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Gallery, Projects and General => Project Logs => Topic started by: PeeWee on December 30, 2011, 09:52:51 AM

Title: Tapping Stand
Post by: PeeWee on December 30, 2011, 09:52:51 AM

Hi All

Well i have decided to build my GH Thomas tapping stand.  i have had the castings for several months.
Today i have managed to start the table, smoothed off the casting and used the DRO for the holes.  the holes need drilling and milling into slots. Its not as grainey as it appears
(http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww169/peacocki/Items/DSCF1633.jpg)

and cleaned off the arm faces
(http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww169/peacocki/Items/DSCF1634.jpg)

not much but its a start. 

Title: Re: Tapping Stand
Post by: Fergus OMore on December 30, 2011, 11:16:03 AM

I have one complete but have never got 'roundtoit' to make the drill assembly and
 hope that you have got George Thomas's Workshop Techniques book to assist in the build.

Presently, I'm adding bits to his small Dividing Head which also features there.

May I wish you happy building such a quality item?

Title: Re: Tapping Stand
Post by: PeeWee on January 01, 2012, 11:57:44 AM

Hi,
Fergus, yes i have his book, its a great resource

Well a little progress, i now have a table with the slots.
did the first 4 slots with the aid of the DRO, then rotated it 45d on the swivel vice for the last 4.
(http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww169/peacocki/Items/DSCF1638-1.jpg)

not turned out too bad, just need to clean the slots a little
(http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww169/peacocki/Items/DSCF1643-1.jpg)
(http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww169/peacocki/Items/DSCF1642-1.jpg)

regards

Title: Re: Tapping Stand
Post by: saw on January 01, 2012, 12:42:05 PM

Nice work, I have to ask where did you by the casting from?  :nrocks: :nrocks: :nrocks:
 

Title: Re: Tapping Stand
Post by: Fergus OMore on January 01, 2012, 01:13:56 PM

I hope that Pee Wee will forgive me by adding a bit of history to complement and compliment his excellent worksmanship.

Of interest, there are actually two sets of castings! They are described in the original G H Thomas book 'Building the Universal Pillar Tool' Actually I have a copy which I bought before GHT died. He also produced one called 'Dividing and Graduating'.
This- and mine are the Mark 2 version after some workers  found the original arms closed up after splitting to form a clamp!
Of course, the write up appeared in Model Engineer prior to going to print as a book. It prompted someworkers to make fabricated ones by welding and another of my friends made up one from solid steel sections. It was exhibited on a Club stand at an exhibition.
Actually, I bought a welded one- prior to making up mine.

However, there is rather odd turn up. Several workers of a past generation saw the merits of the tool but couldn't afford the kit of castings etc.
Consequently, they salvaged connecting rods from BMC A Series engines( the old Minis, A30's etc) and used them as the mark 1 arms  and saved a lot of work.

Title: Re: Tapping Stand
Post by: PeeWee on January 01, 2012, 02:39:30 PM

Hi Saw,
the castings are from here http://www.hemingwaykits.com/acatalog/Universal_Pillar_Tool.html  so far i can not complain about them at all.  other than getting everything covered in black dust getting through the crust.  :D

Fergus,
nothing to forgive, feel free to post anything in the thread.  its always good to learn about the history and variants of a project.  intresting about the A Series con rods as Classic mini's is another hobby of mine.

regards
Ian

Title: Re: Tapping Stand
Post by: saw on January 01, 2012, 03:53:27 PM

Thanks I will check it out.  :headbang:

Title: Re: Tapping Stand
Post by: DaveH on January 02, 2012, 06:31:12 PM

Ian,

Looking good, nice work :clap: :clap: :clap:

 :beer:
DaveH

Title: Re: Tapping Stand
Post by: Dean W on January 03, 2012, 03:48:32 AM

It's looking really nice, to me.  Good work, Ian!

Title: Re: Tapping Stand
Post by: -steves- on January 03, 2012, 09:48:20 AM

Didnt know there was anyone else from Peterborough Uk on here....especially with an SC engine sitting on the bench, for an RC plane I guess??

Very nice work there, looking forward to seeing it finished

Title: Re: Tapping Stand
Post by: PeeWee on January 04, 2012, 12:58:32 PM

Thank you for all the comments  :thumbup:

Steves, i assume you are also in Peterborough  :wave:  yep thats a 4 stroke SC, never used and soon to be up on ebay.  need to reduce the number of projects.

regards

Title: Re: Tapping Stand
Post by: -steves- on January 04, 2012, 01:15:47 PM

Quote from: PeeWee on January 04, 2012, 12:58:32 PM

Thank you for all the comments  :thumbup:

Steves, i assume you are also in Peterborough  :wave:  yep thats a 4 stroke SC, never used and soon to be up on ebay.  need to reduce the number of projects.

regards

Yup, I flit between Peterborough and Cambridge, home is in Peterborough though, as is work.

So what was the Sc 4 stroke going to be used for  :thumbup:

Title: Re: Tapping Stand
Post by: PeeWee on January 04, 2012, 01:30:23 PM

an ARC cessna but lost intrest in flying.

Title: Re: Tapping Stand
Post by: -steves- on January 04, 2012, 01:47:02 PM

Yup, just finished selling all my RC plane stuff last week too, didnt do too badly at it, but the weather just never allowed for when I was off work, lol  :bang: :D