Old Codger

[HafornParticipant @haforn]

Hi Guys – thanks for letting me join. I did an apprenticeship as a toolmaker waaay back in 1975. Moved off to do other things, got my mojo back when I retired, moved to North Cumbria, and started equipping a workshop. Currently bringing e-bay purchased Stuart engines back to life (and my goodness there are some bad builds out there – or are oval cylinders a new design??)

I built a Stuart Beam back in the day, just got the castings for an S50. Trying to get my head around a DRO. (Back in my day you measured distances on a milling machine with a clock gauge and a handful of slips, and there were a hundred and fifty of us, living in shoe box in middle of t'road)

Hope everyone is staying safe.

[HafornParticipant @haforn]

Another newby from Cumbria

[JohnFParticipant @johnf59703]

Welcome Stephen, Aspatria – Hmm nice part of the wold that, did my apprenticeship 15 years afor thee ! Sounds like you have a nice workshop and enjoy being there. I too have a S7 among other lathes etc

Great and freindly forum you here you will enjoy contributing I'm sure and lots of advice when needed.

Stay safe as well John

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

Welcome Steve Nice part of the world you are in.

Steve.

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Welcome to the forum

H

[HafornParticipant @haforn]

Thanks guys, great to be aboard.

[Malcolm TurtonParticipant @malcolmturton21043]

Hi Haforn,

Your hardly an old codger if you did apprenticeship in 75. More like a spring chicken !!!

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Hi Haforn,

They say fixing a bad build an be more effort than working from scratch but it is a lot cheaper (usually!)

Neil

[HafornParticipant @haforn]

@Malcolm – thanks! The boss saw your post, now she wants me to dig the garden.

@Neil – I suppose it is cheaper – I do like bringing things back to life, though. And problem solving, trying to figure out what people were thinking when they made something. Nothing to do with model engineering, but in the same vein, like restoring old furniture.

[John Paton 1Participant @johnpaton1]

Welcome aboard Haforn

I envy all you guys with apprenticeship background. Some of us have to try and work it out from first principles and what you mean by oval. To us it is perfectly round if you can get a pebble to pass through!

Like you I hate to see nicely engineered items languishing for want of a little TLC, even if they are neither use nor ornament (at least so in the eyes of the domestic controller!).

That said we do have a lovely little Victorian flypress in the sitting room as a nutcracker along with 3 steam engines a set of precision precious metal / jewel assay beam balance scales and a reel to reel tape recorder so perhaps i should be a tad careful what I say!!! They are all exemplars of design and/or workmanship and each have a little storyline attached.

Edited By John Paton 1 on 09/05/2020 14:36:48

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Welcome aboard!

There is a lot of satisfaction from turning a basket case into a good runner.

Keep up the good work!

A lot of I C engine cylinders are oval after running, as stresses are relieved, but they are subject to much higher temperatures and pressures.

There was a Scott motorcycle with a two stroke engine with an oval (VERY ) bore. More like big slot.

How they made the rings I cannot imagine.

Howard

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