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Member postings for Steve Withnell

Here is a list of all the postings Steve Withnell has made in our forums. Click on a thread name to jump to the thread.

<< First < Prev 38 39 40 41 42 43
Thread: Steam Boat Ban
30/04/2011 13:40:48
Ian T,
 
I certainly agree that "The days when a member of the public did something stupid (like touching something hot) got hurt, apologised, walked away and was never seen again are - sadly - long gone." But I'm not sure of the point. If I'm on a boating lake and my little mamod boiler bursts and causes you injury, you will sue me. I understand that. What no one has dumped into this thread is the track record of accidents caused in this way.
 
I certainly agree with you on the complex high pressure stuff.
 
What still hasn't appeared in the thread is the rationale for the model club requesting the ban in the first place, which would also be very interesting to have access to.
 
Steve
30/04/2011 07:55:33
Ian T I think you miss my point.
 
a) What is the track record of accidents with little pot boilers on boating lakes? If none, then a ban is simply ludicrous.
 
b) Do not start banning stuff outright when clearly (as you must know as a loco builder) competent model engineers have established a formal structure for controlling the build and safe operation of the complex high pressure boilers anyway and it's a matter of using those structures. (This thing kicked off on the topic little pot boilers not the major model engineering piece)
 

 
I had breakfast in a hotel on Thursday - next to the toaster was a sign "Warning the toaster is hot - do not insert fingers" and "the knife is sharp".
 
 

29/04/2011 16:29:08
There is a clip on Youtube of a small Mamod style boiler exploding with a number of people in close proximity. Result - scared witless, no first aid needed. Supervise children properly, but don't stop them experiencing life. Don't ban highly competent model engineers from demonstrating and enjoying the use of small steam boilers or insist on cost prohibitive testing and insurance.
 
Is there a material track record of small (ie <1L) steam boilers maiming people in public places? If there is then fair enough, but I do not believe that's the case.
 
If these things are banned then you better ban italian coffee makers too as they are a much greater risk than a little low pressure boiler. If the safety valve stick on one of those things sticks, then you don't want to be in the room.
 
Just my opinion
28/04/2011 22:26:39
In the article, they claimed they had introduced the ban on recommendation of the model boat club. Be interested to hear the view of the model boat club first hand.
 

Thread: Cutting Bevel Gears
23/10/2010 22:16:25
Posted by Engine Builder on 16/10/2010 21:41:11:
I found this Book very useful for calculating the bevel gears.
 
I found it easier to understand than other data. No need to buy the book if you click on contents you can read it on line.
David

Edited By Engine Builder on 16/10/2010 21:46:58

 

This is the text I used to calculate the face width in the spreadsheet.   I was given a hardback version by an old timer last year and it's a very clear explanation of the parallel depth method. 
 
Steve 
23/10/2010 19:52:35
Should have said "parallel depth method"  !!!
 
Steve 
23/10/2010 19:52:09
I have built an excel spreadsheet for designing bevel gears,  the various formulae being taken from Ivan Laws book  + an much older book by Franklin Jones.  Reference in the spreadsheet:
 
 
and here is my blogged article on the gears I made for my Victoria:
 
 
hopefully it all makes sense!
 
 Best Regards
 
Steve
 
Thread: Snapped 4BA Tap
15/10/2010 21:00:13
Unless there is a lot  of work in the "piece of steel"  toss it and start again.  You can mess about for ever trying to get broken taps out.  A tap in steel is particularly hard to resolve.
 
Unless of course you want to become expert at removing broken taps
 
 
Thread: Stuart Victoria - Almost Done!
09/10/2010 17:46:16
Here is the initial run on compressed air - 
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqflW9fnGhc
 
 
and my "blogged" record of the build over the last 18 months or so:
 
 
Always more to do - needs the paint titivating and few studs sorting,  but almost there now.
 
Steve 
 
Thread: Progressing the Stuart Victoria
31/08/2010 20:45:15
Why thank you!
 
This is the latest picture -
 
 
The timing keeps slipping,  so I've added some help from Loctite 603 on the lever shaft that drives the slide valve.   Once that works I can add in the governor and plumbing!
 
All the bits are made and painted just about,  it's the fettling and fiddling that's consuming enormous amounts of time.
 
Regards
 
Steve 
Thread: David Clark
22/08/2010 18:37:53
Just to say I think David Clark does a fantastic job of producing the ME and MEW. 
 
Steve 
Thread: Progressing the Stuart Victoria
05/04/2010 13:52:10
Quite a long time since I progressed the Stuart Victoria,  over the weekend I've been able to crack on and get the governor assembly completed.  The whole build is documented at my blog:

http://stevewithnell.wordpress.com/

That link will get you to the blog.   Because it's a blog its very much last in first out!   Hopefully there is something of interest here, have a browse, see what you think.  Loads of photo's  but so far only a couple of video's.   Next one I'll post is when I have the governor mounted and running.

A couple of video's on Youtube if you haven't seen them - 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=553i48WkJts 

this is a trial run of the base engine,  but you can see the double height steam chest to accommodate a Meyer expansion valve arrangement.

Here is the engine developed with the drive gear for the Meyer expansion valve:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzk8EwN7-34&feature=related

In any event,  searching on youtube for "swithnell" will get you the metalworking videos I've posted to date.
Thread: Malcolm Stride has passed on.
30/09/2009 18:57:20
I have to agree with you Alf,  the Nemett article was suberb,  I built one as my first workshop model,  which would not have been possible without the diligent and detailed effort "Nemett" put into the articles.  I always meant to write to him to thank him,  but never got around to it.
Thread: Building Stuart Victoria
29/09/2009 18:42:41
Here she is:


Not finished yet,  but pleased with progress to date.   I've also recorded the progress of the thinking and planning behind this engine at:


Comments, ideas and suggestions welcome either here or on the blog page.

Regards

Steve
<< First < Prev 38 39 40 41 42 43
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