Harold Hall
Probably though, top of my list for group 2 is the line marking tool seen in Photograph 16. This automatically sets the line lengths when marking a dial, typically one long, four short, one medium, four short and then back to one long for a micrometer dial used with an imperial leadscrew. Photograph 17 shows the parts before assembly and includes an eight tooth ratchet for use with a metric dial calibrated in 0.025 mm increments.
Group 3
For the greatest satisfaction in use I could perhaps have chosen the line marking tool again but due to its very infrequent use I have chosen my controlled feed tapping stand which I feel in any case wins by a short head, Photograph 18. With this the tap is fed automatically at the precise rate for the pitch of the thread being cut resulting in the following advantages.
a. Very easy to use, just rotate the tap.
b. The thread is cut using just a plug tap.
c. The thread starts cleanly with no partial threads for the first few turns. Particularly important when making threads into thin sheet.
d. Shallow blind threads of just a few pitches can easily be produced.
e. Upright threads are produced.
f. Works well with fluteless taps.
Another item that would be near the top of this group is the faceplate balancing fixture seen rear right of Photograph 13. This runs much more freely than the lathe mandrel, typically for 25 seconds with a good spin compared to 2 seconds for my lathe, as a result, enabling a much better balance to be achieved and permitting higher running speeds to be used. For this, I developed my own form of bearings with the balls running between three flat surfaces, two fixed at right angles and one, on the spindle, adjustable at 45° to eliminate play.
Organisation
Those of my friends who know me well will be aware of the trouble I go to in achieving tidy surroundings, workshop or elsewhere, some will say, too much trouble, but with so many items in the workshop tidiness is well worth attempting, especially as memory is not what it used to be.
From Photograph 19 and Photograph 20 the viewer can judge whether or not I am some way to achieving my aim.
My Workshops
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