Shaw guard springs

[marcus]

I'm making some shaw guards like this:

I need to get the springs made, and I have found some a couple of companies that will do it but they need to know how thick the metal is (I assume this sort of thing is made from spring steel). I don't really know what a suitable thickness would be. Is there anyone who has a similar sort of guard and would be willing to have a quick look and let me know the thickness of the metal?

Thanks!

 

[Myfordman]

75 views and no replies eh?

Well I dug out my kity shaw guards and they are about 0.75mm thick and ok for a small spindle. Mine takes up to 125mm blocks

I might be tempted to have a few extras made just in case you want to double up the springs for a bit more oomph if you are going to do some large jobs.

 

[marcus]

Thanks for that

 

[eribaMotters]

How thick is a good quality 12"/300mm steel rule. I recall making a couple many years ago out of an old pair of damaged rules.

Colin

 

[marcus]

How thick is a good quality 12"/300mm steel rule.

Just measured — it's .8mm, so more or less the same....

 

[jss]

I could do with making some too, so I'd be grateful for any info you could share on suppliers and how you are constructing them.

Thanks,
John.

 

[marcus]

Hi John,

I have worked out a plan based mostly around stuff I already have, though it's all easy to get. I am going to use two blocks of 30mm square section steel and drill them to accept 20mm steel rods running perpendicular to each other, and then drill and tap a hole at each end of the blocks to take M8 bristol levers

I will drill/tap the rods as necessary to attach the pressure pad springs. I haven't had to worry about how to attach it all to the machine as fortunately the guard already has an attachment point in the right place which will take 20mm rod.

I expect I will have to file flats on the rod where they engage with the bristol levers to prevent them twisting.

I will let you know who is the cheapest spring supplier once I have some quotes.

I had to laugh — I was making the sketchup drawing just now and I downloaded the bristol lever models from the sketchup 3D warehouse to find that they were originally made by our very own Steve Maskery. Small world isn't it — thanks Steve!

 

[jss]

Thanks Marcus - that's really helpful. My vaguely formed ideas were along similar lines and, like you, I have an attachment point on the machine to take a metal rod. I would certainly appreciate info on the spring suppliers when you have got the quotes.

Cheers,
John.

 

[Racers]

How about old hand saw blades?
Or even cheap hard point saws, they must be good for something ;-)
Pete

 

[marcus]

Or even cheap hard point saws, they must be good for something

Makes sense if they are thick enough, would they just hand bend into the right shape?

 

[Racers]

A strip will be hand bendable, I have cut scrapers from a pound shop hand saw with a fine toothed hack saw.

Pete