Toys from the lathe cave - can you guess what it is?

[Chris]

Now to some of you this will be obvious, but to others a complete mystery. Something to ponder over for hours occupying your every waking thought. Driving you insane with intrigue. You'll be unable to eat, sleep or even dress yourself for thinking about what it could be.

Watch some plonker get it in one. Ha ha. You know, I don't what I'd do with my time if it weren't for this. It's not finished yet. I don't even know if it will work.

 

[TonyP]

Defo a apple keyboad, just need to frame your pic a bit better....

 

[Chris]

Damn you're good! Here's me thing that this bit of machined metal would distract you. You know your stuff Tony that's for sure. I know you know what it is 'cos you had one. So Shhhhh!

 

[TonyP]

I actually do think I know what it is especially as I had my bought one apart for some maintenance.... Something upfront on Lil Blue me thinks

 

[sae70]

Absolutely no idea

 

[TonyP]

Oh, and just to add, looks a good job indeed

 

[stumog]

swivel recovery points would be my guess.
stu

 

[clivehorridge]

swivel recovery points would be my guess.
stu

I'd suggest something smaller than a recovery point and the "O" ring must have something to do with its operation. Maybe an airline pressure valve or something similar?

 

[Rich Sims]

Air release for a winch?

 

[warrenpfo]

I'm going with an air operated free spool for the winch??

 

[Chris]

Damn you, damn you all....

Yep, air operated free spool.

 

[stumog]

nice i found a air solnoid for mine in work i was very happy to get it.

 

[silvercruiser]

I was going for a starter push button like you get in the boyracer 1.1 corsa's

 

[Chris]

OK, update. Junked the original steel piston and made a shiny new alloy one.

Cut two seal grooves in there to accommodate 80 series brake seals. Neat thinking huh.



Also put an O ring in the stem to prevent the air from simply bypassing the piston and leaking out of the bottom of the cylinder.

Milled a port in the side and tapped 3/4 BSP then milled down to it so that the air acts directly up underneath the piston.



Got a 12v solenoid actuator from Flea bay and a 10mm to 6mm tee.



Well guess what.

It works! And with some force I can tell you. Just blowing air into it from an airline without a hard connection and it pushes my hands apart. I may not need the second seal in there. Now all I need is for it to stop raining so I can get outside onto the winch and work out the fitting onto the freespol stem.

Plan is to make a cap for it so that it remains crud free inside - with a bit of luck and a following wind. This is MkI and I have some HD synthetic material in the workshop which may just be MkII. Fully synthetic!

 

[clivehorridge]

Looking forward to the next phase...

 

[Gary820]

I'm just jealous you've got a lathe of your own lol.

Nice neat job btw.

 

[Chris]

Things always look a bit rough through the camera. I'm living proof of that. It's much better than it looks.

 

[TonyP]

Very nice Chris

 

[warrenpfo]

Any chance of a pic next to an iPhone or match box to give a perception of size??

That looks very nice and I'm sure cheaper than the £90 they cost.

 

[Chris]

It's the size of a satsuma. 2" across. Ahh, £90 seems a lot, but making one will be considerably more. One offs are always a huge cost. I suppose it's like making bread. All the effort is rewarded with a lovely loaf. But compare that to buying one for £1 and suddenly it all makes sense. £1 suddenly starts to look like good value.