On Friday, November 18, 2016 at 7:02:02 AM UTC-5, Chris Jones wrote:

meh. That is quite a generalisation. Sometimes upgrades and
modifications make things safer, especially when starting with older
equipment that, in its original condition, would not meet modern safety
standards. Of course one has to apply sensible engineering, and not
overstress parts, and consider any safety consequences of parts failing,
but that does not necessarily preclude improving performance in some
cases, as the original designers of the equipment did not have the
components available to them that we do now.

Sure. But, look at what you just stated. Sensible engineering. Not willy-nilly speculation by individuals with no or very limited basic knowledge of the design parameters of the tool/machine involved.

"more than they were designed to do" is not sensible engineering.

Better bearings, better capacitors, better lubricants, more effective switches, better snubbers (rubber parts), better insulation, better electrodes, better shielding - all of the above are perfectly valid (and sensible) improvements for about anything. One does not have to use 30w non-detergent oil in a vintage automobile, or propylene glycol antifreeze today.

But, at the same time, running a stock Model T on nitro-methane is, perhaps, inadvisable.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA