What did you do today? (2014)

Look more like exotic wood turning blanks with the wax coating to stop the grain drying out. Lacewood or She-oak maybe

Edited By JasonB on 23/03/2014 20:50:51

Rik,

I feel sure that Jason is correct

Have a browse aound here

MichaelG.

For you doubters I have chucked one of the smaller pieces and skimmed the face. It stinks like phenolic and turns like phenolic. I have machined a good deal of this foul smelling stuff in the past and can assure you both that this is most definitely phenolic - wood it is NOT! Neither Neil, is it cheddar, stilton, stinking bishop, brie or any other cheesy comestible.

Rik

Riveting work - putting together my Martin Evans' "Ivatt" cab - previously CNC cut, including CNC cut window frames.

Fun stuff - more info as usual on my blog - http://cnc-for-model-engineers.blogspot.com - **LINK**

Here's a pic of the rear cab extension on for a test fit:

#

I have worked over the weekend on construction of a lever feed tail stock as has been described in this thread by John Stevenson. The photo above shows progress so far. It is almost finished but I need the shorten the auxiliary barrel by about 25 mm. I also want to install bronze bushes at both ends of the auxiliary barrel. However, even in its unfinished state it works very well.

Thanks John for the concept.

Mike

At 10:00pm last night , walking the dog, Mars was a very bright orange spot low in the southeast. It was going to be a good night for astrophotography. I got up at 4:30 this morning thanks to a cat getting in the bedroom, and for once didn't mind. I got 12 shots of Saturn, then dead south & low, of which most were reasonable. I will jpeg stack them later, below is one straight off the camera, the only processing is to crop it. Stacked images clearly show the shadow of the planet on the rings to the top right.

Neil

Edited By jason udall on 24/03/2014 20:37:25

So found a long reach milling cutter tonight and though it a shame not to be able to use it.

First picture timed at 7:24pm

The generic Bligeport, like a Bridgy but on steroids.

Five tins of spinach later, head off, slotting head off ram off and 4" riser block fitted.

This pic timed at 9:24.

Now got a genuine 511 mm from spindle nose to the bed.

That's a 600 mm rule in the pic.

Sod it off down the pub, pie and a pint calls.

Nice pic Neil. What lens did you use for this shot or was your camera attached directly to a telescope?

Regards, Martin.

It's a Nikon 520D bridge camera, 18MP with 1000mm equivalent zoom and full manual. The high pixel count and long lens lets you get very fine detail.

It doesn't do RAW format, only jpeg but the compression is low in fine mode and I can't see any artefacts. This was at 400ASA (I meant to try 80, but forgot).

Neil

Neil,

Now that is a bit of genuine blue sky thinking. Stevie Wonder would be proud of you.

So would ELO !

.

Oh, Rik ... I think you may have ruined John's joke.

> John's joke.

"So this is what you earthlings call hu-mour"

Neil

More like Alien Wytt !

Rik

Started cannibalising a tired old bench drill for bits so I can refurb. an equally tired KENNEDY power hack saw.

Afterwards, sorted out the stuff in a toolbox from a boot last Sunday and found, along with much exotic engineering tooling, this:

I've never seen one before and have no idea what it's for. The shank is approx .125" and the business part has a slight taper toward the tip. Is it a drill or a reamer - or maybe a dreamer?

Rik

Apologies for the crummy phone picture and the machining marks on the V, but I ought to show you my bench block.

Neil