The Purchase
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Where to Buy your Supplies.
Interesting and New Supplies from Factory and Showroom.
You Can Get It At— Reply to "J.1)." (Glasgow) :You can get Nixon's navigation coal from almost any coal merchant. The London address of the firm is 5, Fenchurch Street, E.C. Another good Welsh coal is known as "Ferndale,' and this is sold by G. Hinchcliffe and Co., 125, Pancras Road, N.W.
A Labour-saving Drill Holder.
John W. Barnes, of Rockferry, Cheshire, appreciates the advantages of saving odd moments when using machine tools. One of his most successful devices intended for this purpose is the " J.W.B." patent drill chuck, intended for use with either Morse taper or straight shank drills. It is claimed that when this chuck is used, breakages are reduced by a very great percentage, and the speed and feed can be increased. No drifts are necessary when changing the drill. This operation is. done while the machine is running, without trouble or loss of time. .A reverse can be fitted when required sd that tapping can be undertaken. The maker says that this holder is fool-proof, aTrid advances in support of this contention the fact that it has now stood the test in many engineering shops for a number of years,
A Repair Shop Press.
We illustrate on this page a double-sided press as factored by W. H. Willcox and Co., Ltd. This tool is of solid construction, and it is intended for heavy work in the repair shop. For the many jobs which are constantly cropping up where a substantiallybuilt press is needed, this appliance is suited.
Avon Tires.
The Avon India Rubber Co., Ltd., has sent us a copy of its latest tire catalogue. Steel-studded and non-skid tires suitable for parcelcar, light van and taxicab work are listed. Many valuable hints to users are given. The catalogue will be forwarded to our readers on application to the Avon Co.
Specimens of the Steel Barrel Co's welded work. C.A.V. Products.
Up-to-date garages are realizing the importance of an adequate and safe system of lighting both for the machine shop and for inspection purposes. Messrs. C. A. Vandervell and Co., of Acton Vale, W., are making a strenuous effort to maintain a leading position in this specialized branch of the industry. The "0.1." hand-inspection lamp has now proved itself over some little period as a valuable garage addition. An appliance of this sort is naturally likely to experience rough handling in the garage and repair shop, and to withstand such treatment requires to be of sound construction. The bulb on the "CI." is protected by a strong wire cage. The holder is of the standard 1 in. bayoneted type, and a lamp of any voltage may be employed, according to the pressure of the circuit to which it is connected. The lead is run through the centre of the wooden handle in the usual way, and it may be fitted with a two-pin attachment or a bayoneted adaptor for connection to a wall plug or lamp holder. The lamp is of the greatest service when working in the pit, and for examining awkward corners containing machinery, where the rays from an ordinary overhead lamp fail to give sufficient light to work by.
We have also received particulars of a serviceable portable electric hand lamp, and of the C.A.V. garage voltm.eter. this latter being specially designed for use in up-to-date repair shops. The scale is large, and permits accurate readings to be taken without trouble. It graduations are guaranteed by the C.A.V. Co. to be correct to within .1 of a volt, so that faulty connections can be easily located by reason of the drop recorded.
A Van Washer.
The useful little appliance illustrated herewith is manufactured by Adams and Co., of Tunbridge Wells. As will be seen, it consists of a wooden handle, having at its end a valve arrangement, which is actuated by a metal lever. Various accessories are made for fitting to this handle ; these consisting of spray and rose nozzle.s, and also of a hollow spoke and body brush, which, when in service, is fed with a stream of water. All the attachments are of standard size, and the appliance can be installed in almost. any garage without necessitating the alteration of existing fittings.
A Drill-grinding Machine.
Undoubtedly much efficiency is lost in the average workshop through the unintelligent grinding of twist drills.. It is a common occurrence to find that, after once being reground, few of the drills will take the feed guaranteed by the manufacturer. Several machine-tool makers have devoted a considerable amount of attention to the design of a grinder which can be used by any young apprentice, and which will, at the same time, turn out drills ground in the way recommended by the maker. Such a machine must be soundly constructed, must have ample cooling provision for the work, and, at the same time, must be moderate in first cost and upkeep. The tool illustrated herewith combines these advantages. A water reservoir is carried in the upper portion of the body. A centrifugal pump supplies the water to either one or both of the wheels, and attention has been paid to the careful lubrication of the bearings. A small wheel carried on a bracket at the back of the machine is intended for thinning the points of the larger-sized drills.
This grinder is manufactured by B. R. Rowland Hand Co„ Ltd., Reddish, Manchester. In order to meet the requirements of useis for whom the above machine may be too large, a range of smaller grinders for use on the bench, is made.
A Useful Foot-pump.
A large amount of pneumatic-tire wear on motorvans is caused, no doubt, through insufficient air pressure. This is due to the fact that drivers are apt to shirk the extra labour entailed in pumping up the last 10 lb. pressure. In the Wood-Milne pump illustrated herewith, the powerful muscles of the leg are made use of whea pumping, as also is the weight of the body. The result is that any pressure recommended by the maker of the tires can be pumped up with ease. A well-rande pressure gauge is fitted, and this is pro tected from breakage when the pump is closed up. Steel and aluminium go to make up the appliance,. which is so constructed that it can be folded up.
A Well-made Tire Inflator.
The inflator, of which we reproduce a sectional linedrawing below, is, in effect, a small two-stage air compressor of simple construction. The appliance is screwed into either of the engine valve caps ; it is important to note, however, that no air passes from the cylinder to the tire. A well-designed pressure gauge registering up to 140 lb. is furnished with the inflator, together with 12 ft. of strengthened On. hose. The fitting is 01in. long overall; by 3 in. in diameter ; the total weight is 3 lb., and it is finished off in a nonrustable oxidized black. Owner-drivers will do well. to make a note of this inflator, which is made by Bramco, Ltd., Coventry. A Wooden Connecting Rod.
[1178] " W.R.H." (Alexandria) writes :—" Grinding in piston rings, ,is'a heavy job if the ordinary connecting rod be used. I have found that it is a great advantage, when doing this work, to use a dummy rod of wood. This can be made up of 2-in, round stuff about 18 in. in length, with a flat sawn at the end and drilled for the gudgeon pin to pass through. A handle can be shaped on to the other end, or, should it be preferred, a hole can be drilled through and a small piece of round wood or metal about 6 in. in length knocked through in order to act as a handle."
A Novel Shaping Tool.
[1179] " X." (Cardiff) writes :—" I have pleasure in offering readers of the 'D. and M.' pages a short description and sketch of a twist tip planer tool. The cutting edge of the tool is similar to that of a flat chisel, with the exception that it is twisted.
"A much smoother surface can be obtained when this tool is used than can be obtained with the oldtype finishing tool. I enclose a sample of the work done on a piece of mild steel ; one half of this has been done with the improved tool, and the other with an old-style tool. The same, feed was used in both cases."
[The samples enclosed by our correspondent certainly bear out his state. tuents. The surface finished with the new tool is a great improvement, being smoother and free from jagged edges. At the same time, we must inform our correspondent that a tool of this shape is largely used when turning delicate, though not necesarily small work, such as skimming of I he blades of turbine rotors when they have been fitted into the grooves.--ED.1
Repairing a Cracked Frame Member.
1.1180]"AK." (Linthwaite) writes :—" You will be interested to know that the letters which have appeared on the "D. and M." page from time to time, referring to the practice of depositing ash and clinker on the roadside by drivers of steam wagons, are having
good effect in this district. I have been complimented by several petrol-van drivers, and also by pleasurecar owners on the improved state of the roads in this. respect, especially between Leeds and Manchester. "One of our steam wagons met with rather a nasty accident the other day through dropping into a recently-filled-in drain track, and the girder frame of the chassis was broken rather badly. In the course of jacking up the wagon trom the drain, one of the men placed the jack right under the crack, and as. there was no distance piece in that section of the frame, the girder buckled up a good bit. Before a plate could be put in for repair, the web of the girderhad to be set. back again, and this was rather a difficult job. It was accomplished, however, as follows:—
"Two pieces of cast-iron scrap were heated to a red heat, and these were placed on the buckled web, one on the top side and one on the underside, until it was practically the same temperature as the cast iron. A blow-pipe helped to localize the heat.. A stiffening plate :5 in. by 1 in. thick was then placed on the underside of the girder. A in. Whitworth• bolt was also obtained. This was 1 in. shorter than the distance between the webs of the girder. The nut of the bolt was screwed outwards, while the head of the bolt was held by a spanner. The web was so forced back into position until the girder was practic ally straight. A ,piece of channel iron of smaller section than the cracked part was then filed up until it was a good driving fit between the straightened' webs, and a piece of steel plate 6 in. long and in. thick was obtained to go on the outside of the broken girder. 11-16th in. holes were then drilled through the smaller piece of channel iron, through the girder frame proper, and through the stiffening plate, and' the whole lot was riveted together. I think that the damaged part is now as strong as it was originally." A Portable Drilling Machine.
The sender of the following communication has been awarded the 108. prize this week.
[1181j " A.P.T." (Cheshire) writes :—" Although workshops and garages are generally equipped with fair. sized lathes and drills, there often conies a job which cannot conveniently be slung or bolted to any of the machines. For such jobs as this, I designed a little portable drill which can be bolted to the bedplate of a lathe or a drilling machine, or any other suitable place to which a drive can be taken.
" The most expensive part of the appliance is the casting, the shape of which can readily be seen from the sketch [We have had this redrawn—En.]. I do not think there is any necessity for me to go into a long explanation. It need only be said that the bearings should be a fairly good fit, and as smooth as it is possible to get them A locknut or collar, held on by a pin, is fixed to the top of the shaft, and a set screw can be screwed in at the bottom of the socket, in order to hold the drill. The pulley can be made up either out of solid stuff, or from any odd suitably shaped casting that may be lying about the shop. An old fan pulley serves excellently. The lever for putting on the feed should be as long as possible, in order that a greater leverage may be obtained. If it. be thought desirable, a spiral spring can be inserted between the lower boss and the lever, which will serve to lift out the drill from the hole when the pressure is removed. "It would be as well to drill the socket the standard Morse taper, and if this be made of a suitable size to take a 1 in. drill, smaller drills can be held by the use of standard drill sockets.
" This tool can be adapted as is required in different workshops ; the main idea serves for all, I think. I might add, in conclusion, that I have found a rope or a 17-belt drive to give the bests results, and there should be enough slackness in the belt or rope to compensate for, and to allow of, the sliding of the shaft as pressure is applied to the drill."
Criticism of a Renewal Article. 111823 " S.D.H." (Newcastle-on-Tyne) writes:— " In your issue of 14fh November last, you had an article entitled 'Ways to save renewals.' From the sub-title, I take it that the article is written by a garage foreman or manager, or at any rate by a man who has had experience on repair work. It is stated therein that it is only possible to reverse chain sprockets if the bosses are of equal width. This is a mis-statement, as the reversal can be effected by changing the near sprocket to the off shaft and vice versa, even when the bosses are of unequal width." When Straightening Wire.
[1183] "C.S." (Upper Holloway) writes:—" The following simple little device for straightening copper, brass and iron wire will be found very useful, as it is a lengthy and tedious job to flatten out wire with a hammer or a mallet.
A piece of wood about 2 ft. long should be obtained—a piece of old planking serves excellently— and a straight line should be drawn down the centre. Fairly stiff nails or screws should then be driven at distances of about 4 in. apart, and these should be alternate on each side of the line. When it is desired to straighten -wire, it should be inserted between these nails and .drawn through. The operation takes out all the twists and bends, and leaves the wire in good condition." • Die Nuts from Steel Bar.
[1184] " R.T." (Andover) writes :—" Burred and damaged threads on bolts and studs are often a great inconvenience to driver-mechanics on the road as well as in the shops. I daresay most of my fellow readers have experienced at some time or other the difficulty of running a nut down a burred-over thread. " A complete range of die nuts can be made without very much trouble, which are quite good enough to clean out the thread of a bolt or stud. A piece of 1 in. square cast steel should be procured—an old lathe tool does quite well—and half-a-dozen to a dozen :1, in. thick pieces should be cut off. These can then be squared up either on a shaper or with a file. The centres of these squares should then be marked off and drilled out to the tapping size of the intended nut. A range of from -1 in. to in. will be found most useful.
"The drilled hole should then be tapped to the required size, and it should next be plugged up, and the plug cut off flush on both sides. Four 3-16th in. holes should then be marked off on the die nut—half in the plug and half in the nut, and, of course, equidistant. The plug should then be unscrewed, and, with a little adjustment with a file, the nut will be ready to harden and temper.
"Dies made in this manner can be used in any place where a nut can be screwed on, and where the use of stocks and dies would be impossible. They are worth.carrying in the toolbox."