Issue 222

[John CoatesParticipant @johncoates48577]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 18/11/2014 16:23:30:

Sorry to John Coates, I think your post has been nuked forver by the thumb-fingered Earl of Bligeport.

Oh bugger! The only time I get commented on by JS (and it sounded favourable) and it's gone forever

Mwahahahaha

[gary wParticipant @garyw]

Well I remember not so long ago that these model engineering magazines contained articles on that very subject, namely model engineering. When articles on Spanish holidays, rebuilding tractors etc snuck in, I ended my subscription. And just to cause more arguing, whatever happened to the free plans and series of real models that I could build along with?

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Gary as this thread is about MEW I doubt you will find any models to build in there. Maybe take a look at ME instead, Stewart Heart's new cross engine starts in 4496, all drawings and descriptions of how to do it. There are also traction engines, stationary engines the odd IC and plenty of Locos all with drawings so you can build along.

J

[Graham WhartonParticipant @grahamwharton]

Is it the fact that its made of wood? In which case, should we ban articles on machining of plastics aswell. Last time I checked model engineers made models out of wood, plastic, metal and other materials too. MEW is for model engineers, not just metalworkers.

Is it the fact that its only a box? Would people be complaining if the box had been made of sheet metal instead of wood and showed metal bending and welding? This magazine is about workshop tools, machinery and processes. A lot of readers make their own tools. I, for one, always consider making a storage box to protect any tool that I make part of the process of building that tool.

It might only be a box, but there may be tips and techniques that could be picked up from such an article that would read across to model making from wood.

Keep it up chaps, making boxes to store tools that you make is a valid subject.

Graham

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I noticed the joint on my collet chuck box is somewhat simpler than the finger joint mentioned earlier and more suited to milling. I couldn't find a picture of it but imagine this one with only one tongue and no mitre. The groove could be made with just a 1/8 slitting saw but of course with a lathe a custom cutter could be made like the one illustrated.

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Getting back to the original wood box article which started the whole kerfuffle off. I reckoned that it was an ideal thing to show someone who had never done that sort of work before. Like all elementary articles it has to be long winded to experienced eyes because its not safe to assume the background and knowledge of a first timer. Comment on wasted pictures for hinge fitments and screw points coming through the surface out is way out of order. Good illustration of why the sliding lid was chosen and the sort of problems you can hit doing things a different way. Needs to be pictures because they get noticed, buried in text in useless. Its very important to remember that MEW is primarily a resource for technique for doing things, snag / this didn't work warnings, different way of looking at things, inspiration and source of ideas worth stealing for most of the readership most of the time. The ratios of built as published to stolen from or just read it for any MEW article spread over the whole readership must be microscopic. Heck I have a complete set and the only thing I've made essentially as drawn was Ted Wales optical centre height gauge. That said pretty much every issue has contained something of interest, something to steal or a "Hummn, I'l try it that way next time or confirmation that that was not the way to do my job." Often years later.

Yup I found out about the hinge screws going through the lid the hard way. About 30 year back. Thought I'd figured it out but didn't make allowance for sinking the flap into the back so the lid shut properly. Ended up as a re-make it all to fix job. Nothing wrong with quick'n dirty but effective either. We don't have infinite shop time so it can be nice to have concrete illustration of a quick, good enough, job to copy or modify. Sorting out a proper job from scratch often takes more time that the result can be worth. I need to do some large micrometer boxes. Which will be half decent, quick'n easy, with no fancy joints. Had considered taking pictures but shan't now.

What is a waste of space are things like the Three in One Boring Tool page in issue 223. Anyone experienced enough to exploit the concepts will already know about the idea. Anyone not experienced who tries to roll their own will find traps which a proper article would help them avoid. In particular ball centres for large angle offs aren't quite as simple as they seem and calculating offset for a given taper isn't quite as easy as it sounds. Its also important that the boring head adjustment is correctly referenced to the crossways plane of the lathe bed. Pivoting arrangements and stops for the radius turning tool need decent consideration too. Mine works well but I wouldn't do it that way again although the idea seemed good at the time and it all works as it should I spent extra effort to achieve capability I don't in practice need. An article on tool shapes for radius turning tools would be good. Most expositions are far too casual on what is the most important part of the job.

Clive

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Posted by Clive Foster on 24/11/2014 11:38:22:

What is a waste of space are things like the Three in One Boring Tool page in issue 223. Anyone experienced enough to exploit the concepts will already know about the idea. Anyone not experienced who tries to roll their own will find traps which a proper article would help them avoid. In particular ball centres for large angle offs aren't quite as simple as they seem and calculating offset for a given taper isn't quite as easy as it sounds. Its also important that the boring head adjustment is correctly referenced to the crossways plane of the lathe bed. Pivoting arrangements and stops for the radius turning tool need decent consideration too. Mine works well but I wouldn't do it that way again although the idea seemed good at the time and it all works as it should I spent extra effort to achieve capability I don't in practice need. An article on tool shapes for radius turning tools would be good. Most expositions are far too casual on what is the most important part of the job.

Clive

.

Well I have certainly pi$$ed in someone's cornflakes this week ?

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