Hi David,

I had been out of actual engineering for 18 odd years, after 25 odd solid years I got fed up with it, and a fair few of the old firms I knew back in the day as I say have sadly gone.

Before I get on to me and my set up, can I ask Dave what’s up with y our existing head on your Clarkson cutter grinder?

There is another trade where you can’t find many firms that will do that, so if you know and have machines to re sharpen cutters then that’s pure gold.

I decided to purchase a Centurion 800 lathe miller and it’s just been delivered, now I originally decided to get just the drip tray but not the mounting bench they sell, I’m beginning to think that may have been a  mistake.

If any of you can offer any advice on best ways on what to mount this machine, it weighs in a nearly 400KG.

A bit more on me, I mainly worked on Millers Drillers, lathes, surface grinders, centre-less grinders and most saws and CNC lathes, had a really good job turning aircraft engine parts for Rolls Royce at one time.

I also worked on a few bespoke machines too and ran a set up for one company and set up my own engineering company in the 80’s.

So this machine when I get it set up and working my first part will be for the Honda, well there is 2 actually for the carbs.

I will have to see if I can remember everything I learnt, but it’s pretty much like riding a bike, you never forget.

One of the things I used to find useful was tinkering, when I say that, tinkering with different speeds, feeds, and some times cutting fluids because they all play a key role in what finishes we obtain when cutting materials. I’m still learning now.

Lastly guys if you ever need anything you can’t get hold of let me know, because I now work for a big tooling supplier.

All the best Nige