I didn't really know where to put this post, so I've stuck it here....
An ad came up in my local Freecycle for some window sash weights. Of course I begged for them.....

In the ad the chap asked for a brief explanation of what they might be wanted for, so he could choose the successful applicant accordingly....quite a common request on Freecycle.
I told him of my workshop and even put a link up to this place......well it worked...but best of all he told me to come over to the Welsh Highland Railway workshop!!!
oooh....sounds good to me....TBH I didn't know of it, I knew about the other Railway but not this one...

I met a very nice chap there and he gave me these,

He then invited me into the machine shop.......read, big toys, excited little boy.....

Some nice machinery in there, met some of the chaps, talked tools etc as you do. Got a good look at a Briggy to check out my pulley issue (well you would wouldn't you)
Obviously it became apparent that I knew at least something of machinery and also obviously we discussed the Beaver mill.
To top it all I was invited to come down and join them in the workshop, I explained that it's all relatively new to me and I've only just got the Beaver etc, etc....a total novice compared to these guys.
Rubbish I was told, come down, watch, learn and we'll see if we can't teach you a thing or two and get you using some of the machines. "you'll be fine"
You know I just might take them up on the offer.....

Anyway, whilst chatting outside I spotted a Quaters and Smith hacksaw looking rather neglected. I asked what it was doing outside in the elements to be told they'd pulled it out to go off for scrap tomorrow.....!!!
Well my face must have said it all...."do you want it"........and thus they loaded it into the back of my car.......for free....

Feeling rather guilty of scrounging I asked if they had a donation box for the cause and duly left a deposit of the monitory kind.
I was then asked if I wanted a Boxford lathe......!! These guys are just too kind, but I declined as it was a plain lathe and didn't offer any advantage over what I already have. let someone else have it I thought.
Anyway here's the saw


And it cut this 80mm steel bar like butter.....Until the motor died, no matter I have spares..can't complain eh...

It does need a minor repair to a bushing, the part will have to go on the mill, but I think it will fit.
Then the chaps threw these in the car

Some pictures of my afternoon




And some machines, this was quite a big miller. They were making quite a few of these



Anyways, just to make you really sick

I found this in the scrappy yesterday, works fine too....


He couldn't decide what it was worth, so told me to bugger off.........
