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Be wary of Macs Models. Just had issues with overcharged delivery fees with this one. Won't answer my emails. I just had to pay the bloated shipping charges just to clear the thing (3 tiny bags of 8BA screws). The products from there are good but the service is disgusting. I won't be shopping...

The cooker I used was one of those teflon coated ones. I had a bit of blackish ozidisation on my part after I was finished but it cleaned off easily. Just drape a bit of Gladwrap or clear shopping bag loosely over your pot so it hangs lower in the middle. Poke a couple of small holes in it to...

Good one Phil but I think you had better find another heat source while you can still walk. :big: Not worth upsetting SWMBO. Good price too. That's cheaper than what I saw it going for. Someone gave me an old rice cooker an I used that. They'd broken the glass lid which is why they had given it...

Hi Phil, You can buy the stuff at Bunnings in the pool section. It's called a flocculent and the active ingredient is Aluminium Sulphate. I spent ages trying to track some down here in OZ. Finally went to bunnings and found 1kg for about $15. Chemists were charging $15 for 10grams. I mixed my...

Just an update on how things went. I drilled out the brass sleeve and turned up a piece of graphite to fit tightly inside then drilled/reamed the graphite out for the shaft. I'd say I'm now getting another 10 RPM out of it due to the reduced friction. It's been running almost continuously now...

I might give the graphite a go first then. The way I'm going to bush the brass it's a simple job to drill it out and replace it anyway if it does wear. I've got Jerry Howells "Miser" lined ready to go if I ever get this one going to my satisfaction. I suppose I should be happy enough with the...

Thanks guys. I though Delrin would have a lower Coefficient of Friction. Based on Bluechip's link and google it appears Delrin has a Coefficient of 0.25 and Brass appears to be 0.35. I don't have any PTFE but I do have some Delrin so I'll give it a go and see how it goes. What I was planning on...

I'm in the process of building one of Jan Ridders LTD Coffee Cup Stirling engines. This engine has certainly been a challenge but I knew it wouldn't be easy before I started it. They are so touchy the slightest increase in friction kills them. I've currently got the engine to run off the heat of...

Instead of a board I use the mudflap off a car trimmed up to a square. It's light, flexible, protects the ways and best of all it didn't cost anything as I picked it up off the side of the road. I finally found a use for something off a Holden. Aussies here will understand what that comment...

Good on you Bob. I like it. Spend it while you can. Just leave them debts. It's the best way I've ever seen to get even with your kids for the things they have put you through. ;D

As Bob has said it's used as a flocking agent (to make water clear) for treating water. I found this out out after having all sorts of troubles trying to locate some here in Aus and is available at places where you buy pool chemicals. I had broken a 3mm tap off in a piece of aluminium but...

Just realised the links I supplied didn't work. I've just fixed them.

If you like playing with electronics have a look at the Shumatech. I think you are in OZ so the link to the Australian distributor is here

Hi Peter, I think you have just created more work for me. I like the idea. I'm a little unclear from the pics which part moves on the thread. Does the spinner move up and down the threaded (stationary) rod and the head is fixed to the threaded rod with the cap screw and stays stationary?

You're not wrong about keeping the sanity although some people would disagree with that statement with me ;D Call me deranged but I get a sense of achievement from making my own tooling plus I learn a lot while doing it. Grinding up HSS phases some people but as long as you have a think about...

Just had a look on your website Mike. Lots of good stuff. Pic No. 5 on the "Home Made Tools" section shows a boring bar that will cut up to a shoulder. That's basically what I've done. Only differences are that I've used a round cutter where you have used square. The other difference is you have...

Mike N: I've heard of that method of turning the bar upside down and running in reverse but haven't tried it. My chuck is the threaded type so I might run into some problems with that but I'll give it a try. Rake60: I never thought of doing that. I'm looking at more like AU$50 over here for a...

Does anyone have any ideas on making an internal threading tool for threads over say 1/2" that will cut up to a shoulder. I've looked at the insert types but they are not cheap and the inserts not easy to come by. Have tried an elcheapo carbide one but it flexes and the carbide chips if you look...

I can relate to this. I made one hugely ugly tap. Didn't harden and temper it correctly. Tried it in aluminium and it twisted. Looks a bit like a twist drill now. Re-hardened it and it did the small job I wanted to do but as a guy I used to work with would say "It's rough but honest". What I...

I am interested in trying my hand at making a tap and die and was wondering if there are any rules/formulas available in relation to making them. Some of the things I'm looking for are tap flute sizes and position, die lead-in tapers, die flute(?) position, any pitfalls.