Making a float-making lathe.
- Loop Erimder
- Wild Carp
- Posts: 9984
- Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2012 11:33 pm
- 12
- Location: Leicestershire
Re: Making a float-making lathe.
That beautiful machine is going to get dirty
Chance is always powerful. Let your hook be always cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be a fish
- Watermole+
- Chub
- Posts: 1058
- Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2012 11:07 pm
- 12
- Location: Devon & Cornwall border
Re: Making a float-making lathe.
Sorry about that. The computer needed an update before it would continue but all appears to be well now.
We were about to start cutting the float body profile. By turning the thumbwheel, the blade was brought to bear, a little cautiously at first..
..then wound in to the 'stop' position..
As you see, the profile is quite acceptable and will require only minimum sanding with a little 2000 grit paper, to give a good surface finish.
The next step is to drill a tiny hole for the wire eye to go into.
The rapid drilling slide was reinstated in the tailstock and the Steady positioned up. You can see that I have reversed the steady jaws again and fitted a set of little delrin rollers, which were made previously. I have made several sets of different sizes and they are easily set up with the little screws as shown.
The final step is to trim the float 'sight' end to length and taper it, ready for finishing & painting.
The float was reversed in the chuck and held in the steady..
..and then finished-and this completes the first one!!!
There are still many odds & ends to make but essentially, the project is complete. Of course, floats will be made in small batches as required, instead of the step-by-step as shown here, but at least the process works. I will make all the different blades to suit different shape bodies etc. as needed and possibly fit some kind of dust extractor unit in the future, but time now to complete all long-overdue, outstanding work, which some of you have been patiently waiting for and then to the next project.
Inspired by Gudgeon Jims' fantastic efforts, I was thinking about having a go at a R.W. style, landing net spreader block, but a folding version of it for easier transport..
..either that, or try and make 'The Alterex' a reality.. ..what do you think?
..But for the time being, I'm going to have a play on this!
The first float.
Best regards to all,
wm+
We were about to start cutting the float body profile. By turning the thumbwheel, the blade was brought to bear, a little cautiously at first..
..then wound in to the 'stop' position..
As you see, the profile is quite acceptable and will require only minimum sanding with a little 2000 grit paper, to give a good surface finish.
The next step is to drill a tiny hole for the wire eye to go into.
The rapid drilling slide was reinstated in the tailstock and the Steady positioned up. You can see that I have reversed the steady jaws again and fitted a set of little delrin rollers, which were made previously. I have made several sets of different sizes and they are easily set up with the little screws as shown.
The final step is to trim the float 'sight' end to length and taper it, ready for finishing & painting.
The float was reversed in the chuck and held in the steady..
..and then finished-and this completes the first one!!!
There are still many odds & ends to make but essentially, the project is complete. Of course, floats will be made in small batches as required, instead of the step-by-step as shown here, but at least the process works. I will make all the different blades to suit different shape bodies etc. as needed and possibly fit some kind of dust extractor unit in the future, but time now to complete all long-overdue, outstanding work, which some of you have been patiently waiting for and then to the next project.
Inspired by Gudgeon Jims' fantastic efforts, I was thinking about having a go at a R.W. style, landing net spreader block, but a folding version of it for easier transport..
..either that, or try and make 'The Alterex' a reality.. ..what do you think?
..But for the time being, I'm going to have a play on this!
The first float.
Best regards to all,
wm+
"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? Yet one of them shall not fall without your Father knoweth" ..Jesus of Nazareth, King James AV
- Loop Erimder
- Wild Carp
- Posts: 9984
- Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2012 11:33 pm
- 12
- Location: Leicestershire
Re: Making a float-making lathe.
Fabulous such an amazing piece of engineering. Thank you for sharing your skills once more
Chance is always powerful. Let your hook be always cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be a fish
- Barbulus
- Tench
- Posts: 2510
- Joined: Sun Aug 25, 2013 1:51 pm
- 10
Re: Making a float-making lathe.
This suite of posts is one of the most remarkable I have read. Truly inspiring and utterly compelling in making something that is an exquisite and complex, in my opinion, lathe machine story sound almost "matter of fact" and ordinary. I am quite astonished at the skill and design that has gone into construction of this lathe. Quite simply this is remarkable. Hats off and a definate malt toast......if you ever complete a float using it, I can only imagine the cost of the float.....and as for the potential for a folding RW style landing net.......can I suggest you start taking orders now......? Incredible.
- Robbi
- Tench
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- Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:40 pm
- 11
Re: Making a float-making lathe.
truely truely outstanding !
"In the back roads by the rivers of my memory"
- Mark
- Head Bailiff
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- Contact:
Re: Making a float-making lathe.
I'm lost for words, marvellous.
Mark (Administrator)
The most precious places in the English landscape are those secretive corners,
where you find only elder trees, nettles and dreams. (BB - Denys Watkins-Pitchford).
The most precious places in the English landscape are those secretive corners,
where you find only elder trees, nettles and dreams. (BB - Denys Watkins-Pitchford).
- LuckyLuca
- Barbel
- Posts: 4794
- Joined: Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:20 am
- 11
- Location: Oxfordshire
Re: Making a float-making lathe.
Once again WM+ you have excelled!
Not only have you built a michine which works brilliantly well but it looks absolutely beautiful too!
Not only have you built a michine which works brilliantly well but it looks absolutely beautiful too!
I walked across an empty land
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
I felt the earth beneath my feet
Sat by the river and it made me complete.
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
I felt the earth beneath my feet
Sat by the river and it made me complete.
Re: Making a float-making lathe.
Awe inspiring . . . such workmanship, us mortals can only dream of!
- Vole
- Rainbow Trout
- Posts: 3020
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2011 6:48 am
- 12
- Location: Barnet
Re: Making a float-making lathe.
An absolutely mind-boggling achievement. Such a combination of skills, knowledge,art, determination, patience and sheer, sweaty effort... words fail me.
I can't bear the wait to see the floats you produce and the fish they help you catch. May they be many and large; and their captures, joyous and satisfying.
I can't bear the wait to see the floats you produce and the fish they help you catch. May they be many and large; and their captures, joyous and satisfying.
"Write drunk, edit sober" - Hemingway.
Hemingway didn't have to worry about accidentally hitting "submit" before he edited.
Hemingway didn't have to worry about accidentally hitting "submit" before he edited.