Putting some grip (stippling) on an aluminium drive pulley.

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Putting some grip (stippling) on an aluminium drive pulley.

I've always wanted to work out a way to put some extra grip on a home made drive pulley to prevent or cut down on belt slippage. It would be nice to have the tooling that Wilesco use on their grooved pulleys. I had a Dremel saw accessory that the outer plastic shell broke and I thought what can I do with the saw blade. Rudimentary, but it worked well. I should be able to work out now a way to mount it so it doesn't need to be held, though its not as dangerous as that looks and being hand held allowed me to skew the saw blade at the various angles needed easily.


I would drop the pulley in some battery acid and run a current through it for half hour. Anodise it if you don’t seal it it will have a rough Matt finish
 
Oh dear here we go again.

My thoughts exactly on this topic. I've been away for a few days and cam back to another 2 pages of replies on this thread!

Dear Cogsy you really should read comments more carefully. You make a point about the late introduction of posts regarding safety, if you had read the postings you might have noticed that the first safety message was in the third or fourth posting by Norman (Goldstar31) the following day after Jim's original one (and allowing for the time difference between Australia and th eUK it was a pretty prompt reply - well done Norman) and the discussion of the merits of stippling only occupied a couple of short posts.
I was specifically referring to your contributions to the topic. Specifically, your post numbers 11, 14, 17, 18 before finally mentioning safety in post number 22. I was making the observation that for someone so vehemently opposed to the 'dangerous' technique used, it took a lot of posts before you mentioned it.

You accuse me of attacking Jim, please read my first paragraph again where I say what Jim does in his own workshop is up to him, but not to put it on a public platform where inexperienced beginners may take it as advice without a simple spoken warning.
Again, I will reference that not all videos, or any content, is published with beginners in mind and nor should it be. Whether it be machining, electronics, firearm use, motor vehicle operation (especially motorcycles) or a multitude of other topics, there are countless videos, pictures and even tutorials which assume knowledge of (at the very least) basic techniques and safety practices. Perhaps a simple 'don't try this if you're not experienced' could have been added, but the vast majority of content producers do not include such a disclaimer, nor do they mention every specific hazard (or often any at all) in their videos. Again I'll refer to the excellent videos of Joe Pie or Myfordboy for examples (filing left handed immediately jumps to mind for Joe and I've never noticed a warning from Myfordboy about the dangers of CO poisoning from a propane furnace in an enclosed area).

As for emery cloth on the lathe I use lengths approx 18 inches long from a reel 1 inch wide made specially for the job. I hold the ends lightly at a distance of 6 to 8 inches from the work so that if it catches (unlikely but possible0 it is pulled from my fingers.
Perhaps strangely, the international standards I linked to in my previous post does not specify a length of cloth that can safely be hand-held under power, just that that emery cloth must never be hand held when under power on a lathe. There is even the suggestion that alternative methods should be considered, so that if possible, emery cloth is not used on the lathe even without being hand-held.

if I were to demostrate th process I would certainly discuss the safety aspects while working, it doesn't cost. My technique was taught to me by very safety concious craftsmen, not amateurs working at home. The only other abrasive material I might use is one of those emery coated sponge blocks whic h can safely be pressed against the work. I also find it rather ironic if not amusing that I am being lectured on H&S by someone who spends so much time denying it.
A couple of points here - you described the technique in one of your posts in this very thread without discussing the safety aspect (yet you say rank amateurs may be reading this thread). You also suggest the technique is safe because safety conscious craftsmen taught it to you, which somehow means documented international safety standards can be disregarded.

I would suggest that it is ironic (although not amusing I must say) that you are amused when it is pointed out that you are breaching well-known and documented safety standards - industrial standards, not merely for us amateur folk either - yet you have devoted so much time to this pursuit of Jim for his perceived safety transgression (perhaps more hypocritical than ironic).

As for the leather prickers they are not at all flimsy, especially when compared with q dreme saw,the wheels are around 3 - 4 mm...
I'll have to trust you on this. My only experience with this type of tool is with old, well made examples. But my intuition suggests that modern, cheap eBay junk would be incredibly flimsy, which is what I based my comment on (and yes, you did suggest picking up a cheap eBay example).

You further accuse me of not getting names correct. Again read my first paragraph and note that I called him JIM. In the following paragaph I was addressing SteveM concerning his comments about safety comments spoiling a cricket match which I found ironic as teh batter and close fielders are a standing advert for H&S with all their protective equipment. I am not responsible for your confusion but apologise if you didn't get my satire.
I've bolded a couple of bits of your paragraph just for clarity, and I'll cut-and-paste the beginning of the post in question (post #111):
"Hi,

The origin of this thread was obviously Steve's use of an inappropriate technique, and it was inappropriate in all sorts of ways not the least that he admitted he was also working around a tripod and camera which he didn't use for the final component because of the inconvenience. However that said, he is working on his own in a private workshop and whatever he decides to do is ok"

Unless I am very much mistaken - you have referred to Jim as Steve, exactly as I suggested you had. So technically you are correct - you are not responsible for my confusion as it is you who is confused.


As for your ridiculous statement that not all postings or videos are not intended for beginners, who are you to know who watches and reads them, there's no special partition between experienced users and beginners on the internet that is why qualifying comments are necessary occasionally. Of course content generators are responsible for the possible outcomes of that content your declaration otherwise is gob smacking. The examples of providers you quote are all competent and scrupulous people demonstrating correct and safe procedures. As for the videos produced by much more professional YouTubers they diligently demonstrate safe procedures not bodged up methods and dodgy unsuitable tools. I have been watching videos by users such as Myfordboy who you mention for many years and remember his early casting videos and was once able to offer advice when he was having problems with cores.
As I have said, I have great respect for many of the content providers but they certainly do not always show best practices in every instance. I've already discussed a couple of examples and if I had more time (and inclination) I could dig up an early Joe Pie lathe video where he takes his hand off the chuck key while it's still in the chuck (notice he crops his videos so he can't make that same slip-up nowdays). Or go watch some of the Myfordboy casting videos where he pours molten metal over concrete flooring without any mention of potential steam explosions from spills.
So from your comments above and the 'ridiculousness' of my suggestion that not all videos are intended for beginners, I assume you are now about to embark on a similar endeavour of educating these well-known content generators on their safety shortcomings and lack of suitable qualifying comments?

To repeat, please read, view and understand the posts that are here I note that Norman (goldstar31 has added his thoughts on your post before I got to mine.
I believe I've correctly read, and understood, the previous posts, and I would ask you to follow your own advice - before you accuse me again of mis-quoting you, please go back and verify what you actually wrote originally.
 
A Thought for the dat?

What happens if someone follows the advice?
The warning comes from more than one professional lecturer regarding the dangers?
 
This seems to be a post that won't die.

My 10c as a C1 responsible person and certificated engineer (once responsible for a factory of over 600 employees.)

I have a number of tips that I would never post on an open forum because they are inherently unsafe and I would hate to have someone hurt themselves doing something daft that I suggested (You should see how I change adhesive sanding disks on a linisher.)

Here in South Africa it is simply illegal to operate machinery alone - I can't have a single person work overtime in my factory for instance - nor am I allowed to have one of my technicians conduct repairs at a clients empty premises. These rules contain no exemptions for small or home based workshops.

Seems fairly sensible but if strictly obeyed means I can't use my home workshop unless I have my wife standing by "supervising" me - please ! My workshop is my refuge from her.

By all means point out unsafe practices but guys let's be reasonable, pragmatic and civil while we are at it.

I am tempted to say use your common sense but years of experience has taught me that if common sense was an animal it would be the Giant Panda - an endangered species.

I saw a quote the other day that said "Remember when you could buy a new car and it came with a handbook that told you how to set the tappets ? Now you get a handbook that warns you not to drink the battery acid !"

Regards, Ken
 
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A Thought for the dat?

What happens if someone follows the advice?

They'll have a nicely stippled aluminium flywheel for their model & toy steam application and their 2mm green watchmakers lathe polyurethane belt will be much less liable to slip as they're enjoying themselves having a steam up and running some steam accessories.
 
Perhaps someone is trying to tell me something.
The last time that I got something like that was from one of my lovely little granddaughters.
Of course, she is almost 11.
 
Maybe because the children are taught to be honest? - Learning to be "politically correct" comes with years of experiencing half-truths and mis-direction (dare I say corruption?). It is a curiosity that you can buy and sell guns, and the safety advice must explain that the purchaser is at risk of injury if the gun is mis-used, so must be pointed away from the user. (Just like buying cars, etc.). Pity help the guy who is shot... But we can still buy guns...
Oops.
K2
 
It's Remembrance Sunday and I'm one of the lucky ones. I can merely claim to to be deaf as a result of what was never recognised as a a war. Oh I got a little bit of money and waited for 70 years for my Government hearing aids to arrive.

When you go home
Tell them of us

For YOUR tomorrow

We gave our today.

To Mac and Tony and poor Fred.
RIP
 
It's Remembrance Sunday and I'm one of the lucky ones. I can merely claim to to be deaf as a result of what was never recognised as a a war. Oh I got a little bit of money and waited for 70 years for my Government hearing aids to arrive.

When you go home
Tell them of us

For YOUR tomorrow

We gave our today.

To Mac and Tony and poor Fred.
RIP

OT Much?
 
I have a Mamod TE1 I bought in Norfolk Island over 30 years ago. Still in the original box. It has a much more basic piston, but is otherwise identical to yours. Is the gas burner original or is it an aftermarket product?
 
I have a Mamod TE1 I bought in Norfolk Island over 30 years ago. Still in the original box. It has a much more basic piston, but is otherwise identical to yours. Is the gas burner original or is it an aftermarket product?

G'day Jack, this Mamod TE is a later model with the newer double acting piston valve engine. The TE1 that you have is a great engine and a lot of fun to run.

The gas burner (scuttle conversion) is a nice add on and allows fine adjustment to the amount of heat going to the boiler.
http://forest-classics.net/bix 010.htm
 
I have a Mamod TE1 I bought in Norfolk Island over 30 years ago. Still in the original box. It has a much more basic piston, but is otherwise identical to yours. Is the gas burner original or is it an aftermarket product?
Gak! Did I read right? Norfolk Island? The island of horrific slave mutilations and degradation? Do you see ghosts over there? How do hyou travel to the island?
 
Norfolk Island?

That's the one. You can fly there. It has a tiny runway that a 737 can just manage to land on. I was in the Air Force at the time and we had to stop there for fuel on our way home from New Zealand. I'm not aware of any slavery in its history, but it was a miserable place for the convicts who were kept there. It's tiny and there's not much to do there, but surprisingly it had a toy shop!
 
That's the one. You can fly there. It has a tiny runway that a 737 can just manage to land on. I was in the Air Force at the time and we had to stop there for fuel on our way home from New Zealand. I'm not aware of any slavery in its history, but it was a miserable place for the convicts who were kept there. It's tiny and there's not much to do there, but surprisingly it had a toy shop!
It was the convict stuff that I meant, my understanding is that they were tortured, enslaved to the most horrible stuff, even worse than Devil's Island, left to murder and canibalize even. so I am wondering how many ghosts roam around trying to get even or eat someone.
 
Here in South Africa it is simply illegal to operate machinery alone - I can't have a single person work overtime in my factory for instance - nor am I allowed to have one of my technicians conduct repairs at a clients empty premises. These rules contain no exemptions for small or home based workshops.

Seems fairly sensible but if strictly obeyed means I can't use my home workshop unless I have my wife standing by "supervising" me - please ! My workshop is my refuge from her.

Regards, Ken

That's some strict rules, can't see how its enforced in the privacy of your own home and what are the penalties for using a lathe in your backyard shed alone if you were somehow 'caught'?

Australia like South Africa is hot in summer, thongs are the norm for a lot of blokes in their sheds in Oz.
 
The thought of men in thongs is bad enough... but where do you wear PPE? Safety glasses and aprons to protect against flying swarf? Steel caps on sandals?
What you do in your own shed is your business, I reckon.
A bit like the guys in some US states that ride bikes at speed with just t-shirt and sunglasses for protection. I knew a guy who did that - hit a bee at speed - the sting went through his cheek into the gum and had to be removed by a dentist. Very painful, and the bee didn't survive... Another mate hit a small bird partly on the side of his helmet and goggles.... the bird didn't survive and my mate had a black eye, cracked safety-glass lens and nearly crashed.... He was spitting feathers - literally. We figured he would have lost an eye without the proper goggles. Better to keep the bike in the garage? No way! But wearing just a thong? Maybe time to get a fan? Or go the beach?
Phew! Managed t get the thought of men in thongs - welding, grinding and driving lathes and millers - from my mind....
You've got to laugh!
K2:cool:
 

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