QUESTION ABOUT MY SHAVER

[Chuck]

Very Nice! One thing you might consider in
the future would be the removal of the device
that I call "The Record Wrecker".

This is the curved metal pusher that is found
at the lefthand side of the machine, and is
activated by the lever.

Its original purpose was to aid in the removal
of a cylinder from the mandrel. I have found
that it does little more than chip and ruin
cylinders. Not only that, but in the case of
phonograph cylinders which necessarily must
ride far over to the left end of the mandrel
(often up to 7/16 of an inch past the end of
the mandrel)...that "The Record Wrecker" can
get in the way due to the thickness of the
curved pusher.

I have removed this most destructive device
from both of my shavers, and I feel that all around, it makes for a vast improvement of
the machine as a whole.

Could you post a picture of the shiny shaved
test blank? Inquiring minds want to see the
results of your first test! Nice work!

Chuck

[debndunk]

Hi Chuck, I know what you mean about the pusher I thought it looked a bit heavy handed. I've got one small problem, the shavings don't seem to go down the chute that's attached to the cutter, I don't know if thats adjustment or a common fault? Any way here's a pic of 2 cylinders that I've done, both are brown wax.

[debndunk]

Can anyone tell me why the cylinder cuttings are not going down the chute on the cutter is it adjustment or is it just a common fault? Also do the cylinders look smooth enough. I've never done this before? Just waiting for my recorder to come back from the repairer Mr Badman.

[edisonphonoworks]

RE Chute. It just has to be adjusted, it takes a long time to adjust these though and frustrating If you have it too far out the chute hits the blank, if it is too far in, the shavings fly everywhere. Your machine shaves very nicely, keep all metal objects away from that cutting knife, they are not available anywhere at least at this time. P.S. I wonder why Dictaphone mandrels are smaller in diameter than Edison ones, I have two Edison shavers, and blanks all fit a little to the right on these, with an ⅛" at least from the left end and as chuck says, on a Dictaphone unit they tend to almost hit the bearing block on the left end. But they are nice machines as your shaving attests.

[rgordon939]

I found with my 1905 Edison Shaving Machine that only when you have the cutting sapphire adjusted properly will the swarf be sucked down the Shute in the machine. Here is a link of my machine in action. There is a second one also. The first one is the first pass. The second one is a second pass at the same depth to get the best surface possible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxxkFY-yJys


Rich Gordon

[Chuck]

Thank you for posting those pictures! Those
cylinders both look very nicely shaved. It looks
to be doing a fine job!

Yes, the adjustment of the chip chute is a
dicey one at best. It goes along with and is
actually part of the adjustment of the cutter.

Basically, if the cutter is cutting a nice
shiny smooth surface (as yours is), then don't
touch it! The chip chute can be moved backward and forward relative to the cutter.

It takes some trial and error, but usually
a place can be found where the gap is just
right and the chips go down the chute.

I have two shavers, an old one and a newer one.
The old one is always easy and reliable to
keep the chips going down the chute. The
newer model will not send the chips down the chute hardly ever, no matter what is done.

I keep some narrow strips of thin cardboard
handy to use to poke out the gap between the
cutter and the chute as it becomes clogged.
Also, the long strings of shavings can sometimes catch and build up in the chute and
they need to be cleared.

Last time I shaved several blanks on the newer
shaver, I got so disgusted I removed the chute
and just held a vacuum-cleaner hose near
the cutter. (Thanks Steve Medved for showing
me THAT trick!)

One thing I like to do is to have a listen
to the freshly shaved surface to hear what
it sounds like. Just play it as if it were
a record, and listen closely.

I do this with every blank I make. I do this
test before the test recordings are put onto
a new blank.

With time and experience, you will start hearing differences in this background noise
of the shiny shaved surface. Different blanks
all sound slightly different. Different shaver
cutters all sound slightly different.

You have a very nice machine there!
It sure cleaned up great, and it looks to
be working very well!

Chuck