Member postings for John MC

Are you sure various levers (that select the thread/feed) are properly engaged?

There really is no need to use the thread dial on these lathes, as CE6 says, use the clutch and the foot operated brake, that to me is a major positive feature of the lathe.

John

After reading through this I would like to think model engineering will be with us for a long time yet and fully embracing modern technology. This tech will not always fit in to some definitions our our hobby, I know of model engineers who insist that CAD, CNC and 3D printing have no place in our hobby while others only that!

If I was asked this question many years ago I would have suggested the hobby was finished. While at school and developing an interest in the hobby I went to the local ME club. Looking back, their attitude to youngsters was awful, basically I was told to go away and not bother them again. I'm so pleased to see clubs now welcome youngsters.

So what about all the other sharp objects in the workshop?

Scriber with a cork on the pointy bit?

I don't bother, its a bit like cleaning the machine after every session, life's too short........

The nearest I've seen "industry" bothering to do this was a rough chamfering of bar stock to go in to an autofeed for a capstan.

Ebay has an abundance of AF sockets for sale. Seems like all qualities available.

John

Dave W, could that have been an "inerter damper"? That was McLaren F1 who tried it, they called it a "J" damper. I believe there work was based on something Oxford uni came up with.

I did some work on an inerter damper before I decided to stop working for a living, must ask if the how its going.

John

I rebored a pair of motorcycle cylinders earlier. A tricky setup, they were standard size but worn, the pistons I want to use are 0.25mm over size so not much to come out and be sure the bores would clean up. the suns shining so I'm going to jump on the Suzuki and take them the be honed.

John

If the OP cannot get a good enough finish (for piston rings?) perhaps having it honed to the final size by his local engine refurbishers? A typical honing allowance for a small automotive cylinder would be -0.002/0.003".

John

Holding work on a faceplate can be a messy business. From the safety perspective its one of those jobs that needs continuous risk assessment, that is to say "on the fly". I see no problem with "loose" packing (step) blocks, its the same force, give or take, holding them and the work. I have more concern with excessively long bolts pointing towards the tool. This photo shows, I think, an about as neat as it gets faceplate set up. Once the guard is back in place I would be happy with the set up.

John

i agree with S.O.D. A bloke changing a tyre!

i am not going to recommend a tip or holder other than suggest the OP gives the low cost far eastern tooling a try. A few years ago the tips were hopeless, but now I find them entirely satisfactory as are the holders.

I am told by a production engineer that what lets them down are the manufacturing tolerances on both tip and holder, important for him when consistency is vital but of no consequence to us, mostly.

He also found that tip life was slightly reduced, something like 90% of what was expected of a high quality tip. Again, for us, of little consequence.

John

Has the OP considered fitting a battery isolator rather than trickle charging? I fit maintenance free batteries to my classic cars and find that isolating the battery if the car is not going to be used for a week or two seems to suit the batteries, no trickle charge necessary. I've had poor results with trickle chargers in the past so don't bother with them now. I remove the batteries for the winter lay-up, bring them in to the house. I occasionally put them on the charger during the winter, usually to check the battery rather than charge it, seems to keep them in good order.

On a lighter note, if you want to tease an MGB owner, call it a Cambridge GT!

John

Many thanks for the replies, think I will ask the places suggested for a quote. Very little need for machining allowances, there will be various holes and slots that can be cut accurately enough. Any machining allowances will be in the thickness of the metal, so after welding I can machine the thing square.

I am beginning to think about my next project, for that I will need steel plate, 10mm to 25mm thickness cut to various shapes. The cutting method is unimportant, I think. Gas, plasma, water jet, I don't think it matters. What I am looking for is a business that can do this at reasonable cost. I have tried a couple of the larger businesses doing this sort of work, they are (understandably) not interested in small one-offs.

John

Yes it is.

John

The Matrix device is, as has been said a bench (inspection) type micrometer with a fiducial indicator on the left hand end of it. This ensures that the micrometer is always used consistently, that is to say it is not over over or under tightened onto the work being inspected.

John

I've been having a big clear out for the last year, I've finally realised that many years of future project accumulation, they ain't gonna get done! Lots of small bits and pieces disposed of, hopefully to good places. Now sorting out the big stuff, an old Riley car has gone, would love to have got that on the road but it needed a lot of work, maybe the proceeds of the sale of all the good stuff I have accumulated will by me a good 'un.

Now thinning out the collection of old engines that need extensive work. This is going to be hard work, b****y heavy! There's a flywheel that must weigh over a tonne stood vertically against a wall, how did we do that? Really needs to be lying on its side on a pallet, no idea how we are going to do that!

John

Some wise words regarding drilling machine safety. The most used drilling machine in my workshop is a "Pollard Corona". I have (permanently) bolted an XY table to the drills worktable, on that there is a cheap machine vice, one that will open to near 6". This means that most of what I drill will be held safely and conveniently in the vice, no excuse to take a chance on using the "five finger clamp"! There is sufficient room on the other end of the table to clamp work that that the vice cannot grip.

Incidentally, the XY table has an old "Ortec" DRO fitted, I find this so useful in that there is no need to spend time marking out.

John

First came across the rucksack "problem" at the Ashmolean in Oxford, I was asked to carry rather than wear for the reason others have stated. Odd thing was the the place was nearly deserted, more staff than visitors! Still, easier to comply than argue.

As for smelly visitors, get yourself plastered in Brute or Lynx, that will hide any objectionable smells!

John