Workshop Equipment

As Bristol Areo engines kept us clothed, fed and a roof over our heads, growing up, I have to agree.

Pauline

I have sent you a PM with some information on local Model Engineering clubs.

Phil

Hi Phil,

Just to let you know I have read your PM and will be following up your lead.

In response to AJ & Peter Low 4, I will make an effort to get to the Bristol branch of the RRHT; I look forward to seeing the exhibits and archives, if it is anything like Derby I'm already getting excited!

Pauline

Let us know when you are coming.

Guided visits, which have to be booked in advance for the public, of our museum take place every Tuesday and Thursday at 10.30 and other times by arrangement (once this virus goes away).

Sorry for the advert.

JA

+1.. I have a WM250V-F & a WM 16 mill as separate items, the powered cross feed on the lathe is a boon for these lathes. I wished I had bought the WM 20 mill as I have the room for it & had a lot of MT3 tooling, but considering the WM16 was part of a package deal from Warco's stand at Harrowgate exhibition I accepted the compromise. I would thoroughly recommend you fit a X & Y axis read out to the mill as I have done, it takes the hassle out of setting dials & removing backlash.

George.

Pauline

I you wish to send me your email address via a PM, I will forward you a copy of the latest BMES newsletter to have a look at.

Phil

Pauline

If you are a newbie, do not launch into something complicated, and needing high precision. That is a short cut to disillusionment.

Start by learning the basics. As you gain experience and skill, you will gain confidence.

No baby has yet won a marathon!

By all means join a local ME Club, you will get advice, first hand, from more experienced people, on tool grinding, speeds and feeds, and techniques..

Yes, visit the RRHT at Bristol, the displays will be awe inspiring, as they are at Derby.

You will be most unusual, if not unique, if your first model is a working model of a radial aircraft engine.

Over ambition will lead to disappointment.

Slowly, slowly, catchee monkey. is my advice.

Good Luck, and enjoy!

Howard

Hi again all,

Thanks with out end for all your comments.

Confession: When I initially attempted to join the forum I completed the on line form and when posted I was informed my email address was already logged and that I should use my original password.

I haven't a clue as to how I was registered or what my password was, so ( on two occasions ) I attempted to contact the publishers in order for them to sort out the problem and got no response, so I used my wife's ymail account to join and Eureka it worked.

My name is actually Stuart and I apologise for not informing you earlier only the response to my initial contact took me by surprise, hence it taking this much time to inform you of the situation.

In the meantime, your comments have been targeted in the correct direction and have been more than well received, I now feel a little more comfortable about my decision making.

I would like to thank J A for his comments and to let him know I will be in contact prior to my booking a travel lodge.

Phil P : I will post a PM with my email address

Hello and welcome Mx Davidson (Stuart, Pauline, whatever - we don't mind...).

One thing to consider is where this journey is going. Are you likely to be constrained by cash and/or space so that your workshop will contain a lathe, drill, and little else, by way of machines, or will you be able to equip the 'shop with a milling machine? Don't forget the cost of all the tooling required...

The Myford lathes have their limitations, but, when well-equipped, can provide unparalelled versatility and can tackle jobs that seem far too big for the lathe's nominal size. Oriental lathes don't have gap beds, and seem to have a very limited range of accessories available. So, you buy a lathe, cheaply, but that's it.

The support from the various outlets seems to be very variable. Search the forum and draw your own conclusions about support. Quality control can be a problem with these cheap machines, so you need to be sure that a problem will be handled honourably by the seller.

I favour second-hand, because I can bring machines back to spec., however that requires a decent level of equipment already, of course. There's a decent Myford ML7, well-equipped, that's just popped up on www.lathes.co.uk, at a sensible price. The point previously made about ex-industry machines likely being clapped-out is true, but most(?) Myfords will have been in private ownership.

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Stuart, if you go to "settings" top left of the page and then select "my profile" you can change your user name, though don't expect as many replies once you become male

If you do go the Bristol or DH route then there are published designs for some of their engines which will take the hard work out of it.

Stuart,

Some other things to ponder.

Don't forget to allow for the milling cutter holder, the 20V comes with a drill chuck only, a milling cutter will pull out), you loose more head room than your minds eye allows for.

If you intend gear cutting you might find that mills with plastic gears dont do well. Others may confirm or deny.

Buy at least medium price milling cutters, budget ones don't seem to cut.

Some second hand Myfords are clapped out and a coat of paint doesn't restore anything apart from looks.

You can change your nickname from 'Pauline Davidson' to something else. Scroll to the top of the page. Top left in the Green Bar is a button like a gear-wheel marked 'Settings'. Click it and on the page that opens select 'My Profile'. The first option in 'My Profile' is the nickname used to label posts, which you can change.

I believe the only technical restriction is you can't use a nickname belonging to someone else. The moderators will probably object to anything offensive, but apart from that the world is your oyster.

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 23/08/2020 10:53:31

Hi Stuart. I bought both the DB 10 VS, and the Champion 20V mill about 7 years ago, and to date the only problem i have had was a broken NVR switch on the mill about 1 year ago. Cost a few £ for a new one and no more problems since.

Dek.

Stuart

I have a Warco WM250V lathe and WM16 mill. For the price they are very good machines and providing you don't flog them are capable of work as good as anything. DRO's help tremendously on both the lathe and mill. They don't make it any more accurate just a dam sight easier to get you to where you want to be, which helps you achieve accuracy.

Dave