Harold Hall
The Clamp (2) is not captive and could become separated from the assembly when in store or during being fitted. Should the reader wish to go the extra mile then the screw (H1) could have a groove turned in it and a pin fitted in the clamp to make it a permanent fixture.
In use
Photograph 42 shows the machine sawing through a 6mm thick piece of mild steel using a junior hack saw blade running at about 400 strokes per minute. Progress was not that fast but done with ease due to the absence of lift proving the efficiency of the added hold down feature.
The wide range of adjustment available should make it possible to provide support for most workpieces. Typically though, frames for skeleton clocks with their many irregular shape holes will present a problem. In this case, attachments as shown in Sk.1 should overcome the problem in almost all situations.
Whilst the hold down assembly is a separate item and the reader can choose to make, or not make, the item, my belief is that it is essential if the machine is to be used for sawing and beneficial if just used for filing. The machine can of course be made without it and then added if considered worthwhile in the light of experience gained in its use.
Of all the major projects I have undertaken in the workshop, typically the milling head and the Dividing head , the filing machine must be a potential number one in terms of the satisfaction gained, Similarly, any reader making it will I am sure find it a very rewarding project, both in its making and its ultimate use.
In following Mark's suggestion I also came across a website that the reader may find of interest as it contains a copy of a manufacturer's manual for an industrial filing machine. The site owner also appears to be a steam buff so other aspects of the site will no doubt interest many readers.
42
Since making the machine it has had the occasional use with small tasks but also a major involvement with making a skeleton clock in which it was a considerable help and where it worked faultlessly. For me, the possibility of making another clock without such help would definitely be a non starter.
Files, returned.
Since having completed the filing machine Mark Hubler (California, USA) has informed me that there are a number of manufacturers/suppliers of machine files in the USA and suggest that searching the internet using the terms "parallel machine files" or "reciprocating machine files" should bring up their details. Typically The Federal File co
