Member postings for chris j

Well it's finally in, with the aid of a JCB.

I couldn't wait for the rugby guys to return as rain threatend.

I am trying to upload some photos without luck at the moment.

Posted by Sandy Morton on 31/10/2012 10:50:13:

At least you will get it delivered! I live on a remote Scottish island ( the ferry crossing takes 8 minutes) but because of that the world stops at Largs! Enjoy it when you get it and it works OK.

Now the annoying bit.

I was told that delivery would be simple, the local delivery company would call me the night before at give me an approximate time. I have planned to get some of my sons rugby buddies to lift it into the workshop. Sadly the path to the shed is slate chippings so the pallet truck will not be much use.

The main problem is that despite 4 calls to Warco yesterday no time was forthcoming. At around 5pm I was told that the transport company would call first thing and tell me an approximate time. I called Warco at 9am as nobody had called me, I was promised that someone would call me right back after they got hold of the transport company.........I rang them back at 10 !! as my sons friends were getting twitchy and wanted to go off. I felt I needed them here in case I got the call at 9am from the driver at the end of the road. Anyway the chap at Warco was rather pompous and didn't agree that I needed people there just in case, as I had adjudged his delivery system to be unreliable.

So it's now 10.30 and after a fairly frank conversation with the Warco dispatch dept they will try their courier again.

It seems to me that Warco should not make promises based upon the perfomance of another company unless they are sure they will be kept to. As a customer of Warco I am not interested in what their delivery company will or wont do.

Sorry for the rant.......more to follow.

I hope this is the correct place to put this, I'm sure someone will move it if not. I will add some pictures in a while as the day progresses.

Anyway I have purchased a Warco VMC (as per the title).

Warco have so far been very decent I ordered the Mill at the Midland show and got a discount. Due to the hectic nature of the show I just ordered the mill itself and decided I would order some ancilliary equipment later (after seeking advice on here). Warco gave me the same show discount on each piece as I ordered it.

More to follow

Posted by MadMike on 30/10/2012 12:50:56:

Andy, back to school old chap. If the machine was bought as a capital item by the company then it would normally, at the value of a new Myford, have been written down to zero over 5 years. At the most extreme it would have depreciation or write down of 10 percent and thus have been written down to zero after 10 years. Write down percentage would be a fixed percentage of its purchase price, not residual value after each years depreciation. Twas ever thus.

So in reality the question to be asked is simly ".....as the machine has long ago been written off will the company take £xx to have it taken away?" Trevor should make sure that he can identify every fault with the machine as part of the negotiation process. Accountants rule in these matters, I am afraid, not engineers who would rather have a new modern machine than an old Myford.

I had the same budget as you and opted for a Warco VMC.

I figured that it was a good solid machine that could be upgraded as the money flowed in from all the jobs I was going to do on it (that was a joke btw).

Posted by Capt Dash on 25/07/2012 05:48:02:

Thanks to everyone who gave tips. Minnie has now steamed successfully apart from the feed pump not producing enough water into the boiler. I've replaced the bronze balls with Viton and expect this to do the job. I've added a couple of photos of the finished product to my album. Next job will be to strip and paint it, but that can wait for the warmer weather.

Posted by magpie on 25/10/2012 19:12:27:

Often too many contradictory suggestions !!!!!

Cheers Derek

Posted by Baldric on 25/10/2012 13:06:52:

But it is not about the number of comments, more about how useful they are that makes this a good forum I feel.

373 views = 1 comment ??

Posted by Stub Mandrel on 24/10/2012 21:00:25:

Now your workshop will become "a dusty place where not much happened.", just like mine

Neil

I have to say that when I first joined I had the perception of a dusty place where not much happened.

What I have discovered is that if you ask enough question people are very willing to pile in with ideas and suggestions.

I'm begining to like it here

Chris

Posted by NJH on 24/10/2012 18:17:29:

Hi Chris

If the vice has a swivel it doesn't take long to clamp a parallel in its jaws, loosen the swivel holding bolts, and adjust the vice by traversing the table against a clock held ,say, on the column. If you have a non-swiveling vice then a tenon will always mount it parallel to one axis - but you will have to choose which one. The tenon method has the advantage of speed when mounting a vice. On the other hand my vice stays on the machine most of the time and I tend to place it towards one end so that I can accomodate a rotary table too when I need it.

Norman

Edited By NJH on 24/10/2012 18:19:34

Posted by Springbok on 24/10/2012 17:04:42:

Hi Chris

could I lesuggest a mod to your vice have suggested it in other threads, bolt a small strip of steel to base to match your T Slot. dead square, there are other threads that we have covered this extensivly. worth a hunt. plonk it on the bed dead sqaure every time.

Bob

Posted by DerryUK on 22/10/2012 13:59:07:

I see the editor is looking for ideas to put in the 200th edition.

What immediately occurred to me was how about a nice 12 part series on "Building your first steam engine". Something with plenty of brass in it so you can polish it up and put it on the sideboard.

Smashing.

I really like the vices you use but I think I'll get a DH-1 to start off as I have a few projects to be getting on with straight away. If I go with your type from the start I'll need a vice to make the clamps

Chicken and Egg spring to mind.

That said it seems I may well need more than the one workholding system so in the near future I think I will give them a go.

Many thanks for all you help guys.

Paul

Thanks for the pics, I was able to see them

Chris

Posted by Roger Vane on 23/10/2012 13:15:30:

Hi Chris

I have both a Vertex K4 and a Warco DH1 and find that they both have their uses - really depends on what you intend to make as to which way you go. I've fitted tenons to the bottom of both vices so swapping over is quick and straightforward.

The DH1 is a brilliant, accurate piece of kit and is very versatile - it's overall jaw opening of 175mm vs the 63mm of the K4 sold it to me. It's not cheap if you buy it with the optional vee-jaws and high jaws (around £240 total) but these increase it's versatility tremendously.

In use the DH1 is a bit more restrictive regarding headroom (spindle nose to table) as the VMC isn't exactly over-endowed with headroom. The distance table to base of jaws is 93mm for the DH1 vs the K4's 76mm (with the swivel base in place in both cases) - not a lot but as the ad says "every little helps".

Probably the best approach is to consider carefully what you intend to make and make your purchase accordingly. If you can afford to buy both then that has to be a good option and maybe a deal can be done with Warco. After all they could both be delivered together reducing carriage costs.

On the subject of moving the machine into your workshop, it may be worth talking to Warco to see how they would move the machine as I believe that they offer an installation service. I'd be interested to know how you tackle the job - maybe you could make a posting to this forum.

Regards, Roger

Edited By Roger Vane on 23/10/2012 13:15:56

Posted by _Paul_ on 23/10/2012 13:29:21:

Chris,

Mounting on mine is catered for by two shop made dogs fitted either side which locate in the holes in the body, the big difference I found and like with these vices is there is effectively no jaw lift so no more deadblow hammer needed to locate the part level.

If you dont fancy one dont forget to add a decent deadblow hammer to your shopping list

Paul

Posted by _Paul_ on 23/10/2012 12:14:29:

I have one of these Precision Vices on my smaller (Geo. Taylor) mill (18" x 6" ) very accurate for the price.

Regards

Paul

Edit due to Anal forum software.

Edited By _Paul_ on 23/10/2012 12:17:22