What did you do today (2015)

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

David, No it might cause a Kerfuffle!

[A SmithParticipant @asmith78105]

Just watched Bob Rodgerson's video of his miniature aero engine. Very impressed.

Andy

[HowiParticipant @howi]

Added a gas strut to my super XS2 plus mill, having got rid of the spring arm arrangement soon after purchase and originally replaced it with a weights and pulley system which worked quite well with about 7kg of weight, just looked a little Heath Robinson. Looked at the X2 kits but apart from expensive postage from America, decided might not fit as sx2p has different motor which reduces space for mounting strutt in column. So decided to fit strut on left hand side of column and worked out I had about 500mm to play with. Ordered a gas strut with column of 260mm and shaft of 220mm with ball and socket ends. Strut gas pressure I asked for was 150N (15kg or 33lb) which seems to counteract the head weight white well. I gained about 10 to 15 mm more vertical travel by removing the stop at the top of the column and relying on the strut itself to limit upward movement without the head coming off the rack.

Much more pleasant to use now, cost about £27 inc postage

[Gordon Smith 1Participant @gordonsmith1]

Could you say who you got the strut from?

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Quite a few on AliXpress. Used to be possible to get adjustable ones with a Schrader valve but fixed rate ones seem pretty cheap. Used on all manner of vehicles and appliances now.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Howard Winwood on 11/10/2015 10:08:41:

Added a gas strut to my super XS2 plus mill

Any chance of a write up for MEW, Howard?

Neil

[HowiParticipant @howi]

Hi Neil

         Yes! That should not be a problem, I have been thinking about doing an article for you on the Super XS2Plus as it is quite a different beast from the original X2 mini mill.

Will see what I can nock up in the next few weeks

 

Note – Gas strut was from sgs engineering, they will do custom struts at the same price.

 

Cheers

Howard

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Thanks Howard,

Neil

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Reading another forum I saw someone bemoaning the 13% sales tax in Canada – if only.

[Robert Turner 1Participant @robertturner1]

The sales tax isn't much of a problem, but the terrible exchange rate is…. I've been buying ME sized fittings and parts from Roundhouse, and at nearly $2.10 to the pound, everything is really expensive.

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

The tax may be lower but the Canadian dollar has become very cheap this last 12-18 months which means buying anything from abroad (inc US) is expensive. The exchange rate against the pound has soared from 1.6 to 2.0 in that time so our Canadian assets lost 20% or their value before we managed to extract them and transfer them back to Blighty. It's not a cheap place to live….

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Perhaps we Brits should be buying from Canada at the moment

Neil

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Surprisingly there re some good suppliers of Imperial tools/parts.

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 12/10/2015 09:47:44:

Perhaps we Brits should be buying from Canada at the moment

Neil

The Canadians bemoan their shipping costs to the UK. I've had several sellers really try to get it as low as possible but it usually make the purchase just too expensive compared with other countries. The US has USPS. Probably the cheapest overseas shipping company in the world – if the sellers bother to cost it correctly and don't just go flat rate box etc and n $ for filling in the form. Sadly ebay now prints everything out for them even the customs value. I like to try and save the £8 to £13 collection fee at this end and don't mind the vat.

John

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[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

More progress sorting things out. Got to taps and dies. I haven't a clue how I have ended up with so many 0BA taps. Many more to go and hope to have room to add some smaller dia imperial reamers. My metric ones are cased.

I've scrawled the values on with a marker. Not looking forwards to wiping that off and printing labels. I hope to store small quantities of some nuts and bolts in it too but weight might mean bracing the back. Hopefully tapping drills will fit in most of them.

John

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[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Gentlemen,

I spent Friday to Monday at Internal Fire Museum in Tan y Groes West Wales a museum full of very large internal combustion engines and thought you might like to see some pictures.

If you go to this link

https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipNMaBcE4DAE0I9U6B3Qt_0PoR5wp2MC3zoQyAN5

 

Regards,

Martin P

 

Clickable link added.

Can you check the link please Martin, doesn't seem to be working

 

 

Edited By John Stevenson on 13/10/2015 18:09:16

[WindyParticipant @windy30762]

I called to see a local motorcycle sprint; drag racing enthusiast today the machine he prepares does good I/4 mile times.

His passion for the sport rubs off and his offers of help are gratefully appreciated for my proposed latest project.

It was like a time warp bringing back memories of my past bike exploits the camaraderie of fellow competitors and enthusiasts are the same today as all those years ago.

Some competitors have state of the art machines but are willing to help anyone with problem machines.

Since getting interested again in speed record motorbikes I have a permanent smile when at Elvington record attempts.

Clubman hobbies and sports enthusiasts are very similar in the way they help each other in pursuit of their goals.

Keep up with the good work all you speed freaks it’s a lot better than looking at TV and Computers.

Windy

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

Hey, I am looking at a computer right now!

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Gentlemen,

I put a link up earlier for the pictures of IF museum unfortunately it doesn't work but this one does https://goo.gl/photos/yon95gDe4dfjJwwT8

Martin P

Edited By martin perman on 14/10/2015 15:20:08

[Bob Unitt 1Participant @bobunitt1]

Posted by martin perman on 14/10/2015 15:18:43:

Gentlemen,

I put a link up earlier for the pictures of IF museum unfortunately it doesn't work but this one does **LINK**

Martin P

Edited By martin perman on 14/10/2015 15:20:08

I live not far from this museum, and can confirm that it's well worth a visit – even if the exhibits are somewhat larger than the usual Model Engineering fare

[colin hawesParticipant @colinhawes85982]

Spent half an hour making turning a small knurled brass washer on each end of a bar. Decided to give the old Drummond a good clean and oiling. Spent more than half an hour trying to find the machined bar then found it well inside the lathe spindle. At least my workshop is tidier now! Colin

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Posted by Bob Unitt 1 on 15/10/2015 08:37:12:

Posted by martin perman on 14/10/2015 15:18:43:

Gentlemen,

I put a link up earlier for the pictures of IF museum unfortunately it doesn't work but this one does **LINK**

Martin P

Edited By martin perman on 14/10/2015 15:20:08

I live not far from this museum, and can confirm that it's well worth a visit – even if the exhibits are somewhat larger than the usual Model Engineering fare

Great place and not far from the land of my fathers, Llangranog. There are some pictures and video I took last autumn here.

Oh!, Martin: it was a pleasure to meet you at the Gt Dorset Steam Fair

Rod

 

Edited By Roderick Jenkins on 15/10/2015 12:43:13

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

Just returned from the Midland Model Engineering Exhibition. It was extremely busy in the morning but did slacken off a bit around 1 – 2 pm. Not much signs of show specials. I haven't been for a number of years and didn't think much of that or where they hold it now – bit cramped.

My wife came along and as expected was fascinated by the models on display. Me too and my son. There is some excellent work about.

I took the opportunity to look at a number of rotary tables. Odd that the worm mesh is limited on them so if I need to go bigger than the one that came with my Dore Wesbury I will be completing a larger one that I had started on. Main reason for stopping was the lathe I was making it on plus need. I did see one that might be the same as another one I have. No worm wheel, just angular stops and a handle to turn it round to mill curves. Probably home made like mine and cheap. They are a bit small but I've always thought I could simply fit a larger table if needed.

John

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[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

My friend and I are off there tomorrow.

Martin P

[John BaguleyParticipant @johnbaguley78655]

Spent the day at the Exhibition on the National 2½" Gauge stand. Very busy. Left home at 06.15am to avoid getting stuck in the works traffic. Got there for 08.00am. Last year I left at 07.00am and it took me 2½ hours! Same again for the next 3 days. No traffic though on Saturday and Sunday so can leave home later thank goodness!

John

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