Search results

Greentwin. That tug video was fantastic! Thank you! And I agree, a couple of tugs could have (definitely maybe) prevented that disaster yesterday. And that series of harbors has to be loaded with tugs. (But I hate armchair QB's, so I will shut up.) 😅

I want to mention a more mundane topic. I changed the oil in my 2016 Tacoma yesterday. I used to do all my own automotive work but the dealer we were involved with always did good work at reasonable prices. But everything is out of warranty and last time (the only time) I went to one of those...

Nikhil, Thank you for your insightful observations and comments. --------------- There is one additional piece of information that I read that the state of Maryland has been upgrading the physical protection of the bases of its bridges, but had not gotten to this bridge yet...

Ken, I love the old drafting machine. I used a Dietzen (sp) plastic one in the 1980's, but I had never seen a ancient wooden one. Does it work with stone tablets, LOL? Quarter-Imperial? What is that??

I think this is appropriate for this thread, but I will delete if it isn't. I usually scan the news but this morning my wife asked if I had heard about the bridge in Baltimore. Baltimore is a major port in the eastern USA. Last night at 1:30 AM a container ship leaving the Baltimore harbor lost...

What have we been doing today? A lot of reminiscing. I guess that keeps coming as we get older. The sentimental nature of some of the older tools we have, that have a story to go with them..... that is nice. I'd like to take the liberty of reminiscing some more, thanks. We sold my parents house...

Richard. Nope. It is a propelling pencil. It is still working. Mechanical pencils all break and get tossed into the trash.

Thanks for telling us about that! And it is still working. Nice! I don't think I have ever seen a twisty kind.

I think you will have to make your lap adjustable, so that it can be expanded at the front end.. And I am assuming that bores are small at the blind end. Bore a hole at the front (leading) end of the lap about 3/8" deep and leaving a wall thickness of about 3/16" on the outside of the lap. Saw...

Peter, I am intrigued by this project because I worked at a Sperry Marine facility for 25 years. It was all shipboard applications, lots of gyro compasses, and inertial navigators, but no avionics. I don't know if you are looking for a PN for this unit, but you might try this. It is a decent...

Studying the picture in the first post, the 2 spindles for the outer gimbal do have the characteristic 60 degree(?) included angle bearing surfaces (inner races) that was a feature on the earlier vacuum driven Sperry designed horizon indicator. Might this be a newer electrical version of the...

I used to cut at 29 degrees but when I got a QCTP, I eliminated the compound and replaced it with a solid riser block for the QCTP. I honestly don't miss the compound and just plunge the threads straight in. The carbide threading inserts and carbide threading bars seem to cut fine plunging in...

That new lathe looks like a great addition to your shop and a real bargain, too. You said it needs cleaning, and from the looks of it, you are doing a splendid job. I have worked on the slider on my lathe, and it originally had about .003" clearance. I was able to lap it down to the point where...

Ken. Thank you for sharing that hour with us this morning. A very introspective post my friend, but it shows a mind with clarity. I must use caution when I am in an introspective frame of mind. On a cold and rainy winter morning when it is obvious the sun will be absent for yet another day, it...

No, of course not. Just a fleeting pause about something totally irrelevant. Carry on as usual, please!

Around here, black snakes are a serious threat to any birds that build their nests at all close to the ground. All "successful" Bluebird boxes around here have the stove pipe guards, and yes, they really do work. Lloyd

Do you have to put the stove pipe snake guards under your bluebird boxes?

??? Learning comes from hits and misses, IMHO.

I find some of these old time precision processes to be a combination of experience, magic, and luck. But when it works, wow, does it feel good!

Peter, What a wonderful find of a piece of mechanical history. Is this indeed a Sperry instrument? The RPM might be as high as 20,000 rpm, based on the small size. Too bad that the outer housing is missing. Peter, good luck on your project. Lloyd edit- unrelated comments removed (twice). ;)