Thread: Lots of stuff in the mail today and I am stumped

Yep, and we are still using imperial here like in timber lengths, 0.9 - 1.8 - 2.4 mtr etc.instead of 3 ft - 6 ft - 8 ft.

Dave

Originally Posted by Dave J

Yep, and we are still using imperial here like in timber lengths

You're going to be very upset if you ask for a 6' length. 1800 isn't quite 6'.

From what I have noticed they are usually around 1820mm when you buy them.

Mike
Getting back on track, what DRO did you buy? Have you decided on where to put the cross slide scale yet?

With mine mounted on the tail stock side, I ran the cable underneath the and brought it out on the chuck side as you can see below.










So the tail stock doesn't come in contact with the scale, I used and extended screw on the tail stock wiper so it hits on the saddle before hand.


Dave

The way wipers are a good idea to fit onto your lathe. I found that sometimes I would get a bit of swarf stuck under the tail stock and it marks the way when you clamp the tail stock tight. After fitting these I haven't had any trouble. They are just sheet metal folded up in the vice over a piece of flat bar and I drilled/ tapped the tail stock to take the M5 screws.

To drill the holes for the cross slide reader head, I removed the tail stock and used a spade bit extension to extend the drill bit to reach, but a purpose made extended holder could be machined up easy enough out of a piece of round bar. The spade bit extension hole was a bit big for my drill bit, so I used some aluminium can wrapped around it to shim it up.

Dave

Thanks Dave, that is the way I hope to do it too mate.

Ran into a problem though, my scale for the cross slide is too bloody long.

So, I have two options, send it back and wait for the correct size to arrive, whilst incurring all postage charges. Or, cut the scale to size. I have removed the end off one side of the scale and removed the rubber wipers. I am looking at the glass epoxied into place. This worries me, I am very nervous about cutting the glass scale.

Any tips on doing this is very welcome!

RE: Imperial V Metric, the work I am doing involves firearms. Imperial is here to stay for some time yet, especially in the firearms world.

Mike

There are a few blokes that have cut them down, but I wouldn't worry about it unless it's really long. What size do you need and what size have you got?
I would just use a backing spar behind the scale for support if you have room and let the extra length hang out the back, as it wont hurt anything.
I want to extend my cross slide but have to make up a longer lead screw first, but then I run into the trouble of needing a longer scale.

Dave

Ah, sounds good Dave, I will go with that mate.

With a backing spur, would I need it to be dead flat or can I get away with a steel flat approx 5mm thick?

Cheers

Mike

only last nightshift i asked a bloke to get me some m10 bolts, he returned with 3/8, says to me "same thing ain't it?", bless him the ignoramus but, if i wanted 3/8 i would had asked for them.

this nightshift coming im going to ask him to go to the store and ask the storeman for wooden welding rods, the ones used to weld wood.

might even tee it up with the store man and get him to give him a few lenghts of dowel. can't wait.

Originally Posted by mike rolly

Ah, sounds good Dave, I will go with that mate.

With a backing spur, would I need it to be dead flat or can I get away with a steel flat approx 5mm thick?

Cheers

Mike

I used a bit of aluminium flat bar I had here, but steel would be fine. On my mill I used steel angle to protect the scale on the front of the table, as can be seen in the link below. I mounted the scale strait onto the angle.
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/in...0-52-a-115786/

For the Z scale I used 75 x 10mm flat bar going down to hold the reader head and I mounted the scale just under the gap.

Dave

Originally Posted by kraits

only last nightshift i asked a bloke to get me some m10 bolts, he returned with 3/8, says to me "same thing ain't it?", bless him the ignoramus but, if i wanted 3/8 i would had asked for them.

this nightshift coming im going to ask him to go to the store and ask the storeman for wooden welding rods, the ones used to weld wood.

might even tee it up with the store man and get him to give him a few lenghts of dowel. can't wait.

Nothing better than a few practical jokes on the young blokes. Another good one is a box of welding sparks.

Dave

Originally Posted by Dave J

Nothing better than a few practical jokes on the young blokes. Another good one is a box of welding sparks.

Dave

The new work experience kid has been told he needs to buy a set of metric screwdrivers. I said he'd be better off with Whitworth ones...

Maybe next week I might ask him to get me some chequered spraypaint.

Originally Posted by Jekyll and Hyde

I said he'd be better off with Whitworth ones...

I assume you told him to make sure they were for right hand threads.

Another good one, is to get the apprentice to go to the store and ask for a "long wait".

Regards
Ray

I've got two left-handed screwdrivers.

One is a ratchet drive that can only be use to tighten (I don't have the right-handed one to make the set), the other has the writing the correct way 'round.

Originally Posted by Dave J

From what I have noticed they are usually around 1820mm when you buy them.

Still not 6'.