First attempts - finish on brass (all?)
Hello there chaps,
After the kind advice to try out a cannon and the location of the Edenstaal plans on the files part of this group, I thought I’d test out the lathe again after a period of hibernation.
I am using a Unimat SL. The tool that came with the lathe was 1/4” HSS, so I have replaced this with a 6mm set from RDGTools (and after some experimentation, a 0.31mm shim underneath the tool, to return it to the height of a 1/4” tool). Now, using a left-handed cutting/facing tool I can cut across the diameter of a rod and get no ‘pip’. If I use a parting off fool, I get chips and very small curls of brass appearing, instead of chatter/etc.
I wanted to experiment with getting a good surface finish, so I am using a straight turning tool, as I understand it:
(Type-3 ST Turning)
This is the result: The leftmost section has been polished with some emery paper while in the lathe, the right hand side is au naturel
If this is as good as I can expect, then that’s fine - but I’m going with as fine a cut as I can (the smallest subdivision on the cross slide) and as slow as seems reasonable (1-2mm per second longitudinally.
If anyone could give me some guidance as to what I’m doing wrong - or what I need to do differently, I would greatly appreciate it.
Many thanks,
|
Re: 'Exercises' for learning the unimat
?I thought the original Unimat steam engine project could be a good all-round learning and/or re-skilling project, so I found some info on Youtube:?I’ll start it one of these days - I’m also at the messing-around phase with my lathe, which has been about 5 years so far, and have made a model railroad part or two. Messing around isn’t wasting time or material - it’s sharpening your skills and learning the machine’s limitations too. Have fun!Dave W
I dont suppose you have the plans for the miniature steam engine do you? The one by Leslie Proper??
|
Re: 'Exercises' for learning the unimat
|
Re: 'Exercises' for learning the unimat
The IO group is called Brass Collectors.
|
Re: 'Exercises' for learning the unimat
Dick, they may have gone over to IO like most of the longtime yahoo lists.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Apr 18, 2020, at 13:35, OldToolmaker via groups.io <old_toolmaker@...> wrote:
?Alf,
I used to be a member of a yahoo group called “Brass Locos”.
I seem to have lost my connection as I don’t see any mail coming in any more. Is that group still active?
Dick
|
Re: 'Exercises' for learning the unimat
I got two of the old egg beater hand drills. Never thought of repurposing the antiques in this fashion.
Dick
|
Re: 'Exercises' for learning the unimat
Alf,
I used to be a member of a yahoo group called “Brass Locos”.
I seem to have lost my connection as I don’t see any mail coming in any more. Is that group still active?
Dick
|
Re: 'Exercises' for learning the unimat
?I thought the original Unimat steam engine project could be a good all-round learning and/or re-skilling project, so I found some info on Youtube:?
I’ll start it one of these days - I’m also at the messing-around phase with my lathe, which has been about 5 years so far, and have made a model railroad part or two. Messing around isn’t wasting time or material - it’s sharpening your skills and learning the machine’s limitations too. Have fun!
Dave W
|
Re: 'Exercises' for learning the unimat
"Graving and graver tools, handheld" That led me to this: Back in the late '30s, 40s, and 50s in MODEL RAILROADER MAGAZINE there was a prolific article author of scratchbuilt O Scale steam locos and cars made from steel tin can stock and brass. His craftsmanship was first-rate and the models can still stand tall next to the best that we see done today by individual modelers world wide. His parts breakdown sketches were exquisite and I am presently using them to guide three of the projects on my bench.
Anyway, this guy name of Mel Thornburgh did everything by hand with hacksaws and files, even hand making all his loco and car fittings by turning brass rod, ?hand holding files and gravers on the rotating rod.
Thornburgh's lathe? An eggbeater hand drill held horizontal in his bench vise. Yep, one hand rotating the drill crank and the other hand holding the file on the rod. Sort of a genius eccentric oddball, but the guy's work was among the best produced, at least up till the post-Korean War beginnings of the brass model exporting industry in Japan.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Apr 18, 2020, at 05:37, Andy Carlson <andycarlson@...> wrote:
? If you are like me then you will have bags of ‘N’ gauge wheelsets. I’ve used my DB/SL to reprofile some of these to finescale. I’m guessing you are a member of the 2mm Association so check out the article by Mick Simpson in the Feb 2014 2mm Magazine (available as a PDF via the web site). ? Start with coach or wagon wheels – something that you can afford to throw away if it doesn’t work out. ? You will need a collet holder to hold the wheels concentrically and without marking them so if you don’t have one then that would be top of my shopping list. Mine is ER16 which is fine for anything up to 10mm diameter. I don’t have a way to hold larger wheels just now. ? If you like steam locos there is the option to make your own boiler fittings. Nick Mitchell has done an excellent video showing how to make a dome using hand gravers on a watchmaker’s lathe. The same can be done on the Unimat if you arrange a suitable graver rest. Again a collet holder is needed, in this case more for safety since there are less sticky out bits to catch your fingers and tools on. ?
? If you want to do graver work then obviously you will need a graver but perhaps less obviously a lot of extra stuff to keep it honed at the correct angle. A graver honing jig can be bought but could also be another potential project. I made one similar to this… ?
? Regards, Andy ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of William Ayerst
Sent: 18 April 2020 08:53
To: Reg Barron <regbarron@...>; [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Unimat] 'Exercises' for learning the unimat ? Hi Reg,
Thank you for your comment - I was drawn to the unimat because it's the perfect size for 2mm/ft scale which is what I normally model in, and I got the unimat in a good deal from a chap in the S-scale society.? That's still my primary and ongoing concern, rather than live steam - but if I could do it, then it would be grand.
Carl,
I will review the books by Kozo - thank you.
Cheers!
|
Re: 'Exercises' for learning the unimat
If you are like me then you will have bags of ‘N’ gauge wheelsets. I’ve used my DB/SL to reprofile some of these to finescale. I’m guessing you are a member of the 2mm Association so check out the article by Mick Simpson in the Feb 2014 2mm Magazine (available as a PDF via the web site). ? Start with coach or wagon wheels – something that you can afford to throw away if it doesn’t work out. ? You will need a collet holder to hold the wheels concentrically and without marking them so if you don’t have one then that would be top of my shopping list. Mine is ER16 which is fine for anything up to 10mm diameter. I don’t have a way to hold larger wheels just now. ? If you like steam locos there is the option to make your own boiler fittings. Nick Mitchell has done an excellent video showing how to make a dome using hand gravers on a watchmaker’s lathe. The same can be done on the Unimat if you arrange a suitable graver rest. Again a collet holder is needed, in this case more for safety since there are less sticky out bits to catch your fingers and tools on. ?
? If you want to do graver work then obviously you will need a graver but perhaps less obviously a lot of extra stuff to keep it honed at the correct angle. A graver honing jig can be bought but could also be another potential project. I made one similar to this… ?
? Regards, Andy ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of William Ayerst
Sent: 18 April 2020 08:53
To: Reg Barron <regbarron@...>; [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Unimat] 'Exercises' for learning the unimat ? Hi Reg,
Thank you for your comment - I was drawn to the unimat because it's the perfect size for 2mm/ft scale which is what I normally model in, and I got the unimat in a good deal from a chap in the S-scale society.? That's still my primary and ongoing concern, rather than live steam - but if I could do it, then it would be grand.
Carl,
I will review the books by Kozo - thank you.
Cheers!
|
Re: 'Exercises' for learning the unimat
Hi Reg,
Thank you for your comment - I was drawn to the unimat because it's the perfect size for 2mm/ft scale which is what I normally model in, and I got the unimat in a good deal from a chap in the S-scale society.? That's still my primary and ongoing concern, rather than live steam - but if I could do it, then it would be grand.
Carl,
I will review the books by Kozo - thank you.
Cheers!
|
Re: 'Exercises' for learning the unimat
Thank you Edward, I've looked at the instructions for the Edestaal cannon: /g/Unimat/files/Edelstaal%20Parrot%20Rifle%20Cannon%20kitI've got lots of questions (how to measure the 9/64" from the toolpost to cut the taper, how to bore the trunion hole, etc.) - but maybe those are best left for when I get the stock in my hands :) Thank you,
|
Re: 'Exercises' for learning the unimat
One of the early jobs I did with my Unimat was to make a new capped stack for an On2 model locomotive. ?It involved turning, as well as drilling and tapping on the lathe. ?I would consider adding a three jaw chuck, simply because it is a lot more convenient to use. ?Most live steam locos would require a larger machine than the Unimat. ?There is someone on YouTube who has made one or more small, very nice stationary steam engines.
Reg Barron
|
Re: 'Exercises' for learning the unimat
Hi William,
I have no specific recommendations for you but here are my two cents worth and that may not be worth much but I will try. I learn the best by a combination of reading and actual hands on. I do best with a goal in mind. I do a lot of wheel spinning and waisting time when I don’t know where I’m going. Could you tell us a little more about your background and experience level?
Dick
|
Re: 'Exercises' for learning the unimat
Go through the book "Projects for the Unimat" also in the files section and build some of the projects from that....possibly
brass mallet,
nice Tommy bars using hex stock brass for the handles and drill rod for the business
carriage stop that clamps onto the way bars
Collar for the milling column to maintain height when swinging the milling head
Larger milling table with threaded holes instead of T-slots
Any more good ideas?
Ed Samsen
|
Re: 'Exercises' for learning the unimat
Try doing something like the old Unimat supplied kits.? Do not waste tons of money on the kit itself, go to the files section and download the instructions and order your metals from a local supplier or ONLINE METALS.? Make a cannon or two make one or two of the small steam engines then move on to a bigger kit.? If you make a part incorrectly get another piece of barstock and start over.
Ed Samsen
|
Re: 'Exercises' for learning the unimat
Hello
William:
I
might suggest the locomotive construction books of Kozo
Hiraoka, Five books in all, available from the Village Press.
His plans show how to build without castings, using silver
solder to build up the shapes required. Do you have any live
steam railroads in your area? If so you might wish to match
the gauge tracks they have available.
Carl.
On 4/17/2020 11:26 AM, Martin P. via
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Well, you're in luck, as there are several
active members who are also model railroaders.
And then there is Tamra, who builds scale
dollhouses and the like, and who has been through a
several-years long self-teaching project with help from
members.
Martin P.
-----Original
Message-----
From: William Ayerst <willayerst@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Fri, Apr 17, 2020 11:15 am
Subject: [Unimat] 'Exercises' for learning the unimat
Hello there,
I’ve got a Unimat SL with a few accessories - namely a four
jaw chuck, milling attachmen, a drill chuck with a set of
1/4” HSS tools and some centre drills. I’ve had a bit of a
play - replaced the perished rubber bands and ‘turned’ some
brass rod - but I’m a little stuck on what to do next to get
better. At the moment I have no discreet needs for the SL -
I have thought about a Stuart 10V kit after seeing someone
on RMweb having built one with just the Sl.
If it makes any difference to a recommendation - in addition
to fabricating small parts for small-scale model railways, I
I have a notional end goal of building some live steam
locomotives in larger scales.
Many thanks,
|
Re: 'Exercises' for learning the unimat
Well, you're in luck, as there are several active members who are also model railroaders.
And then there is Tamra, who builds scale dollhouses and the like, and who has been through a several-years long self-teaching project with help from members.
Martin P.
-----Original Message-----
From: William Ayerst <willayerst@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Fri, Apr 17, 2020 11:15 am
Subject: [Unimat] 'Exercises' for learning the unimat
Hello there,
I’ve got a Unimat SL with a few accessories - namely a four jaw chuck, milling attachmen, a drill chuck with a set of 1/4” HSS tools and some centre drills. I’ve had a bit of a play - replaced the perished rubber bands and ‘turned’ some brass rod - but I’m a little stuck on what to do next to get better. At the moment I have no discreet needs for the SL - I have thought about a Stuart 10V kit after seeing someone on RMweb having built one with just the Sl.
If it makes any difference to a recommendation - in addition to fabricating small parts for small-scale model railways, I I have a notional end goal of building some live steam locomotives in larger scales.
Many thanks,
|
'Exercises' for learning the unimat
Hello there,
I’ve got a Unimat SL with a few accessories - namely a four jaw chuck, milling attachmen, a drill chuck with a set of 1/4” HSS tools and some centre drills. I’ve had a bit of a play - replaced the perished rubber bands and ‘turned’ some brass rod - but I’m a little stuck on what to do next to get better. At the moment I have no discreet needs for the SL - I have thought about a Stuart 10V kit after seeing someone on RMweb having built one with just the Sl.
If it makes any difference to a recommendation - in addition to fabricating small parts for small-scale model railways, I I have a notional end goal of building some live steam locomotives in larger scales.
Many thanks,
|
Re: Rigidity of DB200 Way Bars
Many thank's Dave and Roman for the good idea (and the photos)? !!
i'll do this !
--
Lio, France - Unimat SL x 3
|
Unimat Matt
OldToolmaker
Dave W
Carl
Lionel