Member postings for Speedy Builder5

The worst thing is a tidy workshop ! You have a "thingy" you can't classify it properly, so it gets stowed away in some other category box or drawer. Now it is lost forever !

However, I must admit that the working space decreases as untidiness increases.

I have been looking for a couple of E10 (10mm dia) Eddison based 240volt 5watt bulbs. Tried all the local hardware / DIY stores local to me (France). Nothing remotely like it except 6v torch bulbs. These bulbs are used on ancient EDF electricity supply contracts which indicate the cost rate of tomorrows electricity (Cheap or expensive).

Finally went on the internet and found a bag of 4 LED lamps E10 Eddison based 240volt for less than 5€ delivered in 48 hours. If they last as long as advertised, am a pleased customer.

Bob

If you are looking for rollers, make sure the are "slip rollers" so you can slip your tube off the end once rolled !

QUICKIES were (are ??) skin cleaning wipes.

As an aircraft apprentice in the '60s, we used a block of lard - pork dripping was for toast !

Hi Nick - I hope you have deep pockets. Making the steam engine is low cost. Add to that the boiler cost, then a hull with a bronze propeller, Oh and a trailer to put it on to and a car to tow it with - might as well add a river licence and Boat Safety Scheme inspection. Then there is the boiler test and insurance. I started on a similar project, made the engine and after some time decided to sell the engine and follow a different project making a loco.

Similar problems though !

Bob

getting old is when someone offers you their seat.

I started off converting my Wendy house at the age of about 10. just a bench and a small vise , no power but a hand drill.

A mini lathe can be used as your drilling machine by having suitable tools to put into the tailstock to push the component against a drill bit held in the chuck.

Your biggest problem may be damp and keeping the rust at bay.

Good luck

Bob

Noel, your friend need a set of these.

Seems like an ideal candidate for 3D printing ? For limited volumes it could work ??

Bob

Just as an aside, what is the difference between Rubbing alcohol, Surgical spirit and Methelated spirit ?

Methelated spirit ?

The current thread on Mystery Object I am finding increasingly distasteful. Here we are with a war in Ukraine, a humanitarian crisis and we have 3 pages on bullet design.

Although we stray away from Model Engineering on this forum, I believe the current thread should be closed. We are not a gun club, other sites exist for these discussions and I think that the moderators should close this discussion down.

Those in favour, support this thread.

Bob

Thanks Michael, yes, the pins seem to go in and out OK. I do wonder if it is necessary for both power pins to connect to the MacBook to pass sufficient current without overheating the "working pair".

Would the SERVISOL need to be "agitated" with a blunt cocktail stick ?

Bob

Looked on the internet on how to clean the MagSafe socket on a MacBook Air.

Clean Magsafe socket

However my socket has arced a little, and the black residue won't come off with a stiff brush. Any ideas on cleaning it.

I am aware that by turning the Magsafe plug upside down, the burnt plug and burnt "pad" are reversed, but that makes matters worse with the connection.

Pinout:-

Gnd +16.5v sense +16.5v GND

Bob

Drill your holes oversized to reduce load on the tap, use new, sharp taps. Use cutting oil and you should be OK.

Bill - It could be "No passing of wind" ??

I am in the process of making some semi portable ground level 5" track. The rail section is 30 x 6mm hot rolled mild steel welded onto 20 x 6 "sleepers". The first 15 m of straight track was fairly straightforward. Now for the first curved section. I have decided to make each 90degree curve to an outside radius of 4.775m. Each 90 degree section will be made up in 3 sections of 2.5m long - again for portability. To get a smooth curve I am rolling 3m lengths, there will be approx 1/2 meter of scrap each end of the curved sections - I am sure these bits will be used along the line somewhere.

First job was to make the rail bending rollers. Fortunately I had 4 nice big ball races from Austin 7 crankshafts which in pairs made the form rolls and a chunk of round Al Alloy to make the pressure roller. Once made I was surprised just how easily the 30 x 6mm section was rolled to the right radius. What I didn't expect was that the steel supplied was obviously from different lots! This meant slight adjustment of the pressure roller at times.

This is the progress so far:-

Bit of a dark photo showing the arrangement of the 2 sets of ball races and the Al alloy pressure roller. The handle was an old gudgeon pin from somewhere.

6 off curved rails ready for cutting and welding to the sleepers. My metal merchant kindly chopped them all to length (70 of them) and all I had to do was drill the 140 6mm screw holes into them and de burr the cut ends.

You know how you mark where to cut with your thumb .... That's why my left hand thumb is 1/8" shorter than my right.

Bob

Hi Bernard, very nice work there - I assume you cast the bodies of the planes. I made the little black plane many years ago and the other plane was made by some aircraft fitters back in 1937 as a present to my dad when aeroplanes were mainly made of wood. The blades were made form a broken machine hacksaw blades.

Bob