Model Engineering Ezhibition, Harrogate.

[Guest]

Hi,

Anyone going to the Model Engineering Exhibition at Harrogate?

I am Planning on being there Friday 5th May for a good look about.

It's years since I was last there so am looking forward to seeing superb

craftsmanship.

J.

[Guest]

The harrogate show is one of the best on the circuit as far as I am concerned.

Really good trade stands, loads of club stands and everything you can imagine as regards model engineering. The trouble is that last year I bought a milling machine and the year before I bought a lathe. Consequently the missis is happy that i can't go this year.

I usually go with the Kirklees Model boat club so when you see the stand pass on my regards (Richard Simpson) as I will still be at work and will not make it this year.

[Guest]

Will you be taking a camera John, we would love some photos im sure!

I would love to see the missus face when u turned up with a lathe richard, lol! ive wanted my own metal lathe for agessss!

[Guest]

ooooh...Harrogate...right next door to me....guess i'll have to pop in and have a mooch.!

[Guest]

Annette is used to me and never gives me a really hard time!

She does have trouble understanding why I have about four differrent models on the go at any one time but lets me get on with it.

I think the only time I get the exasperated look is when sea trials interferres with bath time!!! She doesn't realise that ship yards run a tight schedule.

Modelling lathes nowadays are cheaper than ever and can be bought for about 350.00 quid for a good one. Mine has variable speed drives and digital feed readouts and cost 450.00 so I was very pleased with it. I did ask permission though....just before I told her I had bought it!!!

[Guest]

Bunkerbarge,

Will do.

I will get round the purchase problem as I shall be travelling on a motor bike. So if anyone sees a guy in buke gear it could easily be me. If so, say hello.

J.

[Guest]

Oo0o0o0o0o0o0 another biker! Yay! What do you ride john?

Richard...£350 doesnt sound too bad actually, what sort of size are we talking?

TC- take your cam dude!

[Guest]

Squiffy,

The one in the picture cost 450 but that was with 50 quid for each of the digital readouts.

Have a look at the Chester Engineering shop on Ebay. They have good prices, good delivery and very good support.

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[Guest]

WOW what a setup!

o0o0o0o polishing wheel too (whatever they are called!)

I was thinking of getting a cheapo one of these to polish my bike parts with! They should come up with a mirror finnish i think and it will save my poor arms! I hand polished my ZXR400 yokes and i could see my face in them but ouch did my arms hurt afterwards!

Ive heard of people using dremels but i dont really see how you would get such a good finnish? Love to hear your views on this!

Could you explain the digital readouts a little more if possible?

[Guest]

The lathe tool post is moved by the main slide and the cross slide. To get the accuracy you need when moving the tool post the handwheels are calibrated so that you can ensure a consistancy of cut and an estimate of the final dimension. The machining should always be done to an actual measurement though.

My lathe does not have a scale on these handwheels it has a small digital unit fitted to both handwheels. This means that I have an accurate reading of position of the tool making it very easy to position the tool, make consistent cuts and almost machine to a finished dimension without needing to measure. They are very convenient but a bit expensive at 50 quid a go. As they came with the lathe it didn't take much to convince me!!

I like thinking completely out of the box with things like this. I wanted to make individual hatch boards for my Coaster Hatch as the pre printed ply was a bit naff. The trouble is the hand holes had to be drilled into a very soft fine grained wood that frayed too easily. I needed a very fast cutting speed, beyond the capabilities of any drill and I wanted the holes to be consistently in the same spot at the end of each hatch board.

I made a little wooden jig that held the boards and put it into the lathe tool post. I adjusted it for centre and got the lathe wound up to screaming pitch then all I had to do was slide the wood into the jig and wind it into the drill in the chuck by exactly the right amount. It worked perfectly and I ended up with a pile of hatchboards with beautifully cut holes in exactly the right place in each board.

A Dremel is not really up to polishing large surfaces as the wheel diameters are so small and the surface speed is not very high. You need a bigger more powerfull wheel for bigger motorcycle bits. Mine is actually only fitted with a couple of grinding wheels for tool sharpening and general grinding but it is handy to have around. The other thing with polishing with a wheel like this is the awfull mess it makes so I am lucky enough to have a metal finisher locally and I take a handfull of bits around to him, bung him a tenner and he does them for me.

I once reconditioned a Barograph that I "saved" from a ship. All the little brass bits were put into a jam jar and he did the lot for about 20 quid. Brilliant!

I hope that you recognise the two pictures on the wall. Always been my hero.