Flathead Friday: Using a vintage valve seat cutter!

[Mart]

Hello. You are invited to view my latest video offering documenting what hopefully will be the revival of this neglected old Flathead. This weeks episode involves getting to grips with what must have been a state of the art valve seat cutting machine from the 1930s. I fire up the lathe to make a specialised tool guide unique to the flathead Ford.

Anyway, come and see what I've been up to.

Mart.

https://youtu.be/jmb0a-JpTbM

[oldford2]

Mart,
Looks like you are having fun. Always interesting videos.
In all due respects, a few comments: Don't run a lathe with loose sleeves. When I was in an Army machine shop the Sgt had a bloody shredded fatigue shirt hanging up to remind us of the danger.
Also, you need a little heat in your shop so you don't have to bundle up and make your viewers chilly.
And finally, don't leave your rubber gloves laying around. When I do, my dog eats them and it can take 2-3 days to get them back

John

[Mart]

Thanks John. Yes, great care required when freehanding on the lathe. My dog doesn't seem to take a fancy to the gloves, so I don't have that to contend with.
Sorry you feel a bit chilly. I was getting a cold when I was making that one. You can hear it in my voice when talking about the valves. It doesn't get cold enough for long enough to warrant trying to heat my shed/garage. It's very draughty too so would need a complete revamp to make it able to be heated.

Mart.

[corvette8n]

It's as much fun watching you make tooling, as it is you using it.

[motordr]

Interesting video! From a safety standpoint, it’s highly recommended to use the “left hand method” holding the file in your left hand so that you are not wrapping yourself around the chuck. No disrespect intended.

[Art Newland]

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Love the videos Mart. I've only played with 8BA style flatheads, so seeing this older engine going through it's resurrection is particularly interesting to me. Looking forward to more videos and to hearing your project fire up! Keep being curious! 8^)

[Mart]

Thanks for the comments, guys. I have very poor dexterity left handed so prefer to go right handed but take great care when cradling the chuck.

[Russ/40]

Very fun and interesting episode Mart. I love your seat cutting tool! Looks to maintain the proper geometry very well. I have a big collection of valve tools, and that is one I have not seen. Great tool, and in the hands of a worthy guy. Preserve the old ways when we can. Loving your videos. You really do a terrific job of professionally producing the episodes. What kind of video equipment are you using. No jitter, very stable and pleasant to watch.

[Mart]

Thanks Russ. I worked hard to develop a method that gives good results. I had a lot of disappointing tries before getting it to an acceptable level.

My primary camera is an AKASO GoPro clone. It has image stabilisation which I try and use when going hand held. I try and use a tripod when I can, and turn the image stabilisation off then as it gives a wierd panning effect sometimes. I record the audio on the voice recorder app on my smartphone, using a levalier microphone clipped on my right lapel or nearby. When talking to the camera I tend to hold it on my right so having the mic on the right helps.
I use VideoPad to edit it all. It can take many hours of editing. Typically I start with 3 hours of video and try and get it down to 35 minutes or so. It can take about 8 hours of editing to do that, so I appreciate it when someone passes a comment regarding the video side of it.

My challenge at the moment is that I keep missing things due to battery problems. The other one is finding the time to get the videos edited up.

Mart.

[tubman]

Wow Mart, that sounds like a ton of work. I am another who really appreciates the time and effort you put into your little "productions", only to find out I was seriously underestimating what it took. I offer my congratulations on just mastering "VidePad". I tried it and came away defeated.

Again, thanks for your efforts.

[done4]

As always a great watch. Now you have me excited to see and hear it run. Thanks Mart.