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I hope you bought 3 taps. They are not terrible expensive but like some pets, they get lonesome and commit suicide. Having 3 you may never break one again.
What have you been doing today?
- Thread starter Shelton
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Help Support Home Model Engine Machinist Forum:
Richard Hed
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Particularly for the small taps, when I buy some, I try to get the set of starter, mid and bottom taps, and not always can one get all three. However, then I try to get more than one set of each size, especially if I intend to use them a lot. I also use LH threaded taps to match the RH ones--and THOSE are much harder to get as a set. Now when I have a project with LH threads, I try to make sure the metal is easily threaded and machinable.
Bentwings
Well-Known Member
I have scrap and drill guide I made years ago just for small taps and drills I recently purchased a metric on off Amazon It’s a bit awkward tapping larger skinny parts just have to be careful ll I’m considering getting some Model Engineering ME Taps and dies they are pretty expensive and not readily available here in the USA. My little dream turbines have som weird metric thread I can’t see well enough to get a thread per inch count . It’s fine I have a 2/4 40 ME tap and die set but even that is hard to see I had to use a pointed pin to count as I moved it down the threads fortunately the taps and dies are well marked
Roy h Biggs
Member
Thank you. Things are looking up.
Bentwings
Well-Known Member
I got out my small metric nut and screw set today all the 3 mm screws are gone and I have no idea what happened to them I found som 3 mm studs so I’m going to improvise I may jus tap the holes to 4 mm instead . I’ll have to see if I can find some screws on line micro fasteners has been a go to place for years I really hate to order only a small bag of screws but I don’t think they have sets I’ll check .
My hobby shop is a mess . I’ve been saving clear plastic pastry boxes to put stuff in so I think I’ll make a small start tomorrow . Try for sorting one area a day. I also saved some cardboard boxes so I’ll have a secondary place. I usually mark what’s in a box so I’ll continue with this plan . It’s going to get cold for the next few days so I’ll have a good excuse to stay indoors .
My hobby shop is a mess . I’ve been saving clear plastic pastry boxes to put stuff in so I think I’ll make a small start tomorrow . Try for sorting one area a day. I also saved some cardboard boxes so I’ll have a secondary place. I usually mark what’s in a box so I’ll continue with this plan . It’s going to get cold for the next few days so I’ll have a good excuse to stay indoors .
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Some ideas from the been-there-done-that experience collection:
Thread guages are worth having, even if you can tell most of the common sizes from memory and experience.
An array of magnifiers are also useful tools, especially "optivisors" you wear on your head. I like the ones that have interchageable lenses for different powers. Also, if you wear eyeglasses, spend some time explaining what you do and what you want to see to your optometrist or ophthalmologist when you are examined so a prescription can be tailored to your needs rather than to what most people get: This may mean more than one pair of glasses, but well worth it.
Look at spiral flute taps and forming taps, as well as other special-purpose cutters.
--ShopShoe
Thread guages are worth having, even if you can tell most of the common sizes from memory and experience.
An array of magnifiers are also useful tools, especially "optivisors" you wear on your head. I like the ones that have interchageable lenses for different powers. Also, if you wear eyeglasses, spend some time explaining what you do and what you want to see to your optometrist or ophthalmologist when you are examined so a prescription can be tailored to your needs rather than to what most people get: This may mean more than one pair of glasses, but well worth it.
Look at spiral flute taps and forming taps, as well as other special-purpose cutters.
--ShopShoe
Bentwings
Well-Known Member
I have an umber if bi snd even tri focal saftey glasses whir helpful the double vision s th real issue I also ave a couple of lighted Han held mag glasses and I hv a lighted magnifier arm device they all provide a well lit target i tried tried eye patch too but the connection in my brain was damaged by the stroke the eye doc
said it’s not even fixable by operation so I still see double I have an up coming appt so I’ll get checked again It’s really frustrating
I’m right eye dominate so if I favor the right side target it’s better. But small stuff like picking here with a stylus is still hard and writing is very hard I have a fresnel lense full page magnifier for key board on the computer that works pretty well then I got the lap top connected to a tv screen so I can now see the solid works screen icons better but it’s still just a bandaid poor at best night time outside is not a good idea . I’ve shoveled snow several times so there is not so much to deal with the next day but I have to be extra careful when it is slippery in a way I’m glad I don’t drive anymore I would be a road hazard . Well enough of me I did get some holes enlarged and tapped in one generator so that will help get me set up to make correct shims .
said it’s not even fixable by operation so I still see double I have an up coming appt so I’ll get checked again It’s really frustrating
I’m right eye dominate so if I favor the right side target it’s better. But small stuff like picking here with a stylus is still hard and writing is very hard I have a fresnel lense full page magnifier for key board on the computer that works pretty well then I got the lap top connected to a tv screen so I can now see the solid works screen icons better but it’s still just a bandaid poor at best night time outside is not a good idea . I’ve shoveled snow several times so there is not so much to deal with the next day but I have to be extra careful when it is slippery in a way I’m glad I don’t drive anymore I would be a road hazard . Well enough of me I did get some holes enlarged and tapped in one generator so that will help get me set up to make correct shims .
Wow, I had the exact same thing happen to me! No hospital, but a rough 4 weeks. Doc said I should be ok. It took 2 different antibiotics scripts over the course of 25 days.
Bentwings
Well-Known Member
Sorry for you issues I’ve been there twice myself . I walked out of therapy as it was doing no good and raising blood pressure because I hated it pedaling a resistance bike with no resistance because it’s broken does no good I can get more benefit walking up and down the halls . Then up snd down a couple flights of stairs ive had in home therapy too that was useless as I told him I was was working out in the gym since I was 14 so I YHINK I know what I need . And how to get there I’m sure oxy therapy may be very necessary so that would get my attention I have blood oxy and pulse finger devices . I found that if your hands are cold they don’t work very well but once you warm up they are fine anyway good luck to you have a good and speedy recovery
Roy h Biggs
Member
Thank you. Take care!
Roy h Biggs
Member
I had the antibiotics and steroids. Hope you're doing better.
Bentwings
Well-Known Member
I got a hand full of beam couplings to hooch the turbines to the dynomo I just need to get the shaft heights equalized the couplers fit perfectly . I get around gear or belt drives with this . I also need to come up with better steam or air input connection to the turbines . I’ve misplaced the aluminum mounting plates I was going to use so I’ll have to do a little redesign there I YHINK
I work a couple of days a week as a Ski Patrol. This is one of them. New snow last night, clouds haven’t lifted yet.
This is the view from my “office “ right now.
This is the view from my “office “ right now.
Richard Hed
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That looks like one of the runs at Snoqualmie
Bentwings
Well-Known Member
I fooled around for quite a while getting beam couplers to fit on bot steamer it INR and generator model set screw was in the way. I finally got the dremel out and attempted to just releave the od stvthe point where the coupling Hoyt the set screw this turned out to be a dangerous thing to hold the coupler then try snd open a small groove with dremel cutter I could see a disaster if something grabbed so I got a small round file snd filed a relief instead I still needed more so I put a small mounted grinding stone in the dremel and trimmed the top ofvthe set screws I could have done the bottom end but the pliers wanted to damage the set screw threads finally got two couplers fitted they both grip the turbine pulley andvthe generator pulleys perfectly there is almost no runout between the units I drilled and tapped the gen mounting holes for metric shcs I have shim washers soni can make up the centerline differences . I also have belt reductions but I miss placed my mounting plates with the idler arm brackets simply can’t find them. Doesn’t matter with the beam couplers now I’m goingvto try a air test after I get home from dental appointment. I YHINK the turbines will spin up the generators as neither take much to turn over . I only have to run about 5400 rpm so it’s not screaming the gens may load as they start producing electric power . I have some capacitors so I may hook these up to be charged so I’ll have a steady LED light or even power forvthe third gen/ motor. Also have some resistors an a 20 turn pot so maybe I can load the gen /mort some. I’ll try and take photo tomorrow if I get everything working .
Bentwings
Well-Known Member
Looks like I’ll be out shoveling again it snowing not real heavy yet but wet stuff I’ll probably be out several times as there is already an inch . I like to get this wet stuff up before it freezes it’s supposed to get really cold in the next couple days . I’m goingvto dig through my metric fasteners and see if I have some set screws I can just shorten a little I don’t like grinding the top off even if it’s just a few thousandths as there is now a sharp edge . Inknowbinhave a couple dremel burrs but being pretty small it’s easy to lose them I’d usually put them in the dremel box but the only ones I found are for cutting wood from back when I was building big Rc planes. They are out right dangerous to use in a hole in metal holding the power unit in hand . The burrs should have been in the plastic box where I have the micro end mills I used for cutting jetway in some other couplers but nope not there
Well coffee is done so time for morning break before venturing outside .
Well coffee is done so time for morning break before venturing outside .
Only 2+ inches for us, but I wanted to get rid of it before a) my wife drove over it compacting it into ice and 2) before it started to rain, then freeze. Had to make a couple of passes as it was coming down faster than I could shove it out of the way. I did get my steps in for the day.
