Love of lathes.

[Yorkie]

discs for my very old but trusty B&D 4" angle grinder are becoming difficult to obtain because the bore required is 16mm whereas modern angle grinders accept 22mm bore disks?

Some areas are inaccessible to the grinder and I might use the soda blaster to clean these just for speed depending on weather.

Re the discs, presumably you could make a bush to use as a spacer so that 22mm bore discs could be used on a 16mm shaft Colin?

Re inaccessible areas that you need to clean up, from my recent experiences I can thoroughly recommend a power file.

The 'Workzone' one I got that was recently on offer from Aldi (usual 3-yr warranty) can use 8mm wide belts or 13mm which come in various grits from coarse (40G!) to fine, has three types of heads and has electronic variable speed control. It's proved very capable and more than adequate for my needs, but I've no doubt that other brands perceived to be more 'up-market' are on offer from other power tool suppliers at consequently higher prices than the £29 from Aldi.

Now you've got the Lorch stripped down, it's clearly overdue for a good clean it up and will look splendid in its new 'livery' in due course!

[AlanBeckett]

I hope nothing goes wrong 'cause he's bound to blame me

Alan

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Gary for your encouragement; yes indeed easy doesn't cut it with me and if a project was easy I would soon become bored. I'm actually a model neighbour to have; non drinker so no rowdy parties; non smoker so hopefully no noisy ambulance to cart me off; non druggie unlike near neighbours who suffered a drugs bust a few months ago. I only make noise when absolutely necessary unlike neighbours who enjoy sharing their choice of music with the rest of the street; no dog so barking isn't a nuisance unlike a neighbours dog which is left outside barking its head off; yes I'm obviously barking mad but this is a quiet affliction. I keep our bungalow and gardens in good order and don't have bonfires; our immediate neighbours say they don't hear me in the garage because I've asked. I decided this Lorch and its rarity deserved a bit more than a simple tidy up in order to preserve it; I do like tidy machines though.

I don't have a wire brush to fit the angle grinder Refugee but one would be very handy.

Thanks David; yes I could easily make a new bush adapter to accept the larger bore disks but at the moment I keep finding suitable discs at Rufforth very cheaply. Your Workzone power file looks a useful bit of kit to have David but I think my soda blaster will clean out the corners etc OK as required; I wouldn't be surprised to see these Workzone power files at Rufforth because the stalls are usually full of such items? Excellent guarantee though when bought from Aldi. Pity I can't buy cheap blasting medium at Rufforth but I've not seen any on sale in my recent visits?

Of course I'll blame you Big Al if this project bites me after all you did bend my arm into buying this Lorch? You can stroke it with affection next time here; hopefully it will be looking better by then?

Kind regards, Col.

[Yorkie]

Of course I'll blame you Big Al if this project bites me after all you did bend my arm into buying this Lorch? You can stroke it with affection next time here; hopefully it will be looking better by then?

For the avoidance of doubt, I assume that your invitation is for Al to stroke your Lorch with affection Colin - not your bent arm?

[AlanBeckett]

So long as we stick to Lathes and Arms I should be OK

Actually he's putting me to shame because I've got two that really need some work.

Alan

[Retired]

Hi,

Many thanks David; I just knew it would draw a response but expected it from Big Al.

Leave them both well alone Alan; its hard and dirty graft restoring one of these lathes. After a session with the angle grinder I'm sweeping up lots of debris and once all the rust and old paint are finally removed then I'll need to clean the entire garage; this dirt gets everywhere.

I'd like to pop over to Oxenhope and buy two more bags of blasting media but I know if I do it will only start raining or snowing to prevent me from using the blaster again; I don't trust this climate one little bit having been caught out too many times. If I stick with it though I'll eventually get it ready for its new paint which should really transform its appearance and make all this work so worthwhile; you might tackle one of your lathes then Alan if mine turns out OK?

More paint/rust stripping is planned for tomorrow and I can't wait (NOT).

Kind regards, Col.

[AlanBeckett]

You only have to do it once young Col, then you can paint it and it will look splendid.

Alan

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Big Al, once is enough but well worth it. Before getting up this morning I asked Bron if she would like a trip over to Oxenhope with me today to buy more blasting media? I've just been outside and already I've made it rain and the weather forecast is for heavy showers near The Pennines; never mind though the idea was good so back to the hard way of paint stripping again.

I wondered if there was a blasting media supplier nearby so I browsed the web last night finding a company in Sheffield which isn't nearer but it revealed some quite alarming information;

http://www.macants.co.uk/application-sel...a-blasting

When Bron kindly bought me the blaster I thought using soda was safe? It's of course possible this company is highlighting the downside of soda in order to promote its own product but where my health is concerned I don't take risks. I've only ever used hard blasting media with my blaster so cannot comment not having tried soda. I thought soda blasting would be brilliant because soda is not abrasive and can be used on items such as glass and machined surfaces without causing any damage. Out of necessity I only use the blaster on our driveway; the hard media although creates a huge mess is easy to sweep up but it appears if soda gets wet it becomes troublesome?

I tried using a canister type gas blowlamp and yesterday I tried using a powerful heat gun to soften the paint on this Lorch but the paint refused to soften in fact I thought I was turning this paint into "Stove enamel". I've never had success in trying to remove paint from metal using heat although on wood it is a rapid process.

I've browsed YouTube regarding paint removal and just about every method is shown in detail. One method is much favoured in the states and this is to dunk the items into a Molasses bath for a couple of weeks; the paint can then simply be pressure washed away; this method certainly works and works well but I can't see me having a large container sitting around for weeks on end giving the lathe a bath and once the job was over how to dispose of the gunge?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZCFcxf5IBw

As my various projects get underway I start learning lots of new things which makes each project even more interesting to me. Recently I've learnt a great deal about various types of media blasting finding local suppliers and this also applies to flat belt drive systems which reminds me; I still haven't received the samples or quotes from our local flat belt supplier in Cleckheaton. I've previously sprayed my machines using compressor and spray gun but this was always troublesome due to our climate so I can now brush paint using top quality machinery enamel the enamel being found after more web browsing (Paragon).

I try to be considerate towards our neighbours so never make noise in the garage other than between 9am and 6pm. Being retired I can do most of my heavy work whilst many neighbours are out at work so in 26 years of living here I've never received one complaint so I must be doing something right. When I use my woodworking kit; this kit is heavy duty and gets through work rapidly unlike the tinny DIY machines which scream away for hours on end so this also greatly limits noise emissions.

I'm just having a brew then I'll wander into the garage for another paint removing session.

Kind regards, Col.

[AlanBeckett]

I have to agree Col that 'Soda' trapped in the cavities is a bad idea. I always thought it was but all the information seemed to imply it was OK. A friend of mine who refurbishes Vintage Tractors buys Hard Medium by the Pallet load.

Dinnington was a Pit village. I always thought of it as more Rotherham than Sheffield although that was probably based on the Coalboard Areas.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=dinnington+colliery&client=firefox-a&hs=nmm&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=sdIFU5nqFciShQeVoYGoAQ&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAg&biw=1260&bih=718

Alan

[Joe]

It's no-man's land. They pay their rates to Rotherham, have Worksop 'phone numbers but, as far as the GPO are concerned, are in Sheffield.

- Joe