Wilmac bandsaw restoration.

[pwdrive]

Paint stripper.

Lawrence.

[Radio Fixer]

Nitromoors in quantity?

Looks like rock hard Hammerite?

Still you like it tough Colin, if it was easy be no fun in it for you

Gary

[Retired]

Hi,

How true Joe; when I bought my first Myford lathe a few years ago it was described on eBay as in excellent unworn condition for its age; months later when I finally used it I found the head-stock main bearing housing to be broken although this didn't stop me cutting 45 cast iron gears with the head-stock bearing housing clamped. Now this bandsaw "seller refurbished" it keeps me out of trouble though undoing other peoples bodged jobs?

Thanks Lawrence and Gary; yes I'm afraid I'm going to resort to paint stripper which I detest using but I suppose its no worse than trying to remove this paint the way I'm now attempting. Hammerite; I think its more like hard treacle and plenty of it?

You certainly know me Gary; why should I have it easy when for a bit more stupidity I can make life so hard for myself and keep buying these refurbished/good condition machines which are mostly scrap when I closely inspect them; I do though as you say Gary enjoy bringing these machines back into reasonable working condition.

I've decided to go the new cast iron bearing housings with new bearings route to replace the damaged original housing and I was surprised just how quickly these new units arrived as they were delivered today. I've also ordered a good stock of BMS round bar which I'm collecting in the morning; the new bearings are upgraded to 3/4" bore so once I collect the steel I'll make another new main-shaft then once I know this problem to be fully resolved I can do the re-paint and re-assembly. I don't like paint stripping and I've never had any luck stripping paint from metal using a blow lamp Joe; I'm also very wary of going near cast iron with a lot of heat?

I've had a lazy afternoon watching a woodturning video which was most interesting; just getting into the mood for when I start using the Graduate in anger?

Kind regards, Col.

[Radio Fixer]

I think when you come across a Boxford lathe Colin you should take a drive to see it before bidding. It may cost a day, say in time, and some petrol but could possibly save you a lot of heartache.

I would use the stripper out doors and wearing the mask, or at least with the garage doors well open. Good luck.

I have been spending a lot of time spray painting a pair of Xformer shrouds. Now it should be easy, only 6" high by 4" wide but stamped out to an 1" in depth. This makes for lots of complex surfaces. The original finish apart from wounds was a high gloss brown and I wanted to replicate that. So, I got a can of closely matching paint at Halfords and thought well this will be a doodle. Flatted and primed and then the finish. Well spraying anything winter time is not easy. As usual I warmed the parts and the can and got the spray booth ready. This is a large cardboard box, in the garage, with a fan heater blowing hot air into it. And so to spray without runs!

Yep! managed that but getting a high gloss isn't easy as the paint has to wet out. But with most of the can gone and lots of flatting and buffing with T-Cut I'm getting there. Maybe another few hours will do it. And this is just for a titchy radio Xformer. Restoration sure takes up time, but Hey! what else would I do with it?



So its good you are brush painting once you get the old gunge off.

With radio restoration now, well I've done a few, some better than others and if I'm saying "that will do", or "its good enough", or "nobody will see it" then it simply aint good enough. It will just bother me so I may as well keep on until I can say "that's fine". Perhaps I'm getting one of those compulsive disorder thingies?

Gary

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Gary for your excellent advice regarding viewing a Boxford lathe before I buy it. Many of these lathes are ex-school and advertised as in good condition; Oh yes; sure; lots of novices dropping chucks on beds and running the tooling into the chuck; much better a one owner lathe if possible but as you rightly say; view before buying.

When I recently bought the Graduate I was offered the chance of hearing it under power which I declined; these Graduates are tough lathes and a visual inspection was good enough for me to realize I could rebuild it to a high standard; with dirty grease oozing out of the head-stock bearings it was obvious work and parts would be required but this isn't a problem to me. I had been informed when I sent my offer of full asking price that the Graduate had been sold. A short while later I received a second reply saying the Graduate was once again for sale if I was still interested? I believe the first buyer pulled out after hearing the lathe under power because when I powered it up at home it was very rough indeed. Not many will take on this kind of project and to have a lathe rebuilt professionally is expensive and justly so given the amount of labour involved. I have ended up with a top class upgraded Graduate at a very fair price and with lots of very expensive tooling thrown in for free.

An engineering lathe though is totally different to rebuild taking a great many more hours and involving a lot of expense; just having the lathe bed re-ground is eye wateringly expensive; this is why I decided to let both my Myford's go at a huge loss; a good decision as it turned out.

Spraying your TX shrouds as you say Gary should have been easy and of course it is once they are prepared and given a decent spraying day (rare). If you are suffering from poor gloss Gary whilst applying the top coat may I suggest you simply spray over with "Clear Gloss" this should give a mirror finish and is what I do if a top class spray job is needed; I'm not a fan of spray cans because they are expensive and the paint is like water but for small projects they are ideal; I've bought many spray cans of grey undercoat and black gloss from Poundland and always have a number of cans in stock; I also now buy the bigger 400ml cans when I visit Rufforth Auto Jumble as these only cost around £2.50 each.

The UK is not a place for home workshop spraying; I've got compressors and assorted spray guns but can seldom use them. You mention Gary painting with the garage doors open? A few weeks ago I had a terrible time whilst brush painting the Graduate; garage doors open; no way; I even had to place wooden battens at the base of the closed doors to prevent the blast of wind blowing me over; add to this not only terrific wind but lashing rain bouncing off the doors and all in the usual black hole. I've since installed lots more lighting so at least I'm in with a chance in painting this bandsaw; snow is on its way so I should feel at home in the garage because many of my projects are done during adverse weather conditions.

http://www.paragonpaints.co.uk/Customer-...de=preview

Everyone who has to date seen the restored Graduate thinks it is spray painted but in fact it is brushed and the paint I used took some tracking down but was well worth the effort; due to the cold weather I had to thin the paint to make it flow but once I got it right it went on very well indeed. Using this Paragon paint Gary I found absolutely no adverse effects in using it in the garage with the doors closed; I didn't even notice the smell; I'll be using the left over paint from the Graduate which is Code RAL9001 Cream/white.

I'm with you Gary in that "good enough" is inferior and just knowing something isn't quite right upsets me until I put it right to my full satisfaction; if we are going to the time and trouble to restore something then the only difference between a mediocre job and a first class job is a bit more time and patience which many people lack but think it's something we have in abundance? I'm my own worst critic.

I'll have a quick pot of tea then I'm off to collect a stock of round BMS before the snow hits us?

Kind regards, Col.

[Radio Fixer]

No Colin. I didn't suggest painting with the garage doors open ... I would mask up and do that behind fully closed doors. What I actually said I was would use the stripper, say Nitromoors, with the doors open or outside and still use a mask. That seems really nasty stuff when on the few occasions I have used it.

An advantage of spray cans you didn't mention Colin is if you go to Halfords you can get one a very close match to the original colour. For example for AK brown then Fiat Coffee Noir is close, for EKCO chassis Ford Duck Egg Blue etc.

Have fun Gary

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Gary; whether paint stripping or paint spraying the same applies regarding the weather conditions; I've just come out of the garage after spending a bit of time at the lathe; I felt warm enough when I started turning but being engrossed in what I was doing and without heat turned on the cold quietly crept up on me; after dinner I'll turn the heat on. Even in mid summer here Gary we are prone to sudden gusts of wind or the occasional cloudburst so the best option is to work with the garage doors closed if I want to do a decent job; I still get interrupted though by people knocking on the doors. Not moaning; just a way of life.

At Rufforth Gary they sell 5ltr cans of paint stripper which makes Nitromors look like a soft drink; I've not bought any but at the stall the stallholder was issuing safety instructions as to just how powerful this stuff is; since I've wanted to buy some this stripper has suddenly disappeared which is about right for my luck. It's a beautiful sunny morning here but very cold.

I've not visited Halford's for many years but we are fortunate enough to have two auto paint dealers within a reasonable distance and if I take along the paint I wish to match they will match it perfectly and either supply as a spray can or in a tin for spray gun use;

http://www.autopainthuddersfield.biz/

http://www.yell.com/s/paint+spraying+and...sbury.html

I've got a lot of choice when it comes to paint suppliers; how are fixed for suppliers in your area Gary?

I intend to have fun and some quality time in the garage this afternoon; I've now got the round BMS stock to play with which should last a while?

Kind regards, Col.

[Radio Fixer]

Yes! I have a place that will mix paint to match and put it in an aerosol but it is more expensive and normally leave the item and "come back tomorrow". No way do I like leaving an unobtainable part with anyone. I get the impression they don't really want to bother. Halfords is a smaller can but goes quite a long way and maybe its less hit and miss. The can colours in Halfords are spot on to how it comes out so that suits me.

I didn't quite get your idea of spraying with "Clear Gloss": surely if the finish is orange peel it will still grin through? So for me its the old fashioned way of flat and cut. To me this is a special radio and well worth the effort.

Well, so nice and sunny (no wind or even breeze) today I actually had a small bench and stool outside the garage and was cleaning the chassis top side with thinners ... Cant do that indoors, I get a moan even for titichy bits.

Cheers Gary

[Yorkie]

For small spraying jobs, I use the greenhouse. It's been about 8C outdoors here today, but bright sun, so the greenhouse was nice and toasty at 22C. No plants in there at this time of year, dust free, so ideal for spraying. Really quite pleasant - even with no sun if there's enough light to take a photograph, there will be a solar gain in a greenhouse. I really enjoy being in there in early spring on cold days, pricking out plug plants to bring them on for bedding out.

I always spray my PCBs with UV lacquer in the greenhouse, then put the PCB in a plastic box to bring it indoors away from sunlight to harden off in a cupboard. That way, I don't get specks of dust settling on the lacquer.

All of which is entirely useless information to anyone who doesn't have a greenhouse!

[Retired]

Hi,

I agree Gary; having spray cans supplied mixed to match a colour is expensive and I know what you mean regarding using standard Halford's or similar spray cans because the spray pattern is pretty good and doesn't put too much paint out which is especially useful to a novice sprayer.

Orange peel Gary from a spray can? I thought your problem to be a dull finish when you required high gloss hence I suggested blowing over with clear gloss; have you ever tried clear gloss over spray paint Gary; car manufacturers use this method a great deal; apply the base coats then the top colour coat and finish off with a protective clear coat. I like to have a spray can of clear auto acrylic in the garage for when its needed and the finish when this is used is superb but because it is clear it takes practice otherwise it's just so easy to apply too much ending in runs. My ideal is to buy the paint in a tin then use my HVLP spray gun hooked up to the compressor allowing me to blast on a really thick coat of heavy body paint; this paint being much thicker than from a spray can and being so thick it isn't as prone to runs but much more prone to "orange peel".


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I used the compressor on a rare warm dry calm day to blow the paint onto the wave winder shown in the picture above; it went on a treat with a very good build and silky smooth finish.

Using a spray can a top class finish can be achieved as you've demonstrated many times in your exemplary restoration articles and although the spray cans are costly if only the odd project is to be completed they make economic sense because no other equipment is needed.

Weather permitting I prefer the control afforded to me by mixing my own paint/thinners and using the compressor but this takes a little more practice but the technique is soon grasped and it's lovely to watch the paint go on and build up so quickly; practice allows just enough paint to be applied giving maximum build whilst avoiding orange peel or runs; the result though is rapid and if spraying wet on wet it's easy to complete a job in a day.

The spray cans I buy from Rufforth are what professionals use and put out a wider spread of paint but for someone like you Gary used to standard spray cans I'm sure you wouldn't have any trouble using them. I like spraying but I don't like all the preparation which of course cannot be skimped upon if the finish is to turn out well. For what its worth I can't stand T-cut as once used the finish to me always appears patchy and the T-cut leaves a very slight haze; after using T-cut try tuning the item viewing it from different angles; the haze used to drive me nuts.

22C in December David; do they make greenhouses for steep slopes as such a temperature is only a dream to me. To rub it in our friends in Brisbane have emailed to say Christmas day for them is forecast at 35C; I feel positively sick? It's been cold here today and snow is forecast which cheers me because the BBC weather gang usually get it wrong for us; hopefully a heatwave is on its way? Our shed survived the latest blown down tree but only just because the oak and laurels arrested its fall; I wonder how long a greenhouse would last.

Kind regards, Col.