I am a fairly new convert to model engineering – but have been interested in modelling since my childhood – model airoplanes and r/c etc. I am a creative sole who has discovered a new passion – my ML7 lathe! (for which I need all the advice I can get!)

I currently have a couple of projects – I am turning a brass cannon – and also making a small beam engine (my first).

Look forward to chatting with you all.

Cheers Roger

Hi John C and John F

Thank you both for your warm welcome –

John C – I would be very interested to hear how you went about turning your cannon barrell and fixing trunions etc. I have just completed the easy bit on mine – the carriage! so have the barrel to come. Do you have photos?

John F – thank you for your offer of info on the ML7 – yes please I would be delighted to increase my knowledge. In fact I have a bit of a problem at the moment that you might be able to advise me on (I have posted it in help section). But I am in the middle of replacing the back gear on my lathe as both the bullwheel and the lower backgear assembly had lost teeth. My problem is how to dismantle the headstock spindle. I have managed ok up to a collar/spacer – this is pushed on to the spindle upto the pulley cone and I have to remove this to get the pulley and backgear off. Help!

Roger