column.
I moved the head up the column a little way, and then the other guy clamped the collar/plate under it to stop it falling down. I moved the head up the column a little more, and the plate was clamped under it again.
When the head was at the top of the column, still standing on the Workmate, I lifted the head off the column. The other guy then moved the base+column out of the way. I then lowered the head onto the Workmate.
We then removed the table from the column.
I transported the base+column, table, motor, pulley cover, and head, in a hatchback.

As Mike says, the column is substantial, and you have to be an animal to bend it.

At the other end I was on my own.
In the workshop, I laid the head on the floor on some blocks of wood.
I then laid the base and column horizontally on some blocks of wood, so that the column lined up with the hole in the head.
I then slipped the table, followed by the plate, onto the column.
I then slipped the head onto the column.
I moved all the pieces to the bottom of the column. I then lifted the whole assembly up so it was vertical. With all the bits at the bottom of the column, the center of gravity is on your side.
I then gradually moved the head up the column, by lifting it a bit, and clamping it, and clamping the chuck key plate, etc.
The guy I bought it off showed me a trick to move the head on the column ... firmly lock the table below the head. Then bring the quill down so it touches the table, and keep winding, so the head is raised. Lock the head, move the table up, and repeat ad infinitum. I kind of think that this is not too good for the gears?

When the head is at the top of the column, it does get very top heavy, and awkward to move about.

The low speed gearing on it is an absolute god send when drilling large holes.

Good luck with the move.

Steve

Hi Michael

I marked you down on this occasion because I did not understand it when you said 'set your landing page to be the forum'. You also said you rarely even notice the 'Latest Forum Posts' box, and I took that to mean your start page was somewhere else in the 'forum'. Neil got the award because he was much clearer (ok, and because I was sucking up to be in with the boss as it could come in handy one day). So, I'm afraid I have to mark you down on this one, with a 'could do better, must try harder' comment at the bottom of your paper.

Steve

RS do compression fittings. You could lose the compression nuts and solder the pipe to the fitting. You could even make the endfeed elbows yourself, out of small blocks of brass or copper, very easy to do.

Steve

Why I did not think of doing that I don't know!

Steve

I thoroughly enjoyed it. What a refreshing change from the usual garbage. I even surfed the Net afterwards, to learn what all the controls were about. That was an education.

And yes, no background music, no dark scenes, and no presenters. What a relief.

As Andrew says, the BBC could learn something from that presentation style.

Steve

On now 9pm, and no commentary!

Steve (in armchair)

Hi JA

I was thinking exactly the same thing a few weeks ago. It is a minor inconvenience if there have been a lot of posts in one day. It would be good if the 'Latest Forum Posts' list was longer. But then I thought about the 'Support Our Partners' section just below it, and I concluded that it would be unfair to encroach upon that valuable space. I can live with it (it is what it is), but I see where you are coming from.

Steve

Great presentation David.

When I saw the cosy fireside, I thought to myself,surely not ... he's not going to, is he? Then you did, and rightly so. Nice one

Steve

Lol. Communal armchair lynching. All the frenzy and thrills of a real life lynching, but from the comfort of your warm cosy armchair. It could be the new hobby for 2017. Guilty as charged!

Steve

... and the pressure test looks like it has exceeded the 60psi on the gauge. Surely that can't be good for the gauge (or the credibility of any test)? I feel another lynching coming on!

Steve

I've got a week off. l Hope to make some progress and move the new workshop along a bit. I'm still at the build benches stage. I've been without it for a year.

I only hope Macdonalds is open Christmas day, so I can get some fast food, to save any hold ups.

Steve

Wow. This forum is about sharing stuff.

Steve

Hi Richard

I just measured the male thread on the neck tube, and the male thread on the jet.

Mine are pretty old and worn so I get varying readings.

It looks like a 0.75 pitch.

The thread diameter measures just under 8mm (0.302inch to 0.31inch).

I think it is an 8mm x 0.75, but best to get confirmation.

Steve

I go along with that. I don't care what information people have on me, IT'S THE FREAKING ADVERTS EVERYWHERE THAT GET ME RILED (can you tell?). I'm immune to them now and can turn a blind eye, but jeez, they are shoved in your face everywhere you go nowadays, more so the internet..

(Michael, I like the gold stars your are giving out!)

Steve