How much ???

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

John says why not give guestimates of project costs?

 

My crane (which may get in EE at some point) was from materials to hand,as it’s nearly all painted, the choice of material isn’t critical – MS, CI or alloy for the big lumps, ms for the smaller bits. I would guess about twenty to thirty quid for materials (I show how to make the base from two pieces so you don’t need along length of 3″ diameter), and then the long bits of 3/8″ MS bar from B&Q for the jib (why do most suppliers do materials in 12″ lengths?). The other cost is fixings, but I mostly made my own 8BA fixings from rod, so it was just a few larger ones for the base and a bag of 8BA nuts.

 

 

<Meldrew>

There are huge differences in cost if making stationary engines. Avoid gunmetal! I nearly died forking out for a simple oscillator from Reeves – about the same as I paid for a full set of Lady Stephanie castings eight years earlier. The basic Stuart engines are good for beginners as though a bit costly, they include the fixings, so no hidden costs. Personally, I like fabricating or machining ‘castings’. The one time I made my own patterns the cost was modest (about £44 for a medium sized engine) but the wait of about 9 months was ridiculous!

 

I won’t mention laser cut parts, as twice I’ve ordered a laser cut flywheel only for it never to arrive (I give up after 9 months+). Fortunately the supplier want’s cash on dispatch, but does he ever actaully sell anything? I’d rather pay up front if it meant my order got done.

 

</Meldrew>

 

Neil

[Richard ParsonsParticipant @richardparsons61721]

Wotsit. Your stuff with the yellow flux coat is probably the same thing that I use. I used to use my Siverts for silver soldering. Over here I noticed the flux (Borax) residues were Black after an attempted at brazing and caused the pickle to have a black sludge in it. I came to the conclusion that Propane/Butane we get over here was dirty. I bought a ‘Flamefast’ gas/air torch from the U.K. –hence the Hoo-Har about the compressor. This burns at a much higher temperature and burns off the impurities –no more problems. I bought some flux over there called Stellar s.r.l Flux AG1. In use it does not foam up like hydrated Borax you buy from the chemist shop.

Can you tell me about thr Busses in Romania. In Hungary all citizens of the EU who are over 65 travel free on them. Is this the same in Romania?

[colin beightonParticipant @colinbeighton45883]

Hi Richard. I have long thought that Hungary was the world’s centre for all things crazy,but Romania sounds a close second. These stories are hilarious. Is there any chance of you and wotsit getting together to write a book. I’m sure it would sell well within this community. Regards, Colin.

[Keith Wardill 1Participant @keithwardill1]

Hi, RIchard,

 

I think you might be right about the butane – so far, I haven’t found anywhere to buy propane (everyone in our village uses butane for cooking, so it is no problem. I have also a small oxy/gas (MAPP?) torch which I use for small jobs. So far, flux has not been a problem – I have a precious small bottle of Easyflow flux, and a large box of Borax bought in UK some time ago.

 

Re – the busses – first questions perhaps should be ‘What Busses?’ . There are international buses run by a company called Atlassib, which travel between Romania, Hungary, Austria and Germany – I am told they are very cheap and reasonably reliable, but I have never used them. We have some local buses, using vehicles which appear to range in age from ultramodern to (mostly) vintage. So far I have not had the courage to try one – it is not uncommon for them to be followed by vast clouds of diesel smoke, and they progress lopsidedly along (collapsed suspension on the older ones is not uncommon). Driving standards vary from crazy to lunatic. (I have been overtaken on a narrow winding country road by a bus when I was doing about 70kmh – I was too gobsmacked to accelerate away ). There are trains between major cities, not expensive, but a bit dirty and smelly.

 

Because if all this, I stick to driving my car, or use a taxi (not expensive).

 

International travel is not difficult – there are several lowcost airlines flying in and out of most European countries, and there are airports everywhere – we have international flights into Arad, and there is also an airport at Timisoara, about 50kms. The standard of the flights were generally good – when I first came here from Germany, I flew in and out several times to deal with house purchase, flying from Germany. I used CarpatAir and Blue AIr – Blue Air in particular was excellent.

 

Colin – sorry, I can’t see a book happening – life is too short – come and see for yourself one day – Romania has some beautiful places, and absolutely scorching summers, and relatively low prices – incidentally, I retired here rather than back to Britain, because I thought Britain was the centre for all things crazy – ludicrous prices, corrupt politicians and big business, high murder rates (how many people have been knifed in London this year?), a countryside disappearing under concrete and cars, high housing costs and taxes, and so-called ‘Health and Safety’ gradually killing off all interesting pursuits. I have a large house and garden here, plus a large piece of land (7000 sq metres) on which we are having a second house built – each house cost less than 50,000 Euro. (Oh, and not to mention high postal charges )

 

 

[Richard ParsonsParticipant @richardparsons61721]

Colin – Romania is not even in the same league as Hungary for stupidity and pure pig-headedness. Hungarians do not like being told what to do and what not to do. If a foreigner tells them something, then that is to be totally ignored (or reversed). If you tell them not to do something it is a test of manhood to go and do it. Romanians seem to listen and try to do what you ask. Someone once said “There is no life outside Hungary, but if there is life it is not real life”. Someone else also wrote “The Hungarians are a race of (charming) children”. I am not so sure about ‘charming’ I find them lazy little toads. I am afraid my general specification of a Hungarian is overweight, over muscled and under brained. As to the stupidities I encounter I could write a book a day on them. Where I live 3 meters of elevation is considered to be a hill. It is rather like the Fenlands. The beer and wine is both good and cheap –if you avoid the tourist traps-. The summers are warm. So come and see it.

The drivers here range from suicidal to homicidal. This is especially true since a Hungarian driver joined the F1 circuit. So I have given up driving. My car is a right hand drive and is now illegal in Hungary. Any way the busses are free so why pay for petrol. You can have quite an adventure with them.

Wotsit I too have a large house and garden I built for my late wife. I do not fly if I can help it. I seem to annoy the men from ‘Rent-a-Goon’, I always have.

Edited By Richard Parsons on 23/10/2011 11:12:58

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