Member postings for Swarf, Mostly!

Steve,

The highest inertia in the system is that of the motor rotor. Reversing the drill by switching would entail the motor (as well as the other moving parts) running down to zero RPM and back up to full speed in the other direction.

Reversing by switching the belt (analogous to 'fast & loose' pulleys) only entails reversing the drill spindle and the pulley(s), much less inertia and hence quicker and less violent in operation.

Hope this helps,

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Hi there, all,

I've just tried the screen capture procedure and to capture just the open folder it's <alt> + <PrtSc>, NOT <ctrl>. That's using Win XP.

My wife has also tried it using Win 7 and <alt> + <PrtSc> is right there too.

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Steve,

My grandad used to say 'Isn't it a pity that the only blokes who know how to run the country are either driving taxis or cutting hair?'

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Hi there, Mick and Martin,

The use of a taper pin as a pivot isn't without precedent - I have here a WW2 RAF morse key that uses one. You do need to confine the position of the moving part but fibre washers aren't bad for that.

I think I even have some taper pins that might approach the size you specify, Mick. The problem would be finding them!!

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Hi there, all,

I understand that, as a rule of thumb, one inch of iron makes thirteen inches of rust.

So iron objects can look very rusty but actually still be recoverable.

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Hi there, Norman,

I used to travel by train from Walton-on-Thames to school in Woking. The Hackbridge & Hewittic Rectifier Company's factory was just down the road from Walton station and there were often mercury arc rectifiers like the one in your picture suspended on springs inside their open wooden shipping container sitting on a porter's trolley awaiting their train to wherever. When Sam, the porter, wasn't looking, we used to jiggle the trolley to get the rectifier bouncing on its springs and the pool of mercury swilling round the bottom of the bulb.

Later on, I worked at the EMI laboratories at Feltham; I worked in the analogue computer laboratory on what was at one time the largest analogue computer in Europe. A row of 19" racks loaded with operational amplifiers and time division multipliers, all thermionic technology. The three-phase feeder that came up through the floor next to the row of power supply units used to run warm to the touch. That computer was eventually given to Brunel University.

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Hi there, Chris and all,

Jason's photo shows his clock as having a ball end on the plunger. The end usually unscrews and a wide range of 'ends' are available (but expensive). Some makers use an American thread and some use a Metric thread.

For some situations, I've found an 'elephant's foot' end to be useful.

I would suggest that when you eventually get your clock, you unscrew the end and identify the thread, write it down and keep the paper in the box with the instrument. Then if an end comes your way at an affordable price, you'll know if it will fit your clock. Alternatively, you might make one?

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Hi there, Norman and David,

Thank you for your posts. I did look around for GHT's book but couldn't find a copy on offer for a price within my current limits (my hobby budget is rather overspent at present!). However, I'll keep looking.

As regards your comment, Norman, keeping busy isn't a problem around here these days - the snag is not enough of the business is in the workshop!

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Hi there, Dias,

That's very helpful, I'm most grateful.

I just found and bought issues 3668 & 3670 on eBid.

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

I thought cast lead was for the inside of Synchronome pendulum bobs?

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Hi there, all,

I recently bought two back numbers of ME, in order to get the Geo. H. Thomas articles describing his retracting toolholder.

I was told I needed November and December 1981 and bought copies listed with those dates.

This post ought to be sub-titled "First & Third Fridays - I should have remembered that!". I should indeed, I used to own a collection of ME covering 50 years!

So, I have issue 3669 which has Part II of the article, ending with the word 'continued'. I also have issue 3671 which is full of interesting reading but has nothing relating to Geo. H. Thomas' article.

My question is, if I procure issues 3668 and 3670, shall I then have all the description of making the toolholder?

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Not a tool, but ...

Swarf: a floor covering material used to save valuable components and small tools from daylight and discovery.

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

A bit off-topic but ...

Back in 1988 I had a spell in hospital in Romford, Essex. The guy in the next bed, retired by then, told me that he had worked in the big sewage treatment works at Beckton, at the end of the Great Northern Outfall sewer. He said that, at the time of the Haig acid murders, the Met Police sent through a request that the workers should keep an eye open for any false teeth or plastic handbags arriving in the sludge lagoons!

Optimistic or what?!!!

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Hi there, Dunc,

I don't know what an SX2 is either but if it's a lathe I presume you're drilling from the tailstock.

Have you made sure that your tailstock is properly in line with your mandrel? (aka headstock spindle)

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Hi there, all,

I've found that a kitchen flour scoop works as a miniature dustpan. I have a few, one aluminium alloy and the others plastic. For other situations a plastic spade (retired from sandcastle/beach duty) does the job.

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Hi there, Malcolm,

You didn't say which book you've ordered from Amazon.

My personal recommendation would be 'The Amateur's Lathe' by Lawrence (or is it Laurence?) Sparey. It's been republished over and over which is a pretty good vote of confidence. I believe it is still in print but second hand copies are to be had on eBay or Abe Books.

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Hi there, all,

Many years ago, my neighbours got a new piano. They could neither sell nor give away their previous piano, an upright model, to anyone who would play it so they gave it to me.

The piano had a cast iron frame, mostly of a cross section that would be a good starting point for anyone making an engineer's level. It machines beautifully and I still have a few bits under the bench.

The iron frame was supported on a wooden frame of yellow pine, about 4" x 3" section and without a single knot in it anywhere. I've kept that pine out of the rain for about 40 years (and three house-moves) but recently gave it to a young wood-working enthusiast as I was unlikely to use it.

The board with the tuning pegs was beech - most of that is now the front apron of the woodworking side of my workbench and the jaw of the woodwork vice.

I hope this wasn't too far off-topic, the thread is about recycling!

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Hi there, Mike,

Another thing,

It's quite common for ML7 leadscrews to have that coupling sleeve. I've heard it said that the securing cross-pin acts as a mechanical 'fuse' in case there's a lock-up anywhere.

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Hi there, Mike,

Check your personal messages.

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Hi there, Mike,

Mystery solved!

John, thanks for that link. I've browsed the Lathes site a lot but I must have missed that page. I had encountered references to early boxes having unhardened gears but I'd always assumed that the layout of the gear-trains was the same for both early and later boxes.

Thanks again,

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!