Member postings for Lee Griffiths

Hi Rod,

Excellent argument. One can only assume that a professional tig welded boiler meets the requirements - by that I do mean you can only assume. I guess is a significant factor in whether your boiler inspector is happy or not.

Fizzy, is this your business or do you work for someone ? I'm in need of a boiler so looking for reputable alternatives

Western Steam has an 18 month waiting list!

Lee

Thanks. And Fizzy yes I have to agree that tig (done correctly) has to be better and I'm glad to hear that the choice seems to be based mostly on aesthetics. For my aesthetics opinion actually I prefer the tig look.

Lee

Hi all,

I need a new boiler for an engine (5" Boxhill) for various reasons so I've been looking around the usual places for prices.

It's not so much about prices, but methods though that will be a deciding factor.

After 30 years of car restoration using Mig, I can't fault it. Tig of course is similar and better in many cases so it seems to me that copper tig welded boilers would be far superior to silver soldered ones in terms of longevity and doing repairs as required.

Opinions please in terms of creating trouble with the local boiler inspector and recommendations for suppliers of Tig welded boilers. I've already spoken to Steam Technology and they sound good.

Lee

ps, I've read this thread http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=101847

Thought I'd add mine to the thread.

Bought unseen from an auction last year with no history. Well made originally, but very poorly repainted at some point. Boiler needs work so I'm thinking of just getting a new one made up.

I've made all four axle boxes now from my disc and I'll update my estimate as I'm only used about 1/3 of the dics (scrapped one box as I overbored it a touch).

So I recon I could get at least another 10 from the remains of this disc.

What do folks consider a sensible clearance on the axle ?

Lee

"provide good wear characteristics"

The significant bit ?

Lee

Brake shoes ? if you are lucky with the diameter that is

Worked out well and nice to machine. Much cheaper then buying a bar form one of the usual suppliers. £7 inc 24 hour delivery I could probably make at least 10 axle boxes from one disc.

This is the ebay item if interested

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301833633434?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Lee

Thanks all,

I ordered a Nova disc yesterday from ebay and it arrived already. Looks to be perfect with a ground finish to 1/2", well 12.6mm so ready to go! I'll update once on the job

Lee

Thanks, that is what I thought.

The recessed section you can see is "loose" but snug fit in the slide valve buckle which has the rod screwed into it. So I'll lap the face of the valve pieces a little before I put it all together

Lee

Hi,

I'm putting a MW 14xx kit together (and improving it) and I'm looking at the steam chest wondering how the valves seal against the cylinder ports ? It is the steam pressure entering the chest ? or should there be some kind of spring arrangement between the two valves ?

whilst I'm at it you can see the gland covers that come with the kit - just pressed out of a bit of plate so I *had* make something that looked a bit more substantial

thanks

Lee

oh and good thought about the flywheel too, although I think many are steel aren't they ?

That's great guys and nice and cheap too! Solid discs aren't too difficult to find tbh, but I just wanted to hear opinion on the material

Hi all,

I need to make some replacement axle boxes for a MW 14xx kit that I am putting together and improving on the way.

The axle boxes are brass as you may know so I want to make some CI ones but finding it difficult to locate 1/2" think CI machines plate or block - I'm being a bit lazy and not wanting to go machining a big chunk of CI down.

Is brake disc material suitable CI for axle boxes ? (assuming I can find a solid disc 1/2" or more thick) ?

ta

Lee

Thanks all Just playing with the images now

Hi Patrick,

Yes I'd also like to know how Michael got on as I've just bought a 14xx MW kit that's mostly in bits so I could do with some paperwork!

I have a 57xx but not an LBSC home build rather than the MW one.

Lee

Hi all,

Just registered and saying hi. I'm in Manchester and have a few engines. I used to part of the club at Urmston when I was a teenager and was one of the regular Sunday drivers there in the 80's

Hit that point in life when it's time to get back into engines so I have a 57xx which is my runner, a Boxhill that I'm recommissioning and just bought a part built Modelworks 14xx that I'm going to work on and sort all those little problems with the kit and add improve the detail.

I'll add some photos once I've worked out how to

Lee