Member postings for Dismaldunc

Like Neil says this is my "virtual club" being in a remote area this is pretty much my only source of help . As a complete novice this forum has helped me build several small engines and a boiler. I would miss it a lot .

Dunc

well that seems to be sorted.. Brought it into the house for a warm and it now seems like a happy bunny. Righty then Tinas main bearings it is then!

Thanks Lads

Dunc

Hi chaps

Thanks for the rapid replies, I have tried 2 new batterys but both were stored in a cold work shop, So I have brought the poor thing into the warm for a little TLC.

I will see if that helps

Dunc

Hi Chaps

I bought a digital height gauge from Allendale at the last Harrowgate show, It has been a joy to use and improved my accuracy no end. However this am when I went out to play (with an ambitious set of ideas in my head for a good 4 hour session) it just gives a bizzarre ever scrolling read out. I shall of course contact Allendale tomorrow but wondered if there is anything I can do to make it play nice ( I have changed the battery ) for the rest of the day.

Dunc

Hi mark s end me a personal message with your e mail address and they shall be yours .

i converted the plans when I built mine.

Dunc

Hi bill, I sent you a "personal message" if you look at the "my account" box at the top left you will see the "my messages" link

dunc

Hi bill sent you a pm 

dunc

Edited By Dismaldunc on 19/01/2013 14:13:00

Thanks mr fizzy , that's all the info I needed. I'm a metric peep so help with the imperial stuff really helps

Hi chaps, I'm in the process of finishing my glr vertical boiler and want to use it to power some small stationary engines ( stuart s50 , Tina etc). However the the range of sizes of fittings is making my head hurt..... So I think the question is what size steam pipe do I need to use?

Thanks in advance

Dunc

Hmm a "file" you say ??? ( looks it up on Wikipedia )

Yup I have the arc euro sx2 as well and I'm impressed for the money, it also has a rigid pillar instead of the swivel mount.

dunc

Hi chaps, well with a bit of faffing about and a combination of all your sage advice I have managed to complete one side and am pleased with the result. I ran the lathe a bit faster as per Neil, ground the corner off so I could get a start and finally hauled the flywheel round by hand until I managed to "cut the crust off" many thanks to you al once again.

i live on a Scottish island and am unaware of any other hobbyists, basically any activity that doesnt either feed you or earn you a few bob is looked at a a bit strange. I wish I had a pound for every time someone looks at one of my lovingly created engines and asks "aye that's nice...... But what does it do ? "

Dunc

Hi there ,thanks for the quick replies. Yup I'm using a carbide tool, I'm running the lathe as slow as possible ( it's a bit of a juggling act. If I start too slow it just stalls when the tool hits it, not a lot of low speed torque on these wee chinese lathes ) so it looks like the casting will be going in the solid fuel stove overnight

Edited By Dismaldunc on 12/01/2013 16:53:44

Hi chaps, I am attempting to turn the 6inch fly wheel for my glr "Tina" on my mini lathe , I realise that it's a big ask for a little machine but am trying light cuts in order not to stall the motor.

however IT'S SO HARD I've made a couple of stuart. Engines before and they were fine but I'm even getting sparks flying off the tool and can't seem to get into the metal. Any ideas ?

thanks muchley

dunc

well I think I've got to the bottom of why this is suddenly a lot harder..... owing to me having the typing skills of a baby elephant wearing boxing gloves I ordered 449 solder instead of 455 not only does it melt at a higher temp, it also costs more I. hearby award myself the "Order of Numpty class 1" (bows and retires)

Aargh! Trying to solder the top tube plate , put loads of flux, solder rings around and the tubes and short lengths of solder tucked in the flux all around the outside. I made a little hutch in the brazing hearth ,heated it from the outside a till all the solder melted and disappeared. The tubes all look fine but half of the circumference of the outside is not sealed, so I fluxed it again and tried again but still the same result..... Help !!!!

Hi Chaps, thanks agiain for allthe advice, Adams boiler/engine setup looks the business. So I've at least made a start.. Here is the tubes and firebox from the bottom (the fact that it has no firebox door may seem a little odd, but seeing as its going to be gas fired and it was my first attempt I thought I would follow the sdvice in the wee book and just mage a "dummy" door).

Here is the foundation ring which has couple of bits where the solder has not flowed correctly (i think it did flow but the gap was too large, so it did "tin" both edged but fell through the hole. I have since given the side a bit of a tap and will try again when my solder/bigger burner arrives from cup).

I made rings of solder for the tubes and cut little lengths for the rim. You can see the small ridges to stop the tubes falling through. I had to put them on the inside as did not leave enough lenght to fit through the plate (whoops!) this means the water section will be about 3mm shorter than it should be.

and finally the top tube plate waiting to be soldered when the solder arrives (i've run out) you can see where some solder I applied by had went into a tube and ran its full length (a waste of expensive metal)

Edited By Dismaldunc on 31/12/2012 15:44:02

Thanks Martin the boiler looks great, love th idea of sticking the cladding to some card, I shall be using/stealing that idea

Well I reckon I'm gonna need a bigger burner, will hop onto the cup alloys site and get busy with my credit card

Hi chaps, thanks for the advice and yes Martin more pics would be great, I bit the bullet last night and had a crack at the boiler tubes. All seems to have gone well and on your advice a cocooned the assembly in some refractory material I bought from my heating spares company. It's 5mm thick white stuff that bounces all the heat back and is only £7 for a huge 1200x600 piece they call it ceramic paper. I will take some pics later.

on another note I see GLR are closing down, which is a bit sad as I wanted to get the wood cladding and steam fittings kit from them.....