Mine is a £20 set from Amazon, they have been a godsend for close up work, although I do very little now.

In March 2020 I woke up unable to focus my eyes, long story but had an 'Eye stroke' and was diagnosed with severe double vision. Rectified by stick on prism lenses on my glasses to start, then after 6 months got proper prism glasses. Had to hand in my driving licence, although I had already decided not to renew it when I was 82.

I do struggle now, 3 seperate pairs of glasses to cope with reading, long distance and pair of bifocals for using my laptop and watching telly. Needless to say, I never have the right pair on!

At work they use a 1990's Gerber Dimension CNC router with a Perske high speed motor to cut it, using a HS cutter, very little cleaning up required afterwards. Also used with a V cutter through the top layer and core for bending purposes. For general straight cutting they use a DeWalt table saw with a fine TC blade.

On a lighthearted note, working in a country ironmongers in the 50's, we often got new apprentices coming into the shop asking for the like of glass hammers, long rests, post holes, sparks for grinders and others items I have fogotten over the years!

My late FIL waa an upper turrent gunner in a RAF B17 bomber, Pretty sure he told us he had an electrically heated suit, maybe that will be the answer. Loved the seat warmer in my car when I could drive, but an eye stroke a couple of years ago put an end to my driving.

When we were engraving brass or aluminium, we used black cellelose paint , cleaned off with cellelose thinners and polished. You could get it in small quantities those days (1/2 pints!), but it does not seem to be readily available these days.

I've been using Outlook.live.com for several years now, Works fine on Windows, tablet and Chromebook. Love my Chromebook, srarts in seconds, not minutes like windows! Its a touchscreen model, ideal when I'm drawing/sketching on it.

I recently gave my collection of aircraft and train books to a friend who is a U3A member, he is reading them and then handing them on to other members of the 2 groups.

Edited By Adam Mara on 23/10/2021 11:06:39

Looks like its a part for the modern Unimat 1 Cool Tool 6 in 1, the question is, will It fit an old Unimat?

And another vote for ACM sheet, but would opt for 5mm rather than 2 or 3mm. Depending on budget, you can stick printed vinyl sheet to it, or even have it printed on directly. Unfortunately sheet they use at work is in short supply at the moment, and the prices keeps rising.

I've been happy witth my PEAKMETER PM18C Digital Handheld Intelligent Multimeter from Amazon, its around £25. Much prefer it to my dads old Avometer or my homebuilt Heathkit Multimeter, both like bricks!

Thanks Alan

It did not sound like the Lancaster, and I believe the Lanc is being repaired and is due back in Coningsby anytime. Seen Sally B fly over a couple of times in previous years, and also saw her at Duxford. B17's have a special place in my heart, my FIL was an air gunner in a B17 of 214 squadron doing RCM, has grandson still has some of the chaff/window they dropped.

Anyone know what large 4 engined prop aircraft flew over south Lincs around 3pm this afternoon? Unfortunatley I had an 'eye stroke' last year and my distant eyesight is just a blur, so I was unable to recognise it.

My SIL was cycling by RAF Coningsby on Sunday and said a couple of Spitfires landed while he was waiting at the traffic lights, he's not up on aircraft recognition, so one could have been a Hurricane!

In 1953 my friends and I cycled to RAF Coningsby for the BofB show, as a Metoer made a low level pass over the airfield it broke up, killing the pilot and injuring 2 spectators. Being lads, as we left we were all questioned that we had not picked up any debris. Think I might be a bit of a Jonah, we were at Goodwood in 1962 when Stirling Moss had his bad crash!

I have a copy of 'The Boy Electician' from 1948, and there is a chapter on building a bell with 2 coils, if you go on the self build route!

I had a similar problem on my Chester lathe, turned out to be a bad connection on the push on connector for the emergency stop button. Don't know if you get 'dry joints' on those connectors, but my dad was a keen radio amateur and was always complaining about soldered dry joints!

Gravograph Gravostrat may be something like you need, used it when I was working, think it was 1.5mm and 3mm thick, needs to be machine engraved wiuth a carbide cutter. If I remember correctly, came in 4' x 2' sheets, but no idea on the price these days. My sons run the business these days, and they are always complaining about material shortages and big price increases!

https://www.gravotech.co.uk/products/materials-consumables/engraving-materials/gravostrat

Try:

NEWTRY S/N:10083 Indexable Tool Rest/Horizontal Slider

A cool £280 on Amazon!

Application tape is probably the answer. Its a low tack adhesive paper used to hold vinyl lettering spacing in situ when applying to the final surface.. No good as a long term solution as the adhesive grips more over time! Lots for sale on Ebay, if you want a sample PM me!

Depending on the precision required, how about a 19mm reduced shank drill bit from Toolstation @£4.69?

It was, and was recieved 2 days later!

I ended up with severe double vision, corrected by very expensive prism lenses. A pair for reading, a bifocal pair for computer use and watching telly and finally a long distance pair. Cost more than a years car insurance, tax disc and servicing combine!