New guy saying Hello

Hi everyone.

Just taking a minute to introduce myself. I wouldn't call myself a model engineer yet but a few years ago I bought the machine mart version of the mini lathe and I have enjoyed relearning how to use a lathe etc to make parts for the gadgets and silly stuff that I make.

I would now like to go back to some unfinished business from when I left school in 1979 and have a go at making the hot air engine that I was building for metalwork CSE. Even though it was never completed the work was still good enough to me through . I even think that the original book is still for sale on amazon so this should be fun.

Wish me luck and i'm sure it wont be long before I'm asking for advice

Thanks

Andy

Hello Andy,

Welcome to the forum, there are plenty of people here to advise on all manner of things when you are ready to ask them

Regards Brian

Welcome Andy. Like me - once you 'restart' properly it becomes addictive! Oh the pleasure of doing 'proper' metalwork at school - loved it. (I did GCE metalwork and Technical drawing - if anyone remembers that in these CAD times)

This is an excellent resource for the thousand ond one questions that will come up, and I'm sure at some stage you'll be able to help others out on something. Enjoy. regards Mike

Hello Andy and welcome. No problem with asking for advice and remember, there are no stupid questions but there can be, stupid answers. So ask away.

Brian

Thanks Guys for the replies.

Mike, TD and Metalwork were the only things I was any good at at school. My first introduction was a 12" Harrison which looked quite big to a 14 year old. I think the first lesson went like "This is a lathe, dont leave the chuck key in when you turn it on" , which of course we all did at some point. Happy days.

Welcome!

The Forum is a superb source of information and help on all aspects of model engineering, and the many machines, measuring instruments, and techniques.

You will certainly get recommendations / warnings based on the experience of members of equipment, and their uses.

If possible, find a local M E Society and join. In that way, you will meet other enthusiasts face to face (Eventually! ) and maybe even get demonstrations of "How to do it" when you have a problem.

It is not unknown for Forum members to provide face to face help / demonstrations if they are reasonably local to you.

There are lots of users of the Machine Mart mini lathe, and it's clones on here, so lots of help, tips, and accessories to make, on here. Only recently MEW has reprinted an article on such additions.

The mini lathe is sold by various importers in different colour schemes and with different packages, so plenty of scope to pick up ideas.

Howard

Hi Andy,

I've just completed my second T. E. Haynes Hot Air Engine, as the first has been mislaid. My Dad was proud of the first (I was only 15), and just as proud of the second at 64.

It brought back so many recollections of the school workshop. It's as true as the original except for the fabricated base and steel flywheel. Aluminium smelting was just a little too much to get involved with.

Give it a go, and put an immense smile on your face.