Member postings for steamdave

From what I saw when visiting the US shows, there was a very good attendance.

One major difference is that there are very few club stands, most exhibitors had their own stand and the great advantage is that any visitor with a question could ask the builder directly, unlike a club stand where the steward probably knows nothing about most of the models on display. There is much more emphasis over there on internal combustion engines and hot air engines rather than steam. There was also an auction sale on site with tools, models, materials an even antique machinery.

When I visited GEARS over in Portland OR, the ladies of the exhibitors were not left out on a limb looking disinterestedly at the engines while hubby was rapt: they had their own display (in the same building) of their crafts, mostly quilting and needlework sort of things. It was very noticeable how many of the men went and viewed them.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

Do you want the die filer as a working tool or as a machining exercise?

If a working tool, bearing in mind the size of your lathe, and the future projects you may make with it, have you considered a bar stock version? There are at least two die filers on homemadetools. The first of the two following links is very simple and would get you going pdq. The second looks to be a bit more 'workmanlike' and closer to a machine made from castings and maybe more to your liking.
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/miniature-die-filer-27294#post36802
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/filing-machine-12989#post15657

I know you like the look of castings. The problem may be that if you butcher one of the Martin Model castings, especially them coming over the water from USA, it could be an expensive mistake.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

Have you thought of building an engine using bar stock materials? If you have no or little experience, a simple bar stock engine will give you something to help you get used to working with your new lathe.

It would work out considerably cheaper than a casting kit and if/when you make a mistake, a new bit of steel/ally would be easier, and again cheaper than getting a replacement casting.

John-Tom is a good place to have a look at ideas. http://www.john-tom.com/html/SteamPlans.html

Dave
The Emerald Isle

I started off with an Emco FB2. Super machine for smaller work. An acquaintance wanted to buy it off me, so off it went and the proceeds went to 'upgrade' to a Wabeco F1410. The less said about it, the better.

Also had a Thiel 158, ex Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Co. from 1971. Just about every attachment came with it. Again a super machine, but me being of a senior age I sold it while I had a buyer, along with my Harrison M300. Manual metal machine users are very few and far between in Ireland, and it was a stage in downsizing the workshop.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

Seems to be relatively common with those oil cups.
I get the same situation - the right hand one always needing a top up, but I cannot find out where the oil has gone. It hasn't dripped anywhere that I can see and the inside of the cover is relatively clean.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

You may want to have a look at another JDW Lanz tractor build, this one over on HMEM and maybe compare notes.
https://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/threads/lanz-tractor.31327/#post-325989

Dave
The Emerald Isle

Look for a Thiel, Alexander, Dekel or even an Aciera ram type mill.

Lots of info on Lathes.co.uk

Dave
The Emerald Isle (An ex-Thiel user)

From safety statistics from a number of years ago it was stated that 10% of all road accidents occurred at speeds of More than 70mph. That means that 90% of all accidents occurred at speeds of Less than 70mph. By deduction then, it is safer to drive at speeds of more than 70mph.

Just an attempt at a lighthearted comment, not meant for serious discussion by the pro-safety lobby.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

The rotating optics of lighthouses used to float on a bed of mercury.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

GHT used 1/4" BSF threads in his Tee nuts on 3/8" clamping bars. This was on a Tom Senior mill.
If it was good enough for him, it would be good enough for most others, even converting to the metric equivalent!

Dave
The Emerald Isle

I had a Thiel Duplex 158 for a number of years. Originally bought it for the dual horizontal and vertical capability without having to change heads.

It was a 1971 machine that came from the Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Company and had all the original attachments. A fantastic machine that I couldn't even begin to test the functionality of with my limited ability. 17" headroom under vertical head. Huge outreach, but only 16" X travel, but that was never a problem.

Built like the proverbial outhouse, but if you get one without the desirable accessories, kitting them out could be expensive.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

Whilst I have nothing against electric vehicles, I think the politicos are jumping on the bandwagon to save us all from death by climate change, or tax us out of existence.

On another news group, I received the following last week. No date given, but from the poster I would think it is up to date.

______________________________________________________
Subject: more CO2 emissions than diesel ones

Electric vehicles in Germany account for more CO2 emissions than diesel
ones, according to a study by German scientists. When CO2 emissions
linked to the production of batteries and the German energy mix - in
which coal still plays an important role - are taken into consideration,
electric vehicles emit 11% to 28% more than their diesel counterparts,
according to the study, presented on Wednesday at the Ifo Institute in
Munich.

Mining and processing the lithium, cobalt and manganese used for
batteries consume a great deal of energy. A Tesla Model 3 battery, for
example, represents between 11 and 15 tonnes of CO2. Given a lifetime of
10 years and an annual travel distance of 15,000 kilometres, this
translates into 73 to 98 grams of CO2 per kilometre, scientists
Christoph Buchal, Hans-Dieter Karl and Hans-Werner Sinn noted in their
study.

The CO2 given off to produce the electricity that powers such vehicles
also needs to be factored in, they say.

When all these factors are considered, each Tesla emits 156 to 180 grams
of CO2 per kilometre, which is more than a comparable diesel vehicle
produced by the German company Mercedes, for example.

The German researchers therefore take issue with the fact that European
officials view electric vehicles as zero-emission ones. They note
further that the EU target of 59 grams of CO2 per km by 2030 corresponds
to a “technically unrealistic” consumption of 2.2 litres of diesel or
2.6 litres of gas per 100 kms.

These new limits pressure German and other European car manufacturers
into switching massively to electric vehicles whereas, the researchers
feel, it would have been preferable to opt for methane engines, “whose
emissions are one-third less than those of diesel motors.”

Oscar Schneider
The Brussels Times

I suppose it all depends on which side of the fence you sit whether you believe the hype or not.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

You could always subscribe to the Yahoo Group for Myford lathes.

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/myfordlathes/info

Dave
The Emerald Isle

Also, the ball bearings are top quality.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

Probably an old one for the Brits, but here in Ireland the phone rings. I answer it. No one speaks. Hang up phone. The caller is obviously hoping I will call him back and be charged some exorbitant rate for the privilege. Get wife to call the house phone from her mobile thereby ensuring the phone line is not open.

Another recent one is a scam call coming from a local number. (My local land line number is only 5 digits) On answering it, the Indian sounding voice goes into his repertoire. How can they get hold of a local number from (presumably) India? The phone provider does not appear to give a damn because calling their help line nobody answers! The gards and local radio station have been informed.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

I wish I could get insurance for my workshop here in Ireland. I've numerous brokers, but nobody will entertain insuring contents of 'outbuildings' on a domestic property for more than 3000eu. I contacted Walter Midgely to see if they had any contacts over here, but drew a blank on that one.

Still wouldn't move away, though!

Dave
The Emerald Isle

Thanks for the updated suggestions.

I'll see the exact size I need when I get to that stage, but I may well get away with the M3 size. With no detailed photos, who will notice the odd few thou difference!

Dave
The Emerald Isle

Apologies for not being clearer with the dimensions.

I'm not worried about loading capability as it will be 'decorative'. Internal diameter of eye will be 1/4". Bar thickness commensurate with diameter to 'look the part'.

David, I tried using a screw eye and fitting a 'washer' to the bottom of the eye to hide the join, but didn't like the result. Your method is one that I originally thought about doing it and will probably end up doing it that way.

Good suggestion, George, but unfortunately they are too large.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

I want to make a lifting eye, the diameter of the ring is about 1/4".

I can't think where to get a ring of that sort of size that I could solder to a stem and I don't think I could bend a bar neatly enough to form the ring.

Any suggestions, please?

Dave
The Emerald Isle

If you are desperate to get a set of Quorn castings, you could always import some from the USA.

http://www.martinmodel.com/MMPtools-subfiles/Quorn/tools-quorn.html

Sorry, Can't help with a UK supplier.

Dave
The Emerald Isle