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WORKSHOP HINTS AND TIPS.

19th February 1924
Page 31
Page 31, 19th February 1924 — WORKSHOP HINTS AND TIPS.
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Some Useful Ideas from Our Driver and Mechanic Readers.

THE WORKSHOP used in connection with a garage for two or three vehicles rarely carries an extensive equipment of tools. It is not usual to provide the mechanic in charge with such things as a. lathe, drilling machine, milling machine, and se on. Generally, he is expected to do all that is required with a brace and a few twist-drills, a limited assortment of taps and dies, a few files, a vice and a bench. As a rule, it is

possible to get along fairly .comfortably with this equipment, and if the mechanic in charge, feels the want of anything it is a drilling machine. It is no light task, fer example, to try to drill half. a-dozen I-in. holes in a piece of plate, using an Ordinary brace and having no other means of applying pressure than by laborious physical effort. It is generally possible, however, to rig up some sort of fixing which will held the brace and at the same time allow of a more or less mechanical feed being applied. '"F.W.H.," of Manchester, suggests that, in the case where the workshop is attached to a mill or factory, it is nearly certain that the meel:anic will be able to secure a cast-iron wall bracket similar to that shown in the sketch. If he can he should have no difficulty in making a neat machine. The wall bracket is bolted down to the bench as shown, and a piece of mild steel 21 ins. or 3 ins, wide by in. or in. thick, bent at right angles, bolted to it and used as a support for the feed screw. The latter is merely a piece of a-in. bar (its length being according to requirements), fitted with a handwheel at one end and pointed at the other, the whole being erected as shown in the sketch, which is so clear as to need no further explanation.

" W.C.S.," of Sunderland tells us that the drop arm of his steering gear came loose on its tapered spindle. On examination he found that the key was damaged so that, as he had no tools available, he was for the moment at a loss to know what to do in order to get the steering gear into such condition as would enable him to proceed safely upon his journey. Eventually he made quite a, satisfactory job, simply taking the arm off, raising the boss to a red heat, and then screwing it; tight home on to the taper shaft, where it stuck so effectively that he had considerable difficulty at a later date when it was necessary to remove it. He has, he tells us, adopted the same expedient on several other occasions.

A simple method of making small springs by hand is suggested by of Sandbach, and for the purpose he recommends the use of the apparatus which is illustrated by one of the ac

companying sketches, and which consists of a block of hardwood, oak if possible, about 4 ins, square and 12 ins. long. A piece of bar of the right size for the spring is bent to form a crank and drilled at the end to engage with the wire of which the spring is to be made. A hole is bored in the block to accommo date the bar, and the peculiarly shaped notch shown in the sketch, and which is designed to lead the wire on to the bar at the right angle for correct formation of the spring must also be cut into the block. The method of operation will be obvious, and it should be clear that the same block may be made to do duty for several different sizes of spring.

It is often necessary in the course of the day's work to try to find the thickness of some parts, such as the interior wall of a piston to which access cannot be had by means of ordinary tools. A pair of callipers, for example, is of no use in this regard, as its setting would be altered while it was being withdrawn from the piston. "II. AB.." of

Rotherham, sends the accompanying sketch of a special pair of callipers which he has made, which are suitable for use in such conditions as that one we have just mentioned. It will be noticed that, the legs of the callipers are extended, as it were, in a backward direction beyond the joint rivet. One of them is trimmed up to act as a pointer ; the other is bent over in the shape of a quadrant, and suitably calibrated.

When grinding valves it is usual to employ a little carborundum paste as a medians. This, it is suggested by "MK," of Highgate, may conveniently be kept, in an old grease-cup, the delivery end o which should be tapped to accommodate a small screw which serves as a stopper.

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Locations: Manchester, Sunderland

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