Member postings for Stephen Follows

What's everyone doing in the lockdown? I'm assuming there are other pastimes as well as model engineering that you are not doing. Mine's playing in a brass band (or not). No rehearsals, no concerts. Gave my workshop a good clean. Thinking about changing the layout and building in a bit more bench space.

One thing I do have a problem with is damp in the winter months.Think I may have to put in some sort of permanent heater on a thermostat. Probably cost a fortune to run.

That should occupy for a couple of weeks at least!

I'm trying to find a supplier of enamel paint of 100 to 150 ml. size. (Like Revell model paints but bigger).

Not having a lot of luck. Any suggestions?

Welcome Paul. Look on internet for videos by Tubal Cain. Lots of very good machine tuition.

The regulator is on the compressor. I bought the compressor and airbrush together from a small model shop. Took their advice on what to buy, looks like I didn't get good service.

I have a pair of good quality boots that did just this.The first pair were replaced under guarantee. the second pair managed to last to beyond the guarantee. Tried all sorts including professional repair. Still came apart again.

(Knowing what I know now, I should have returned them as not fit for purpose and asked for a refund).

It can go up to 100 lb but I generally spray at 30 lb. drops to under 20 very quickly.

My electric toothbrush suffered from this, only two years old. Got hands covered in sticky coating every time used it. It wasn't a cheap one either. New one I've bought is cheaper, quarter of the price. works just as well.

Has anyone attached an external air tank to their airbrush compressor. Mine is a relatively expensive set up but can't cope with continuous spraying. I thought that a tank might buffer use and enable me to spray a larger area.

Does anyone have experience of using revel enamels with an airbrush?

I thin my paint 50/50 but have trouble with second coats dissolving the first. Should I thin less?

I leave twenty four hours between coats.

Anyone know if I can get a brazing torch kit that will run off a patio gas bottle? Still propane but a different fitting. I want to avoid buying a separate bottle because I use large patio type bottles for other functions.

Golf, Brass Band, (BB flat bass), photography.

Bookmakers and charity shops abound!

Thanks for replies. Looks like the collet mounted type is the answer for decent accuracy.

I have been looking at a laser centre finder that fits permanently to a pillar drill. I would like to fit one to my Warco mill but the drill one will not fit. Cannot find on that does. Has anyone fitted such a device to a mill?

I am building a stationary mill engine with a 1/4" copper steam feed.

I want to fit a displacement lubricator with a single pipe fitting. the only ones I can find have 1/4 x 40 fitting for 1/8" pipe. The way round this, I suppose, is to fit a reducing tee in the 1/4" pipe but I can't find one of those either.

I'm sure others out there have fitted lubricators on 1/4" pipe. Did you find a suitable lubricator or did you get round the problem somehow?

I think small village or charity boot sales are OK but they are few and far between in my area, (Doncaster). There is a huge commercial one very week at Donny Rovers stadium but most are professional sellers disguising themselves as amateurs, (no questions, no tax). It starts early and my experience is the dealers get round before it opens to the public and get all the bargains to resell.

I have looked on the net for boiler designs without much luck. Maybe looking in the wrong place!

Not sure what size and pressure I will need. I have looked at the books by K.N. Harris, They get a poor review on accuracy but I could cope with that if they are really useful for my needs.

Not sure why I give the impression of being in New Zealand, as much as I would like to live there I am in Doncaster. Only one club locally but it meets when I am at band practice. Handy for the Model show though, 15 minute walk from my house!

Lifetime bans do no good, a lot of illegal drivers, (all offences), have no licence or insurance.

I intend to run on steam. Not intending to do public displays but may be asked to show it at local church fund raising events so public liability would be useful. Hope to run it for about 30 minutes max. so need a boiler of suitable size and pressure , this is where I need help. I would probably have a sight glass and filler pump, I've been told that I need two pumps if shown in public.

Coal fired would be nice but not sure how to build one for that. Most times I would use gas. I can hydraulically test myself but that would be no good for insurance.

Joining a club would be ideal but the only one convenient for Doncaster meets on Tuesday nights which clashes with brass band rehearsals, I can't miss those because we play at events where people pay to listen to us!