Member postings for Michael Callaghan

You should just be able to pull the bed out from the knee. Once removed you can withdraw the bull screw along with the handle and the tee nut.

Thanks chaps

Thanks chaps, just one more thing. Let’s say the right hand piston is at TDC, in what position should the left hand piston be. Thanks 

Edited By Michael Callaghan on 18/01/2023 16:52:15

Hi out there. After watching a few videos on utube, I have the following question. I do understand how to get the TDC position of the motion using marks on the cross slide, or main driving wheel. However am I correct in thinking that in TDC the piston should be almost at end of its travel towards the front of the cylinder with space to allow the input of steam to enter the cylinder. The bobbin to be just allowing steam to enter the piston cylinder to force the piston back.
or should both the piston and bobbin be in the centre of their cylinders. Sorry if this is dumb, but only a fool never asks a question. Thanks

Hi.

My wife is an NHS manager, and I have had a lot of dealings with her go workers over the years. And a more totally useless set of people you would have a hard job to find. The problem is that useless management is looking to employ people with the same mindset as they have. They are mainly almost unaccountable in what they do in a given week, and many like my wife hold a rubber stamped position which means in simple terms, it’s cheaper to keep them in post then sack them.
if I was in power I would have teams of experienced professionals targeting every hospital, and sacking staff including management that are not doing the job.
the vacancies within the NHS are due to two reasons. The first being senior management not allowing the vacancies to be filled, and two the almost lack of young people with the educational skills to fill many of the vacancies. An example only last month was a main hospital x-ray department which as 20 vacancies. Reasons being . Older staff leaving and then returning to the same job working for an agency. The staff member not only gets their pension, but also an higher rate of pay without working the hours they don’t want to. Again, the total lack of young people with the educational skills for the job. The smartest young people who do train up, leave once trained for better conditions in Australia etc. The whole system within the NHS is one of waste, a bit like most large government departments I would think

Even with the garage fully insulated I still get cold. Tried an oil heater last year, but the electric bill was just too much to bar. This year I have gone for a infrared heater. These heat me and not the air and the spread of heat is better then I hoped for and I put it at the rear of my single garage and even on a very cold day I can nice and warm using just one bar. So far it’s working out at 25p per hour.

The thing is I can prove it. I would be more then happy if the chap would take me to court. I would have a field day with him.

Edited By Michael Callaghan on 01/12/2022 22:28:26

What ever you do don’t go anywhere near antique steam. The chap is a well known con man. Better options are eBay 1 day sale, or Facebook marketplace, or just put on Facebook model engineering site. If the price is fair someone will buy it.

Thanks chaps. I can’t use Comsol as I can’t get enough heat into the cylinder to allow its use. I forgot about soft solder which melts at around 180 to 240*c so it will not melt from the steam. I think that given the fact that the plug threads will deal with the pressure just leaving the solder to fill any caps. I will try this first and hope it works. Thanks

Hi. I have a cylinder made of bronze that someone has drilled two holes in the side and tapped. I think that they may of been inspection ports. These two holes are in the valve part of the cylinder not the piston. I have made some plugs for these holes but I have hit a problem. I can’t silver solder the plugs into position has I can’t get enough heat into the cylinder.
so what can I use to seal these two plugs that will not allow steam to bypass. I don’t think that loctite will work given the location and the heat involved.
anyone have an idea. Thanks

The machines you need depends on so many factors. Space available, what you intend to make, and how big your pockets are. I think that most of us would say that a well maintained old British machine is much better then a modern Chinese machine. And for the milling machine if you have the space available a good Bridgeport mill will do anything you may need. But again, so many factors.

Hi, chaps. Well I need to renew the spindle main oil seals on the drill. After watching a video showing how the spindle quill was removed, I started out doing the same. However unlike in the video I have hit a problem. The top half of the spindle comes out of the drill head from the top. Yet having removed the lower half and the two crub screws locking the spindle in place I just can’t get the spindle out. It’s moved 1/8th inch and not just will mot move. I am hitting from below. Can anyone please let me know if it’s a case of something else needing removing or just a bigger hammer needed. Thanks

Now that’s a good idea thanks jon

Thanks. That’s the sort of information I was looking for.

Hi, can anyone please explain to me the method of setting valve timing by blowing into the locomotives cylinders please. Thanks

Thanks Brian. I will have a look on just bearings site. I am lucky in the fact that there is a few videos on utube showing how the drill comes apart. A bit of a pain. But simple enough. Thanks again for the link.

Well, today I found out the reason for the lack of oil in my progress drill. The quill oil seal is allowing oil to pass at an alarming rate. So my question to you all is. Who sales new oil seals in the U.K. and has I need to remove the quill, I may as well renew the bearings. So who sales the correct bearings. If anyone knows, can they please let me know. Thanks

Thanks Kiwi, I hope mine does not have a P. And thanks for the link.

Thanks for letting me know. I just hope I don’t find a lot of oil pouring all over the place once I have filled the drill.