Here is a list of all the postings John Baguley has made in our forums. Click on a thread name to jump to the thread.
Thread: SIFBRONZE ROD |
19/09/2011 21:47:18 |
Melting range is 875 - 895 ° C so better suited to oxy acetylene rather than propane. It has it's own fluxes. I've used it for car body work etc. with a Portapak. It is basically brass (contains a large percentage of zinc - about 40%) so not considered suitable for boiler work unfortunately. John |
Thread: silver solder |
19/09/2011 09:18:56 |
The cadmium free solders do take a bit of getting used to. I've been using them for boiler making for a couple of years and had no real problems. You do need to be more careful with cleaning joints and need a bit more heat for it to flow properly. I do use Easyflo for some final joints and for small fittings etc. but won't be once my small stock is exhausted. The main problem with the cadmium free solders is that they will be more
expensive because they have a higher percentage of silver in the alloy. I agree it is a retrograde step for our uses but too late now. Some of us did complete a questionare from the EU to try and put forward our case but obviously it wasn't enough to sway the 'powers that be' ![]() It is interesting that the main market for the cadmium bearing solders is/was model engineering - most of Industry stopped using it years ago. Agreed you've got more chance of being run down by a bus or struck by lightening than getting cadmium poisoning, provided you take precautions e.g. work outside in the open. I did trawl through the actual EU documents and the main argument for the ban seems to be based on the high cost of the health care needed if anyone succumbs to the effects of cadmium ![]() John Edited By John Baguley on 19/09/2011 09:23:45 |
19/09/2011 00:38:14 |
From the EU press release: "Cadmium is also present in brazing sticks,
which are used to join dissimilar materials, and it is used for specific
applications such as amateur modelling of steam engines of trains.
Fumes released during the brazing process are highly dangerous if
inhaled. The use of these brazing materials will be prohibited except
for very specific professional uses." Whether you choose to follow the new rules or not is up to you of course ![]() John Edited By John Baguley on 19/09/2011 00:42:46 Edited By John Baguley on 19/09/2011 00:43:58 |
18/09/2011 21:52:36 |
You'd better use it quick as after December the use of cadmium bearing solders is prohibited except for specific professional uses ![]() John |
Thread: Betty |
06/09/2011 01:25:41 |
![]() John |
Thread: 1in Henry Greenley 1930's |
01/09/2011 00:18:36 |
HG did a couple of articles on traction engines in the 30's. It's possible you have the original 1" scale ME traction engine which was described in Volume 68. John Edited By John Baguley on 01/09/2011 00:23:40 |
Thread: LBSC GROSVENOR |
29/08/2011 11:13:37 |
No, Grosvenor was never published. A friend is building one just using photographs of the full size loco. I think he's now got a tender and air running chassis completed. I presume he's producing drawings as he goes. We were fortunate to have the original on the 2½" Gauge Association stand at Sandown either last year or the year before (can't remember which ![]() John |
Thread: injector design |
29/08/2011 11:01:07 |
I took Derek's formula and converted it to a spreadsheet for convenience. You can download it from here: John |
Thread: RC engines of the future |
25/08/2011 01:07:59 |
That is SCARY. Hat's off to the guy flying it ! 366mph ![]() John |
Thread: Small Steel Boilers |
23/08/2011 19:43:37 |
My brother and I regularly run a 5" gauge loco based on an American Forney. This has a steel boiler and it steams like a witch. It takes no longer to 'brew up' than any equivalent sized copper boiler. As mentioned before, the conductivity of the boiler material makes little, if any, difference. I've also noticed that the boiler pressure is very stable, unlike some copper boilers, possibly due to the greater mass of hot metal in the steel boiler. The loco was bought from a workshop clearance for a song purely because it had a steel boiler. It had stood for at least 20 years, had no paperwork, and so had to be considered possible scrap. We removed the boiler and took it to the club for an inspection and a test which it passed with no problem at all. All the steel is 6mm thick and all the welding looks of a professional standard. The thing weighs a ton! One of our inspectors tests gas tanks for a living and happens to have an ultrasonic tester which showed no sign of thinning of the steel. The only problem was a very slight weep from one of the copper tubes which was cured with Loctite. Funny enough, also in the same workshop clearance was a steel boiler for a Sweet Pea. That looked professionally made and never been used. I think for a 5" gauge wide firebox loco, steel is a definite alternative to copper. Probably not for a narrow firebox job though where the thickness of the steel will affect the grate area adversely. With regard to dezincification - I've found a few cases on fittings when working on older loco boilers. One steam valve snapped clean off with little effort when I tried to remove it from the turret. A similar thing occurred with a brass blowdown valve. I always use bronze or gunmetal for any fitting that screws into a boiler. Brass should be fine for anything outside the boiler. John |
Thread: Sealing boiler fittings |
14/08/2011 18:16:51 |
I use Loctite 242 threadlock. Wouldn't use anything else now. You may need some washers to get the fittings in the right alignment when they are tightened up. John |
Thread: Subscription Loyalty Reward? |
05/08/2011 01:37:08 |
As Richard says, stick with DD. I'm paying the same now as when I first took it out years ago, which is considerably less than todays prices. That's a good enough bonus for me. John |
Thread: Publications etc |
22/07/2011 11:39:46 |
Received the June newsletter this morning. John |
Thread: When to paint |
16/07/2011 13:46:38 |
Hi Gary, On my last loco I finished it and steamed it for a year before painting as a lot of it was my own ideas and I wanted to prove the design and iron out any bugs before painting. It was a nightmare of a job and I vowed never to do it that way again ![]() ![]() On my next job, I'm painting the chassis and it's components as I go so I can steam it without having to worry about the dreaded rust attacking it or having to dismantle it again. I will no doubt have to do a bit of touching up on the chassis but it won't be too obvious, unlike having to touch up paint on the 'top' I won't paint the boiler and superstructure though until it's been steamed a few times. It's not so bad taking the boiler etc. off again and then painting that as you are looking at fair sized chunks. As regards colours etc, if you are building a full sized replica then there are usually books that will tell you the relevant liveries, or there's often plenty of photos on the net. If there is a full size version still in existence, you can always pay a visit with your camera. John Edited By John Baguley on 16/07/2011 13:48:18 |
Thread: Local clubs etc. |
07/06/2011 00:42:15 |
Hi Malc, Although from Derby, I'm a member of North West Leicestershire SME based at the Hermitage Leisure centre at Whitwick, Coalville, not too far from you. Basically a bunch of 'nutters' but we have a laugh and don't take things too seriously ![]() Working day is a Thursday when we get together and drink tea, have a natter, and occasionally actually do some work! We have a public running day the third Sunday in the month, and 'specials' such as an annual traction engine rally, enthusiasts day, trips, etc. The members have a wide range of interests from stationary engines to locos, traction engines etc. We have a 1300' raised track with 2½". 3½" and 5" gauges, and a ground level 5" gauge track. Car park and a field next door for running traction engines etc. John |
Thread: Slide Valve Operation |
27/05/2011 00:47:07 |
Alan - just noticed that you have a photo of the offending item! Yes, it does seem odd! 60019 - I think the drain cocks are left off in some designs just to keep things simple. The majority of the condensate then exits via the chimney and showers you and/or any passengers! There's no problem not fitting drain cocks to slide valve cylinders for the reason you state but it can be a bit dodgy with piston valve cylinders where there is no easy escape for any trapped water. Hence the reason for many full size cylinders being fitted with spring loaded relief valves on the cylinder end covers. John Just found this photo on Steam-engines-for-sale which shows the pipe connections: The inlet can obviously be fitted with this bolt on flange which takes the lubricator and the steam pipe. You can no doubt use any size pipe you like with the appropriate union nut and nipple. Don't know if this is a standard Stuart fitting or a 'one off' ? Edited By John Baguley on 27/05/2011 01:04:22 |
26/05/2011 09:52:53 |
You are correct in thinking that the steam pressure holds the valve onto the port face and it is usual for the exhaust to be a bigger diameter than the inlet. Is the inlet to the valve chest a larger diameter to take a displacement type lubricator that screws diectly into the valve chest? John |
Thread: Simplex Weight Shaft |
26/05/2011 00:56:38 |
This is a known problem and was mentioned by Martin Evans in a later article in which he described an 'improved' axle pump. The cure mentioned by Martin is to reduce the diameter of the weighshaft in the middle so that it clears the outlet union on the pump. The error was supposed to have been corrected in later versions of the drawings. John |
Thread: ME bound volume reprints |
25/05/2011 18:20:45 |
Hi Dave, can't help you with the reasoning behind the choice for reprinting but I've also got the vol. 68 and also volumes 1 to 12. Volume 1 was reprinted in 1976. I think you've been able to buy bound copies of complete volumes from quite early on ( I seem to recall adverts for them) As well as back issues, you could also buy the complete volume less adverts. The earliest bound volume I have is volume 48 and that looks as though it was printed as a complete volume rather than individual issues just bound together. The earliest issue in my collection is volume 13 issue 235 ( October 26th 1905) and that has plenty of adverts! Incidentally, the price was 2d or 3d to include free postage. I would imagine that the publication has always contained adverts? John |
Thread: Correcting pilot error |
15/05/2011 19:24:58 |
Why not simply draw the pilot hole over to the required side with a round needle file, then redrill with a slighty larger drill. Check again and repeat the process as necessary until you are happy. That's the usual method quoted for correcting an off centre hole. John |
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