Next Project – guess?

Advert

New Replies

Report Bug

Help/FAQs

Next Project – guess?

This topic has 25 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 2 April 2016 at 12:01 by Russell Eberhardt.

Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 26 total)

1 2 →

Author

Posts
24 March 2016 at 20:47 #231528
pgk pgk
Participant
@pgkpgk17461
Materials have arrived for the first phase.. which is going to push my abilities. And that gentlemen and ladies means I'm hoping you will all tolerate me leaning on you heavily for advice.

I'll start a new thread when I'm at the off and load it with pics but first I want to finish a good tidy-up of the shed and I'll post a pic below of the first tranch materials (which includes some spare) for your speculations.
Advert

24 March 2016 at 20:47 #24456
pgk pgk
Participant
@pgkpgk17461
24 March 2016 at 23:38 #231558
Dod
Participant
@dod
Plumbing ?
25 March 2016 at 01:09 #231571
Martin Cottrell
Participant
@martincottrell21329
1" scale Minnie traction engine?
25 March 2016 at 07:32 #231584
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Next project – a trip to the scrappy to weigh in that copper

Could it be a boiler?
25 March 2016 at 07:55 #231591
pgk pgk
Participant
@pgkpgk17461
You guys are all just too smart

You're all correct. My attempt at a 1" minnine.. so it is plumbing and with my zero experience at boilermaking will likely end up as a trip to the scrappy….

…I don't have enough sress in my life…
25 March 2016 at 09:03 #231598
Speedy Builder5
Participant
@speedybuilder5
the copper is 'cheap' – wait till you buy the silver solder !!
BobH
25 March 2016 at 10:33 #231609
pgk pgk
Participant
@pgkpgk17461
Posted by Speedy Builder5 on 25/03/2016 09:03:01:

the copper is 'cheap' – wait till you buy the silver solder !!
BobH

One of the questions for the near future was going to be 'how much do i need?'

Little about this hobby is cheap. Even with cheap materials it tends to be expensive tooling …
25 March 2016 at 21:51 #231690
Martin Cottrell
Participant
@martincottrell21329
pgk

The Minnie boiler is a nice size for a first attempt at boiler making as the plates are a manageable size for flanging and bending (when annealed) and you don't need an industrial sized flame thrower to get things up to temperature quickly when silver soldering begins. I have built a couple of small boilers (first was a Minnie) and found it a reasonably easy exercise so long as you pay strict attention to a few fundamental details. Namely a good close fit of the various parts to be joined, scrupulously cleaned & well fluxed joint faces and adequate heat to bring everything up to soldering temperature quickly.

If you haven't already got it, get yourself a copy of Len Masons book on building the Minnie. It really will take you clearly and confidently through every aspect of the build. Sorry, I can't advise on the quantity of silver solder you are going to need but it shouldn't require a second mortgage on a boiler this size!

Regards Martin.
25 March 2016 at 22:42 #231694
pgk pgk
Participant
@pgkpgk17461
Martin,

I'm working by the book. I have to 'cos I'm thick and need word by word help But it's nice to hear that someone has made their own successful boiler….

And I'll be posting blow by blow accounts so others who follow will know what not to do. I did start today but for me it's all slow going.

Deep down I have the idea that if I can make a successful 1" boiler then it'd be cool to go for the 2"… but baby steps..

When it comes to cooking it up Les packs coke around the boiler.. anyone know if he lights it or just uses it as insulation?
26 March 2016 at 07:24 #231705
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
He was probably also using a pump up parafin blowlamp – things have moved on.

Get yourself a few of the insulation blocks that CUP alloys or Chronos do and back those up with some thremolite or celcon blocks (make sure they are completly dry)

J
26 March 2016 at 08:14 #231711
pgk pgk
Participant
@pgkpgk17461
Jason,

Something like that is in my game plan. As to the coke as insulation I was wondering whether something like loose vermiculite could/should be used in addition?

I'm also debating whether to build the brazing hearth on top of my wooden bench (with a top sheet of steel + flagstone) indoors or to make up a block stand outside… Outside would be a nuisance keeping it dry and it has to be at a standing height for these old bones.

I'll start a new seperate thread later today and hope you'll keep an eye on it.. 'cos I'm sure going to need advice and your minnie knowledge on this (slow) build..

Edit: And just in case anyone thinks I plan on using the green worktop as the hearth area.. be assured it's a table in the middle of the floor

Edited By pgk pgk on 26/03/2016 08:16:15
26 March 2016 at 08:27 #231716
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
I think you will be lacking ventilation for the big heats, OK for smaller stuff but you don't want to gas yourself. I do a lot of mine on teh corner of the bench but with both windows and the door open but for things that are going to need prolonged heating do it outside.

Also would hate for what happened in the last photo here to happen in your pristine workshop
26 March 2016 at 09:58 #231739
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Is that what they call a Dutch Oven?

Neil
26 March 2016 at 11:25 #231760
pgk pgk
Participant
@pgkpgk17461
Doors and windows do open.. but plastic frames and ply lined room… Outside has the vagaries of welsh weather so it may have to be plan C… I do have an openend weatherproof bay I sometimes use as a garage (tractor height).

I can't use either barn 'cos one has several hundred litres fuel and the other several tons timber and sawdust.

(I thought a dutch oven was just a large pot on a pile of coal with a windmill on top used for cooking tulip casseroles)
26 March 2016 at 12:12 #231761
norman valentine
Participant
@normanvalentine78682
A word of caution, I used a large gas torch in my workshop to heat some metal for bending. When I had finished I had a layer of condensation over all metal surfaces which quickly turned to rust.
26 March 2016 at 17:45 #231818
pgk pgk
Participant
@pgkpgk17461
Posted by norman valentine on 26/03/2016 12:12:35:

A word of caution, I used a large gas torch in my workshop to heat some metal for bending. When I had finished I had a layer of condensation over all metal surfaces which quickly turned to rust.

pulled in some much wet air in ventilation? Not something one would think of ahead of it..
26 March 2016 at 18:22 #231820
J Hancock
Participant
@jhancock95746
For ' how to do it properly ', Alec Farmers book ( or series) in ME on Boilermaking is worth reading.

Before you start building.
27 March 2016 at 03:09 #231871
Pero
Participant
@pero
Not necessarily wet air in ventilation.

Combustion of fuel gases – propane and butane (or methane if you are using natural gas) generates carbon dioxide and water vapour so if you are burning a lot of gas in an enclosed space the warm air and cold machinery will lead to the inevitable.

Pero
27 March 2016 at 05:50 #231874
Danny M2Z
Participant
@dannym2z
Posted by Pero on 27/03/2016 03:09:03:

Combustion of fuel gases – propane and butane (or methane if you are using natural gas) generates carbon dioxide and water vapour so if you are burning a lot of gas in an enclosed space the warm air and cold machinery will lead to the inevitable.

It also sets off all my workshop smoke detectors which inevitably brings the neighbours running as the things are pretty loud. Then loose another 1/2 hour explaining things.

* Danny M *
27 March 2016 at 08:51 #231880
Dennis D
Participant
@dennisd
Heres a build log I intend to refer to when I start my Minnie. Unfortunately he skipped over the boiler making bit but there are some useful reference pics for other bits

**LINK**
27 March 2016 at 09:38 #231887
pgk pgk
Participant
@pgkpgk17461
Posted by Den24171 on 27/03/2016 08:51:47:

Heres a build log I intend to refer to when I start my Minnie. Unfortunately he skipped over the boiler making bit but there are some useful reference pics for other bits

**LINK**

I followed one of the links on te link you gave to find his boiler building bit here: **LINK**

Danny M and Pero

I did consider combustion water and stupidly dismissed it – it will be huge
27 March 2016 at 09:40 #231888
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Joe's boiler build is here, he started posting on Madmodder then continued on both forums
2 April 2016 at 08:00 #232899
IDP
Participant
@idp
Ive heard of air expanding in partially empty / full tins of paint stored on workshop shelves expanding due to high heat in the workshop and showering paint everywhere.

Also when using a large burner in a small workshop without ventilation the flame uses the oxygen and tends to extinguish itself.

Regards IDP
2 April 2016 at 08:16 #232901
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Can also extinguish the person holding the torch!
Author

Posts