The Home Machinist!

I'm not certain what you mean when you say polishing. Does that mean that I should use say a red scotchbrite pad, or leather and jewelers' rouge, emory cloth, or what? And what technique should I be using to keep the work truly cylindrical? I really am not ready to get out my toolpost grinder. What...

Excellent post, Rich.

Harold

I'm pretty much of a rookie and I have an odd collection of micrometers, but as I remember, my one inch doesn't have a vernier, but I'll bet I can call the reading to .0002 Will, It's been my experience when working closely and trusting the thou marks, I typically can read within one tenth, which I...

It was my understanding where you took issue with Harold, stating that using a tenths resolution micrometer was totally un-necessary for building Loco's. That should hold true for 90% of the project. I sincerely read that Harold was speaking of the 10% that could require it as a fact that to do so ...

And would someone who doesn't use these all day every day be better off with the battery powered digital mic in a second or third tier brand than with the veneer scale mic in a top brand? My opinion would be to purchase a quality level that you find affordable, but to make your choice totally mecha...

Imagine the surprise I experienced when I started working at Tooele (pronounced Too-willa) Army depot in the mid 60's and was issued Mitutoyo measuring instruments. There wasn't a Starrett tool in the crib. Harold Although I have heard that Mitutoyo makes quality instruments, you may have seen the ...

if you want a SQUARE running engine them they must be at a 90 degree angle from each other. I couldn't agree more. Here in the west, a fellow, now deceased, built a beautiful engine that wasn't square. Ran well, but sounded strange. The "heart beat" just wasn't right. Harold

Harold, You seem to have missed the point that I have been putting to you entirely. That seems to be going around, beginning with your inability to understand that when I suggested that calipers not be used for precision measuring, you jumped to the conclusion that I was harping on the level of qua...

I checked the Falk Construction articles this Morning, and What Bill said was fifteen MINUTES of accuracy.

Ahh! That's very different. I can imagine that, with careful workmanship, one could expect that level of precision. Thanks, Ed.

Harold

I agree fully, but for a replacement wheel it might be an excellent method when there is no fixture and making one wouldn't make sense. While I have no designs at this point, I plan to build holding fixtures for exactly such operations should I happen to get that far along with plans to build a Nort...

In Connecticut, I was a Tile Mechanic. We used "No-name" carpenter's squares to verify our lay-outs before setting tile. We found them to be very accurate, even when projecting chalk lines out to thirty feet or more. Assuming one can buy precision measuring tools that are imported and get...

Interestingly, that appears to be about 15 seconds! The problem I'd have, even if the level concept worked as suggested, is that when you press or pull your broach, there's nothing says it will remain where it was seated. The small amount of clearance in the bushing would allow far more movement tha...