Member postings for GaryM

Hi Scott,

Some ideas here:

**LINK**

Andy posts on here and might have some ideas.

Gary

Hi Brian,

I bought the ED16SB about 18 months ago. It is a lower spec but similar in other respects. At the time they did woodworking versions of the engineering drills that were identical apart from having a through slotted table which I think I would find more useful when trying to clamp things to it. They don't seem to stock them any more. Also easier to clear swarf off.

Gary

Hi Stick,

Are you not tempted to take it apart and give it a good clean. I think it would look really good.

Gary

In the UK, for about thirty years governments of various shades and the media have denigrated science and engineering as careers and emphasised finance, marketing, media, culture and sport. It is hardly surprising that most youngsters are not interested in making things. They are a product of the society those of us over fifty have created. I think they have every right to be disillusioned after going to university, getting a degree as they were told to do and then finding that there are no jobs at the end of it. I think a lot of people are just waking up to the mess we are in and maybe it is not too late to do something about it. Lots of people on here have still got skills they could pass on to the younger generation. Sorry it's a bit of a rant but it's born out of frustration with 'the powers that be'.

Gary

Hi Norman, I think I might just not tell anyone when I retire.

Gary

I finally got round to borrowing an engine hoist from work to get my new mill onto the bench I made for it. Only two months after the mill was delivered. I really envy those who are already retired. Can't wait to start learning how to use it.

Gary

Andrew,

It's just a sign that you've contributed a lot. And forums need contributors rather than readers otherwise there is no forum.

Gary

Fascinating link Ronan. I hope he's got that workshop well secured.

Gary

Hi Francis,

Thanks for your ideas. I did think about trying a chain block from the roof truss with additional supports but I don't think I've got enough headroom. I was also a bit wary of constructing something without knowing if it would be strong enough.

As an aside does someone know how to work out the sizes of wood or metal that will support certain weights. I presume it is related to the cross-sectional area, the span and some measure of strength. This is one reason why I was going with the engine crane, someone else has done the calculations for me.

Gary

Hi Francis, thanks for your input. I am raising the mill off the bench on a wooden plinth. If I get the height right it should give enough clearance for my hand. I decided that was preferable to having the handles sticking out beyond the edge of the bench. Less likely to keep walking in to them. I was intending bolting it to the floor once I've got the mill on it. Next step is borrowing an engine crane from work, although they seem to weigh as much as the mill. Some weird logic going on here.

Gary

This forum is an oasis of sanity and common sense compared to my day job which is increasingly bogged down by policies and procedures that make no sense whatsoever and seem designed to stop you from doing any useful work. I've only been a member for a year but would miss it greatly.

Gary

By way of a contrast, I used to subscribe to a photography magazine and they repeated virtually the same articles every year. They must have figured out that most people were only subscribing for a year. I've only been getting MEW for a year but I feel I'm getting good value at ~£3 delivered.

Gary

Howard,

You could consider an aquarium air pump. I have no experience of using one but I've seen them suggested before. Someone else might have more knowledge they can add.

Gary

Hi Howard,

How about this one from Axminster

**LINK**

I was thinking of buying one for just the same purpose but haven't done so yet. The noise level is 70db so not as noisy as most other cheaper compressors (~90db) but not as expensive as the Bambi/ssch types. I thought it might do if I ever got into air-brushing.

Gary

Fascinating Mike, now that's what you call heavy engineering.

Thanks for the link.

Gary

Thanks for the reply David and Rod. I obviously was being impatient as in the time since I posted the message the postman has delivered it.

Looks like a good issue from my perspective.

Gary

Have most people on subscription received this issue now? I've just renewed mine and am concerned that I've missed an issue. As the "on-sale" date was 15th Feb I assumed it would arrive later this week.

Gary

Hi Mark,

It might not be as simple as that. I only started model engineering a year ago and for my first project built the simple oscillating engine here

**LINK**

This is dimensioned in metric but uses BA threads. When I came to buy some of the materials I found it was easier to source imperial sizes for some parts. So I made it with a mix of metric and imperial. The silver steel for the shafts was imperial. The frame was specified as 20mm but I used 3/4" etc. I think I learned more by adapting some of the dimensions to imperial and figuring out which ones were critical to its operation.

As someone who went to school in the sixties and seventies I think I find this easier than some people and quite often work interchangeably in both units.

It still amuses me that B&Q sell 8' x 4' sheets of wood as 2440mm x 1220mm.

Gary

PS I'm hoping to start the S50 soon. Delayed by purchase of milling machine.

Hi Paul, the stand was optional (£200) and I had a sturdy set of drawers that I wanted to incorporate under the bench. The finished height of the bench is 970mm. Interesting that you've fitted wheels to the stand though.

Hi Clive, thanks for the tips. I have some kitchen worktop offcuts so might use that for a plinth. About the right thickness. My drill press is sitting on some. I hadn't come across the green chipboard so will look out for it. Might come in useful for other things. The bench top is 700mm x 750mm so standard worktop was not wide enough. The bench is free standing as all the wall space is in use so access all around is not a problem.

Gary

But parting is such sweet sorrow. I'm sure that's been used a few times on here. Sorry.