Member postings for geoff walker 1

Just spotted this thread, wish I'd seen it earlier.

Having completed my first simple beam engine recently I found it most frustrating trying to set it up to run smoothly.

I couldn't understand why the piston rod was binding at around a 1/4 and 3/4 of its travel. Of course I now know why!!

It didn't help that I reamed the holes (3/16" in the cylinder and gland cap so the piston rod was a precise fit. I decided to enlarge them to 4.9mm and rely on the ptfe plumbers tape between the caps to give a good seal.

It certainly did the job, much smoother, still a little binding but nowhere near as bad as it was. Engine now ticks over really slowly, so I'm really happy about it.

This may be the last post in this thread, if so thanks to all I really enjoyed reading all your posts.

Geoff

People turn their nose up at soft solder but those little solder on pipe repair patches you can get if you’ve ever drilled a hole in a heating pipe (guilty as charged), are pressure tested to 50bar

Hi Daniel,

This stuff is pretty strong as well, an old pre war cast iron arm with a bronze bobbin repair, still going strong after 10 years

Geoff

Hi David

So your making a new pattern.

Are going to have the boss cast whole so you can machine the full thread.

Should be possible to set up a jig on the faceplate to bore out and machine the thread in the casting.

Why not cast some in cast iron, easy to machine and the very early drummond nuts were c.i.

Geoff

........and here they are, 6 women, sorry.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the four young women who formed an all female crew on international womens' day (yesterday).

Well done to them all, every one of them a real enthusiast and all perfectly at ease in charge of the iconic Flying Scotsman.

Hi James,

Just add my congrats, very nice indeed and for me one Jason's best designs.

I too love the colour, it looks like my favourite, Halfords industry grey?

Geoff

Pete,

Why not up your offer a little, $150-170.

That's less than £100 in our money.

By the way, enjoyed your current article in MEW and a FRONT page picture, special!!!

Geoff

Hi Michael

Thanks for the "thumbs up"

I abandoned the idea of a hard anodised slide on practical as well as economic grounds.

I did however seek to avoid any ferrous materials being used that came into contact with the cross slide.

The low profile unimat slide design is perfect for sherline where vertical space is at a premium.

I notice that proxon lathes also use the same design

Geoff

Hi All,

A long time coming but here it is a top slide for my sherline lathe. Based on the unimat 3 design, works well I'm pleased with it.

If interested there are full details in the December MEW.

Thank you, Neil.

Geoff

Hi Micheal,

Had a double Premier door fitted last year by rollerdor of Norwich.

Extremely happy with it. Rollerdor do a nationwide service which of course includes a no obligation survey.

Check out their website, Rollerdor, one o in door.

Geoff

We have some great well-established contributors to MEW, but are always pleased to see articles from new faces.

Looking at what material I have lined up for future issues, I notice that there isn't as much that will come out as 1-3 pages long.

Neil

I would say a good short article around 3 pages long could be about fitting a collet chuck to mini lathe.

Geoff

I know there are not many footy fans on this forum, but I am.

So well done to our women footballers.

For those who don't know they became European champions yesterday after beating Germany in the final.

I enjoyed every minute of every game although I must say some the language I have lip read has been most unladylike. Having said that these girls ain't no ladies, anything but!!!!

Geoff

I'm ok, managing the heat, no problem but the Sherline is suffering.

Turning up some brass bushes with set up in the photo using the front and rear Toolpost.

With posts firmly locked in place the cross slide feed has gone very heavy.

Release the locks and it smooth and as normal.

Too hot, expanding aluminium alloy cross slide, can't take the heat, resulting in abnormal distortion? What do you guys think?

Simply bearings, yes great company, staffed by leythers (that's people from Leigh). Lovely northern folk

The trade counter is 10 minute walk for me so I call in person and end up chatting for ages with the guys on the counter.

Geoff

Hi Daniel

I have some spare tailstock parts.

You can have them if you like, They may help you.

P.M. me if you do.

Geoff

Hi ega,

Yes they do work well and are much better than using a tee key.

I opted to change the thread on the sherline from 10-32 to 5mm. Not a problem as the pitches are almost identical at 32 and 31.75 and the 5mm tap removes just a small amount of metal from the 3/16" 10-32 thread.

I've just bought these on ali express to fit the tool posts on the sherline. With postage tax and a £5 discount I get 4 levers for £4.01p, yes £4.01p

geoff

Hi eva,

Yes they are a useful addition to the lathe.

Forgot to mention they are spring loaded around a hexagonal top so are adjustable for position.

No it may look like blue tack but it's just a cardboard cereal box base. Just felt a little compression was a good idea when mounting the lathe on the baseboard

Geoff

Just received some mini locking levers from the far east.

Installed one on the tailstock and one on the cross slide stop.

Really pleased with them, I would guess most sherline users get fed up reaching for the tee key and I'm no exception.

5mm thread so you need to re thread with 5mm tap.

Got them off ali express at jadkinsta official store, cheap as chips, £2.38 for the two.

Geoff

Tracy tools are a great company, first class products and postal service.

You get what you pay for.

I bought a 6mm hss tap for £12, not cheap but first class quality.

My invoice total was £18, so £6 for vat and postage?

It could have been posted R.M. first class for less than £2 but there is no guarantee of next day delivery.

Like I say you get what you pay for, I have no complaints I want it quick so extra cost suits me.

Edited By geoff walker 1 on 01/04/2022 20:28:09

Hi Pete,

I recall a comment you made some years ago, " it's amazing what you find inside a block of metal".

nice work mate, I have followed this thread with real interest.

........and I'll tell you something, you will not regret making a lever tailstock attachment.

Had mine 11 years, would not be without it.

Geoff