Milling from a sheet

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Clive surely Geoff’s reason for doing it on the mill is so all 4 edges can be cut at one setting so ensuring all corners are square, by moving it after each cut there is more potential for error. Provides teh size was within the mills x-y capacity I would do it without disturbing the work if possible.

 

J

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

The point I was trying to make Jason was to get the piece cut out without a lot of complication, dressing it up after to acceptable squareness is quite easy.

There is a way of improving the parallelism, put a straight piece of metal in one of the slots and with a couple of screws through it force it against the edge of the slot.

This then acts as a fence to put the good edges against ensuring that the opposite sides are parallel.

Using a square to set it the other way will give acceptable accuracy, it always has for me anyway.

 

Clive

[wheeltapperParticipant @wheeltapper]

Posted by Clive Hartland on 09/11/2011 16:58:35:

 

 

 

SNIP Dont know about braas though. SNIP

 

Clive

 

 

theres got to be a joke in there somewhere, I just dont think I dare.

 

Roy

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

my keyboard is a bit diffy and I must replace it as its about 5 years old.

Anyway Bras is not spelt braas is it?

 

Clive, a sensitive soul!

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, (also sorry to digress) but after reading the posts about the “Goscut” I just had to go and find mine, which was originally my late farthers. My one has the last blade that I used in it some, can’t remember, long time ago, the other two blades are somewhere in an old toolbox, no doubt. The first picture below shows it in action cutting a piece of 0.4 mm shim steel, and the secound with the piece of shim steel cut in two, with the resultant curl of steel that Clive mentioned. I agree with Clive that they were a bit hard on your hand if used for any lenth of time, but they were revolutionary when they first appeared for the DIY’er.

 

 

Regards Nick.

[The Merry MillerParticipant @themerrymiller]

 

Just seen a lovely set on Flea-bay for £18, just right for the connoeseur.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Goscut-Sheet-Cutting-Tool-Photo-/150694998107?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item23161f305b

 

Len. P.

 

 

 

 

[wheeltapperParticipant @wheeltapper]

Sorry Clive, I couldn’t resist that.

 

 

I’ve still got my dads goscut somwhere with all the blades and I’ve got a ‘nibbler’ that fitted on the end of an electric drill.

Roy.

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

I remember using a nibbler tool called a “MONODEX” back in the 80’s, which looked as if it worked on the same principle as the GOSCUT. Just Googled it and you can still get them.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I have a pair of shears that work on the same principle, but the mechanics of the tool is the same as Aviation Snips, can’t remember where they came from, they take out a strip about 3 mm wide. Ian S C

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

The problem I find with the Goscut, is that it gives a slightly crinkly and bent edge to the metal which thus requires filing down. Otherwise, as others have said, it can be tiring to use.

 

Useful in the main for shim material only.

Peter G. Shaw

[Billy MillsParticipant @billymills]

The Monodex nibbler has an easier action than the Gosscut and will nibble thin steel very well. The big disadvantage with nibblers is that they tend to mark both sides of the cut.

 

Electric and air nibblers can be very useful in roughing out however the little crescent nibblings are very sharp and nasty!

 

Billy.

[alan frostParticipant @alanfrost17805]

I don’t usually join in these reminiscing sessions I’m far too young at 68, but I never throw anything away and as cutting large sheets is a perpetual challege I have a working Goscut (mit all blades and instructions), a monodex, a nibbler, two reciprocating saws , several angle grinders and of course the usual array of machine tools with relevant accessories. Which one gets used depends on thickness and size of sheet ( or young plate ). I’m not a model engineer and sometimes need to cut big sizes from thick sheets altho my full size Titanic has been put on hold until I can get some bending rolls able to tackle 3 inch plate in very large sizes (they did exist ).Firm in I think Kilmarnock made them and probably others too. Legend has in when rolling a 3 inch thick 10 feet by 10 feet plate the rumble was held and felt in Australia (I made that last bit up).

Agree with Billy about nibblers and its the very devil to clamp a straight edge to a large sheet to work against. The vibrations always loosen the clamps (although they can only be heard in S. Liberia ). I made that last bit up too.

The reciprocating saw is amazingly good for sheet/Plate thicknesses over say about 2 mm , the thicker the better really altho also slower. Zero distortion too and almost zero heat. Does loosen your teeth a bit.

Edited By alan frost on 10/11/2011 15:32:06

Edited By alan frost on 10/11/2011 15:39:04

[john jennings 1Participant @johnjennings1]

 

I have two handles and a selection of blades which are not infrequently in use .

The Goscut is still a useful little tool for small jobs and if carefully adjusted to the correct (i.e. that which works best) clearance can give quite reasonably flat results. Apart from using it as a cutting tool it is also good at nibbling bits out of the side of sheet metal especially aluminum.

 

Like the Workmate it was an inventors tool (Mr Gos?) and eventually was bought up by a bigger manufacturer and then disappeared. It was quite good value at about 30 old shillings (£1.50)

 

 

John

[alan frostParticipant @alanfrost17805]

Clive , I think you’ll find the spelling braa is used for especially fine big girls as Eccles would have called them. Wish the Goscut had been around when I was courting.

[The Merry MillerParticipant @themerrymiller]

 

 

Surely Alan you wouldn’t have needed that for a nibble!!

 

Len. P.

 

[alan frostParticipant @alanfrost17805]

If anyone is after a goscut the ebay set noted well above looks a fine set although I don’t know that elfin pastry would be too happy about the box being untested.

Len, nibbles were, alas, not so easily obtainable in the late 50 s.

Edited By alan frost on 10/11/2011 16:50:45

[The Merry MillerParticipant @themerrymiller]

You’re dead right there Alan, they were like gold dust.

 

Len.

 

 

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Sorry for being a pine in the ask…

 

I have a set of Machine Mart nibblers like a cheap version of goscut. I cut the air duct for my Suffolk engine (see albums) out of an old storage heater with them, and yes Andy my hands were in a bad way afterwards. Worse still after I cut the end of the drainer off the stainless steel sink for our camper to make room for a loo!

 

For metal sheet up to about 3mm or 1/8″ I cut it with angle grinder, hacksaw (surprisingly easy with good blades) or my B&D jigsaw with a good HSS blade. I then tidy up the edges to the line in the mill, or draw file them.

 

Neil

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

I think Alan Frost might like these.

They might work for some of the smaller parts on a 1:1 scale Titanic, I look forward to seeing it at next years Sandown!

 

 

Edited By V8Eng on 11/11/2011 19:27:31

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Isn’t that a set of rolls and not a shear? Take you forever to cut anything with those.

 

Can’t see whats wrong with hand sawing it even if its a big sheet

 

 Or if you are feeling lazy then burn it out

 

J

Edited By JasonB on 11/11/2011 19:35:49

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

I was reading Alan’s post yesterday looking for a set of rolls for building his 1:1 scale Titanic.

 

Large sheets can be tricky without a generous supply of tea and biscuits, guess that’s where you’ve gone during the first photo.

 

 

Edited By V8Eng on 11/11/2011 19:46:46

[The Merry MillerParticipant @themerrymiller]

Are my eyes deceiving me or is that a “Shetack” sheet metal saw I spy embedded in some sheet steel in Jason’s first picture?

That brings back many happy memories. (sorry I’m reminiscing again)

 

I think it might be a lovely idea to create a “Memories” corner on this forum, what an incredible wealth of information and history could arise bringing many a tear to an Old Engineer’s eye!!

 

Len. P.

 

 

 

 

 

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Its not me doing the sawing. No not a shetack but an  Eclipse No 55. I’ve got a good one of him using a ratchet drill somewhere, see If I can track it down.

 

See if this brings back any memories, I’ve posted it before but quite relevant for a titanic builder

 

J

Edited By JasonB on 11/11/2011 20:06:50

[The Merry MillerParticipant @themerrymiller]

Fantastic pictures.

Couldn’t see a single pair of safety glasses.

 

Len.

 

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

“bringing many a tear to an Old Engineer’s eye”

 

“Couldn’t see a single pair of safety glasses.”

 

Yep, expect those masive bits of swarf bought tears to those engineers eyes as well but not in the same way!!

 

J

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