What did you do Today 2018

[geoff walker 1Participant @geoffwalker1]

Yes definitely looks good Nigel, coming on nicely, keep posting, will be interesting to see the finished item.

Geoff

[robjon44Participant @robjon44]

Hi, with regard to Ed Duffners carbon brush problem, a good source of new brushes to keep an eye out for is the 2 sets of spares supplied with many Chinese power tools, 14 years ago I bought a generic 4 inch angle grinder, it came with said spare brushes, not needed them yet ! However someone did ask me to look at an expensive variable speed jigsaw that had died, long story short the spare brushes were the right cross section but flat ended, radiused them against one of those little sanding drums used on Dremel type tools, reassembled, the jigsaw leaped back into action at no cost, result.

Bob H

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

Yes but now Your angle grinder will need them!

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Finally received 2 NVR switch boxes from China; to replace the ON/OFF isolator switch I'd fitted to my precision drill, had to drill & file slot for switch as boxes didn't have any cut / knock outs.Wasn't sure if it was wired up correctly as initial tests resulted in opposite operation… when plugged back in drill started, so no NVR, just as isolation switch worked. swapped connections over … switched on… pulled plug… drill stopped… plugged back in … drill did not start… so contactor had latched off switch… pressed green on button …. drill started… no mains trip, so all is well, not bad for a non electrickery savvy Clanky…

NVR box as received…

NVR switch a & assembled & fitted to drill…

​George.

[ChrisHParticipant @chrish]

Today here in Central Brittany we have rain, cool, refreshing rain. At last! Cool, refreshing, rain. No sun.

Having not been able to do much in the garden for so long because it's been far too hot and physically draining on my old body, now still can't get into the garden to work because it's too wet in the rain.

Oh dear, what a shame, how sad, never mind.

Chris

[Jim NicParticipant @jimnic]

Yesterday I was boring a couple of holes 45mm deep in brass.

To get around the problem of my boring tool grabbing in the brass I elected to use the fine feed feature of my WM 16 mill, which is a wheel with a straight knurl. This worked well to give me a consistent smooth finish in the bore but my ancient arthritic hands were protesting a bit. To make life a little more comfortable I lashed up a toolmaker's clamp to give me something to get hold of.

Today I made a permanent solution in the form of a tommy bar

to be screwed into the fine feed wheel, or not, as required and give a bit of leverage.

Not an original idea I'm sure but a worthwhile way to spend half an hour.

Jim

[Mick HenshallParticipant @mickhenshall99321]

May not be original idea Jim but a bloomin good one, think I'll do that

Mick

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Well done Jim, nice easy solution.

George.

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

I've decided what my next project is going to be… a simple double oscillating engine from plans downloaded from T'internet ( IIRC, by J De Vaal )…

George.

[Martin WParticipant @martinw]

George

I think that the plan you are using can be found here. Glad Google have a translation package as it makes life somewhat easier when visiting foreign sites.

Martin

[Danny M2ZParticipant @dannym2z]

Today I discovered that a bit of broken steel crankshaft (1947 Mills 1.3 Mk1) can be successfully removed from an aluminium alloy (2024-T6) spinner nut blank by covering it with sulphuric acid (battery strength) in a plastic yogurt container and leaving it in the garden for about a month. The aluminium has a dull glaze but all of the ferrous parts have dissolved. A tap run down the threads cleaned them up with minimal cutting action.

A friend suggested that nitric acid could do the same job in a day but try obtaining that!

Might be worth trying for a broken drill or tap in an important aluminium part if you have a bit of patience.

* Danny M *

[RobinParticipant @robin]

From my chemistry days I seem to remember that nitric passivates iron, so after a brief fizz you get nothing. Alum dissolve iron, caustic soda to dissolve aluminium. Nitric is good for degreasing aluminium and getting that pesky oxide layer off the surface. We used to put old copper coins in brown sauce to clean them back to the shine, I think that contains nitric..

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

Nitric acid is excellent for removing steel from aluminium, it tends to strengthen the oxide layer on the aluminium. It will however, passivate stainless steels. I got some before you had to be a fully trained terrorist to get it and I hoard it for that and for doing etch tests on my crappy welds.

[Ed DuffnerParticipant @edduffner79357]

Robjon44m, thanks for the info on the brushes. I managed to get two sets of new(ish) ones from ARC.

Ed.

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Posted by Robin on 29/07/2018 15:00:23:

From my chemistry days I seem to remember that nitric passivates iron, so after a brief fizz you get nothing. Alum dissolve iron, caustic soda to dissolve aluminium. Nitric is good for degreasing aluminium and getting that pesky oxide layer off the surface. We used to put old copper coins in brown sauce to clean them back to the shine, I think that contains nitric..

Doubt it – that'll be vinegar aka acetic acid. And Coca Cola contains phosphoric and carbonic acids.

Murray

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Thanks for the link Martin; Have saved a few more plans for future use.

George.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Got a truly amazing deal on an old Dark Star 10" Dobsonian telescope as the owner is leaving UK to work overseas. This scope inspired him to take an astrophysics degree. Will need plenty of kindly workshop attention and the mirror being sent off for recoating, but once sorted should offer outstanding views.

Not many hobby telescopes are large enough to fit several labradors inside…

[richardandtracyParticipant @richardandtracy]

Good thing there are no cats about, because there is no way on earth one wouldn't find a way in. Have to ask – is the propensity for an astrophysics degree contagious, using a telescope as the vector? If so.. it'll be a loss to the hobby.

Regards

Richard

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

You’ll need a big hole in the roof for that one Neil.😉

I will look forward to seeing the photographic output on here some time in the near future.

Edited By V8Eng on 30/07/2018 23:05:00

Edited By V8Eng on 30/07/2018 23:05:27

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by richardandtracy on 30/07/2018 22:50:27:

Good thing there are no cats about, because there is no way on earth one wouldn't find a way in.

Once the mirror is out, I'll be sending the cat through to get rid of the cobwebs. I have heard of someone finding a cat asleep on their primary!

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by V8Eng on 30/07/2018 22:51:39:

You’ll need a big hole in the roof for that one Neil.😉

I will look forward to seeing the photographic output on here some time in the near future.

Thanks V8, actually, it's the perfect height for me as a tall lad!

Imaging will only be of things like the moon and planets as it won't track.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 30/07/2018 23:15:09:

 

Imaging will only be of things like the moon and planets as it won't track.

.

You just know you want one of these platforms, Neil

http://www.equatorialplatforms.com

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 30/07/2018 23:51:21

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

You're going to need a bigger lathe…

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Good job you said it was a 'scope, I thought you were going to try shooting the Labs into space

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

I think NASA have already launched a Space Lab

**LINK**

[Author]

Posts