Rebuilding old Starrett "Last Word"

No, I realize you did real precision work. My use of my own lathe is strictly hobby work. I actually use leg calipers more than mikes, and my lathe setups rarely require the work to be set up with any accuracy--because I'm usually turning some piece of junk that I only have to worry about breaking my tool from an out-of-whack setup.

Lately, I haven't been doing any setups at all. My lathe is collecting dust.

I'm not losing interest. I've just been working like a S.O.B. A couple of years ago I couldn't even spell "epidemiology," and I've had to learn enough so I could write about (my subject for the last couple of weeks) things like endocannabinoid CB1 receptors and their mediating effects on the cardiometabolic syndrome. No kidding, I'm not making that up. It's taken an enormous amount of study.

And, yes, I'm doing fine, thanks. How's about you? If you need any medical advice, I'm running a little medical malpractice business on the side. d8-)

-- Ed Huntress

I suggest you specialize in frontal lobotomies for confused necons. There will be a lot of them running around in the next months.

Those are the guys with the money too.

John

Actually -- the Last Word is even simpler. A very coarse thread on the pin that the hand mounts to, and a feeler finger which goes into that thread and which is moved up or down by the sensor point.

Aside from the problems of gummed up lubricant, there is another problem with the LW which will cause it to pause in the middle of its range. There is a hairspring which keeps the needle trying to turn one way, and the thread and finger only allow it to turn a certain amount proportional to the movement of the sensor point.

If the finger has been allowed to move to the side far enough, the spring will rotate the dial until the spring is totally at rest. This means that as the finger (once it is re-engaged in the thread) moves upward it will move for a little while before it hits the walls of the thread and starts moving the pointer. As you reverse, it will pass through a zone where the dial does not move while the sensor point does before it picks up on the other side of the thread.

Yep.

No gears in this one.

If any lubricant is used -- use a good watch oil.

There is that.

Good Luck, DoN.

It's a thought, but it's not profitable, John. It takes too long to drill the holes, and it's hell on the bits.

-- Ed Huntress

"rashid111" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

Degauss it. That will free it up and make it suitable for throwing away.

Ned Simmons wrote in news:MPG.1fbbfe86de6ad9c4989d58 @news.suscom-maine.net:

I'll see your Federals and Last Words and raise you a Gem.

Thick skulls, eh? I'm not surprised.

Harold

snip-----

Getting old, Ed. I'm not what I used to be. Still keep plugging along, though. I've lots to live for. Besides, the "house from hell" isn't finished yet.

If you need any medical

I'll keep that in mind, Ed. I really will.

Good to hear you're doing fine------

Harold

Thanks for the inf DoN,

Never had one of the Starrett LW apart, based my comments on general principles.

As simple as that,eh! Good solid profit maker for the company then!

Cheers Trevor Jones

========================= Much of the problem seems to be similar to that of Maytag/Neptune where a hired gun that knows nothing about precision or tools is brought in to "shape things up." This is compounded by the mergers, buy-outs, consolidations, etc. so you can't tell where a particular brand is now made. Indeed, as indicated on the above website, some brands are made in multiple locations, and the quality depends on where.

I have my Father's tools, and am still amazed at the fit and finish of what after all are industrial items. I wish some of my guns had as good a color case.

Unka' George (George McDuffee) .............................. Only in Britain could it be thought a defect to be "too clever by half." The probability is that too many people are too stupid by three-quarters.

John Major (b. 1943), British Conservative politician, prime minister. Quoted in: Observer (London, 7 July 1991).

I agree 100%, I like all old stuff myself.

Same here. Getting old is better than the alternative. I'm sure glad I've learned a lot about pills over the last few years. It's starting to become useful.

-- Ed Huntress