Member postings for Greensands

Hi - Anyone out there with a knowledge of the old DOS commands? I have a number of DOS files on my workshop computer (W98) having a file extension .CON which I would like to be able to display in date order. Reference to the manuals indicate that the generic command DIR *.CON can be modified by a /switch attribute which I can get working when using /p (to display one screen at a time) but have not been able to get the /d attribute working in order to display the files in date order. Any suggestions as to where I am going wrong?.

Probally off topic but help is required - I have just updated my printer to an HP 2700e running on Windows 10 but this has created the problem of how to print my AutoCad .dwg drawings created on a 32bit Windows XP machine. Any suggests most welcomed.

Have just discovered that Macc Models can supply a 5/8" dia x 4.75" Lg fully made whistle complete with fittings for £15.24 which seems to be remarkedly good value for money. At that price I doubt if it is even worth considering going to the bother of making one up.

Following upon the recommendations of LBSC and others can anyone suggest a source of brass treblet tubing as used for making a locomotive steam whistle in sizes typically from 7/16" to 5/8" diameter.

Yep, just for the record, I have repeated the exercise using Superglue and taking cuts of no more than 0.005" achieved success. It will be Superglue for me every time now, much more convenient that using soft solder Thanks for all who contributed.

I found myself in need of a small piece of 3/32" thk brass sheet to complete a job and having a stock of 1/8" sheet but no 1/32 decided to have a go at reducing a piece to size. First attempt was using soft soldering on to a 1.5" dia mandrel and turning down in the lathe which was perfectly satisfactory but involved a lot of heat. This got me thinking into alternative ways of gripping the sheet stock e.g. double sided tape, shellac, Superglue or even one of the more modern adhesives such as the so called "Gorilla" brand glue, all of which it would seem to me to risks movement under the cutting forces involved. Are there any other methods or glues out there which might be more successful?

I have a pair of Lyyt battery PIR security lights as shown above which I use to illuminate the path out to my garage and they have performed well to the task. Strange thing is that within the last week or so and after giving good service both units are now failing to work properly in that they come on but are not switching off. The light output is still very effective but presumably the PIR sensor has become fauty. Is there any logical explanation for this sort of behaviour. I would be loathed to lose them as they have been very effective in the past.

Problem has now been solved. Decided not to go for complete dismantling and opted in stead to replace the tension return spring. Not having access to a selection of any small suitable instrument type springs to hand I fell back on using a length of 1/8 Dia 30swg s/s spring wire sold by Polly Engineering for use in safety valves which has done the trick. Many thanks to all those who provided help and assistance..

Is there anyone out there who could possibly help me to make some further progress on how to dismantle the gauge as recorded in the photo posted on the the 18/03.. My efforts have come to a halt.

There is also of course the one which goes:

"How much is that Myford in the window....the one with power top slide and gearbox".................

One of my pet hates is working on any device containing springs, especially those of the smaller variety as they have a habit of jumping out at you and landing on the floor and you end up spending ages searching for the dam things. When doing this sort of work I find myself making up words to the old Gershwin/Fred Astaire number

Cause I've got shoes with wings on,
And living has no strings on;
I put those magic things on,
.....except that my versions goes something like .......I hate things with springs on....A curse on all things with springs on......

Stupid I know but does anyone else find themselves making up suitable lyrics to go with the job in hand?

Hi All -Progress (or lack of) dismantling the Mercer gauge. I have removed the top plate and cleaned all the moving parts including the rack and pinion with very little evidence of crud and so now suspect binding of the spindle in the gauge body. Next problem is how to remove the spindle from the body which involves removing the hairspring pinion wheel in order to clear it from the rack but I cannot see how to do this. Second problem is how to remove the side spring retaining arm from the spindle in order to be able to withdraw spindle from the body. Blondihacks had to resort to a massive pair of pliers to withdraw the pin. Is the pin a screw fit or a press fit? Any hints and tips would be most welcomed.

Hi all - I have now had the back off the gauge and gave the spindle a clean using IPA and a cotton bud. Overall impressions are is that all looks to be in remarkably good order and quite clean. First thoughts are that it might a weak spring problem as in mid travel the gauge is very responsive but then fails to return to the end of its travel. Replacing the spring would appear to be a simple job but where would it be possible to obtain a suitable replacement? Thanks for all the help and suggestions being provided.

It would appear that the Mercer was not a particularly good buy then? (Must admit that it came from a ME exhibition some time in the pre Covid past)

Can anyone suggest a way of possibly relieving the stickiness of a small Mercer gauge as shown in the photo. The gauge shows every sign of being otherwise in very good condition and in the past I have had the back off and (possibly inadvisably) tried putting a small drop of a light machine oil on the moving spindle but all to no avail. Any suugestions to help solve the problem would be much appreciated

For those who may be interested there is a government petition has been set up for the removal of VAT and the imposition of a price cap on the costs of heating oil..10000 signatures are required for a hearing to be put before parliament. Current number of signatures running at over 3500,

I am thinking about updating my Emailer client from MS Outlook 2007 to something rather more modern. Two possible alternatives which have been suggested are Thunderbirds and EM. Before committing myself any further does anyone have any possible preferences or suggestions and/or snags to look out for.

Being brought up in Woking, Surrey I well remember the Co-Operative building, a modern looking structure built in the late 30's but now long gone. It had I think three floors and a stair case surrounding the stair well from the top floor to the basement and during WW2 the good citizens of Woking were encouraged to bring in their dud light bulbs and drop them from the top floor down onto the tiled flooring below making a very satisfactory bang. If I remember correctly there was also a swastika marked out on the floor used as a target. Can you just imagine what Health and Safety would say about this sort of thing now!

My better half complained recently about finding a small (very small) piece of swarf on the sitting room carpet and worse still, a piece in the bed and I could not help but to think back to a classic Chuck cartoon where his response to a similiar situation was "was it brass or steel?" I must stress however that this is the first time this sort of thing has happened to me over the last 50 years but nevertheless a warning!

Hi KWIL The fitting has been in place for so many years that I had forgotten all about the exact details, Without removing the unit I would have said that the answer to your question is no and certainly there have been any issues with the stop in operation. The strange thing however is that my copy of the Myford Handbook for the S7 Ref No.S723W entitled "Notes on Operation Installation and Maintenance Also Pictorial Parts List" ,- Section: Quick Change Gearbox - pages 50-52 makes (or shows) any mention of the boss to which you refer. The same is also true with my copy of the separate Myford publication No.712U for the QC Gearbox. Do you have any further information for the quadrant plate locating pin?