Anyone with a Lathe and some spare time?

[Psymon]

Does anyone on here have a hobby lathe and some spare time to make some tooling for me? I was going to buy a lathe and just make them myself but the cost isn't worth it.

Need some stainless steel machined like this photo:


Would of course pay someone to do it. PM me if you would like a go and I will get the dimensions over.... Thanks.

 

[striker]

Hi, I have no spare time, but I have a spare lathe if you are interested in buying it!!!!!

Regards, Paul.

 

[stormin]

I think a machine with a taper turning attachment will be in order for that job, unfortunately I can't help on that score.

 

[Psymon]

Lathe

Think Redcar is a bit of a distance from me in Essex. Would love to have a metal lathe. Already bought a wood lathe - which I hardly use, think that after I make some of these tools I wouldn't have much use for it.

The taper isn't too essential. Just a very small taper if anything else. Same with the screw on the bottom. Can just be welded to a block or cylinder.

 

[shenion]

Yes, would need taper attachment unless it is small. Roughly, how big is it?

 

[Psymon]

I want a few different sizes but nothing more than 12" or 30cm long. Smallest one would be about 6" or 15cm long.

 

[shenion]

Ah, ok.

Would need to turn between centers or taper attachment for any taper over 2" or so.

If you were on this side of the pond, I could turn some up for you

 

[Psymon]

Thanks for the offer. I can buy these from the US but getting them posted here adds on a fortune. Thats why I was thinking of finding someone in the UK with the equipment.

Shenion is the only one to offer help so far. What would be the cost do you think?

 

[SwissTony]

Out of interest, are they anything to do with fireworks?

 

[Psymon]

Very good Swiss tony... Give him top marks... rocket tools - been flying them a while and want to create some different ones.

 

[chunkolini]

Oi Oi Oi
Psymon. Go on then what? why? How? Utube? photos?
Swisstony how did you work that out.

Chunko'.

 

[Psymon]

Ok Ok,

here have a look at this early one I managed to record.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woX4cI7Auxw

I don't usually film them these days as you tend to miss the firing of them looking at a small screen. They are MUCH better now though, with headers and all sorts of effects.
I have been into pyrotechnics for as long as I can remember. Chemists used to sell all the necessary chemicals. It's become a bit harder to source Nitrate these days but since ebay often has plenty of sellers it's no longer a problem finding.
The engines need to be made with a core all the way up that's why I need the tooling. You can press engines without the tools and drill a core but that's a rubbish way to make them as you drill out some useful stuff. Each one is pretty cheap to make - I would guess a few pence per rocket. Depends on header effect. It's just the fun fireworks which I have not been able to shake off since the age of 10 years old.

Anyway, I still have not found anyone who can help me make these tools yet. I'll pay for them, you can get decent tools out of the US but they want a couple of hundred dollars for them. For something so simple I would imagine they needn't cost much more than £20. I know that is the case as I did buy some rocket tooling 4 years ago from the US for about that price. Maybe if someone wanted to knock a few sets out we could go into business making them?

 

[shenion]

Yes, shipping from the US has gotten insane. Sent an 8 oz package to the UK worth $300 via UPS. Cheapest was $100 shipping and then they tried to hit me with $200 in import taxes and VAT.

Then there is the post office for $50 and it may get through customs, but tracking dies at the border. If it fails customs or delivery, I'll get it back 6 weeks later.

Those would not be difficult to turn, but would take a lot of setup time to do. Somebody there must be willing to do them, lots of folks have posted they have lathes.

 

[rkde]

I would be able to quote you if you want through my machine shop... If you have drawings/original etc I am sure we would be able to copy that for you

 

[Psymon]

Fantastic. I will get some drawings over to you shortly.
Yeah things from the US cost a fortune, wife bought a second hand retro watch from Ebay USA and it cost £50 with reasonable shipping. Then the import tax was £50. Didn't realise that we had a 100% tax rate on US imports? We had to pay it or else the bloke at the PO would have sent it back.

So I avoid all US imports from now on if I can.

I have a pyro web site that I sell some bits and bobs (nothing considered dangerous or dodgy) from and am thinking about extending my range a bit. Rocket tools would be really cool if I could find someone willing to make them for me.

 

[SwissTony]

Oi Oi Oi

Swisstony how did you work that out.

Chunko'.

I am a fellow pyro