What did you do today? (2014)

[Raymond Sanderson 2Participant @raymondsanderson2]

Posted by Peter Tucker on 09/06/2014 21:01:58:

Raymond Sanderson said

Just wish I had facility to melt down the Ali casting for further use …..

Hi Raymond,

You don't require too meany facilities to melt Ali. A wood fire will do.

Peter.

Thanks Peter

A wood fire? you do realise your swearing at me don't you burning wood only happens here if my woodturnings become such disasters I can't save them there have been a few .
Then using LOML's cast iron pots would be a fate worse than .

Peter I must say even been in a wheelchair now days to get about wouldn't stop me if it could come together maybe one day.

[Raymond Sanderson 2Participant @raymondsanderson2]

Posted by Bob Brown 1 on 09/06/2014 21:20:41:

I've done it out in the garden, wood fire and an old cast iron pot or at least I thought it was an old pot, others had a different view.

At least I got to keep the pot and it and was handy for making fishing weights out of lead

Wind turbines! I hate them, as you still have to have the ability to generate power when there is no wind, to much wind or wrong type of wind. Tidal now that's a better idea

**LINK** to se how much of the tax payers money is actually generating

Edited By Bob Brown 1 on 09/06/2014 21:26:29

Bob see my post to Peter above. One day maybe as I just remembered a friend is retiring soon building his new shed to do ……..Model Engineering, so maybe if he sets up a furnace etc I'll be there with bells on assisting. ATM he's off galavanting about the Aussie outback.

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

Bob Brown: Thanks for sharing your sentiment regarding wind power, and for the useful link. As one who lives in an area cursed by wind farms, I agree entirely. What will I do today? probably go down to the beach, watch the tide flow strongly in and out as it does every day without fail, and curse over the stupidity of politicians and pseudo-scientists. That's my old man's grumpy fit over for today!

[ChrisHParticipant @chrish]

Did the link to see what the "tax payers money is actually generating" – what a confirmation of the total waste of money in wind power. Always thought them a waste of time, when you want electricity because it is cold in winter then the cold is usually because of a high pressure area sitting over us, which means no wind and hence no power, when the wind does blow then if too much the windy genny is stopped to save it from catching fire, blowing up, self destructing, whatever, complete waste of time and money as well as a blight on the countryside, usually in what was a place of "outstanding natural beauty". Never mind, it has made the PC brain dead pollies happy.

So endth todays rant!

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

Chris, now I'm an old guy in my 70s, I can promise you that there's nothing like a good early-morning rant to start the day on the right foot!

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Oh the subject of “renewable”…

One of the problems has and dare I say always will be storing the energy from when available to when its needed…
UK policy with feedin tariffs side steps the issue…don’t store energy ..store money. …
Ok from the individual point of view.. ( neglecting the ethics of the feedin bribe)…
But if enough people adopt this ( and probably all photovoltaic).. this will make worse one of the CEGB ‘s problems (or whatever they are called) of variation in DEMAND especially with micro generation. ..when the country as a whole needs most power (at say the end of corrie)….
And the cegb can’t store energy by using feedin tariffs. ..
What is needed is a good way of storing mega watt hours of energy…short of say fossil fuels…

[John McNamaraParticipant @johnmcnamara74883]

Yep Mike

And even better another rant with morning tea…..

Keep the Bast..ds honest!

Come to think of it I can think of a few more.

Regards
John

[Swarf, Mostly!Participant @swarfmostly]

Gentlemen,

I'd like to emphasize the reason for my request to John – his visit offers an opportunity for us to get a useful eye witness report (should he agree) as to whether the Chinese are building wind turbines and installing them on their own territory.

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Today I bought some good quality Japanese made Nachi bearings for my Chinese Craftmaster drill press that has drilled probably less than 100 holes since new.

The Chinese originals were shockers. Noisy as anything and letting the spindle flop about the place. Pure unadulterated junk. When my son knocked them out of the drill body and we washed them out, they were notchy and rattly and just horrid. Plus the top quill bearing was good and loose in the housing and obviously had been spinning the outer race.

We also turned up and fitted a bronze bush in the top pulley bearing sleeve above the spline to stop the spindle from flopping about in the rather loose splines.

There is still a couple of thou slack between the quill and the main body but I think we can live with that if the bearings are running true, and quiet. Not worth faffing about sleeving the quill or slitting the body and putting in a pinch bolt – not much meat there – for the sake of a couple thou. Might have a look at putting a couple of brass grub screws in the body to hold the quill steady if it gets to be a problem.

Disappointing that this virtually new machine needs more TLC than our 75 year old Drummond lathe — which still has its original bearings running well.

Looking forward to sitting and quietly drilling a few holes…

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

I believe that the worlds "energy future" will rely almost entirely on that big flaming ball in the sky. Wind and tidal power will become jokes of the past when "solar" really kicks in.

Rik

[DullnoteParticipant @dullnote]

Ok about. Renewables, I have solar power, it is great, nothing to do with saving the plant, all the money I generate goes to my workshop, starting to build up nice wee shop. Thanks to the government keep up the good work

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Yes spotted a few round Shanghai but it's probably not a good indicator as not been that far out of the city.

Leave tomorrow to fly up north of Beijing to a more industrialised area so perhaps they are more popular there.

The ones I have seen so far are more like an earlier generation of what we have now in regards to blade size and hight.

[John McNamaraParticipant @johnmcnamara74883]

Interesting Hopper….

I have an Asian drill press it is named Rexon. Nothing particularly special about it has a 2mt socket in the spindle and a round rotatable table which I like. I have had it for around 30 years it being my first workshop tool. The quill is still tight in the main casting and everything works the bearings are original. Actually quite a sweet machine with a nice light action. I guess it is the luck of the draw. Or maybe the factory that turned these out cared more than others.

Are other users of this brand happy or am I just lucky to get a well built one?

Regards
John

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Clive,

So much for the Govts inflation bull manure statements/figures!

I just need to see how food prices keep going up to know what a lie that is.

Govt figures are meaningless!

Rant over, so something more interesting.

Spent last night in the Garage figuring out how to mount the el cheapo 14v PowerDevel drill to be able to connect it to the BH600G's Feed Rod, so gave up to do something easy.

Suggestions anyone please on mounting the drill as grey cells are on strike.

Does anyone have any idea of the drill's wattage?

Made a start on making a few more SkyHooks as that was a lot easier on the grey cells.

The Garage was a pleasure to work in at around 23°C. Insulation and the aircon helped.

Finished bang on mid-night.

Geoff – Time for cheese on toast & a cup of coffee from newly roasted beans

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

John. I have a Rexon vertical milling machine M-3 taper. I had to replace the top bearing, other than that it has been serviceable rather than precision, but considering that when I bought it I knew nothing about mills, or what I was going to use it for, all I needed at that time was a drill press. Ian S C

[Nigel McBurney 1Participant @nigelmcburney1]

I bought my Fobco 1/2 inch cap drill new £52 in 1968 and it is still going strong,it was expensive considering a Myford 7 was £72 basic ,with chucks ,motor ,l/screwhand wheel etc they came to £120 , About 20 years ago I bought a little used 3mt Meddings ,second hand for £325 which has been a superb drill ,one inch capacity and 100 rpm bottom speed (ideal For reaming). Cant beat english built products.

Spent the morning strimming around the place Strimmer on wheels 6 hp engine 4mm cord bit lethal but it does work well ,trouble is it getting a bit hard nowadays to find the energy to push it.

[davebParticipant @daveb17630]

Posted by Mike on 10/06/2014 08:57:27:

Chris, now I'm an old guy in my 70s, I can promise you that there's nothing like a good early-morning rant to start the day on the right foot!

That's nothing! I can keep a good moan going all day

Meldrews rule!

[“Bill Hancox”Participant @billhancox]

The sea run of speckled trout are now in the New Brunswick streams and rivers. Yesterday I packed up the Dodge Nitro and took the Bombardier ATV over to my favorite pool on the crystal clear Taxis River. Saw 6 whitetail deer on the river and an enormous black bear. I always take a couple of cans of my favorite grain beverage to drop in the spring next to the pool. Came home with 5 dandy trout, the biggest being 16". The wife and I had a sumptuous gorge for dinner with fried potatoes/onions. Life is good.
Cheers (Burp!)

Bill

[“Bill Hancox”Participant @billhancox]

Posted by Nigel McBurney 1 on 10/06/2014 14:57:50:

I bought my Fobco 1/2 inch cap drill new £52 in 1968 and it is still going strong,it was expensive considering a Myford 7 was £72 basic ,with chucks ,motor ,l/screwhand wheel etc they came to £120 , About 20 years ago I bought a little used 3mt Meddings ,second hand for £325 which has been a superb drill ,one inch capacity and 100 rpm bottom speed (ideal For reaming). Cant beat english built products.

Spent the morning strimming around the place Strimmer on wheels 6 hp engine 4mm cord bit lethal but it does work well ,trouble is it getting a bit hard nowadays to find the energy to push it.

Nigel

I certainly agree. with your opinion of English machines. However, they are not worth a hill of beans unless they have been properly used and maintained.

Bill

[GaryMParticipant @garym]

Day off work today.

I hardened and tempered the spot facing tool I started yesterday. Honed the cutting edge and then tried it on the S50 casting. I'm reasonably happy with the results considering it was a first attempt and I didn't really know what I was doing. Slippery slope this making tools – that way madness lies.

Gary

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

> Cant beat English built products.

People only remember the good quality British products because the cheaper end of the market ones have mostly disappeared. I won't raise the Adept again as it was systematically demolsihed in a recent thread!

The 'Wizard' lathe of 1949 would have cost £9 4/- 9d, with inflation that's rather more than the £250 C0 baby lathe today, which is probably the 'closest' Far Eastern equivalent.

Quite honestly, I think few people would put them side by side and claim that the 'Wizard' was a superior machine, especially as it came with only a faceplate and no motor.

For comparison, an ML7, sans motor, was £37 in 1946, equating to about £1,340 today. I doubt if a 'Wizard' would have held it's value in the way a Myford can.

But, like its far-eastern equivalents, I'm sure that the Wizard provided the only viable route into the hobby for some.

Neil

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Too right Neil.
Take the Winfield lathe, built in an old stable block behind a house in Long Eaton.
Beds were milled, no grinding or scraping.
The spindle thread was put on with a Coventry die head.
No instruction book or test certificate issued, in fact it was that hand to mouth operation that anything went out the door.
The carriage went the wrong way because they were too mean to include an idler gear in the train to make it go the correct way.

They were not unique, the Poole’s lathe, Randa,Zyto were all built to the same standard or rather price.
A fact that rosy coloured glasses seems to miss out nowadays.

Edited By John Stevenson on 10/06/2014 22:39:19

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Please Sir[s]

Is it O.K. if I keep my Pultra ?

MichaelG.

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Certainly NOT !!!

You must give it to me AT ONCE!!!!

Norman

[julian atkinsParticipant @julianatkins58923]

i have a friend who has a Winfield lathe and it is far superior to the old Myfords.

so far as Winfields are concerned they are very good IMHO.

i think John is a bit too dismissive re same.

cheers,

julian

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