What did you do Today 2018

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Well its a lovely morning here in North Devon and I was out in the garden at 7.00am painting the new shed base with weather treatment. I used an oil based product similar to the old creosote as it soaks into the timber whereas the modern water based products just seem to lay on top.

Its a pity I have to wait until Thursday for the shed to arrive, with the weather we are having at the moment I could be bashing on and once the shed is in place and fitted out I can order the mini lathe….

[Bob McParticipant @bobmc91481]

I went to Blist industrial museum near Ironbridge, very interesting and lots to see and do.

I went to most of the exhibits and one in particular caught my attention .. the Hay Inclined Plane.. This was used to transfer material and small barges from a canal at the top of a hill down to the River Severn, a fall which would normally require around 27 locks.

The Inclined Plane is in effect like a funicular railway but when power was required to pull loads not balanced by the downward weight of another load a steam engine was used, the engine is long gone but some of the brick built housing is still there, I understand the engine built by Adam Heslop was a condensing one, but the thing I don't understand is that there appears to be two boilers…?

I have to admit that I do not have a great deal of knowledge about steam engines in general but could anyone explain why the need for two boilers..?

I found only one picture on the web a diorama at below… the two boilers are clearly seen and seem to be connected together.

rgds..Bob.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

–but the thing I don't understand is that there appears to be two boilers…?–

Probbly maintenance downtime, boilers are critical machines and problems cost money, many places ran 24/7

Boiler cleaning, so they run more efficiently, used to be done

Ships have extra units for the same reason

although…

The new Royal Navy Ship designers seem to have forgotten this simple rule

The "upgrade" is sneaking in an extra generator so the lights don't go out so easily

All critical systems need backups, or you will eventually get caught out

Edited By Ady1 on 10/06/2018 12:25:43

[Bob McParticipant @bobmc91481]

Thanks Ady…

yes that could explain it….funnily enough I worked on type 45's myself…but not with engines.

rgds..Bob.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

"Jones defended the design decision by saying that it would have been “poor value-for-money” to buy ships designed to weather any temperature. "

Oh good grief… you mean the Admiralty thought we don't need warships that can cross or operate in the tropics (or even a typical British summer, it seems)…

[Tony JeffreeParticipant @tonyjeffree56510]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 10/06/2018 15:21:14:

"Jones defended the design decision by saying that it would have been “poor value-for-money” to buy ships designed to weather any temperature. "

Oh good grief… you mean the Admiralty thought we don't need warships that can cross or operate in the tropics (or even a typical British summer, it seems)…

We are governed by a bunch of idiots. Situation normal.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Talking about not operating, my bandsaw has got increasingly reluctant to start over the year… it's finally dawned on me that the start cap has probably given up, so I've ordered one

Neil

[HOWARDTParticipant @howardt]

Spent a couple of hours trying to fix a digital readout bar with remote readout. Noticed a week ago that the readout wasn't changing although could feel the slide was moving. Took the bar reader apart, some small metal filings but nothing causing damage. Replaced batteries, readout still spasmodic even changing numbers without touching it. Scrap bin time, think I will use an indicator and slips when needed. Readout was probably a couple of years old and probably not travelled that far.

[Sam Longley 1Participant @samlongley1]

Posted by Bob Mc on 10/06/2018 14:47:39:

Thanks Ady…

yes that could explain it….funnily enough I worked on type 45's myself…but not with engines.

rgds..Bob.

One would assume that it is quite a while since our warships had sails instead of engines . You must be knocking on a bit

[Bob McParticipant @bobmc91481]

Ha Ha.. thanks Sam..

…."One would assume that is quite a while since our warships had sail instead of engines..You must be knocking on a bit ".

The knocking on a bit is unfortunately true…! it should have read…'but I didn't work with engines' I did the gubbins for the radome thingummibobs.

…Bob…

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

Had a shuftey round the car boot today and bought a pair of boxed digital scales – one of 300mm and one of 600mm. The 600mm is ok but the 300mm has been sitting for to long unused and is suffering from battery corrosion muck spreading onto the circuit board and its components. Had a quick google and it seems that white vinegar will deal with it. I'll get some in the morn and try. Be nice if I can fix it as the two could go on my WARCO BH600G. Anyway, £18 for the two did not seem to expensive.

Rik

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

Posted by Rik Shaw on 10/06/2018 20:39:43:

Had a shuftey round the car boot today and bought a pair of boxed digital scales – one of 300mm and one of 600mm. The 600mm is ok but the 300mm has been sitting for to long unused and is suffering from battery corrosion muck spreading onto the circuit board and its components. Had a quick google and it seems that white vinegar will deal with it. I'll get some in the morn and try. Be nice if I can fix it as the two could go on my WARCO BH600G. Anyway, £18 for the two did not seem to expensive.

Rik

I'm curious!

What sort of car boot sales have specialised or technical stuff for sale?

At all the boot sales I have been to, the stuff on sale is 99% household tat, ornaments and rubbish. I did once buy a length of brass tube (which I have not used yet) which was a garden insecticide spray. Its probably a 'vintage' item but not to me.

There have been many mentions of bargains bought by members of this forum but I'm not sure even what countries were involved.

Ian P

[ChrisHParticipant @chrish]

Weird. When ever I try to access the webpage provided by the link "Royal Navy Ship designers" Ady1 put up, I get a message saying denied access as the webpage is not accessible in my country. I'm in England, accessing from England, an article about the British Royal Navy. Weird. What don't they want me to know about?

Chris

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

Ian – Bog standard UK car boots is what I visit. True, most of the stuff on offer is of no interest to me but visiting up to four or five boots a week in the past meant that now and then a diamond would shine through the tat. The trick is to get there regularly and early.

I have to admit though that at 71 I am slowing down and I am no longer able to spring into action at five in the morn every Sunday. Talking about spring, three weeks ago I bought an ammunition box full of what looks like air gun springs for a quid – that was an unusual one!

My largest purchase ever was an Alba 1A shaper which I spotted dangling from a vehicle hiab at a local boot and no, it didn't fit in my boot! (They delivered it for me – see my album if interested).

Good luck and keep trying.

Rik

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

I have only been to boot sales on impulse and by chance and not having scoured local papers etc dont avail myself of any advance warning of when and where they are. Maybe I will try being an early bird (not that I have much room for more stuff!)

Ian P

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

Chris
the page is ok for me but I usually browse with javascript turned off (eg via noscript under Firefox) as often these geographical limitations tend to need javascript to work – not always as the BBC runs an advert laden set of pages for Yanks that is theoretically not available in UK

[DrDaveParticipant @drdave]

Posted by Sam Longley 1 on 10/06/2018 19:33:33

One would assume that it is quite a while since our warships had sails instead of engines

Some years ago, whilst working in Germany, I I had to travel to Toulon to catch a ride on the Charles de Gaulles aircraft carrier. Talking to a (German) colleague, I said that I had to leave to get the flight because we were due to sail the following day. He gave me a strange look, then said “Sail? But she is nuclear powered!” We forget where some of our language originates from.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I think boot sales are going to be rather different in an ex industrial area compared with a rural community, and probably rather larger. Normally I can't even see a box of spanners let alone anything more technical. Got one of those simple tin sack barrows on Saturday at the Cricket Club one mostly to encourage the seller who is a friend from the village to keep coming to support the club. The wheels need repair so most other buyers would be at a loss.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Frances IoM on 11/06/2018 10:52:54:
Chris
the page is ok for me but I usually browse with javascript turned off (eg via noscript under Firefox) as often these geographical limitations tend to need javascript to work – not always as the BBC runs an advert laden set of pages for Yanks that is theoretically not available in UK

Out of curiosity, how do the BBC treat the isle of Man? Do you get UK pages or 'international' ones? I see IoM news is under Europe, not UK, and that the TT has taken its tithe again this year

Neil

[Sam Longley 1Participant @samlongley1]

Posted by DrDave on 11/06/2018 11:19:57:

Posted by Sam Longley 1 on 10/06/2018 19:33:33

One would assume that it is quite a while since our warships had sails instead of engines

Some years ago, whilst working in Germany, I I had to travel to Toulon to catch a ride on the Charles de Gaulles aircraft carrier. Talking to a (German) colleague, I said that I had to leave to get the flight because we were due to sail the following day. He gave me a strange look, then said “Sail? But she is nuclear powered!” We forget where some of our language originates from.

Yes but it would not have gone down well if the destination was Brest and you had said " i am going to nuke Brest tomorrow"

(Especially as i am currently sitting just the other side of the Rade du Brest in my yacht in Camaret)

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

From another forum, but there appears to be a number of 'Astro-tele-geeks' here from time to time, so may be of interest.**LINK**

rgds

Bill

[Barnaby WildeParticipant @barnabywilde70941]

Posted by Rik Shaw on 11/06/2018 10:34:00:

Ian – Bog standard UK car boots is what I visit. True, most of the stuff on offer is of no interest to me but visiting up to four or five boots a week in the past meant that now and then a diamond would shine through the tat. The trick is to get there regularly and early.

I have to admit though that at 71 I am slowing down and I am no longer able to spring into action at five in the morn every Sunday. Talking about spring, three weeks ago I bought an ammunition box full of what looks like air gun springs for a quid – that was an unusual one!

My largest purchase ever was an Alba 1A shaper which I spotted dangling from a vehicle hiab at a local boot and no, it didn't fit in my boot! (They delivered it for me – see my album if interested).

Good luck and keep trying.

Rik

Definately get there early. The only time I've ever visited a car boot I was tagging along with a mate & his missus whose stall really is nothing but household 'tat'. I had quite a few obsolete electronics & computer items which sold like hot cakes & I couldn't resist putting a few attention grabbers on the table which didn't sell for there true value but attracted plenty of £1 offers. I'd sold out by 9am making £300+, most of the buyers being the other car booters.

I had a wander round & was most dissapointed not to see any Fonzy or Elvis mirrors. Remember them?

[Bob McParticipant @bobmc91481]

Cornish Jack mentioned Astro-tele-geeks..

I just made this fitting for a friends Skywatcher 5" Refractor… he had problems when trying to take photo's due to the commercially made fitting for a mobile phone camera, especially when he used a x2 Barlow which was quite difficult to adjust for distance from eyepiece and x.y lateral movements.

nb..the phone is not fitted in 'selfie' cradle as yet.

…Bob…

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Tony Jeffree on 10/06/2018 15:42:24:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 10/06/2018 15:21:14:

"Jones defended the design decision by saying that it would have been “poor value-for-money” to buy ships designed to weather any temperature. "

Oh good grief… you mean the Admiralty thought we don't need warships that can cross or operate in the tropics (or even a typical British summer, it seems)…

We are governed by a bunch of idiots. Situation normal.

True, but it's useful to identify which particular bunch of idiots caused the fiasco!

Saying 'it would have been “poor value-for-money” to buy ships designed to weather any temperature' is civil-service code for "I am not allowed to tell you openly that an unexpected fault blew the budget and the Treasury refused to increase it. Also, my Minister, who knows this is daft, failed to find the money from elsewhere in the Defence pot and was unable to get new money." The statement also has to be taken in context with the Type 23 Frigate which is specifically intended to have a Global role. He doesn't mean Type 23's are a waste of money.

Spending policy is set by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, reporting directly to the PM and Cabinet. As the current incumbents promised to reduce public spending before the last election, you might blame whoever voted for them.

Unfortunately spending decisions are always going to be difficult. Meeting all possible Defence contingencies would cost more than the entire government budget and most of the money would be wasted. Argentina required strong naval forces, Afghanistan none. On the other hand Afghanistan demanded armoured helicopters and ground vehicles, both of which would have been useless on the Falkland Islands. Hard decisions have to be made, and it's easy to get them wrong.

Dave

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

SOD,

I think half a dozen Apache ‘copters might have made a considerable difference on the Falklands!

Admittedly a bit before their time, but, all the same, if the Atlantic Conveyor had not been sunk there might have been more choppers (particularly Chinooks for heavy lifting) that would have played a very positive role at most stages of the operations.

Whoever allowed the container ship inside the aircraft carrier line (so within range of enemy aircraft) missed a trick on that occasion, perhaps? Or perhaps the Atlantic Conveyor was not designed for operations in the lower half of the ocean!

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