New Member – “G” based in Ilford

[Geraint WilliamsParticipant @geraintwilliams68288]

New Member – “G” based in Ilford

[Geraint WilliamsParticipant @geraintwilliams68288]

Hi everyone

Coming a bit late to this hobby (nearly 50!) – I've been a plastic modeller for years and always been fairly "handy" (my late father being a DCT teacher back in the day) 25 years in IT/management after a physics degree so applying some science/maths and building something tangible is very rewarding. I recently inherited a Cowells 90ME with a few bits and piece from an elderly gentleman in Ilford and am just starting out on a Stuart 10V and some small workshop tools from various books. A massive "culture" shock from my other hobbies which are far more forgiving of any errors/slip-ups (and I've made quite a few) but love the planning/thinking that goes into workholding/establishing datums etc. I'm still at the stage of being fairly terrified of metal spinning, and sparks flying when grinding lathe tools (badly)

Looking forward for some inspiration and hints/tips

All the best

G

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Welcome to the forum 'G'.

Never thought of Model Engineering being an extreme sport, but now you mention it the sheer terror when the last operation on a complex part could ruin it must be part of the fun! A flood of pleasure or rage depending on what happens next – you certainly know you're alive.

Feel free to ask questions and please publish some photos as you make progress: HOWTO here.

Fifty is quite young. Some of us think boys of 50 should still be in short trousers!

Dave

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Welcome to the forum

H

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

Hello Geraint and welcome. Don't worry about slip-ups, it's the way we learn. I've been model engineering for around 50 years and recently had to have 7 goes at making 2 identical items!

Metal spinning is a bit of a specialist thing which many would shy away from. I'm fortunate as I got involved with metal spinning with work (not doing it but ensuring that a sub contract company had the procedures to ensure that 'our' metal was not mixed with anyone else's for military aviation work.

I picked as many operators brains as possible to understand the process and later used it to produce a part for a 3" Marshall road roller.

So, if you have ANY questions please put them on here, we're mostly a friendly and helpful bunch.

Brian

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

WELCOME!

The man who never made a mistake, never made anything.

My wife used ti have a cookery book by Monica Dickens. Most of it seemed to feature how she had turned a disaster into a eatable dish!

There is law Newton's 4 th Law, Ther law of the Eternal Cusedness of things, my Physics Master said, sometimes attributed to either Murphy or mSod.

This means that the tap always breaks in the last hole, during the final ,operation.

If yo feel,unsure about things, take a revision course, buy the books written by L H Sparey, Ian Bradley, harold hall Tubal Cain etc.

Definitely get a set of Zeus charts the data contained is invaluable. My 1958 edition is still inn regular use

It is a bit like riding a bike, you never forget completely.

Happy Times ahead, and great satisfaction. (You will be able to fix the unmendable. "Can you just?" is not the ten minute job the requestor thinks, but possibly 10 hours of your time. But when you have repaired what he was told was beyond help!

Howard

[Geraint WilliamsParticipant @geraintwilliams68288]

Thanks for the welcome everyone

Dave – I still wear shorts

H – Thanks for the welcome

Brian – I went to the London Model Engineering Exhibition a couple of years ago and seen some of the work folk do. Together with my early attempts I can imagine the work put into a project like a road roller!

Howard – wise words indeed, I'm a past master at Murphy's law and (until I started messing about with metal) a real exponent of Heath Robinson. Somehow metal doesn't seem to be as forgiving as other materials…funny that!! Trying to get it right first time is adding some pressure but as others on the thread point out – I kind of need to do some mistakes to learn from them……as long as they're not too serious

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Geraint,

Wherever possible, I avoid woodwork. Wood splits much more easily than metal!

Far better to mess up an odd bit of bar than an expensive casting from a kit, whilst on the learning curve that everyone of us is on.

PS

Whilst, wrongly, I am guilty of the heinous crime of using whatever comes to hand. Avoid rebar like the plague. Don't know what is in it but it is foul stuff to machine.

The work shown at Model Engineering Shows is the result of skills and patience that I lack

But each to their own, whether large or small scale.

When you feel able, pick a project and go ahead., but walk before sprinting

If you hit a problem, someone on here will know the solution.

Regards

Howard

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

Welcome Geraint.

I am still newish to this sort of hobby. I spend more time looking & thinking about making things than actually doing the job. Others will tell you to measure & then measure again. You can not do that too many times. Also if working to the thou, then remember the piece of material you are machining gets hot. It's amazing how much the work expands. So always make sure you measure at room temp & not when hot. Ask me how i know.

You will also find when you decide on an idea to make something. You will have to make something else to make that possible. Fantastic hobby. I love working on the Lathe & Milling machine. I am sure you will too.

Steve.

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