Member postings for magpie

Welcome from a retired coachbuilder in South Cheshire. Ask any question and stand by for at least a score of contradictory answers. Most folk have their own way of doing things, and their own preference for new or old machinery. Just chose the answer you think will work for you.

I made some PVC bushes for a standard lamp I am making. I wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.

Cheers, Dek.

Many times I have tried to coordinate saddle and cross slide to turn curves, all have ended in failure. After watching the video, it occurred to me that it might be possible to remove the cross slide leadscrew and move the slide by hand.

I am probably talking rubbish here but I may just try it sometime to see what results I get. I believe our A&E dept are not too busy.

Derek.

It's surprising how many people don't know how to insert an ER collet into the nut.

Hi Jamie. I had a MD65 some years ago but sold it when I needed to work bigger things. There is plenty of good advice on here about any problems you may have. Regarding cutting tools, I use both HSS & tipped tools but these days I only use HSS for plastics. Lots of tipped tools to be had from lots of suppliers and my main reason for using them is because I am getting very lazy in my old age, and can't be bothered re-grinding HSS despite having a Quorn. JB cutting tools would be a good place to look for tipped tools and their various tips for different jobs. I have no connection to them, just a satisfied customer.

Excuse me while I just go and bury my fibre optic clock and give up my workshop. Absolutely incredible.

Austin, good advice from Dave, and an excellent choice to buy from Arc Euro. Our local Men in Sheds bought a mini lathe from them about 4 years ago, it really gets tested by some of the most ham fisted blokes I have ever encountered and is still running well. Although my machines a bigger, I have been buying tooling from Arc Euro for very many years and always found the very helpful and good on price. No connection to the company, just a satisfied customer.

Dek.

Hi Derek. I am not really into clocks, but I did teach myself to use a lathe, with a lot of help from this forum, whilst building my Electro-Mechanical Fibre Optic Clock.

You can see how useful the forum was if you take a look at my build thread in the clocks section.

I had never used a lathe or milling machine prior to building the clock and some of the strange shapes were my way of experimenting with ways of using the two machines. I am still learning with the help of all the many very skilled men on here.

Cheers, Dek.

Emgee, the same thing happened to a tin full I had some years ago, but I bought some in a plastic bottle from the Midlands show a few years ago. It is still clean with no leaks.

Thanks to Mike Poole for the info, and to mechman48 for the laugh.

The nuts and threaded tube are new ones and were by my standards expensive, which is why I didn't want to try something I have never done before with them, IE solder on zinc plating.

A simple question. Is it possible to soft solder BZP items. I want to solder some BZP nuts onto some BZP threaded tube. I have a small solder bath, and both bakers fluid and solder paste. Would this be possible of should I use Locktite.

Dek.

Neil, Ketan has in the past given full explanations of the cost, and reasons for not attending the shows. I know his explanations to be true because I owned a company some years ago, that specialised in exhibition work. Although I complained about the catering, it was more a case of it not coping too well with the number of visitors, rather than the quality of the food. I enjoyed the show, and I attend both the Midland and Doncaster shows whenever my health allows. It would be a great loss if we were to lose either one.

Dek.

With regard to the age of those attending, I am 79 and the shows are one of the few places where I don't feel my age. Being surrounded by other senior citizens means I don't stand out as an old codger.

I went on Thursday and was not far short of being crushed to death. To say it was packed is an understatement. I agree with all the above comments about the catering, it was abysmal. Mark has it right when he says it is not in the same league as the Harrogate or now Doncaster shows. I confess that my main reason for going to the shows these days, is to top up on bits and pieces and tooling, although there are very few bargains to be had. Gone are the days when lots of traders were competing with each other by bringing down the prices. I like to see things before I buy so it's a shame that the traders are being priced out of attending.

If any of you spot the bloke on the left at the Midlands show on Thursday, say hello Dek. I don't bite because I have no teeth. The photo is of me showing a trustee of AgeUK how my fibre optic clock works.

Wait until Adam Stevenson is better, and advertise on the Homeworkshop site. I have never failed to sell and get a fair price on there.

Dek.

Thanks Stew.

Would the organizers like me to bring my clock if I can persuade a mate to bring me. ???

Hi Lee,

Welcome to the forum. You should find plenty to interest you here, and lots of advice on any problems you may have regarding model engineering. Lots of clubs around the country hold open days to show of their efforts, but there are 3 main exhibitions each year. The northern one is in Doncaster early in the year, another is in the midlands later in the year, and one in London close to the new year. I am sure some members will add more info about them.

For places to visit re the industrial revolution, most are in the north and midlands and it would take a very long time to list them all. I hope you do come over again and enjoy our very rich heritage.