Issue 222

> (And of course - you & Diane can only publish what you receive - which does seem to get overlooked by some....)

What I really like is when authors get in touch early. Sometimes I just reply with 'no, I've got something very similar in the pipeline' and save them wasted effort, or 'yes, I'd like to see that'. At other times, I can offer suggestions for how long or detailed an article should be, or give guidance on what might be of greatest interest to readers.

Occasionally I see something in a post or even on the web and follow it up.

Suggestions from potential authors are always welcome.

In particular, I do need more 1-3 page articles as I get through these at a rate of knots, and I feel these are where I can explore less visited subjects (but perhaps not wooden boxes for a while, sorry Rod!)

Neil

P.S. I buy lovely little slide-top storage boxes from the pound shop, but I have to throw away the dominoes that always seem to be inside.

If they're the wooden ones you could bake some storage boxes from them.

Russell.

Hi Russell,

I find they char badly if I try to bake them

Neil

I have found that if you get the strips of wood for a box, lob it on the laser you can burn / engrave the most exquisite dovetail joints know to man or beast.

Then just whack it all together with 3 pints of gorilla snot and some decent 3" panel pins but they look nice.

But that's not real model engineering, John. You should mill it out from a solid lump of tree trunk, manually!

Neil

Certainly that's the conventional wisdom that's usually dragged out in discussions like this. And it may well work for those with more reading time than reading material.

In my case, the stack (shop-related and unrelated) by my recliner grows ever taller with stuff that I actually do want to read and I'd rather put the time into that than into articles that are basically not of interest in the hopes of gleaning a morsel or two - maybe.

well I enjoyed the mag ( when I eventually got it!). I work wood and metal and find they both have their uses and value. Often the compliment each other, as do some respondents sometimes

I think Neil is doing an excellent job, and even helping out when the mag fails to come( another post ) which is hardly his role.

Vive la difference and keep the variety and articles coming.

I've got every issue and duplicates which I can't bare to part with ( or sometimes find in my "storage system" - floor pile) and still re read when looking for info.

Looking forward to 223!

Ian

Issue 222 has not reached Oz yet, but I was so impressed with the single issue of 221 that I mail ordered from the UK specially to read the Drummond article that I have taken out a 12-month subscription.

Keep up the good work Neil.

Sir John,

Thank you for your kind words, but I really, really must protect my image and state publicly, on this esteemed forum, that NONE of my 'excellent work' (my description) will ever be shown amongst the tat that is on occasion exhibited at that place

My reputation for 'most excellent work' shall not be besmirched by being so associate. It's far gone already, so doesn't matter

Geoff - Tate here I come!

Edited By OuBallie on 20/11/2014 15:03:31

Oh bugger! The only time I get commented on by JS (and it sounded favourable) and it's gone forever

Mwahahahaha

Well I remember not so long ago that these model engineering magazines contained articles on that very subject, namely model engineering. When articles on Spanish holidays, rebuilding tractors etc snuck in, I ended my subscription. And just to cause more arguing, whatever happened to the free plans and series of real models that I could build along with?

Gary as this thread is about MEW I doubt you will find any models to build in there. Maybe take a look at ME instead, Stewart Heart's new cross engine starts in 4496, all drawings and descriptions of how to do it. There are also traction engines, stationary engines the odd IC and plenty of Locos all with drawings so you can build along.

J

Is it the fact that its made of wood? In which case, should we ban articles on machining of plastics aswell. Last time I checked model engineers made models out of wood, plastic, metal and other materials too. MEW is for model engineers, not just metalworkers.

Is it the fact that its only a box? Would people be complaining if the box had been made of sheet metal instead of wood and showed metal bending and welding? This magazine is about workshop tools, machinery and processes. A lot of readers make their own tools. I, for one, always consider making a storage box to protect any tool that I make part of the process of building that tool.

It might only be a box, but there may be tips and techniques that could be picked up from such an article that would read across to model making from wood.

Keep it up chaps, making boxes to store tools that you make is a valid subject.

Graham

I noticed the joint on my collet chuck box is somewhat simpler than the finger joint mentioned earlier and more suited to milling. I couldn't find a picture of it but imagine this one with only one tongue and no mitre. The groove could be made with just a 1/8 slitting saw but of course with a lathe a custom cutter could be made like the one illustrated.

Getting back to the original wood box article which started the whole kerfuffle off. I reckoned that it was an ideal thing to show someone who had never done that sort of work before. Like all elementary articles it has to be long winded to experienced eyes because its not safe to assume the background and knowledge of a first timer. Comment on wasted pictures for hinge fitments and screw points coming through the surface out is way out of order. Good illustration of why the sliding lid was chosen and the sort of problems you can hit doing things a different way. Needs to be pictures because they get noticed, buried in text in useless. Its very important to remember that MEW is primarily a resource for technique for doing things, snag / this didn't work warnings, different way of looking at things, inspiration and source of ideas worth stealing for most of the readership most of the time. The ratios of built as published to stolen from or just read it for any MEW article spread over the whole readership must be microscopic. Heck I have a complete set and the only thing I've made essentially as drawn was Ted Wales optical centre height gauge. That said pretty much every issue has contained something of interest, something to steal or a "Hummn, I'l try it that way next time or confirmation that that was not the way to do my job." Often years later.

Yup I found out about the hinge screws going through the lid the hard way. About 30 year back. Thought I'd figured it out but didn't make allowance for sinking the flap into the back so the lid shut properly. Ended up as a re-make it all to fix job. Nothing wrong with quick'n dirty but effective either. We don't have infinite shop time so it can be nice to have concrete illustration of a quick, good enough, job to copy or modify. Sorting out a proper job from scratch often takes more time that the result can be worth. I need to do some large micrometer boxes. Which will be half decent, quick'n easy, with no fancy joints. Had considered taking pictures but shan't now.

What is a waste of space are things like the Three in One Boring Tool page in issue 223. Anyone experienced enough to exploit the concepts will already know about the idea. Anyone not experienced who tries to roll their own will find traps which a proper article would help them avoid. In particular ball centres for large angle offs aren't quite as simple as they seem and calculating offset for a given taper isn't quite as easy as it sounds. Its also important that the boring head adjustment is correctly referenced to the crossways plane of the lathe bed. Pivoting arrangements and stops for the radius turning tool need decent consideration too. Mine works well but I wouldn't do it that way again although the idea seemed good at the time and it all works as it should I spent extra effort to achieve capability I don't in practice need. An article on tool shapes for radius turning tools would be good. Most expositions are far too casual on what is the most important part of the job.

Clive

.

Well I have certainly pi$$ed in someone's cornflakes this week ?