Making DFV parts on my lathe

[Howie]

Hi all,

Well... after many years adding to my 1/12th "to do" pile... I`m finally off and running. First one off the blocks is the JPS Lotus 72D.

I thought you might like to see my first efforts with my new mini lathe. At 49, my eyesight isn`t what it used to be, and the camera is very cruel... but hopefully my technique will improve in the months to come.

The "velocity stacks" and fuel induction system are the first thing I`m working on, so here goes with a little taster...


Aluminium stock faced and turned to 7.5mm dia.


End drilling with 3.5mm bit... after roughly turning to shape


Using a specially ground/shaped tool for the final shaping


Inside drilled and sanded to shape... not perfect but won`t be seen anyway!


Parting off... the lathe work is now finished


Into the drill press for an accurate 45 degree cut


... and a test fit onto the 1.8mm dia fuel inlet pipe


Test assembly of outer and inner pipes, locknut and... errm... modified kit part !! Well... I know my limitations Maybe one day I can aspire to making the whole thing !!


A collection of "work in progress"


One complete kit of parts, ready for painting and assembly... yahoooooo !


Test fit with a little blu-tak


The brass nut will be positioned properly on final assembly... promise !!


O.K.... I know what you`re all thinking. Why not just buy it all??? For sure... the stuff that`s out there at the moment is WAY beyond my capabilities, and the guys who sell their stuff have my undying admiration. BUT... I just have an insane desire to create, with my own hands, a DFV that is a real peice of "jewellery"... and who cares if I`m wearing rose tinted spectacles

Just for info... the inner sleeve and nut will be Alclad Jet Exhaust, and the remaining kit part Chrome Silver... the rest will be polished up and left as is.

Hope someone gets a little inspired to try this out... you`ll need a lathe, some tools... and endless cups of tea !!!

Cheers,

Howie

P.S. The more I look at that kit part... the more I want to make my own

[Mr.Grumpy]

wow, great stuff.

[De21]

That looks really good!! I got a mini lathe too and I love seeing how you guys make these nice parts!

[daniel]

wonderfull, could you please show me the complete tool setup you used in the sixths picture , where you drilled that 45 degree hole ?

Did you make that "ground shaped tool" by yourself ?

thanks

daniel
-germany-

[Howie]

Hi Daniel,

I`ll shoot a picture of the drill press setup and post it tomorrow.

I used a bench grinder to shape the lathe tool. I just did it by "feel", and it ended up with more taper than I wanted. The grinding angle was important, because I wanted to be able to set up the lathe tool "square" in the toolpost every time (ie. at an exact right angle to the work)... you will know how important it is to get "repeatability" !!

Also, as you can see in the pictures, because the tool is very "flat" to the work, every ridge and imperfection in the tool shows up in the finished part... nicht so gute

By the way... I was inspired by your RA273, and made myself some new rear shock absorbers as my first lathe project... THANKS

Cheers,

Howie

[Lew]

Excellent craftsmanship Howie! Just curious, how long does it take you to make a single velocity stack and injector assembly? It probably goes faster once you get going and get the process down doesn't it?

Best,
Lew

[mikemechanic]

Great job Howie. I've been working on mine since I got my lathe. I learned from a member here to use center drill bits for the drilling the inside. They have a nice taper and work almost perfect. Might be worth trying. Great job on the drilling at a 45 degree angle. Might have to try that myself.

Here is a picture of the center drills

Mike

[43rdMichael]

Awesome work Howie. !!!

Its a bonus for us all that you have mastered the "black art" of posting photos, because you sure have mastered the "black art" of turning up welocity stacks!!!

This build is going to be awesome. Good luck with it all.

[steveoccc]

If you want to make extras of everything you make, I'll buy them from you.

[billgtp]

Great work.I do have a lathe etc. but no time to use them
I would say your work is real coles to someone I pruchase parts from