Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread
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Use tags for the type of equipment your topic is about. Include the "repairs" tag, too, when appropriate. If a new tag is needed, request one in the TEAdministration forum.
Use tags for the type of equipment your topic is about. Include the "repairs" tag, too, when appropriate. If a new tag is needed, request one in the TEAdministration forum.
Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread
I will admit that I haven't been in the habit of jumping on the Bantam's brake. Perhaps I should get into the habit, especially as there isn't room to fit a handle to the Bantam. But until I spot a 127 tooth gear at a sensible price, the Bantam is limited to Imperial threads. The Hobbymat has enough change wheels to do almost any thread, but doesn't have a brake or a clutch.
Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread
Pretty lucky with this Harrison 12 and a quite rare option it has allowing metric or imperial threading with just a changeover lever.EC8010 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 12, 2026 10:52 am I will admit that I haven't been in the habit of jumping on the Bantam's brake. Perhaps I should get into the habit, especially as there isn't room to fit a handle to the Bantam. But until I spot a 127 tooth gear at a sensible price, the Bantam is limited to Imperial threads. The Hobbymat has enough change wheels to do almost any thread, but doesn't have a brake or a clutch.
Even without additional changewheels there's only a few threads I can't do, a couple of the BSPT threads that are normally tapered which would be difficult to do on a lathe anyways.
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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread
My calendar says we're approaching the time of UK radio rallies. But it seems the first is the Newbury one on 5th July. Are there any others within about 60 miles of Newbury before then that I haven't spotted? After all, there might be a something or another there that I dearly need...
Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread
I've put my response in a separate "Events" thread, viewtopic.php?t=456EC8010 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2026 8:56 am My calendar says we're approaching the time of UK radio rallies. But it seems the first is the Newbury one on 5th July. Are there any others within about 60 miles of Newbury before then that I haven't spotted? After all, there might be a something or another there that I dearly need...
Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread
Barry on 9th May. Is it within 60 miles? It's a micro rally, much smaller than W-s-M and definitely not worth a long trip. I may not bother.
Dunstable Downs on 17th May is one of the biggest rallies of the year, sometimes better than Newbury, and there's a visit to TNMoC which can be fitted in after. It's worth the trip.
Mendips on 14th June. It's a minor rally but I've usually managed to come away with a treasure or two.
Newbury on 5th July, and then some major or conveniently near rallies after that.
There are at least three rally lists on the web. It's worth looking at them all rather than just the RSGB list, because they can miss important details or even don't mention some events at all.
Dunstable Downs on 17th May is one of the biggest rallies of the year, sometimes better than Newbury, and there's a visit to TNMoC which can be fitted in after. It's worth the trip.
Mendips on 14th June. It's a minor rally but I've usually managed to come away with a treasure or two.
Newbury on 5th July, and then some major or conveniently near rallies after that.
There are at least three rally lists on the web. It's worth looking at them all rather than just the RSGB list, because they can miss important details or even don't mention some events at all.
Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread
I shall look out for Dunstable Downs and Mendips; you are correct about the RSGB list.
Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread
Dunstable Downs == Luton; Stockwood Park to be exact.
I'm not sure I would suggest anyone came a long way just to go to the Mendip rally. OTOH, the Stanton Drew stone circles[1] are nearby; bring some sandwiches and have a packed lunch sitting on the stones. (I enjoyed doing that on Stonehenge, but nowadays it is a national disgrace)
[1] https://www.geograph.org.uk/mapper/comb ... 78/-2.5759
Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread
Stanton Drew is more or less on the way back and should be well worth the detour if the weather's nice.
Stone circles are another of those things in the worth seeing but not worth going to see category.
Stone circles are another of those things in the worth seeing but not worth going to see category.
Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread
I believe you have to pay to see Stonehenge; surely the mortgage has been paid off by now?
I've just looked up the prices and they're outrageous.
I've just looked up the prices and they're outrageous.
Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread
About the same price as visiting the Roman baths in Bath. It does seem a bit steep.
Stonehenge is an English Heritage site. To be fair these places require upkeep - curation, building maintenance, keeping down the weeds, security in some cases. If you are into visiting them, a year's membership of English heritage costs roughly twice the price of a ticket for Stonehenge and gives free access and free parking. Some of the less elaborate sites, such as long barrows, have free access.
Stonehenge is an English Heritage site. To be fair these places require upkeep - curation, building maintenance, keeping down the weeds, security in some cases. If you are into visiting them, a year's membership of English heritage costs roughly twice the price of a ticket for Stonehenge and gives free access and free parking. Some of the less elaborate sites, such as long barrows, have free access.
Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread
Stanton Drew circles are on private land. There is an honesty box set into a wall.
Bath Roman Baths do require upkeep, so I won't mind paying next time I go. I won't pay for the watered down [sic] water. (IIRC BANES residents get in free).
When I was a kid Stonehenge was free and open and without "amenities"; delightful. Nowadays Stonehenge is miserable; you can't get anywhere near the stones, and the amenities are awful. They are still having stupid ideas about putting the A303 in a long tunnel there.
Other neolithic sites between Points West and London are the West Kennet Long Barrow, Avebury, and Silbury Hill. All very near each other.
Must go to Orkney, sometime.
Bath Roman Baths do require upkeep, so I won't mind paying next time I go. I won't pay for the watered down [sic] water. (IIRC BANES residents get in free).
When I was a kid Stonehenge was free and open and without "amenities"; delightful. Nowadays Stonehenge is miserable; you can't get anywhere near the stones, and the amenities are awful. They are still having stupid ideas about putting the A303 in a long tunnel there.
Other neolithic sites between Points West and London are the West Kennet Long Barrow, Avebury, and Silbury Hill. All very near each other.
Must go to Orkney, sometime.