What did you do today? (2014)

[ChrisHParticipant @chrish]

0 – 27 knots in 3 minutes, my, that's some going, am really surprised. 27 knots is faster than any box boat I sailed on in my day, average speed was 22 knots, flat out at 24 knots.

Interestingly, in those days it was rumoured submarines used box boats as target practice, as we were the same sort of size and speed as aircraft carriers (not that we have any of those now – as well as Merchant Navy – either) and I treated it with some doubt, until I saw a periscope pop up in the Indian Ocean not far off our port quarter!

Saw a programme a year ago about WW2 arctic convoy PQ17 I think it was. The Navy escort initially sent to protect it was larger than our entire Royal Navy now in number of ships. What a sad indictment of our Government and the present state of our Royal Navy.

Chris

Edited By ChrisH on 28/12/2014 21:31:51

[Bob Brown 1Participant @bobbrown1]

The 27 knots were achieved at 80% power and did an average speed across the pond close to that (26.5kts) on first voyage by first of 4 sister ships plus the RN found out they were a lot quicker than that when pushed .

Arsine gas incident on Asia Liner (I think if memory cell is working) was asked by RN to make best possible speed to Falmouth, left the RN for dead and was off like a scalded cat exceeding 30 knots in an instant.

I also remember leaving Norfolk Virginia and being asked by the US navy to move out of the way, we didn't need to as we had just dropped the pilot so hit the levers for full ahead (full sea speed), there we were gone, left them as if they were in treacle.

Instant power bit like a airliner taking off, but then the engines were from an airliner s not surprising and no need to wait for things to warm up.

Bob

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Ho Hum… the vessels I did my MN bit on could only manage ..on a good day.. 13 – 15 knots max.. more than often running at 12 knots @ 100rpm, fuel conservation & all that according to the chief, & that was with B&W diesels, up & down the West African coast / Europe / UK…. yeah I know 'Tramping' …. .

George

[Bob Brown 1Participant @bobbrown1]

Spent the day moving machines about with the aid of an engine crane (hired £15.00), not the easiest job as the floor is not that smooth and a fall back to front so up hill. Best laid plans of mice and men, the layout I though would work didn't as the bench I made up could have been 500mm shorter so reverted to plan B with lathe and Marlow mill on one wall with window. Now where to put the metal bench, need to get the car in before I make that decision.

Bob

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 29/08/2014 20:32:08:

Bought an interesting little "Jason" lathe today:

I believe this was the final design by Brian Perris

.

Four months later; I finally got around to tinkering with the Jason lathe

… Just general cleaning & adjustment, and fault-finding.

First impressions of the design and build-quality are excellent; although there are a few minor problems to kep me amused.

Are there any other owners of Jason or Pixi [etc.] lathes out there ?

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Started the day fairly well:

Strong coffee, and discovered an interesting patent.

Vinton's Lathe Chuck is worth a look.

MichaelG.

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

MichaelG,

Agree about strong coffee in the morning, as it wakes things up ready for the off

I make mine from home roasted beans and use a Coffee Master syphon system to brew.

The first time I had a cup of coffee from home roasted beans, I was sold.

Other half refuses point blank to drink mine as she says it's too strong. Huh, she needs to try the petit cups of proper French stuff to find out what strong coffee is. Two cups a day was enough for me when I lived in Grenoble.

I used to drink anything up to 10 mugs of instant per day beforehand, now three at most of 'OuBallie' brand.

Geoff – Making swarf covers for the mill, lathe & shaper tables today.

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

OuBallie, I read you home roast your own coffee beans, how and what temperature and how long ? I have a friend in Fiji who has a coffee bean tree and has asked how to do the roasting. He is ex merchant navy and NZ Customs. Long retired now due to injury.

Clive

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

As some of you express interest in the bees, until this last lot of cold frosty weather the bees have been flying well, I have seen them bringing in grey pollen which I think is from Portuguese Laurel. As its mild and they are flying they are eating their honey stores so the Nucleus hives will need supplamental feeding shortly with candy cake. They all seem fine but I had 3 hives attacked by the Green Wood Pecker and he did not get through the hive sides and I have now placed red plastic warning materiel like they use on roadworks pinned to the hives to deter him. It has worked before but if he perseveres I will make wire mesh shields around the hives. Obviously I cannot harm the Wood pecker though we have found one dead at one time.They have always been in the orchard and attack the Tit Boxes I put up as well. A quiet time for beekeepers now so we repair kit and make sure everything is ready for the Spring which is now only 20 weeks away. It seems honey is now replacing sugar as a sweetener. sales are up for honey a bit.

Clive

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Definately feel a bit jittery after a large Costa cappuccino, I think that gets about three shots of espresso, might be a bit too much in one sitting.

Mike

[Bob Brown 1Participant @bobbrown1]

Never drink coffee horrible stuff now a nice cup of tea different story.

Off to start levelling the machines!

Bob

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

I love coffee, our water does not make good tea- very acidic. Roasting coffee- I used to have a friend from Ethiopia, she roasted her own always. Just put the beans in a heavy dry frying pan and heated till they suddenly turned colour, oil oozed out and a wonderful smell. No idea what breed of bean, no doubt they would have been special.

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Ah Coffee

As my wife has " ze dicky tickeur" coffee is a no-no. Decaffeinated coffee is all that you will find in our cupboard – it is surprising how one comes to like it after a while!

Norman

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

I usually have about 12 coffee's in a morning to get started, the first 5 intravenously.

The last two or three of the night laced with whisky as it's part of the central heating system here.

Can't stand tea, never drunk it and even the smell makes me feel sick.

To get back to workshop related topics finally getting the shop back up to a reasonable working temperature of about 25 degrees. Have been away for a few days and it really takes some heat to get all this metal back up to a stable temperature. Should be OK just after dinner when normal service will be resumed.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 30/12/2014 08:56:33:

Started the day fairly well:

Strong coffee, and discovered an interesting patent.

Vinton's Lathe Chuck is worth a look.

.

Strange that there was so much response about the coffee; yet no-one has expressed the slightest interest in the chuck design.

MichaelG.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Trevor,

That's really impressive, better than telescope shots I've seen of the ISS.

My bridge camera goes to 1000mm equivalent and takes pictures with detail that should need a 3-4" scope to see.

I must now lurk behind bushes waiting for an unsuspecting ISS to come along!

Neil

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Michael – I did take a look initially but frankly not much impressed by the design and it's not like I will ever want to make one. I went and cut some wood instead.

Can't get the living room to 20 let alone 25 and the garage is as nature dictates about -1.

[Bob Brown 1Participant @bobbrown1]

Got machines roughly level will fine tune them once I get the rest of the work done.

Sat lathe and mill on wooden blocks to get them up to a more reasonable height, may be people in the past were shorter but prefer to have them at a height where I am not bending too much other wise it's a pain in the back.

One good thing is the garage/workshop warms up really quickly, on a frosty morning it takes about 10mins to get the chill off, will need to see how it actually is with a thermometer.

Garage door is a little bit of a pain, although it is insulated the slats are aluminium which transfers the heat quite well so it sort of acts as a dehumidifier with water condensing on the cool surface, as long as it condenses there and not on the tools….. will see how it goes with the moisture levels

Bob

[chris stephensParticipant @chrisstephens63393]

Re Morning coffee, oh how I wish it would actually work instead of being a self delusional placebo, but then if it did I would be boring you all with inane comments and suggestions.

chriStephens

PS Does three heap teaspoons of Kenco's finest in a mug count as strong, or indeed, coffee? Maybe that's where I'm going wrong, 'cos it has no effect on my sleepy head.

PPS now to fit in with the title of this thread, what I did, or rather shall do in a moment, is go out to the Engineerium and get early stage frostbite. This old bear wonders why we don't hibernate in winter?

[Roger Provins 2Participant @rogerprovins2]

Posted by chris stephens on 30/12/2014 15:55:17:

Re Morning coffee, oh how I wish it would actually work instead of being a self delusional placebo, but then if it did I would be boring you all with inane comments and suggestions.

chriStephens

I'm glad I'm not the only one! I drink a fair bit of coffee but I've never noticed any effect on my brain cell.

[Raymond Sanderson 2Participant @raymondsanderson2]

Wishing all a Happy New Year just gone 12.30 lunch time so as we are on day light savings its hard to tell what time it really is.

May the new year bring much happiness and hours more in the workshop.

Nope I/we are not going to the Sydney fireworks see more on TV LOML won't suffer mass asthma attack and the 2 to 3hr journey via public transport to get home.

[Bill PudneyParticipant @billpudney37759]

Today I finished a new bench for my X2 mill and Russian 3" lathe. Moved the mill onto the bench, just, but the little lathe is going to require something else rather than yours truly. Although it's "only" a little lathe, it's heavier than my Mini Lathe by about 15kg.

If I can persuade The Photographer, I will add photos of the new arrangement once the 3" lathe is in place.

Happy New Year to all

cheers

Bill

[Four stroke FredParticipant @fourstrokefred]

Just a quick line to wish all forum members a happy safe and productive year in your workshops. Steaming hot here in Bundaberg,Qld – even the pool reached 31 C so would not mind a bit of your cool weather. Over the last few weeks I have been checking the drawings of the Saunderson and Mills tractor. Completed about 120 so far and still have the engine to do so expect to be about 180 – 200 when finished. I hope to come over to the UK next Nov – Dec for the MEX so may be able to catch up with some of you then. Cheers for now.

George.

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Just to wish all a very happy, healthy, & prosperous new year. I have two sons in Qld, Brisbane, Kangaroo point & Bellbowrie, both have been on about the heat have asked them to send some over here… ?

George.

[ChrisHParticipant @chrish]

If it has to be coffee then it HAS to be the proper ground stuff, taken black, no sugar.

The instant stuff is revolting stuff, should be banned. Immediately.

Now tea, can drink that all day, that's a proper Englishman's drink. After bitter of course.

Taking of which, will be starting another brew of bitter today, but maybe no shed time, Senior Management getting to feel ignored she says, but haven't worked out why yet.

Chris

And a very good and happy New Year to all, lets hope it is a good one!

Edited By ChrisH on 31/12/2014 11:33:48

[Author]

Posts