Aluminium build up strength

[Richard.]

No. I should easily be able to do it. Just a question of time and mental capacity. Got a bit too much on at the moment. My workbench earlier:

S.

That would actually make me cry if mine looked like that.

 

[Kent]

That workbench is a direct result of not ending one job before starting another!

Your leaving kit out

I am messy at work but I have this rule
Finish what your doing or else put everything away

 

[Screwdriver]

That workbench is a direct result of not ending one job before starting another!

Your leaving kit out

I am messy at work but I have this rule
Finish what your doing or else put everything away

In my defence, I had just sold a couple of really big vices. They were stored on the right hand side of my welding bench

Then I had to scoop a whole bunch of stuff out of the way just to shift the big one.

After which that half of the bench doesn't look so bad!

But you're right, it is a serious headache and a result of two or three job lots turning up all at the same time. In some ways it's a nice problem to have.

S.

 

[Screwdriver]

As the original intention was a soft metal like aluminium.
Would it not be worth sizing one of these.
I know that means you'll have to buy one it's there for when your next screw is due. Takes out the fuss with trying to make a boring bar to size.

Good idea, I may look into that once I establish the thread. I guess it might turn out to be relatively standard size/pitch and it would quickly get me out of a hole.

No handle which is another typical issue with cheapo vices. Wondering out loud if I could fabricate one and with a combination of weld build up and grinding(!) make it look "right" as a handle.

In the longer term, I may even be able to cast them!

S.

 

[roofman]

Yes. A lovely little Eclipse 4 inch machine vice. Nabbed off eBay as spares/repairs. Looks like it would make a good shaper vice or suitable for my mini-milling machine which I now have to sell.

S.

Did i hear milling machine and sell in the same sentence??

 

[Richard.]

sold a couple of really big vices.

Did you sell that beautiful white one.

 

[WorkshopChris]

Well the tricky bit for me is forming the internal acme thread.

Do you have enough space to make a new part in steel and press the acme thread part you have in as a insert then secure with a couple of pins.

 

[Richard.]

Do you have enough space to make a new part in steel and press the acme thread part you have in as a insert then secure with a couple of pins.

Bloody good thought that. It's gonna be nice and strong then with the softer part as your thread you could turn it down into an insert and even grub screw it from both sides to make it a replaceable part.

 

[Screwdriver]

Did i hear milling machine and sell in the same sentence??

The little Taylor George I no longer need, now I found a Bridgeport I can afford.

Did you sell that beautiful white one.

The white vice yes. Did very well that one actually.

Do you have enough space to make a new part in steel and press the acme thread part you have in as a insert then secure with a couple of pins.

Not a bad idea thanks though I'd probably go for a circlip or collar on the push side.

Bloody good thought that. It's gonna be nice and strong then with the softer part as your thread you could turn it down into an insert and even grub screw it from both sides to make it a replaceable part.

Yes. I was thinking about using some of that Delron to fit into a steel collar. You can heat the thread, press a Delron tube over it and mould it into a nut...

S.

 

[Richard.]

The white vice yes. Did very well that one actually.

I have no doubt you did. Simply stunning example that one. I knew you wanted to take it another avenue otherwise I would of had no prob paying proper dollar for that off you.

 

[Screwdriver]

I have no doubt you did. Simply stunning example that one. I knew you wanted to take it another avenue otherwise I would of had no prob paying proper dollar for that off you.

Sorry about that. I took a flying guess at what I might get for it based on the new price and eBay completed sales, then stuck it on eBay at a higher price! Did that for both of the bigger vices and I was pleasantly surprised when they sold. I have to be circumspect asking what an item may be worth because I can't be seen to be advertising in the restoration threads. It's a sort of catch 22 I guess. For what it's worth, I tend to go over my own estimation of value and I don't want to mug you guys off but I do have to make these things pay me back.

If they don't sell at the (slightly) inflated asking prices on eBay, I will offer them at a preferential rate in the classified section here and am always receptive to PM of course.

speaking of restorations, I just took delivery of a nice big chunk of cast iron bar (meehanite) from which I can make a collar for the next Swindens restore. This next one (not sure if it's on a thread here yet) is going to get modernised and refurbished to a modern working condition, without worrying about keeping it "original". It's in the picture of all the vices above, you can see where the retaining collar is missing. Needs new jaws making up and I was going to buy a nice chunk of solid copper to make some with. Then today, I found this in the rotten workshop from my recent job lot.

Couldn't believe my luck. It was dirty, nasty and in a plastic sleeve. weighs about 4kg. A solid half inch thick bar of solid copper!

This is the Meddings I went back to collect:

...and it has a morse taper fitting!

Thought I might just as well grab this too but no idea what it's from. No markings, bigger size column than the Meddings.

S.

 

[Richard.]

Sorry about that

Oh not at all. I totally understood what you wanted to do which is why I didn't ask. I'm glad you got your prices.
That drill looks like a space take screwdriver. Your hoarding again mate lol.

 

[Screwdriver]

Oh not at all. I totally understood what you wanted to do which is why I didn't ask. I'm glad you got your prices.
That drill looks like a space take screwdriver. Your hoarding again mate lol.

Thankfully I get on very well with the ex. girlfriend. It's now safely tucked away in the back of her garage!

If it wasn't for the fact that it's the morse taper version, I'd just sell it as-is because I do have another one tucked away in one of mine. Stripped for restoration, it has a fixed jacobs chuck iirc. Kinda wish I hadn't stripped it apart now. They take up a lot more room when you do.

S.

 

[ewmIreland]

Thought I might just as well grab this too but no idea what it's from. No markings, bigger size column than the Meddings.

S.

Im no expert on drills,but it looks like a Startrite to me

 

[roofman]

You have PM

 

[RichardM]

back to the knackered lump of alloy - what size is the screw, you may find something like a Boxford cross slide nut would fit. If you have a screw cutting lathe making an Acme nut isn't hard if you have a screw to match to depending on bore size.

 

[Screwdriver]

Looks about half inch 5/8. I'll measure up but yes, probably best to knock one up from scratch in brass/bronze/something that sort of colour...

So let's see; internal thread, small diameter, acme profile, left hand thread, expensive stock. It only has to be a metric pitch and it's the worst case scenario for my first screwcutting practice!

 

[Richard.]

metric pitch and it's the worst case scenario for my first screwcutting practice!

My little lathe is the other way on. Metric is what it does best. Although I'd imagine that pitch is bigger than mine could do. If it was me and I was going to make a fresh one out of brass I'd turn it to size and invest in the right size acme tap.

 

[Screwdriver]

Doh. It's not 5/8. A simple eyeball with a ruler tells me it's almost certainly 14mm. That makes this thread the ultimate in difficulty.

Now I just got to do it!

S.

 

[Richard.]

Doh. It's not 5/8. A simple eyeball with a ruler tells me it's almost certainly 14mm. That makes this thread the ultimate in difficulty.

Now I just got to do it!

S.

What's the pitch