What I did today

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Very similar to a grinder I had, until it wore out, it was a domestic knife sharpener, part of an electric can opener, it had no guard in the kitchen, and stayed the same in the workshop. The wheel in it about 1.5" dia x 1/2" wide, a little shaded pole motor, probably around 50W. Quite good for touching up HSS lathe tools. Ian S C

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Bother

Edited By Ian S C on 12/04/2014 11:30:28

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Roger, you mentioned replacing the ceramic shaft. Was that an extension piece or actually going right the way through? If the later did you just press it out of the armature?

[Roger HartParticipant @rogerhart88496]

@Bazyle

To confess, I broke the shaft whilst turning off the impeller (glued on). I was surprised it broke and the bits looked like no metal I had ever seen. Apparently ceramics are very common in pumps, I didn't know that…..

The ceramic shaft is not really long enough to put a grinder on anyway and would require retaining the inner stainless water chamber + bearings – inconvenient for mounting anyway. The ceramic shaft did have a small hole – about 1.5mm down the middle, if you are lucky you might glue some extension down there but it would not take much strain….

The ceramic shaft is pressed into the rotor and held by a stainless springy wrapper inside the rotor – I bashed out the stump (not too brutally) and the wrapper was still a bit tight for my 10mm silver steel replacement even though the ceramic shaft had been 'exactly' 10mm. So I slackened the springy wrapper whilst still inside the rotor using a 10mm reamer until the new shaft would squeeze in without too much force. My plan was to secure with epoxy if necessary but I have not found the need to do this.

Please heed warning about rotor being wrapped in stainless and having sharp edges.

[John CoatesParticipant @johncoates48577]

Roger – well done on this adaptation, totally in the spirit of what home engineering is all about (I don't do models but use the same tools for other purposes)

I can see Jason's perspective about "a certain responsibility to MHS" and their corporate lawyers' paranoia but feel an empathy with John's position about the endless reminders about H&S these days as though we have left our brains behind somewhere. Heck even in the early days of MEW every time there was a photo of someone only wearing spectacles and not goggles there was a comment that they were prescription safety specs (although I secretly hope they weren't and the wearer was cocking a snoot at the H&S nazis)

This is not industry it is a hobby. I tune my own motorbikes and I adapt bits from other motorbikes to fit them. I know I do this at my own risk and I am aware that if the EU had their way none of us would ever be able to modify any vehicle we bought ever again but thank god they have not (yet) got their way

Part of the enjoyment of this hobby is seeing what people can make out of scrap items. Personally I like this a lot more than making models from plans which is just following a path already walked by somebody else which is why they leave me cold. The ingenuity and problem solving involved in recycling items is a joy to read about.

Here's to ingenuity, creativity and invention and two fingers to the H&S nazis (not that Jason is one of these it's to the EU bureau robots)

John

[Oompa LumpaParticipant @oompalumpa34302]

John, I feel exactly the same way. It might be worth noting that by highlighting the H&S aspect of it Jason has put himself in the firing line – so you were aware it had no guard then? – I can hear it now. However, if you make no comment, well obviously that aspect had passed you by. May be worth remembering.

I abhorr Romper Room forums where the inference is that I am an idiot and cannot look out for myself. A comment such as:"oh, what's the next step? are you building anything around it?" is far better than "Well, I just hope you are going to be fully shielding that and check it is on an RCD and did you check the spindle speed and….." I find such comments patronising. They also cripple innovation. This is my own opinion and not directed at anyone but as has been mentioned, I am not, nor do I think any member of this forum is, seven years old.

graham.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I seem to remember a similar argument/discussion about recycling old battery drills by fitting an extension lead to a remote power source, a few years back, think it stemmed from an article in MEW. I'v got two of those, an 18v one in the workshop, and a 12v one for use with my portable generator. The later one has a ciggy lighter plug, so could be used in a vehicle. Ian S C

[Roger HartParticipant @rogerhart88496]

I do agree that my workshop is my own and my responsibility and I will do as I jolly well please in it. I have usually found the dangerous jobs go OK, it is the simple things that catch you out. Do what you like but try not to hurt anyone – the coroner or the lawyers may have harsh words to say.

Here is a picture to warm the cockles of your hearts – repumping an old Crookes Xray tube about 8 years back. The copper item is a single stage diffusion pump to a 1920s design, in the background is the homebrew vac gauge and the old Edwards mechanical vane pump lies rigth at the back. The white tube hanging out on the right is a capillary tube controlled leak – Crookes tubes need some air in them – a really good vacuum is no good. The spark coil is the big black object below with a motor interrupter to its right. The heater was a 2KWatt theatre lamp run on a variac and a water cooling pipe can be seen emerging from the diff pump. This was a bit Heath Robinson even for me but it did work and delivered the classic apple green glow. I did stand outside when running the tube…. and I am still kicking. Yes I know it was dangerous and I probably broke a few regs too.

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Roger I am sure you are aware of all the hazards in the above setup.

Few would be…but …those who might follow your lead might be less well informed…

MadameCurie messed about with chemical radium pretty much all her life..yet voluntary work with one of those tubes during WW1 is probably the cause of the cancers that killed her at if I remember a venerable age.
..
I can see in that setup other things that would worry me first..before the X rays ..flying glass for one….but your workshop your risk..and good on you.

Edited By jason udall on 13/04/2014 12:20:41

[Gray62Participant @gray62]

With regard to jasons comment about the guarding and his perceived 'responsibility' to MTM, in the T&C's MTM in several places state that they take NO rosponsibility for any content posted on this website,

e.g:

In relation to Content uploaded by users, MyTimeMedia shall not be responsible for any such Content posted by users in chat rooms or other community areas. All such Content whether expressed as opinions, statements or recommendations, are those of users expressing such views and are not those of MyTimeMedia.

There are several other examples of similar nature, so Jason's comment was unnecessary and in my mind downright patronising.

There are too many armchair lawyers and elfins on here, let's stop the nannying and just get on with model Engineering.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I recently picked up a copy of "WOODWORKING Plans & Projects" which includes, on its Editorial page, the following brief caveat utilitor …

[quote]

SAFETY MATTERS

Woodworking is an inherently dangerous pursuit. Readers should not attempt the procedures described herein without seeking training and information on the safe use of tools and machines, and all readers should observe current safety legislation

[/quote]

I think think it might be appropriate for MTM to take a similar approach, and publish its own statement on each magazine, and on the website. The exact wording would need careful consideration, but the idea is simply to convey one consistent message … say it right, and in the right places, and the job's done.

MichaelG.

Now: Back to the original topic … Thanks Roger, very interesting.

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

For f*?ks sake lads get a life or at least clean the armchair.

An article on cleaning the chair would be well received by Neil I think ?

[Oompa LumpaParticipant @oompalumpa34302]

Posted by John Stevenson on 13/04/2014 13:19:16:

For f*?ks sake lads get a life or at least clean the armchair.

An article on cleaning the chair would be well received by Neil I think ?

I could send him a pictorial on Carpet Cleaning, she has me getting George out. You seen George? It's like a Henry Vac – but on steroids! When the delivery guy brought it he staggered up the drive with it wanting to know if I was starting a car valet company next

graham

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

The X-ray equipment reminds me of an old (pre ww2) copy of Hobbies magazine, there was an article on how to build your own X-ray plant, the tube was adapted from an old vacuum incandescent light bulb. Dad had built it and got an X-ray of his hand on a photographic plate. If you thought that was a bit too dangerous, they also had articles on making your own fireworks. Alas the old magazines are long gone. Ian S C

[Oompa LumpaParticipant @oompalumpa34302]

I remember making a drum from leather and turning some Brass balls at school do I could mix the Gunpowder correctly. I had read in one of my Uncles books that it was not advisable to use steel for the risk of explosion if the balls struck each other and sparked. Would the youths of today even read such stuff?

Anyhow the garage survived that experiment but the doors (one of them, they were wood and opened outwards, remember them?) succumbed to a couple of shotgun cartridges. Long story, another day

graham.

[Ian WelfordParticipant @ianwelford58739]

My old school had a periodic table on their lab wall with examples of all the known elements upto and including uranium. Physics geiger counters readings off quite a few of em.

Still remember the "comments" the head made when we set off the fire alarms by accident 7 times one term. The last time he was reading the riot act to the head of chemistry who was protesting innocence ( when the head of physics admitted they'd cooked a capacitor and that had set the detectors off), happy days.

I can see and respect both view points. Admire what's been done and take note. Life's too short !

Regards Ian

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