Hi there, all,
Rob,
I've been following this thread with interest. I find the work you've been doing absolutely mind-boggling and I feel for you as you find each new problem. It must be horrible to be sort of trapped by the work you've already done - giving up now would be enormously costly in terms of your investment so far.
The best I can say is 'hang in there!', I'd like to encourage you somehow, though I speak from such an inexpert level.
At least you have other machines to bring to bear on the Chester - imagine the plight of someone just having a dud machine and only their bare hands and a file and scraper or two!
It does give me an appreciation of the achievements of the pioneer machine tool builders, starting from very little and building-up to some of the huge but precise machines I have only read about and seen in pictures. One such that comes to mind is the gear-cutting machine that floated in/on a pool of mercury to isolate it from ground tremors, was it Browns in Manchester? I think it was that one that made/makes the big double helical gears for naval gearboxes.
Anyway, I say again, 'hang in there'.
Hi Pete and thanks for the words of encouragement
If the truth be known I am quiet enjoying the challenge and I would never give up,just too dumb to no when I am beat lol , anyway its something to keep the gray cells going . Its not that I am really tied by the parts I have made ,as I can really just re make the parts if needed s be at the end of the day its just material and time , time is free lol , I am tied by the castings ,as they have already been machined
, I am just going to have to be a tad creative with some of my setups .
Aye I am with you there , the pioneer machine builders were in a class of there own , I just love reading about how it was done back then , Mined you there are still people out there like Mr Gingery that have built machines from absolutely nothing with hand tool . My hats off to those lads .
Rob, don't take this the wrong way but - I HATE you 
I am hand-scraping that surface because I have no way of machining it, my mill is too small. It's the only thing I have to use for a reference for the lower dovetails. Been at it hours already and it's not even a bearing surface 
Its Ok Pete ,,,,,,, if it makes you feel better I hate me too
Seriously though , I would be hand scraping the parts if I did not have the new mill , you stick at it you will get there
Whilst it is major PITA - look on the philosophical side: without disappointment we cannot truly appreciate success.
Thanks Darren ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, very true words
Thanks Rob
