It's getting bigger!

Couldn't agree more about the shaper. I have a small motorised bench mounted shaper of ancient an unknown origins, bought second hand. It has enabled me to rough out castings and cut through the chill when no other machine could do it. Great too with a small form tool for producing taper slots in reversing stands. Even the drive counter shaft doubles as a slow speed drive, (down to 20rpm), for my geared warco lathe which only goes down to 70rpm usually. Envy the size of your workshop, mine is about 16ft x 7ft but everything just fits in.

Talking of which how do you manage to get planning permission from her indoors? When the guy from the council came round and said I could build on 3/4 of the land Gert gave him a look that could round the corners off allen keys.

Still trying to work out why that didn't apply to the kitchen extension that looks like a 1/3 scale model of Milton Keynes :(

-- Regards,

John Stevenson Nottingham, England.

Only 1/3 scale ?!!!! ;-)

Regards, Tony

There's a saying, well known amonst engine collectors and others that goes something along the lines of:

"you'll never have enough space"

or:

"you'll always expand to fit the available space"

or:

"you'll always buy more machinery than you really have room for"

Hence the ghostly piles of machinery/engines/old cars (you can put your own description in here) covered in blue poly sheets outside our homes...

Kind regards,

Peter

Peter Forbes Prepair Ltd Luton, UK email: snipped-for-privacy@easynet.co.uk home: snipped-for-privacy@easynet.co.uk

Hints and tips for coping with swmbo (she who must be obeyed).

1. Don't forget birthdays, anniversaries.
2. When you want something for the workshop ask her first if there is anything she would like eg frock etc
3. Attend to broken down washing machine etc immeadiately, saying things like without all my tools I could not do this and a repair man would cost....
4. Do a bit of decorating occasioanlly.
5. Point out that unlike, (choose a name), you are usefully employed, at home in your workshop not wasting money down the pub.
6. Let her choose the colour/nbame of the locomitive etc.
7. Initially choose a partner with an engineering background. Fortunately my late father in law, a railway expert, modeller and engineer, brought his daughter up proper like to appreciate these things !

Good luck !!!

In message , GPHawksford writes

Number 9. Make sure swmbo is out prior to using the dishwasher to clean off those old gearbox parts.

By the way, is there a subtle distinction between swmbo and eid? And what is the exchange rate for house points??

Or the washing machine to re-cycle the oil rags :-| (and pick the swarf out of the door seal afterwards)

Mark Rand RTFM

Mine gave me my original 12'x6' sized workshop when she heard I'd bought an ML7! Since I've added another 6' to bring it upto 18'. No way I can widen it though - the garage is in the way!

Dave.