What Did You Do Today 2019

[Anonymous]

Good grief, isn't anyone else making anything?

The last rear wheel has now had the spokes fitted and the extra rivet holes drilled in the T-rings, using a spare spoke as a jig:

Next job to go round deburring and fitting the spokes permanently before riveting. Then fit the hub covers and job done. And I'll be glad to see the back of the wheels; four front and four rear wheels is enough for anybody.

Andrew

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Posted by Andrew Johnston on 05/12/2019 16:31:54:

Good grief, isn't anyone else making anything?

We all post in the workshop progress thread

That's a hefty old cutter you have there, should think they have been made almost redundant in industry by the multi insert face and shell cutters, would also allow for running faster with shallower cuts so less chance of pulling your cylinder off the mill's table and still get the job done in the same or less time particularly if you find any hard spots in the casting that your HSS won't like..

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Not much time in the workshop today but I added a second coat of paint to parts of the travelling-hoist system I am building for it.

In Rustin's "Direct-To-Rust" very dark green. Not bright yellow! Ooo-er!

Yesterday evening I made the setting-out drawing for cutting two connecting-rods from a piece of 3/4" hot-rolled steel plate – salvaged from the space-taking motor box once on the back of my Harrison lathe's cabinet. Originally I was going to make them from round bar, and indeed started that, but realised that would waste a lot of material simply to give the big-ends' sides finishing-touch radii set by the stock bar!

Tiddleyfying the rectangular versions by radii would be easy enough (turning between centres), but being hidden parts anyway, simple chamfers would be just as neat and effective. Hidden because the engine is totally-enclosed – but I have no way of knowing the original design details anyway.

What does have to look at least reasonably true to original, is all the external details; but even then having only old photographs as a guide, I have to resort to some speculation based on examining Edwardian machinery and old engineering text-books to determine appropriate practice.

[Anonymous]

Posted by JasonB on 05/12/2019 17:08:21:

We all post in the workshop progress thread

Well I wouldn't want to sully that thread by posting about fudge it and bodge it stuff.

Thus far the iron castings from John Rex have proved to be excellent; no hard spots or skin.However, I will use my insert face mill for the cylinder. In due course I'll test the 6" cutter shown on steel. The horizontal mill has a 5hp motor and I'd like to at least make it sound like it's doing some work. Don't suppose I'll ever have the nerve to stall it though. As far as I'm aware the Clarkson Dedlock system is totally obsolete. Which probably explains why there's been a glut of over-priced arbors on Ebay. I've bought a few cutters from Ebay over the years. One is a half way house – a steel body with HSS serrated inserts.

After a late session today all the spokes on the rear wheel have now been fettled. Riveting here we come!

Andrew

Edited By Andrew Johnston on 05/12/2019 22:48:09

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

I don't think anyone is "fudging" or "bodging" anything, Andrew, you'll be glad to read! Anyway, anyone who does, is hardly likely to admit it on this site! .

Well, I was going to carry on in the workshop today, erecting the hoist columns I painted over the last couple of days, and emulsioning the walls. Unfortunately pains in my replaced knees mean I overdid things a bit previously, re-arranging the home. So a day or rest from physical labours – but I can get on with designing my engine's cylinders, or the hoist's travelling-beam and crab.

I'm making the compound cylinders from a rectangular cast-iron block with fabricated valve-chests, also CI. I've arrived at an outline reasonably compatible with the photos and contemporary practice observed on a few preserved Hindley stationary-engines. For I have no drawings for this thing, and the engine is an enclosed inverted-vertical compound placed between the crew seats, so nearly as highly visible as an over-type engine.

To make it more fun, Hindleys, the original builders, kept changing details on their under-type and vertical-engine wagons, so the pictures show no one exactly matching another. When I started the project too many years ago this held me up for a long time because the outline drawing using trade-review dimensions and scaling the accompanying broadside and front photos, was all out of proportion. Only when further photos came to light, did I realise the vehicle photographed for that Commercial Motor magazine review was not the specimen actually described.

It helped me greatly to find some very old engineering text-books to give me general details and proportions of machine details typical of the time. The NTET reprint of an Edwardian manual for steam road vehicle owners and drivers, for example, showed me the principles I needed for the front axle with Ackermann steering, and rear axle with a chain-driven differential. The photos vaguely showed enough of the front to get the assembly looking right (including vertical king-pins, not good practice but that of the Bourton works); but none showed the rear axle.

Quite a few model-engineers with greater experience than mine but whose own engines are from published, proven designs and usually of prototypes still existing in the steel, gravely shook their heads and pronounced it very brave to embark on an ambitious project to model an extinct vehicle from merely a few old publicity photos. trade reviews and two patent specifications! I do not claim it is an "exact" replica of a specific vehicle because that is impossible in this case. I aim to build it as well as I can, and as faithfully as possible to the North Dorset firm who built the originals, and to the design practices of their time. When I started, some of my fellow club members joked some nonagenarian will take one look and say, "That's not right: I remember five bolts, not six, on that bit!". No chance of that now, Hindley may have later used seven bolts, and it won't give the modern rivet-counters an excuse either.

''''

And whilst in indoor mode, not forgetting starting the Christmas cards: two have to go abroad!

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

Had my first play with my Tom Senior Major Mk2. Used a 0.040 slitting saw to slice pieces of 1/4" thick gunmetal from a block so that I can make some eccentric straps. Even managed to use the power feed.

Very pleased!

Brian

[LainchyParticipant @lainchy]

Today… I worked at Claymills Victorian pumping station, refitting a parallel motion drop link. VERY enjoyable.

[MeunierParticipant @meunier]

Posted by Andrew Johnston on 05/12/2019 16:31:54:

Good grief, isn't anyone else making anything?

I think we are all still stunned at your T-slot cutter.

DaveD

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Lainchy –

I can concur with the satisfaction. I have not worked on massive steam engines but in the 1980s did help a friend restore an intact but neglected water-mill to full working order, and from animal-feeds to baking-flour production.

Projects like that are full of challenges, puzzles and unexpected problems to solve!

I must put Claymills on my "to-visit" list!

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

Posted by Lainchy on 07/12/2019 22:55:01:

Today… I worked at Claymills Victorian pumping station, refitting a parallel motion drop link. VERY enjoyable.

You appear to have the correct tools for work of that size. ie A big set of Stillsons and a 2Lb Hammer and an Abom sized spanner.

Look like a beast of an engine. Probably similar in size to the 4 at Abbey pumping station in Leicester.

regards

[LainchyParticipant @lainchy]

Posted by Oldiron on 08/12/2019 21:34:53:

Posted by Lainchy on 07/12/2019 22:55:01:

Today… I worked at Claymills Victorian pumping station, refitting a parallel motion drop link. VERY enjoyable.

You appear to have the correct tools for work of that size. ie A big set of Stillsons and a 2Lb Hammer and an Abom sized spanner.

Look like a beast of an engine. Probably similar in size to the 4 at Abbey pumping station in Leicester.

regards

They are indeed very similar to Abbey Road Oldiron…. They are the 4 Gimsons at Claymills Victorian Pumping Station at Burton. Only been volunteering there since Oct I guess, but learning loads!

This engine – A Engine – is currently being restored to steam. When complete, all 4 beams will be working. B,C and D are all running.

Great fun

[LainchyParticipant @lainchy]

Posted by Nigel Graham 2 on 08/12/2019 21:22:04:

Lainchy –

I can concur with the satisfaction. I have not worked on massive steam engines but in the 1980s did help a friend restore an intact but neglected water-mill to full working order, and from animal-feeds to baking-flour production.

Projects like that are full of challenges, puzzles and unexpected problems to solve!

I must put Claymills on my "to-visit" list!

Well worth a visit Nigel, First steaming of 2020 will be near the end of Feb. I'm booked to be stoking

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Nothing too exciting! Fitting a motorised focuser to a telescope I found that despite it supposedly fitting this model, holes in the bracket wouldn't line up.

The joy of having the right bits – I unscrewed the 'upstand' from the two-part aluminium bracket, milled 3mm of its length. The screw holes were already deep enough and fortunately I have the M2.5 taps needed to extend the thread in them.

End result looks just like the original, except it fits

Neil

[LainchyParticipant @lainchy]

….Your deep sky images are superb Neil. Have you done any planetary? My days of standing outside in the cold are long gone, although I gave up on deep sky imaging with my ToUCam (going back a bit). I used to live near Drayton manor, which was quite dark, but all the metalwork from the rides used to heat up during the day, and then distort the night sky as it cooled. Not too bad when taking a series of short exposures planet wise, but useless for long exposures.

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

A few weeks ago i bought a drive for the traverse on my Warco WM18 milling machine. This evening i got around to fitting it.

Typically Chinese. I tried to follow the sparse instructions which amounts to a rubbish sketch and a few lines of instruction.

The winding handle is removed and the yellow casting at the end of the bed. This allows another supplied casting to be fitted. OOPs we don't mention you will have to drill the casting to be able to mount the new end casting. And just for the jest you can only use two of the four mounting holes as two of them half align with existing holes. There are two new dowel hole to be drilled as well, sorry we do not supply the dowels either! Did i mention there is no way of aligning the new casting while marking out the new holes?

Any how i managed to get it to fitted and working. At first i thought i had miss aligned the gears that mesh together under the unit as it was very noisy, so i removed it ran it on the bench. Not good, the thing sounds terrible. If anything it sounded better back on the machine than off.

I then proceeded to fit the centre switch that stops it when it hits a striker. This fitted ok – no bolts supplied and more tapped holes. The stops, slide in a small groove on the front of the table, this is after you have made them fit. The angles of the slide blocks and the track is different!!

I tested it stops the motor which is does, but only when you press the opposite side to the travel ! DOH. This i can change the wiring on but it look to me like its made to be mounted the wrong way up which would switch the handing but then you would have the switch box protruding up above the bed. Not much cop i think?

I also have some spare bits which are not listed and god knows what there for?

I would also question the CE marking as the gears are exposed underneath the table and a nice finger trap.

Warco would be advised to put together a pamphlet of how to fit one of these units and to look into the CE marking side by supplying a cover for the gears.

I know there sold on a budget, but safety is paramount, is some one looses a finger end in the gears they will end up with a claim.

Nice finger trap

[Ian Johnson 1Participant @ianjohnson1]

Been busy making new brass bushes for steel rollers on a 116 year old heritage steam boat I'm volunteering on. The rollers guide the steering bars on the port and starboard side. New M16 bolts were supplied, chrome molly! Tough stuff! which I have drilled through for a grease nipple. Should get them all finished this week.

Ian

[Robert ButlerParticipant @robertbutler92161]

Bri the power feed supplied for my Super Lux Mill by Chester has a plastic guard for the drive gear which resembles the black plastic trough and may be one of the spare bits. Mine was held in place by two sided tape – supplied?

Does this help?

Robert Butler

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

Hello Robert, There is a trough in the parts. There is no way its a guard though if its fitted with double sided tape. It would not cover all the moving parts anyway. It would also need cutting to shape as well. No tape supplied.

I have the feeling that mine had been to someone and been returned for some reason. The paint on things was a bit chipped and scuffed?

Bri

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Good Lord, METRIC bolts on a 116 year old steam boat ! I hope she is a continental boat and that you are not mixing whitworth with metric.

BUT good on you for preserving historic 'ships'.

BobH

[Robert ButlerParticipant @robertbutler92161]

Dear Bri send me a PM and I will forward images of my installation and a copy of the fitting instruction which are very clear. I didn't have to drill any holes.

Robert B

[Ian Johnson 1Participant @ianjohnson1]

Posted by Speedy Builder5 on 11/12/2019 20:20:33:

Good Lord, METRIC bolts on a 116 year old steam boat ! I hope she is a continental boat and that you are not mixing whitworth with metric.

BUT good on you for preserving historic 'ships'.

BobH

It was overhauled some years ago and some metric nuts and bolts found their way on board! I'm the new boy on deck so I'm slowly finding out the quirks. Apparently there are some hand made nuts and bolts where you need three different size spanners to undo! I did notice a few five hole flanges too!

The port engine LP piston has been inspected and is being reassembled, and we will be steaming in the new year for next years excursions.

Ian

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Very Best Wishes for the project, Ian, and many year's successful excursions!

I doubt the mixed, hand-made fastenings are original at all but replacements at some time, possibly made by the boat's owners or crew from whatever was available. I think if the boat was built in Britain the correct sizes would be standard and consistent BSW, but possibly with the original hexagon proportions.

Five-hole flanges are unusual, but not ever so rare.

ISO_M sizes though…. Shakes head sadly…

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Lainchy on 10/12/2019 10:35:35:

….Your deep sky images are superb Neil. Have you done any planetary? My days of standing outside in the cold are long gone, although I gave up on deep sky imaging with my ToUCam (going back a bit). I used to live near Drayton manor, which was quite dark, but all the metalwork from the rides used to heat up during the day, and then distort the night sky as it cooled. Not too bad when taking a series of short exposures planet wise, but useless for long exposures.

Thanks, yes I like a bit of planetary imaging, although they've been rather low in the sky of late. Here are a few from 2018.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Nigel Graham 2 on 12/12/2019 00:22:41:

Very Best Wishes for the project, Ian, and many year's successful excursions!

I doubt the mixed, hand-made fastenings are original at all but replacements at some time, possibly made by the boat's owners or crew from whatever was available.

ISO_M sizes though…. Shakes head sadly…

In another 100 years they will be just as much part of the boat's history as the handmade replacements, and someone will be commenting that they probably reflect a refit in the late 20th century…

Neil

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Bri, did you get the unit from Warco or Chester's as it seems to be in Chester's colour scheme. I would have queried the chips & scuffs first off, as you say it may have been a returned unit ?

George.

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