fettling tools

1483 Views 18 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Kevan, Sep 20, 2020

zendragon

Discussion Starter · Sep 17, 2020

I want to fettle my latest purchase the guide is tight and will not self centre so I need to open the slot guide hole a bit making sure the braids are not rubbing as well cannot get reasonably priced files or screw drivers asking you guys where you get yours from, my local hobby shop appears to have closed leaving me the choice of a hobby superstore only and everything is very over priced

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

matthew77

· #2 · Sep 17, 2020

I have got tools for my cars from a local hardware store (local to my In Laws, a pleasant 180 mile round trip for me) Amazon, a craft shop and some now closed modelling shops. I would suggest a look on Amazon and Ebay may locate some reasonably priced tools.

Dick Smith

· #3 · Sep 17, 2020

Try Squires in Bogner. They have an online catalogue although orders have to be made by phone. You will find you never knew you needed.

beardy56

· #4 · Sep 17, 2020

I use Amazon, Hannetts and Upstairs Downstairs most of the time, all online

Mr Modifier

· #5 · Sep 18, 2020 (Edited by Moderator)

2

eBay - I have the lower ones and they have lasted really well.

Eye Office supplies Font Slope Parallel

Font Material property Parallel Number Circle

You just have to be prepared to wait 3 weeks for delivery.

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Dopamine

· #6 · Sep 18, 2020

zendragon said:
I need to open the slot guide hole a bit

For enlarging the guide hole, you'll probably get a much better result using a sharp drill bit, rotated by hand, than you will using a file. A file leaves a rougher surface and, even used with the greatest of care, is unlikely to leave the hole as perfectly round and true as a drill bit will. I have a range of metric drill bits in 0.1mm increments from 3mm to 4mm. If you only ever use them on plastic, they will stay sharp indefinitely.

I like Dormer drill bits, but for plastic, pretty much any decent brand will do.

This eBay listing sells drill bits in 0.1mm increments for £2.89 each. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Presto-HSS-Metal-High-Speed-Steel-Twist-Jobber-Drill-Bit-3mm-5-9mm/131891931951?hash=item1eb55f2b2f:g:1kMAAOSwlfxXFso6

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Mr Modifier

· #7 · Sep 18, 2020

Now THAT is a handy link

Kevan

· #8 · Sep 19, 2020

I use a round needle diamond file in a cordless drill, as it's tapered it does the same job as many drills and you can creep up to the size you want with the added advantage of having a slightly tapered hole for the guide shaft which is always tapered anyway.

I have a set of 6 of varying shapes from my toolmaking days, the flat one gets most use, the round needle file next. In fact I was using one earlier to fettle a wheelarch on a bodyshell.

Dopamine

· #9 · Sep 19, 2020

Kevan said:
with the added advantage of having a slightly tapered hole for the guide shaft which is always tapered anyway.

Really? What guides do you use? I can't think of any common guides that have a tapered shaft and can't think of any advantage of having a hole or shaft designed that way. Every small adjustment of the guide height would require the hole to be a slightly different size. Sprung guides wouldn't work at all.

Kevan

· #10 · Sep 19, 2020

Sloting Plus guides...measure them, they're not parallel.

Dopamine

· #11 · Sep 19, 2020

Any other brands?

Fluff

· #12 · Sep 19, 2020

Must go to spec savers ,I was just going to post something cause I thought this was about meddling fools !!!!

Steve

Kevan

· #13 · Sep 19, 2020

Dopamine said:
Any other brands?

Scaleauto red.

Dopamine

· #14 · Sep 19, 2020 (Edited by Moderator)

2

Fluff said:
Must go to spec savers ,I was just going to post something cause I thought this was about meddling fools !!!!

We probably need to use the optician that Kevan uses, because if his manual dexterity and eyesight is so good that he can file a tapered hole so perfect that it's 0.04mm narrower at the top than it is at the bottom, using a needle file in a cordless drill, his optician has done a brilliant job!

Kevan said:
Sloting Plus guides...measure them, they're not parallel.

I did. 0.04mm narrower at the top than the bottom. Once the supplied retaining screw is screwed into the post, the post expands slightly and the top and bottom measurements become equal.

This isn't a great photo and the fact that the camera is quite close to the guides distorts things slightly, but I doubt you'd find many who would describe these posts as tapered.

Rectangle Font Art Magenta Cylinder

Kevan said:
Scaleauto red.

Mine are parallel.

Just to make sure I haven't got a couple of rogue guides, I measured several. They're all the same.

Petal Font Gas Art Magenta

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Kevan

· #15 · Sep 19, 2020

5

Admit it, you just hate agreeing with anyone:

Dopamine - "I hate Revos"

The rest of the forum - "We love Revos"

Me - "Sloting Plus guide shaft is slightly tapered"

Dopamine - "No they're not...well a bit...but they're still parallel"

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Reactions: 1

Fluff

· #16 · Sep 19, 2020

In my way I agree with Dopamine, I do believe that the taper on a needle file would be considerable more that on a molded shaft of a guide ,which should be parallel .
A draft angle may be necessary on a moulding to allow a release from its former but it will be minute .
If the taper on the chassis is the reverse of the guide then slop will be noticeable .I've often thought about a ball raced guide ,no slop and no jamming and always upright !!!!

Steve

Kevan

· #17 · Sep 19, 2020

The other option is to make the tube the guide is going in the right size which is where a set of drills 0.1mm apart come in handy. A short length of brass tube over a 3.6mm drill then squashed in a 3 jaw chuck works fantastic as a guide post holder.

Fluff

· #18 · Sep 19, 2020

Would this be a drill chuck ,or a lathe chuck ?

Steve

Kevan

· #19 · Sep 20, 2020

Any 3 jaw chuck.

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