ME/MEW Articles?

Andrew,

is it a workshop or a factory you have for making your traction engines?

Kitchen and front room judging by some of the photos I have seen

A factory would be nice; if I win the lottery who knows! No fancy cars and holidays for me, but a factory filled with big machine tools.

My workshop is a rather crowded double garage. However, as Jason has alluded to things have spread into the dining room (cutters, measuring kit and expensive tooling), kitchen (castings, machined parts and assembly) and the hall (TIG welder).

There are pictures in my photo album 'Machine Shop' plus one of the kitchen in 'Odds n Sods'.

Regards,

Andrew

PS: And some bits have made it into the study, as that's where I do the CAD/CAM/thinking bit. I'm currently using one of the crosshead castings as a pencil holder.

Edited By Andrew Johnston on 09/09/2013 22:46:27

excellent!!

In another thread a question was posted about precision screwdrivers , has anyone made thier own ?

What about a decent tilting vice for the mill, maybe it could be made by modifying a redundant or second hand milling vice ?

Maybe a tailstock stop for the lathe that allows drilling to a precise depth ?

A punch set for making shim washers ?

And finaly from far left field , what about a home made high pressure oil can ?

Nothing ground breaking but maybe a little different and not another toolpost !

Ian

Since I am getting close to finishing making and fitting the parts for a skeleton clock, I have a deep need for an article on finishing and polishing brass -especially as I did not intend to have anything plated, merely laquered.

Any takers (or suggestions on comprehensive articles in the past that I can refer to)?

Simon

I have disposed of the magazines I referred to, to make my skeleton clock, so am not totally sure, but have looked at the ME index and think the article "Finishing a Gold Medal Clock" in ME issue 4325 (2008) is the one I found it very useful.

Rather than using lacquerer I used a Carnauba wax polish from one of the suppliers to the clock maker, Again, have not kept the invoices so am not sure which one. If you are making the John Parslow skeleton clock it is one he listed.

Harold

Thank you Harold, that was exactly the sort of detailed article that I was looking for.

Simon

Apologies, previously posted under wrong thread-

There's lots of basic stuff that has (to my memory, as Ive read about 90%+ of MEW's):

Mode of action of different cutting tools.

The chemistry behind hardening and tempering.

Making your own case hardening compounds.

Surface treatments for metals, including priming and painting.

Tolerances, accuracy and precision. Getting them in proportion.

How to select and specify parts: ball bearings, bushes, drive belts, fixings etc.

Basic mechanical theory - levers, pulleys etc.

Useful mechanisms and movements.

The properties of materials - and using these to move beyond 'if it looks right it probably is right'.

How to get the best out of third party parts (laser jet/water jet/flame cut/castings etc.)

Making patterns and working with a foundry

Improve your engineering drawings

From idea to design. Tips on how to turn an idea into reality.

Helicoils

Stud removal methods

O rings and their applications

Ultrasonic cleaning

Making special purpose toolbits, including taps and dies

MMA welding - from beginner to expert

Single part articles of obsolete machines or those rarely found in an amateur workshop:

• Planer
• Jig borer
• surface grinder
• cylindrical grinder
• superfinishing hone
• Capstan lathes

Tackling various tricky or unusual car/motorbike/round the house jobs:

• Adjusting a recirculating ball steering box
• Repairing a five-lever lock
• Fixing a lawnmower

Sharpening tools other than drills and endmills

Understanding LED lighting

Workshop photography

Working sheet metal (a subject that ME and MEW assiduoslly avoid tackilng in any detail!)

Metal spinning.

I could go on, but doesn't that list make you think?

Neil

Neil: I'm afraid I didn't understand your post when it was in the other thread, and I still don't.

Are these ideas for topics that could appear in MEW, or ones that have?

Andrew

Hi Neil.

I think you forgot tea making, a skill I learnt as a first year apprentice that I'd be happy to pass on.

Andrew,

Suggestions, which is why I meant to put it in this thread.

I could cover some, but by no means most, of the topics.

Neil

Neil: Thanks for the clarification; I got confused as some, but by no means all, of the topics have appeared in MEW.

Two topics stand out; planers and sheet metal. I'd love a planer, ever since I saw one in action as a small kid at W. H. Allens in Bedford. Mind you, since the table was 20+ feet long I'd need a bigger workshop. I agree on sheet metal, it does seem to be largely ignored. Fortunately I'm fairly well equipped for basic sheet metalwork with a flypress, box and pan folder and a guillotine. A press brake would be nice, but apparently the 4 foot ones are as rare as rocking horse droppings.

Regards,

Andrew