2015 POTD Thread Archive

mksj said:
Wasn't happy with my lathe handles which where too short and funky plastic, so finally got around to making new handles. Haven't done knurling before, but wanted a light pattern on the half-nut lever so gave it a try. Machined replacements from 6061 aluminum, although I thought of using brass or steel. Anyway, much more comfortable then the stock levers.

An interesting note on the PM1340GT, is that there seems to be a mix of metric and US threading/bolts on this machine, most handles are threaded with M10-1.5, but the half-nut lever rod has a 3/8"-16 thread. So never assume and always check before you machine. I almost messed up on the half-nut, but some of the rod sizes measured to US specs so I checked the thread. This is also true on other parts of the lathe.

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I feel the same way and new handles for my PM1340GT are also on my list. Unfortunately I have been so busy doing automotive work/repairs for people the past several months I haven't had much machining time. I hope that will be changing soon as I am starting to get caught up.

Mike.
 
savarin said:
How come I never thought of that:dunno: I've cursed the gouges my jaws make in work for years.
Nice job and thanks for the idea..
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I'm surprised you guys don't make a clip on set of soft quick removable aluminium jaws , using 1/2" thick aluminium bar and some longish self-tappers to hold the thinner aluminum arms on to it . ( Think of it like a pair of spectacles where the arms are bent round the vice jaws & body ) If the aluminium block is too hard you can then use red fibre block instead but you'll need to counter sink & rivet it onto the arms strip .
 
I drove over to the People Republic of Pennsylvania to pick up my new PM-450G, then I took it voting since it looked like a grown up mill :)
IMAG0480.jpg
Ignore the rigging, I didn't realize that Matt and I passed the web differently until I stopped for lunch - it was doing fine so I left it.
Tomorrow I skid it down into the basement. I'm really excited about this mill, you can tell the difference between it and a Chinese machine in only a few moments.
 
That's a lot more grown up than my PM25. If I'd had the resources, I'd 'uv had one of them, myself.
 
Cold weather is coming so I decided to winterize the 5th wheel camp trailer on this exceptionally nice after noon. Following some advice from learned campers I have a pressure reducing fitting that is used to hold the trailer's water pressure to 45 PSI. I can't reach the trailer with a hose from my shop air compressor so the portable air tank gets used. After getting everything gathered up I needed a 3/4 inch nipple to connect the PSI regulator to my air tank. A 44 mile round trip to the hardware store raises the unit cost of a pipe nipple to "out of reason" so I went to my scrap boxes. A schedule 40 plastic 3/4" NPT x slip fitting had been glued via a short pipe to another fitting that had broken was found. The broken fitting was turned in my Clausing 101 MK III with a 14 TPI male thread to make the required nipple. My connecting hose was filled with RV anti freeze then blown into the trailer plumbing to get all pipes protected. The hose was filled 5 times, each with just over a pint of antifreeze. The 4 "grease traps" received about a cup of anti freeze each and the water heater which had been bypassed prior to blowing in the antifreeze was drained. Hopefully the next trip will not be spoiled by leaking water lines.

My junk boxes saved the day again. Have a nice day

Ray
 
Thanks for the timely winter reminder RB,
I'll be putting two 9 watt CFL's wired in parallel set upon some wood plank inside my caravan , for a bit of over winter heat and damp protection some time tomorrow .

As I don't have a lot of pipe work I've already drained all my pipe work & the water heater , left the drains partially open and all the faucets slightly open.
The toilet facility is a cassette system so has been removed cleaned , sterilized & left to dry out inside the garage
 
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