About a month or so ago, I decided to sort out the exhaust system of my 3 cylinder Mamod steam engine.
My idea was to run all 3 of the 1/8" pipes separately into a spigoted chimney base, with the condensate draining out the other side via a pipe into a trough.
A bit like this.......
The problem was how to drill the holes tidily, with my lightweight Chinese bench drill.......
I was offered a much heavier, English bench drill...... “You could do a bit of milling with that!”.
So..... I asked you lot about cross vices.........
During the drilling demo, some of the smoke leaked out of the motor!
And we all know how hard it is to get it back inside again......
Smoke, plus your disapproval of cross vices seemed to be some kind of omen.........
A Mini Mill arrived a few days later!
This is what was in the box.
Everything as promised, but a 100mm vice instead of 80mm...... No complaints!
My son helped me lift it onto the 18” wide bench, still bolted to the packing crate base. .......
I didn`t wish to drill permanent mounting holes in my bench, but I don`t mind woodscrew holes.
So, I thinned down the heads of some 10mm x 50mm builder`s bolts & assembled to 2 thicknesses of 12mm ply glued & screwed together.
With a woodscrew at each corner this should be ok!
We`re a bit short of light, up this end........
Bought an extra 4` striplight......... That`s better!
Then the new collets arrived....
Well, I`ve now spent over £500...........
And I still haven`t any holes in my chimney base!
One day...... Soon, I hope.....
David.
