Hello everyone from the Algarve

I'm taking my first steps with the lathe, I like this type of tools and I hope to learn how to use them with the help of the forum.

I have a small lathe with a milling cutter and I would like to start with a design of an accessory or tool to improve it. For now and while I think about what project I should start I'm browsing the forum.

Greetings to all, Vasco Reis

Hello Vasco,

Welcome to the forum. What sort of lathe and mill do you have?

Neil

Hello Vasco, and welcome from another recent member here.

Ola Vasco,

Bem vindo aqui.

My first project was to make a tailstock die holder for the lathe. This is a simple straightforward turning operation, see:http://mikesworkshop.weebly.com/tailstock-die-holder.html that provides a useful accessory for making accurate threads.

I am a frequent visitor to your beautiful country. I have a small apartment in Porto.

Saude

Mike

Welcome Vasco

Don't worry about asking questions you'll get an answer on here for sure... we're all mad on here

George.

Neil I had some luck and I was able to buy a used Emco compact 5 and a Proxxon FF500. Both machines had to be checked but they are working properly.
In the FF500 I had to replace the bushing with diy bearings in POM-C to eliminate the backslash. My initial idea was to convert the machine to CNC.
The Emco was in better condition it was dismantled clean and lubricated and appears to be working in perfect condition.

Mike Porto is a very beautiful city but a little dark for me that I am used to the sun . The tailstock die holder for the lathe seems to me to be an excellent option. This weekend I'm going to study the project.

You should try the UK - sunset at 16:19 today, 15:50 in mid-December. Only 7 1/2 hours of sun at the Solstice, even without cloud!

Neil

Ola Vasco,

Neil is right. Compared with the North of England, where I am living, Porto is a very bright and warm city. I cannot understand why Jose Mourinho likes Manchester so much!

The Algarve is good too. I had a very good holiday in Monchique a few years ago. It is just a shame it is a bit too hot in summer!!

Saude

Mike

I can not complain I go to Germany often and I am well aware that the winters here are quite mild. As the people say 9 months of winter and 3 of hell, in the case of the Algarve are more 9 months of spring and 3 of hell. We often have to stay at home in the summer because of the heat and the intensity of the sun...

Regards VCR

I wait for the real cold, well freezing weather, and snow when the workshop is too cold and the heater will not get it to a comfortable 10 degrees C. It is then that I do not feel guilty about sitting in the warmth and planning future work. However it is easy to suffer from cabin fever.

I've never been to Portugal but I have got to Mozambique and Brazil so I feel I have some empathy with the country. If all goes well I might get there in a years time on a bike.

JA

JA you will love it, the weather here is not much different from some areas of Brazil (but milder than in Mozambique). The food is great and the people in general are very friendly.

Regards VCR

Welcome

Michael W

Edited By Michael Walters on 11/11/2016 00:18:26

Hi Vasco,

Glad to hear from another model engineer in the Algarve.

...I cannot understand why Jose Mourinho likes Manchester so much! ...

simples... £££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££'s

George.

Thank you all for the messages.
Saxalby you are in Salir so we are practically neighbors. I'll take the opportunity to ask you a question. Where do you buy the materials? I'm having a hard time finding a supplier.

Regards VCR

Hi Vasco,

I was going to ask you the same question.

Places like Leroy Merlin do as few bits of steel,brass and ali rod etc but of dubious quality. I have never manages to find a steel or non ferrous dealer in the Algarve. So I buy what i need from the various UK model engineer suppliers.

A Portuguese friend has suggested that there may be suppliers in the north of Portugal where there is some engineering industry and he is going to see if he can get some details.

Regards Barry

Good Afternoon Barry

Looks like we're out of luck. There are actually several suppliers in Lisbon and in the North but they do not sell small quantities. Typically 2x1 meters plates and rods of 3 or 6 meters. In these quantities it becomes very expensive especially when adding the transport. In the big hardware stores (Algarve up to Lisbon) the choice is few, of dubious quality and with obscene prices.

To my knowledge, it only pays to buy in the UK or Germany. I usually end up opting to buy in Germany because it is more economical and the transport is cheaper. They have a tradition of selling leftovers from the industry and sometimes I get good deals. But it is always expensive and you do not always get what you need. I search on Ebay.de but they do not always ship to Portugal. To complicate things further, metal alloys have different standards and sometimes different alloys, between Portugal the United Kingdom and Germany

Regards, VCR

Edited By VCR on 13/11/2016 14:27:49

Hello VCR,
Hello Saxalby

Near Lisbon, on the south bank of the Tagus, and at about 20 km, there is a small company that for several years, but not lately, has supplied me with all the materials I needed. From steels to technical plastics.
The owner of the company, Mr. Carlos Santos, is very helpful and can prepare a lot of metals and / or plastics to order. If you order together the order will be bigger and easier, for him, it will be supplying you.
Among the plastics it markets there is one, the POM, which as far as I know is another denomination for Delrin that I used to build gears.

In contacting the company, if you want, you can refer my name (Dias Costa) as the person who indicated the company and so he will know the style of client that you are.

The website address of the company on the WWW is as follows: http://carlosagsantos.weebly.com/
There you will find the address and telephone numbers for contact and also information about the materials that he commercializes.

Best regards from
Dias Costa

Edited By dcosta on 13/11/2016 16:10:09

Hello Dias

Thanks for that information - will look at there web site and see what they do.

Regards Barry

Just looked - do brasses and steels so will give them a ring

Edited By Saxalby on 13/11/2016 16:37:22

Obrigado Sr. Costa é uma informação muito útil.

Barry I'm going to Lisbon for Christmas and if Mr. Carlos Santos is available, I'll meet him. If you want to buy something I can do the transport to the Algarve.

Regards, VCR