What did you do today? (2014)

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Gordon, I agree whole heartedly, 99% of work can be done with HSS, we are not doing piece work in a factory.

Ian S C

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

When I have to get a 43mm disc out of 2" square stock, I'm going to go as fast as I can

I'm getting used to using CCMT tips now, and I think they do have a place in even a beginner's workshop – the tool I bought with two spare tips was the same costs as a set of HSS tools. They are very different to use, but can give great results on small lathes.

But I managed fine with just HSS for 15 years, aside from some crude brazed carbide for hard spots.

Neil

[Anonymous]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 23/11/2014 19:40:56:

Well tomorrow I will go to my local stockholder and hopefully get some useful EN1a(Pb) in some useful sizes.

Neil

In round bar form? Saves knocking the corners off.

It's true that EN1A machines well, but it doesn't last as the darn stuff seems to rust almost immediately even when it is cosseted by being in the house rather than workshop.

Andrew

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Touch wood, I don't seem to have any rust issues. I thought using the workshop as my office might mean some condensation, but the extra heat seems to stop any problems. Also, anything leaving my lathe usually has a light surface coating of neat cutting oil.

Neil

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Neil,

You are far far too young to join us 'Brain fade' group!

Geoff – Youngsters today! Dear me!

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Blimey Geoff !!!

I've been very involved with a new computer for a few days and, when catching up with a few forum posts, I came across your offering on this thread….. :-

" Every time I reached across the spinning chuck I would castigate myself for being stupid. "

Please take care not to "castigate" yourself at any time but especially not by leaning across your lathe!

Norman

[ChrisHParticipant @chrish]

I'm still wondering what "a bit of bare wall" (Neil's comment of two days ago) looks like. Why do you find those Neil?

Chris

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Nice set up for your holders John, As with most of us I used what was to hand & what felt easiest for me, but it's worth bearing in mind when I consider a remodel of my garage possibly next year.

George

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Chris, If you move your lathe away from the wall you will find some hiding there. However if you rotate the lathe 90 degrees you can observe it for a short while before it expires.

George above seems to have found a rare breed that is immune to the normal workshop atmospheric environment. This breed lives in symbiosis with rare modellers who are missing the 'thatmightcomeinhandyoneday' gene.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Chris,

I'll tell you what it looks like if I find one.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Earlier I reported loosing a packet of adjusting rings I was making two ring spanners for.

Good news, I found the packet.

Bad news, I've lost one of the ring spanners. I've now spent more time searching than it would take to make another, but I'm too bloody-minded to do that!

Neil

[Martin CottrellParticipant @martincottrell21329]

Neil,

I believe this is due to Sod's second law of Loss Equilibrium which states that for every lost item that is found there will be an equal and opposite loss created. Try losing something you don't need and your spanner might just turn up!

Regards Martin.

[DMBParticipant @dmb]

Neil,

When the thieving elf appears saying, "Neil, I`ve found your spanner", crown the little b****r with it!

John.

[Raymond Sanderson 2Participant @raymondsanderson2]

Back to the topic of Carbide tooling at a recent Hare & Forbes sale I ended up buying a 7 piece set for the Myford even after being advised by a machinist that HSS would suffice all my needs. I agree whole heartedly model engineers home hobbyists even manufacturing have done so for many years So why did I buy them? Simple answer is no need to sharpen angles are set for me and the finish should be better than what I can produce on a cutting edge grinding HSS due to my hands.
The other mater is they have a reach factor that HSS tooling on small items would mean maybe a bit more over hang than should be putting things to close for comfort.

I did last year buy HSS tool holders for the same reasons, I do and will still use HSS tooling for all general work though.

I guess over all price had a lot to do with it.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

> crown the little b****r with it!

He'll have to be pretty little, it's only 2 1/2" long.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

For those who don't follow the Mega Adept thread I have to post this update. many people have upgraded Adepts, but this may soon be the first one with back gear!

Neil

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

I've been working on a Mark 2 version of my compact toolpost spindle. This time, it's going to be a two-speed, geared version with a revised layout to give improved accessibility on the lathe. Also, I've decided that I'll draw it all up in CAD beforehand, as the design is going to be somewhat trickier that the Mark 1. I've just about completed that part – lucky I did because I found that the bearings I'd intended to use wouldn't fit, so I ordered new bearings and they arrived today. This spurred me on to a bit more metal munching with the result that the spindle itself is finished – all except for the nose thread and the collet bore. I've only done a couple of threading operations in the lathe before, so I'm hoping I don't jigger up all the effort I've put into the spindle already. Hope to do the threading tomorrow after "The Archers" omnibus. In the meantime the lathe has been readied by setting over the compound slide to 29° using my home made gauge.

Then rotate the angle gauge 90° and align the compound with it:

Tighten everything up and set the tool 90° to the work and away you go! This will be the first time I've tried screwcutting with the compound set over so that should be fun. If all goes well, I'll post a picture either here or in my album. If it doesn't go well, I'll own up, after I've stopped crying.

All being well, however, I shall be using the same piece of kit to set the compound over to 8° to bore the collet taper and I'm going to try using the Mark 1 spindle to finish it with a light grind – also a "first" for me. Wish me luck!

John

[Martin CottrellParticipant @martincottrell21329]

Picked up my completed 4" Little Samson boiler from Wayne Bell in Gloucestershire yesterday. A thing of beauty and far heavier than I was expecting! Spent about an hour & a half chatting to Wayne about all things traction engine over a cup of coffee. A really nice guy and so enthusiastic about what he does, a real pleasure to deal with him!

Martin.

[Michael HornerParticipant @michaelhorner54327]

Fitted my replacement PSU for my CNC PC and it all worked. Marvelous.

To prove it wasn't a fluke I machined some parts for work!

Cheers Michael.

[David ColwillParticipant @davidcolwill19261]

Over the last couple of days I made two magic wands. They had to have a small pyro in the end which lights when you press a button. I used E-cigarette batteries which have the button built in to provide power. These batteries are worth looking at if you need a compact easily charged battery. I think they are lithium ion or lithium polymer. The ones I used are called vision spinners and give an output of 3.3V – 4.8V. There is some kind of short circuit protection built in but I don't know how that kicks in.

Although they work fine and everyone seems happy with them, they aren't quite right. I've been waving and wishing quite a lot but as yet haven't noticed any improvement in the tidiness of the workshop .

Regards.

David.

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

That's only the lathe corner guys; the rest of the walls have accumulated various boxes, shelves, stuff hung on screws/nails etc. I have certainly not lost 'thatmightcomeinhandyoneday gene… just ask SWMBO who often says 'what do you want that for' ?, I am still in the 'accumulation' phase of retirement,… ask me again this time next year where I'm sure all available space will be accounted for.

What I am trying to avoid is the inevitable conflict with the workshop elves who are omnipresent at all times when I / we put something down & I/we end up with 'now where did I put that 'flippin' vernier… oh yeh it's in my top pocket' … is that a sign of 'brain fade' ?… methinks so .

George

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

With the Archers finished for another week, it was out to the garage to cut the thread. Easy does it and I must say, for a beginner, I'm quite proud how it's turned (no pun intended) out.

Just got to bore and finish grind the collet bore and I can get onto cutting the gears.

John

 

Edited By John Hinkley on 30/11/2014 11:39:39

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

> I think they are lithium ion or lithium polymer. The ones I used are called vision spinners and give an output of 3.3V – 4.8V.

Beware, there many instances of people who make their own 'e-cigs' setting fire to these things. Apparently it's almost always because they use a 5V USB charger instead of a proper lithium battery charger.

Neil

[lancelotParticipant @lancelot]

Hi folks…spent the past day or two fitting a new sight glass and getting the ''Beast'' my big Stuart boiler ready for work……sorted out some glitches with the 10v …now running well….would some one please give me an Idiots guide to setting the timing ''step by step'' on this very Cranky Score……OK I pulled it about a bit when I refurbished and painted it…it's back together now and turns freely the fine setting adjuster thingys had locked them selves to the crank shaft so the timing needs to be completely reset……Coombes on hold until I find out the correct Gib adjustment procedure for the Cowells mill.

John.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, today I bought a new tool centre. I need a new tool box for my spanners at work, but was unable to find anything that I regarded as suitable, I hate those cantaliver type and I didn't want anything plastic. I have a nice two draw one for all my nice clean spanners that I keep indoors at home, so I bought the new tool centre from a well known high street retailer whose name begins wirth H and sells car parts and push bikes ect., which they are currently selling for £79.99 instead of £150.00. It's not a pro one, but for the money it is really good value IMO and not flimsy like some of the cheap ones that are available. I hasten to say I have no connection with this retailer, other than giving them money when they have things that I need.

Once it was out of the box, the bottom had to be removed from the bottom unit and the top unit taken out of the area where the two doors are and then the bottom was put back on and the castors fitted and the lifting handles on both sides of the top unit were also fixed on.

This one will stay at home indoors with all my nice clean spanners ect. and I can use my two draw one for work.

Regards Nick.

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