Today I acquired...........

[Beanwood]

I had some 'made to fit' Altberg boots in 1994, took 20 minutes to measure my feet, three weeks to make (in a queue!) and fitted perfectly, cost over £200 - I replaced them in 2018 after having them resoled twice due to damage more than wear, great boots - wouldn't buy from them now though. The ones I replaced them with are Lowa, tried on three or four pairs until I got the width/length combination right though, I was in the shop for well over an hour!
The biggest difference you can make to a pair of boots, especially ones you wear for days at a time is the footbeds, Sorbothane are the best I've ever used.

Don't mind me asking - why would you not buy Altberg again?
I've had some really comfy boots over the years - but what frustrates me more than almost anything else is damp. It's bad when you spend £90 on a pair of boots that you can walk for miles in, but after 3 months they just aren't waterproof any more.
You can add Sorbothane insoles to any footwear for about £16. You can't add waterproof for £16!!

 

[25.4_mechanic]

Today I acquired A) a half-center.

Received, unpacked, applied ... I am thrilled, delighted!

No idea why they are so little used here ... (thanks Harold Hall, @JMS1972)

And B) a lifesaver for my back (lumbo-sacral ) -

- an indeed used workshop chair and not even that expensive, but with enormous height adjustability, in super clean, working condition -
... man am I glad ....

Turn, turn, turn .... good night,

Carsten

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[25.4_mechanic]

Today i pick up my new project which will be a daily driver and day van, VW T4 2.5 tdi.

Long wheel base, by the looks of it - had one for years, great.
Good catch (I hope for you too), congrats!

Carsten

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[Olderisbetter]

Long wheel base, by the looks of it - had one for years, great.
Good catch (I hope for you too), congrats!

Carsten

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Yes i wanted a long wheelbase with barn doors, it drives great with just a few faults and dents but compared to the others i have looked at its a gem.

 

[Ubique]

Don't mind me asking - why would you not buy Altberg again?
I've had some really comfy boots over the years - but what frustrates me more than almost anything else is damp. It's bad when you spend £90 on a pair of boots that you can walk for miles in, but after 3 months they just aren't waterproof any more.
You can add Sorbothane insoles to any footwear for about £16. You can't add waterproof for £16!!

The ones I had were made in the Altberg factory in Yorkshire, most of the ones you can buy now, even the 'custom' ones, are made in Italy with thinner leather and on Lasts that are more, shall we say, 'designer' in shape rather than the working boot shape with a bigger toe box and looser on the pressure points. I did try several before I decided to go for Lowa, I had a pair of 'Field & Fell' I think they were, for three months before I sent them back, despite being sized by their staff, not a reseller, they just were too uncomfortable beyond the 4-5 hour point. I know they do some military boots, to a price point and I don't think they do any of the 'high liability' boots - but they are to a different standard than you can buy direct from them, even the 'military' boots are not as good as the issue boots, which in themselves, are at best, mid-range. My work boots (composite safety) are Meindl, very nice to wear for a day, I've tried their outdoor boots, not as good as the work boots, I can't explain why, they're just not.

Don't take this the wrong way, if your boots are losing the waterproofing, you're either not cleaning them and retreating them properly, or using the wrong stuff.

 

[AndersK]

Went to buy two batteries this morning, they chucked in the machines for free

67,50 £ for each box, same as for one 5A battery. Saw it yesterday night, was there 7.15 and grabbed the last two boxes

 

[JMS1972]

Today I acquired A) a half-center.

Received, unpacked, applied ... I am thrilled, delighted!

No idea why they are so little used here ... (thanks Harold Hall, @JMS1972)

View attachment 330783


And B) a lifesaver for my back (lumbo-sacral ) -

- an indeed used workshop chair and not even that expensive, but with enormous height adjustability, in super clean, working condition -
... man am I glad ....

View attachment 330787

Turn, turn, turn .... good night,

Carsten

--

If you are taller than the average 1950s Britisher then you could always raise the lathe up. I've used some heavy box section tube under the legs of mine.

I think the standard advice is the top slide handles at elbow height but if doing lots if detailed stuff, a bit higher is nicer on the back.

One thing to think about is that it's harder to step away from low flying lathe projects if you are sat down when actually turning. But its your workshop, your safety rules

Nice half centre, handy for facing with bulky insert tools.

 

[Munkul]

Got a new tool last night, I couldn't resist having one even though i don't need it. RCMX 12mm dia tool and some NOS Seco inserts. (had to watch because there was some definite fake RCMX inserts on ebay!)



Also got another 4 Milwaukee clamps and a couple of spare 8m tapes, so I added them to my Milwaukee hand tool stash... some of them to chop up into table clamps.

 

[Munkul]

Went to buy two batteries this morning, they chucked in the machines for free

67,50 £ for each box, same as for one 5A battery. Saw it yesterday night, was there 7.15 and grabbed the last two boxes

Bargain!

 

[dan.taylor.1]

Went to buy two batteries this morning, they chucked in the machines for free

67,50 £ for each box, same as for one 5A battery. Saw it yesterday night, was there 7.15 and grabbed the last two boxes
View attachment 330795

Where from?!

 

[AndersK]

Indeed a bargain, they have the Z-version that is 103£

Good place to visit, they sell out some items they will no longer carry dirt cheap. Got me a few blue Bosch machines the last year.
The Makita I think there starategy now is to sell either full package with machine, charger, batteries in a Makpac or just the Z- versions in a paper box. I don't mind relieving them of unwanted stock

 

[AndersK]

Where from?!

Hornbach

 

[25.4_mechanic]

One thing to think about is that it's harder to step away from low flying lathe projects if you are sat down when actually turning.

Thank you for your concern, you are right!

The impression must be deceptive, I had moved the chair closer to the machine for the photo:
The chair isn't there to sit on all the time when turning, but to be able to continue when your back doesn't allow it, it's there to help you support yourself for a moment, and as such it helps enormously.

The roller table on the left is not usually there, the chair is further to the left and I don't usually touch it when I turn.

"Escape route planning" has become second nature to me:
Chainsaw training with the voluntary fire brigade and "chainsaw driving licence", because for some years now you don't get any more wood lots allocated by the forestry administration here unless all those involved are trained and have proven personal protective equipment (in theory).

The driving force behind this rule was the professional associations, and the enormous drop in the number of serious and fatal accidents proves them right.

A wonderful day to all

Carsten

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[DAPPH]

£40 well spent...no point buying cheap and nasty when it's something I'll get some use out of.

So well made...shame the factory is probably long gone now.

View attachment 330713

My that's a cheap & nasty looking drill vice

 

[Other Daniel]

My that's a cheap & nasty looking drill vice

Need to use Stilsons to tighten it.

 

[Beanwood]

..I know they do some military boots, to a price point and I don't think they do any of the 'high liability' boots - but they are to a different standard than you can buy direct from them, even the 'military' boots are not as good as the issue boots, which in themselves, are at best, mid-range....

I have a brand new pair of Boots - (Combat High Liability) still in their Altberg box. Only still there as I was donated a slightly worn (Issued) pair by a friend, so I can assure you they are exactly the same - well at least they were 3 years ago - but they aren't what I would call comfortable.

Don't take this the wrong way, if your boots are losing the waterproofing, you're either not cleaning them and retreating them properly, or using the wrong stuff.

I know - that's what I kept on telling myself - but clean them as I might, treat them with various (Graingers, Nikwax, Ledergris) They still let in water through the seams, or around the welt. Just enough to make your socks damp...
I'd love to know what I'm doing wrong. Perhaps I'll start a thread on 'proper boot cleaning'...

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

My that's a cheap & nasty looking drill vice

The thread on it's so smooth...bought it as I've got some bushes to make for my volvo tow bar (why did I sell my lathe!!!!). Very happy with the condition of it too...no drill marks on it anywhere (I'll soon add some of course!)

 

[Arc Tourist]

Yesterday afternoon I ordered a 300 BAR 12 litre air cylinder. Was surprised to get early next day delivery, from Wakefield !
You Yorkshire folk are alright.

 

[DAPPH]

This partial staircase was given to me by the customer that asked me to adapt it from its original 15 flight,to a 5 flight and fit it to his entrance door,that was 12 years ago,today he drops the remainder off.
Come in handy ,even if I never use it!View attachment 330761

That looks high enough to replace the spirals I'd been given to get up a concrete slat fence to the next terrace level of my garden .. Bloody itinerants nicked them . They'd totally scarpered by the time I'd called the police , who said a few minutes later as I was reporting the theft that vehicle number ( off my camera ) does not exist .

 

[Ubique]

I have a brand new pair of Boots - (Combat High Liability) still in their Altberg box. Only still there as I was donated a slightly worn (Issued) pair by a friend, so I can assure you they are exactly the same - well at least they were 3 years ago - but they aren't what I would call comfortable.


I know - that's what I kept on telling myself - but clean them as I might, treat them with various (Graingers, Nikwax, Ledergris) They still let in water through the seams, or around the welt. Just enough to make your socks damp...
I'd love to know what I'm doing wrong. Perhaps I'll start a thread on 'proper boot cleaning'...

Are they goretex? Ive known it to get blocked with the 'wrong' treatment /polish and what you think is water leaking in is sweat/condensation that can't get out. If they are leaking around the welt, that in itself is very unusual, moreso if both boots are doing it.