What did you do today (2015)

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Thanks Clive.

Very informative, and just confirms what I said about nature.

The American attempt at 'domesticating' their bees proved that and backfired, with them now having more problems than before.

Geoff – Last night, 0215h on, reminded me of a Jhb thunder storm.

[Tim ChambersParticipant @timchambers76147]

It only bloomin works! rather shaky video on my phone while trying to hold the gas torch in the sweet spot at the same time as two fledgling swallows flew into the workshop and started bashing up against the windows.

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

.

Did an oil and filter change on my motorbike.

Interval for this is 8K miles. But I change oil and filter every 4K.

Nick

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

> It only bloomin works!

I'd run if you pointed a blowlamp at my back end!

Well done!

Neil

[Tim ChambersParticipant @timchambers76147]

"I'd run if you pointed a blowlamp at my back end!"

So true, however I've been out in the workshop again to see if I could chase the swallows out and they flew out through the door almost straight away. So I had to give it another go and I got it running for about five minutes on a much smaller flame.

[Brian Baker 2Participant @brianbaker2]

At long last, after obtaining "Iron Duke's" steam Certificate, I took him out for one lap of the Parklands track in heavy rain, not that I noticed.

Brian B

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Today I went to Prestwood rally and whilst wandering around the exhibits etc I found myself a Moore and Wright micrometer for checking bores with all of its extension pieces, its handle and spanners and all in its own box for a small sum of £15.00.

Martin P

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Brian

LOVELY! Very well done.

Norman

[Brian Baker 2Participant @brianbaker2]

Thank you Norman, there were times when I thought it would never be finished.

regards

BB

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Congratulations Brian, how long did the build last?

Neil

[mick70Participant @mick70]

working on design for tadpole recumbant bike that requires short crank arms.

not prepared to pay silly prices dealers want especially as need different sizes to try out so built jig for drilling old crank arms to find right size.

cheaper to buy set of left and right handed taps than it is to buy a cheap set of arms.

[Brian Baker 2Participant @brianbaker2]

Thank you Neil. 8 long years.

I still have a problem with the ash pan & the bogie, which I will start sorting tomorrow.

the loco started as a Winson kit, was abandoned after 2 attempts, and I took it over, reboilering it on the way.

there are so many mods made that I have lost count, and lots of traps set by winson for the unwary (like me).

it took a lot of effort to make it look something as it should.

now to clean the workshop.

regards

BB

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

Well done Brian, enjoy the drives. Great looking engine. JD

[Martin CottrellParticipant @martincottrell21329]

Clearly worth the hard work & perseverance Brian, looks a beautiful engine! Martin.

[Steven GreenhoughParticipant @stevengreenhough56335]

Brian, that is a beautiful beast. Some of us are still taking baby steps though…

Marked out a piece of 3mm brass and after drilling and rough cutting finished by milling the ends and scalloped sides, just 'by eye' to the marks. A piece of brass rod was drilled at both ends, but leaving a 'wall' in the middle, and was silver-soldered into a small recess while a bronxe bush was soldered into the other end to carry the crankshaft:

The opposite side was rubbed on the finest sandpaper I had, on a piece of glass, with some fine (ex rc-car, for bearings) oil, to make a decent-ish port face. The steam-ports still need drilling:

I also made a crankshaft. After a bit of fiddling, the crank, transmission, and wheels all turn smoothly. A flywheel is needed on the other end of the crankshaft, and the centre axle needs some work, but this brings the Cracker on quite a bit.

I should have used countersunk screws to mount the standard/portblock, as with this set-up, with the crank-disc standing quite proud with the cheese-heads behind, the cylinder and piston will overhang a bit more than the plan shows. This may be no bad thing though, as it will mean the trunnion will have a bit more meat to grab in the cylinder, on the plan it's a very small fit. But it could end up looking quite clumsy.

Starting to think about what I might build next. Which may be getting ahead of myself, but at least I know that I will want to build something next…

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Bees again, Here is a nice swarm.

[Ian WelfordParticipant @ianwelford58739]

Clive

fascinated by your bee logs. Eldest son is desparate to try bee keeping but not correct temperament I fear ( too gung ho by half !)

What do you do with all the wax? I admit to bias as just had a great presentation by a professional wood turner who uses bees wax in a finish – looks good- semi matte !

Regards ian

[Anonymous]

Heard a lot of buzzing today when I was down the side of the house that isn't visited that much as it's a dead end just used for storing ladders etc and traced it to next doors "coal hole" . Bees coming and going every few seconds from a hole at the bottom of the door. Take it there's a "hive" inside but there was no way we were going to open it and check out what is inside.

Clive is this something a local beekeeper, if we can find one, would be interested in taking or are we looking at getting rid of it somehow?

[Raymond Sanderson 2Participant @raymondsanderson2]

Resized an old independent 4 jaw chuck from a 19mm bore to 1"x10.

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Hi Ian, I recycle all my wax bits and bobs through a Solar wax extractor that melts it all into bricks and then take the bulk to a bee shop nearby and I get credit or exchange for wax foundation for the frames. I have toyed with making bees wax candles but not as yet. Your Son should join a local bee keeper society and become familiar with techniques and methods first and then see how he feels when he knows more.

Mick, There is definitely a bee keeper near you who will come and look at them. Firstly, identify if they are Honey bees or Bumble bees. Or wasps ! If they are Bumble bees just leave them alone and they will die out at the end of the year. Bumbles are protected. I was called out yesterday to a bee swarm but it was Bumble bees in a crack in the concrete of a garage.

By the way, that swarm in the pic. was far too big for the collecting box so i uprooted the pole and took it to a hive that way.

Clive

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Nice job, Ray. What's your choice of rust remover?

Neil

[ANDY CAWLEYParticipant @andycawley24921]

Clive, Is that swarm upside down or is it Australian?

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Hi Andy, No, its the right way up. There was a plant pot atop the pole and they had just settled on it and tailed down like that. Roughly 25 to 30000 bees there. Weighed about 4 kilos.

Clive

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Here is a regular visitor and it comes right up to the windows. They eat ants and have a long toungue to reach them.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Only a few days left to go for the Pluto probe: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/main/

Neil

[Author]

Posts