Hello from Southport

[roadrunner]

Hi All,

Thought I would just introduce myself!
I am John from Southport. That's the one in Merseyside UK not the US one.

These days I make a living in techie computer stuff! but I have a sound engineering background. I ran a garage and recovery business some years ago.

I owe my appearance on this forum and a large hole in my wallet, to Doubleboost, as I started watching Johns youtube videos and thought I have to get back to some serious fettling! I bought a Boxford AUD lathe (Fantastic but much too small) that led to more attachments and tooling, then a Myford VMC Mill. etc etc - hence large hole in wallet and vengeful wife!

I am fortunate to have a large garage with an even larger extension! overall its 22 feet wide by a little over 60 feet long. You'd think that would be plenty of room .... it isn't I  have too much stuff and it is more often than not cluttered and messy. I do have a tidy mind, really I do 
The back end is office where I do my computer stuff. I have a kitchen and bathroom in there, cable tv and 100meg broadband, so it's no hardship to spend a long time out there. I also have a pinball machine and two "bandits" in the office... more distractions.

My hobbies are sadly all expensive, Drag racing (cars, nothing to do with dressing up in womens clothes) Flying, power boating, Scuba diving pretty much anything loud, fast and that gets the old adrenaline flowing!

The Myford mill is a 624 rather than a 626 but is a really nice piece of kit in great condition. I currently have it stripped down to scrape the ways and convert to CNC - you have to don't you?

At the moment my bench is taken up with a ratcliffe tail lift which I am reconditioning to fit onto my Convoy - be great for collecting more heavy kit!

I will try and add some pictures of my "shed" but I tried this once before and lost the whole post (I think pics were too big). When I dig some photos out I will post some of work in progress.

Next on the agenda is making myself a furnace (haven't done that in 20yrs) anyone on here got any recommendations on what works for you, long term?
I mostly will be doing bronze and ali but will want to have a go at iron! what's opinion on refactory, crucibles etc ?

all the best

John

[John Rudd]

Beep beep!!

Welcome to the madhouse.........

Like your 'shed'...

Look forward to seeing some of your handywork

[vtsteam]

Hi John, welcome! Casting is a wide field with lots of furnace construction alternatives -- the one you eventually choose will naturally be the best!

 

[roadrunner]

Wow there are people on here at this time of day. I'm not the only one with time on his hands!
John - Wish I could get my wife to finance me, cant even get her to bring me a cup of tea! and she isn't at all impressed with me "wasting money on more tools"
vtsteam - of course, everything I do is always the best I was considering the old propane bottle lined with 1600c refactory and a propane burner, although I have been researching the waste oil burners. What do you use?

Picture of my lathe added - You can just make out a 355ci Chevy smallblock to the right of it, sorry for the mess!
it gets tidy for a short while, then messy then tidy sadly always messy when there is a camera handy.

Just thought I would mention why I said the Boxford was too small. I narrow axles, usually from large american saloon cars to fit large wheels inside the bodies or small european cars! the 24 inch centre is challenging for that and also the spindle bore is too small to pass a half shaft through. I can get by using steady rests and removing the tailstock but it is less than ideal.  Also being linked belt drive it is all to easy to slow it down when getting enthusiastic with the cut.

[doubleboost]

Hi
John
Pleased to have you on board
John

[dsquire]

Hi John

Welcome to MadModder. It certainly looks like you have enough room for when you catch  . Note, I said when, not if. You certainly seem to have a good variety of interests to keep you from getting bored.

Nice to see that you have hot and cold running water in the dog house just in case you ever need it. 

We look forward to your participation in the various forums. 

Cheers 

Don

[vtsteam]

vtsteam - of course, everything I do is always the best I was considering the old propane bottle lined with 1600c refactory and a propane burner, although I have been researching the waste oil burners. What do you use?

Waste oil/diesel fuel -- mine is in the "Metal Stuff" section of the forum. But mine might not be the "best" in fact I'm sure it isn't. But fun and interesting as a first iron furnace, built at especially low cost from what was at hand. My biggest regret -- an inch or two more bore would have made a great difference.

I'm thinking of giving mine one more shot as a cupola, also, since I can get anthracite coal. I've been reading up on the history of anthracite iron and might give it a shot before the snowy season.

[Stilldrillin]

Hi John. 

Welcome to the Collective.

With your credentials..... You'll fit in, nicely! 

Join in. Enjoy...... 

David D

[krv3000]

hi and welcume

[Brass_Machine]

Hi John

Welcome to the collective

Sounds like you will fit in perfectly.

What kind of techie stuff do you do? I am one of those as well.

Eric

[AussieJimG]

Welcome from the great south land.

I could tell it wasn't the Southport in Queensland coz the grass is green and that's not a snake basking on it.

Jim

[Meldonmech]

Hi John

                         Welcome and good luck with the VMC.

                                                                                     Cheers David