What did you do today? (2014)

[HobbyNutParticipant @hobbynut]

Nigel, you can use that as an English wheel too. Good job on an essential piece of machinery in the custom fab business.

[GoCreateParticipant @gocreate]

Today cut 6mm keyways in En24T bead roller dies, here's my set up which is similar to one I saw in MEW or ME many years ago, it's surprisingly robust and works very well, very happy with the result.

HobbyNut – thanks for your suggestion, the frame is very stiff so I think would it would be worth a try.

Nigel

[HobbyNutParticipant @hobbynut]

This is what I have been up to the last few months.

[HobbyNutParticipant @hobbynut]

The Ford Diff was shortened by 37mm each side, it is a 9" with 3.55 gears.

This is how the car looked at 9.00pm last night. The body came back from the paint shop at midday yesterday. I have to get this finished so I can get back to smaller engineering projects!!

[Rick Kirkland 1Participant @rickkirkland1]

I started sorting out the problems with my brand new Warco GH1236 lathe. Long story. Might turn it into an article for MEW. On second thoughts the way its going I could probably run it as a serial.

[GaryMParticipant @garym]

Drilled and tapped the base casting of the S50 for the slidebars. Only a simple job to most of you but it took me all afternoon, most of which was lining it up on the mill.

Gary

[IDPParticipant @idp]

Greetings all,

Spent all morning making some brakes for a REMAP project, only got to make and fit the pedals now and I can get back to making my GWR Collett.

Regards IDP

[Gray62Participant @gray62]

Posted by Rick Kirkland 1 on 20/01/2014 21:50:33:

I started sorting out the problems with my brand new Warco GH1236 lathe. Long story. Might turn it into an article for MEW. On second thoughts the way its going I could probably run it as a serial.

If it is brand new and you have problems, have you referred back to Warco for resolution?, would be interested to hear what the issues are and how they are resolved.

[Martin CottrellParticipant @martincottrell21329]

Posted by CoalBurner on 22/01/2014 17:02:56:

Posted by Rick Kirkland 1 on 20/01/2014 21:50:33:

I started sorting out the problems with my brand new Warco GH1236 lathe. Long story. Might turn it into an article for MEW. On second thoughts the way its going I could probably run it as a serial.

If it is brand new and you have problems, have you referred back to Warco for resolution?, would be interested to hear what the issues are and how they are resolved.

Hi Rick, I would be very interested to hear more having recently purchased a similar machine.

Regards, Martin.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Drilled a few 1/4" holes

Then said the magic words and the waste material dropped out

J

[Rick Kirkland 1Participant @rickkirkland1]

Hello coalburner and martin. Obviously these machines are manufactured down to a price and whilst the quality is reasonable Myford or Colchester they aint. I'm currently doing remedials which are not curable by having replacement parts or a replacement machine, indeed were this route to be taken things could be a lot worse. There are no major horrors as yet but as I work through the machine correcting things to my own satisfaction I'm writing an article which Mr Clark may see fit to publish in MEW and this may benefit readers who find themselves in a similar position with Chinese machines.

Rick.

[LathejackParticipant @lathejack]

Well said Rick, and I look forward to any article or review of it that may appear. Hopefully with both the good and the bad points included in a published version.

Edited By Lathejack on 22/01/2014 22:40:13

Edited By Lathejack on 22/01/2014 22:41:48

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Hi Rick,

It's important to distinguish real 'problems' (i.e. things that are not as they should be and that Warco would probably endeavour to correct) from 'limitations' arising from the design or method of manufacture or setup.

Anthony Mount did a long a series on improvements to a Warco lathe (I think it was a belt drive model, and the series was in ME), and despite the 'deficiencies' his conclusion was that the final result was a step up from his previous Myford in capability and usability.

Neil

[HobbyNutParticipant @hobbynut]

"Then said the magic words and the waste material dropped out"

Sure Jason, you want to share those words?

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

"Hacksaw, Hacksaw, Hacksaw, Hacksaw"

Thats all it took, 4 quick cuts through the last 0.010" where the last holes were left just clear of the vice jaws and they did actually just come away.

I use a 1/4" split point stub drill and 2 1/2" turns of the handwheel (0.25&quot to space the holes.

Now if like some members on here I had a water jet cutter at my disposal I may have done it differently.

J

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

new crank shaft by the look of it Jason?

tomorrow I press mine together for my Durham.

Bri

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Yes crankshaft for teh 1/3rd scale Monitor, 9" long.

Started the day by roughing out some of the shaft to get it more balanced when doing the pin

Then flipped it around to rough out the rest

And then using the other pair of ctr holes did the pin and insides of the webs to finished size

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Finished the crank

Did not get too bad a finish in teh end considering it came out of a gummy bit of rust flame cut from soem 2" hot rolled plate

Also found time to make the battery box for the Galloway cart, seems a shame to paint it red

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Not done today exactly, more like a couple of days ago; made some soft jaws for machining small dia. items, will change SHCS for shorter grub screws later on..

Already put to good use for some small items for my 'Johnboy' Stirling engine project, (small 1mm spacer) saves messing about changing chuck for collets.

George.

[Mr MooParticipant @mrmoo]

Spent most of the day elbow deep in Meccano, got so far into a traction engine only for the flexi-plates that made up the boiler to split on me. GRRR! So I have had to order some metal ones which will be rolled to the correct curve.

Also need to source a motor, 12 volt-ish, to power said TE. Any suggestions? Needs to be powerful enough to pull some weight….i.e. Me!

[RJWParticipant @rjw]

Mr Moo, how big a motor physically?
How about a detachable wheelchair motor? they’re powered by small 12V dry cell batteries and come with a gearbox and speed controller?
Just a thought!
John

[Mr MooParticipant @mrmoo]

RJW,

Good thought! Boiler was 2-3/8" dia but with the access issues I was having I am looking at going to 3-7/16".

So the motor has to either "be" the barrel or hide inside the firebox……

I tend to start building with whatever size "looks" right to find the problems then rebuild solving the problems. Weeing uphill into a hurricane is a favourite hobby of mine!

[RJWParticipant @rjw]

Hmmm, think a wheelchair motor and gearbox might be too big although there may be some compact units around now, last one I fiddled with was around 8 years ago which my late father in law kept buggering up!
John.

[Danny M2ZParticipant @dannym2z]

Posted by mechman48 on 26/01/2014 18:46:28:

Not done today exactly, more like a couple of days ago; made some soft jaws for machining small dia. items, will change SHCS for shorter grub screws later on..

George.

G'day George.

I like your soft jaws, what a lovely idea – well done!

* Danny M *

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Danny M2Z on 28/01/2014 06:25:44:

Posted by mechman48 on 26/01/2014 18:46:28:

Not done today exactly, more like a couple of days ago; made some soft jaws for machining small dia. items, will change SHCS for shorter grub screws later on..

George.

G'day George.

I like your soft jaws, what a lovely idea – well done!

* Danny M *

.

I'll second that … Very tidy indeed.

MichaelG.

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