Pye MM

[Joe]

A anvil is something I'd quite like too. Luckily most of the things I want to bash are small and I can manage with a bit of steel plate on top of a brick.

I recently made a new part for a bureau hinge and annealed the brass by putting it on an old gas fire radient (David will probably say that's not what it's called!) and set about it with my anti-weed flamethrower. I was then soft enough to work on my vice top.

   

There was no drawing and I don't think I even measured anything.

- Joe

[AlanBeckett]

Col,

Bearing in mind that this spindle was meant to be the rough prototype I might well make another. In fact I could just about get two out of the other piece of brass. However, I'd better make sure that this one works first.

My mate Tim has an anvil. He doesn't do any hot forgeing, just cold bashing. I get away with a short length of railway line.

Alan

[Retired]

Hi,

Nice job with the hinge repair Joe; it looks the part. Such small jobs are most satisfying to do.

I don't like doing it but my big engineering vice gets a lot of abuse when I'm metal working.

A bit of railway line will prove very useful Alan and can be used for curved work. My toes curl when you say Tim does cold metal bashing on his anvil as this is guaranteed to work harden anything. For those not used to hot metal work using a forge I can highly recommend it; hot working metal is hard work on the arms using a 2lb hammer but extremely interesting especially if you forget which is the hot end. I've seen a number of programs on TV where a blacksmith is supposed to be working metal on the anvil but where the metal hasn't been heated to cherry red.

Once you complete the first spindle Alan you can relax as the others are always easier; don't forget to leave the clearance drill bit away from the job and only use the tapping drill bit; it's just so easy to pick up the wrong bit and then end up saying "Oh dear what have I done".

Kind regards, Col.

[AlanBeckett]

Fear not Col, he was only shaping thin plate. He's a Silversmith really, but joined the Constabulary to keep body and soul together. He made a couple of half suits of armour for a local Amateur Dramatics outfit. One day we'll get a small forge and really branch out. Are you applying for the job of Striker?

I got back to the spindle yesterday - big mistake. In view of the small holes required and my Industrial grade equipment, I decided that a quick and dirty refurbishment on my tiny drill was called for. By the time I'd convinced myself that it wasn't going to be at all quick and I'd reverted to Plan B - putting a little chuck in a big chuck in the Milling Machine - I was frozen to the bone. The good news was that the Mill spindle runs very true, which is more than can be said about my big drill.

So, having thawed out over night I was back on the job late morning. The wind had dropped and it was actually a bit warmer. Also the bit of carpet in front of the bench, fan heater, fleece and thick boots no doubt helped. The rest was just a matter of careful measuring, double checking, sharp centre punch and slow drilling. Bearing in mind Col's stern warning I drilled and tapped first and then opened out the clearance holes. It appears to go together so now I have to assemble it in situ and see what lines up. By the way, they aren't the real screws, just some nice brass ones that I bought.

More later, I hope.

Alan

           

[AlanBeckett]

I should have said that the hole spacing on the switch blocks turned out, on more careful measurement, to be 5/16" not 3/8". I'll update the drawing and Post it when I've checked the fit.
Alan

[Retired]

Hi,

Isn't it a wonderful feeling Alan when things turn out well. I'm pleased to see you finally sorted this spindle out and your endeavours should encourage others to tackle such jobs.

It's only a spindle so what was all the fuss about? I think to an outsider such a view could be justified but to you and I who have made one of these it is a totally different story. On face value making the spindle looks to be such an easy job. We know differently because there is so much room for error due to the simplest mistake. To make a second spindle would be much quicker but making the first without messing up is the challenge. Well done Alan.

Applying for a job of striker? I've done my share whilst working in the pit; the blacksmith heating the iron and placing it correctly on the anvil whilst two of us with a striking hammer each pounded the hot iron in turn whilst the blacksmith kept turning it. The striking hammers we used were similar size to sledge hammers but with a longer head. Boy this brings memories back of aching arms.

I'm so pleased you didn't pick up the clearance drill bit in error or the story would have been quite a bit longer once you calmed down. All you need to do now Alan is to assemble everything and get it talking to you. Good luck with the tuning gang and again another word of caution; the vanes will break by just raising your voice they are so brittle.

Kind regards, Col.

[AlanBeckett]

Col,
I'm on your side
Many times, when I was working, I spent weeks writing software, and when it was done it was just programmed into a PROM and it all worked.
Then the Manegement said 'What's the problem, it's just a chip, isnt it?
Anyway, with luck, it will work OK.
Alan

[AlanBeckett]

Back on the job, just. I've decamped to the house 'cause it's too cold in the garage and the reassembly of this secion is just too fiddly with freezing fingers.
First, however, a Drawing change. A mate called round at the weekend and was horrified at my Decimal Dimensions, so he changed nearly all of them to Fractions while I was making him a cup of tea. Fear not, nothing has actually changed, it's just the dimensions. However, it did dawn on me that while I've read many many old Drawings dimensioned in Fractions all machine tool dials I've seen were graduated in Decimals.

First step was to insert the spindle and re-attach the switch blocks. Apart from being extremely fiddley - it has to be done in situ - it was not difficult. I put a touch of Loctite on the threads just to be sure.

The next job was to re-install the Control Panel. The tricky bit here is to get the indent on the end of the Tuning Cap spindle into the pip on the panel. That took several goes, and some swearing, but eventually I got it back and screwed down. The vanes look pretty central so I'm hopeful that will be OK.

Next the knobs were re-installed - the Wavechange one clicks round nicely.

Now for the side panel and the coil box. Actually they were pretty strraightforward, again apart from a couple of very fiddly screws. The switch blocks appear to line up with the fingers. However, I'm still unconvinced about the 7 deg. offset on the square section as it really doesn't look to me as though it makes that much difference.

And that's about it for tonight. I have to re-install the other side panel and solder the wires back. Then it's over to the PSU and Speaker.

Alan

               

[Tedzed1]

Looking good Alan, nearly on the home straight now.

[Joe]

Glad to hear from you - I was wondering if you'd either frozen to death or it had sent you ga-ga.

Hopefully the chassis and case can soon be reunited.

Oliver Bulleid was a great proponent of the decimal inch but I'm pleased I've never had to use them.

- Joe