paul gough

Hi Krypto, My Sherline lathe and mill are both er 16 spindle versions. Thus far I have never had any need for the Morse 1 or 3/4 headstock accessories. There are or should say WAS a number of accessories offered with the er16 thread and a few with straight shanks to fit in the collets. Only once did I think of something I might want that Sherline did not and refused to make. That was the 22mm threaded boss that secures to the adjustable right angled mount to secure chucks to it. Got one made by a friend with his little Coventry dies but as yet have never used it. One thing I am considering is converting or making an er16 spindle tail stock as I consider them superior and more accurate in holding tooling also would use up less space on my 8” lathe. One thing I have that is an alternative to Sherline is the quick change tool post and holders by Luiz Ally in Brazil, Tryally Tech. These are very nice wedge type and have not had any issues, so if Sherline ones are no longer available then there is this as an alternative. News of any “micro lathe” products or alternative suppliers would be a useful piece of information, anyone who discovers something, let everyone know. Regards, Paul Gough.

Hi Krypto, thanks for your check on the taper sizes. It is a shame that Sherline has shut down so rapidly as it appears a lot of people are going to have to do without some things, it would have been nice if we had a “Last Orders” notification well before. Regards, Paul Gough.

Hi Chris, that is good to know, it would appear from this anything with. “0” Morse taper is suitable, just cut the appropriate amount off the small end. Thanks for the answer, Regards, Paul Gough.

Hi Chris, that would be a simple fix. But I don’t know if the major dia. of the Sherline and all the other “0” Morse taper accessories are the same. If they are the same size at the big end then any would do, just cut the excess length of the smaller section of the taper off. Can anyone verify the situation?
Regards, Paul Gough.

Thank you Krypto, had seen them some time back but was unaware they could supply the “Sherline” section of the Morse taper. Very good to know there is an alternative supplier. Regards, Paul Gough.

Looks like most things are gone, I was lucky to get everything I needed except a live centre. The sale of production equipment is the absolute end for the company as we knew it. Whether it can be resurrected phoenix like as the original Australian operation was way back I have no idea, but the unavoidable truth is hardly anyone outside the US could afford SHERLINE stuff, the same now applies to Taig and Cowells. Their costs and the frightful international shipping costs have become a blight on the model engineering hobby for anyone outside the US or Britain. Can only hope someone somewhere can fill the need at affordable levels.Regards to all, Paul Gough.

IT’S ALIVE!!! What a wonderful thing it is and a master work to boot. Anybody thinking about trying a twin McOnie engine??  Regards, Paul Gough

Hi Michael S, you mentioned a few posts back there is a flexible connection between the crankshaft proper and the paddle shafts. Do you know if this flexible coupling was an Oldham coupling, or a more modern one. Mr Oldham an Irish engineer came up with it to align paddle wheeler shafting around 1820s I believe. Regards, Paul Gough.

Possibly dumb AI serving up a self reinforcing diet. I have noticed a ‘narrowing’ of what is presented particularly in moments of boredom when one scrolls looking for a tit bit of interest. The so called AI efficiency of presenting you with things “you are interested in” means it regurgitates narrow focussed repeats. AI like all technology will be and is overused and applied, especially in the first generation of use. YouTube and search engines need to have very precise wording to deliver useful answers otherwise you get submerged in gunk or junk. Regards, Paul Gough.

Jo, Thank you for the extension on your original comment. The digital goings on go over my head to a large degree but the anti- social aspects of the digital era seem to be extraordinary, eg our government (Australian), trying to cut trauma to young ones by going as far as banning social media for under 16s. All I can say is thank you to you and those that maintain things so I can learn and see things that would otherwise be invisible. Regards, Paul Gough.

Hi Jo, I am wondering if your statement regarding the internet being near useless in five years is just a comment indicating the enormous and frustrating waste of energy needed to stop malignant vermin from disturbing the use of the system, or is it an approximation of a real circumstance and likely outcome. Regards, Paul Gough.

An epic journey and a steep learning curve, but I bet this full-size stored energy engine will run for longer than any other type we see built here. Hope the expenditure on Grobet files proved worthwhile on stainless. Congratulations and thanks for sharing your experiences, many were enlightening.
Regards, Paul Gough.

I used white artist gesso once years ago and it was satisfactory. I don’t remember the brand but I always got one that had high  titanium dioxide as opposed to calcium carbonate, this was when I was dabbling in art. Has anyone else tried it? Regards, Paul Gough.

Given the smallish dia. of your firebox wrapper your grate is going to be fairly small and may only fire well with smallish kindling size timber burning fairly fiercely to get good heating. Such a ‘light’ hot fire would likely respond rapidly to air restriction/denial. It may be possible to incorporate a damper that shuts off air supply to kill the fire and reduce heat output to non damaging levels. Increased water injection to the coil can also ‘cool things down’ so a combination the two could be arranged. Flash steam is a matter of finessed balance. Regards, Paul Gough.

Sounds like you enjoy conceptualising, trying to keep things simple in engineering has been challenging designers forever. In the mechanical 19th century you would have been an “Experimentalist”. Trying to create simple, workable and makable engines is a challenging intellectual endeavour, especially if you are pursuing novel designs. Keep exploring, it is the fountain of youth. Regards, Paul Gough.