Search results

I bought a C7 bandsaw from eBay recently, and am working on getting it set up and installed. It's huge and really in a very different class than the bandsaws I've owned before, so I have a couple of questions. First, when there's no tension in the blade, the top wheel can move off the vertical...

So, there's a new arrival in the workshop: A Wilson P/T, will plane 21" width and thickness 20" by a little over 9". There's a little oil reservoir on the rear of the machine which I think supplies the gearbox that drives the feed rollers. What kind of oil should I fill it with? I would...

A friend is restoring a 1980s Bentley and has enlisted my help in repairing some damage to the finish of the interior woodwork. The damage is to the two rear doors. The original finish is a fairly thick film, I'd guess it must be at least 1/4mm thick, and it has a somewhat dark colour. The...

A friend of mine is after having a table built and is looking to get hold of some solid, seasoned 4"x4" oak for the legs. I've talked to a couple of local timber merchants and they don't want to go up to that dimension in seasoned oak. Does anyone know a supplier that might have some...

A couple of companies have recently impressed me with their service, so I wanted to say a good word. I'm not affiliated with either, except as a customer. MTMC I ordered some parts off the website on a Friday, and on Saturday realised I wanted to add to the order so gave them a call, they were...

Some years ago I bought some Craft Supplies pen kits and mandrel etc., and had fun turning them up and giving some away. I was less than impressed when the ones I kept for myself started losing their gold plating within a few weeks of use. Granted I probably bought the bottom of the range...

I'm thinking of upgrading my Vax "workshop vac" to the Fein QA55E since the Vax has a rather heavy, inflexible hose, no power takeoff, and what looks to me like rather coarse and rudimentary filtration. I've searched both here and on the Internet in general for comments on the Fein machine but...

Hi all, I was recently offered a Startrite Mercury Mk II drill and happily collected it. Today I started cleaning it up a bit and part of the process was to fit a new plug. The mains flex is a rubber-sheathed type and I guess it may well be the original factory fitted one. I got as far...

Hi all, I have a Progress 2GS geared head pillar drill that I bought second hand a few years ago. I've repainted it and it's turned out to be a great machine but with one big problem: it leaks oil considerably and this is starting to end up on the workpiece and the other nearby items in...

Hi all, I recently upgraded my bandsaw to a Jet 18" and have been pleased with the machine overall. I'm running a Dragon blade, 1/2" 3TPI, and using the supplied "euro" blade guides. The problem I'm having is that when I'm cutting wet wood for turning blanks, wood dust/sap/etc builds up on...

Some months ago, a friend of mine mentioned that his bowling club was to throw out some lawn bowls. He said they were very old, and he thought they may be lignum vitae. When he offered to save me a few, I jumped at the chance. It took me a while to muster the courage to cut into one, but...