tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post5525773127532489569..comments2024-03-28T08:06:43.198-04:00Comments on The Silicon Graybeard: Bwa-Ha-Ha-HaSiGraybeardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-4593868255120950942015-06-14T06:02:05.326-04:002015-06-14T06:02:05.326-04:00I bought a Stuart 3/4" bore 3/4" stroke ...I bought a Stuart 3/4" bore 3/4" stroke horizontal engine kit about thirty years ago. No it is not yet completed because some things were a little beyond my skill level, and life had priority. I did finally get the crank turned after making a fixture.<br /><br />The cylinder head bolt ring is either 4-40 or 2-56 and each hole is blind. I got all that done without breaking a tap. Nowadays I need a really powerful magnifier to use the thread pitch gauge for 6-32, let alone the really small stuff. <br /><br />The ability to make something with my hands and skills is still very satisfying.<br />John in Phillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16196033252818387245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-35965753462837039352015-06-13T20:53:36.173-04:002015-06-13T20:53:36.173-04:00To use the common phrase, John, you and I are brot...To use the common phrase, John, you and I are brothers from another mother. <br /><br />You can't see it well but the plunger on the indicator is a little screw that I had three of in "pound of hardware" grab bag special I bought a year ago. It just happened to fit the iGaging shaft. Really oddball thread. I <i>think</i> it's 2-64 because that's the finest #2 I see in tables, but it could be 2-80. 2-56 for sure is too coarse. Only thing is, it ended in a large hex end that was too long, and had a hole across the flats, as if intended for safety wire. <br /><br />I just put it in the jaws of my Sherline metal lathe and cut off the end with a cutoff tool. That left about 10 mils too much, so I shaved that back. Now it's a perfect little plunger. I'd bet money nobody makes anything that was exactly like I wanted. The ability to make the exact right part when you need it - priceless, too. <br /><br /><br />SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-11276815483979293202015-06-13T19:43:46.592-04:002015-06-13T19:43:46.592-04:00Today I needed a tubing adapter to put a garden wa...Today I needed a tubing adapter to put a garden water feature into operation. Hmmm, no adapter. I sacrificed a sharpie to get the plastic, and used the metal working lathe to make the adapter. Money saved, maybe two dollars. The joy of using machine tools to solve simple problems, priceless.<br /><br />Yes, I understand completely.John in Phillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16196033252818387245noreply@blogger.com