Member postings for mick H

Thinking of steam Roy. About 60psi.

Mick

I have got a substantial block of tufnol lurking under the workshop bench and just wondering whether it could be used to make cylinder blocks, suitably lined.

Mick

Thanks for the comments and advice gents.

For what it is worth, my method is similar to Andrew's and uses my small mill drill which has a quill digital readout. Having achieved a decent countersink by trial and error I then note the dro reading for subsequent countersinks. Unfortunately, this rarely proves to be consistent enough and to get a really good result have to resort to drilling a smidgen shallow and finishing with a hand held countersink. Perhaps this is because of variations in the fixings that Ian describes. If the required countersinks are in separate workpieces, however carefully I try to set it up, the above method does not work. To be fair, it is not very often that I need extreme accuracy but I have to do countersinks in six separate items that do require a very decent finish. Wish me luck.

Mick

This is probably another one of those questions to which, when I get the answer will leave me feeling stupid, but here goes anyway.

When countersinking, for countersunk screws, how do you gauge or calculate the depth of countersink. Until now I have adopted the trial and error approach but on occasion have come unstuck when I go too deep. How can I obtain consistency ?

Mick

My Dad fought with the Anzacs in the North African campaign and subsequently up through Italy to Germany. He had a very high regard for them and reckoned that they were the finest of fighting troops.

Mick

Last time in Western Australia on the way to Margaret River we stopped at a little crayfish farm where my wife partook of a significant crayfish lunch. Unfortunately I have a reaction to shellfish but she really rated them. I believe they called them "marrans" or possibly "marrons". Very reasonable price as I recall.

Mick

Another MacGregor Digimac VI request. I think I have fried my receiver through a crass and idiotic action. Anyone know where I can get another?

Alternatively, maybe, I note that there are plenty of 27mHz receivers on eBay. Are receivers generally compatible with any make transmitter using the same wavelength, assuming the crystals match ?

As usual, any assistance gratefully received.

Mick

Thanks for the advice gents. I am pleased that I asked.

Mick

I have been advised that I can effectively seal and waterproof electronic circuit boards with silicone. The specific application is for a small (1.25" x 1.25" board for a boiler water level sensor for a model steam boat. My query is that tube silicone usually has a strong acetic acid type smell and I wonder whether it will corrode the connection wires etc ? Otherwise it seems to be a good idea. As an alternative there is always shrink wrap but I think the silicone could provide a neater job.

Mick

It will dissolve when you pickle and rinse it.

Mick

Hallo Andrew. There is a club called Evergreen Miniature Railway just beyond Stickney on the A16. If you Google it you will get directions.

Mick

Ridiculous nostalgia really, I suppose, but this iron has not been used and is identical to one I had when I was about twelve years old. There are probably better items on the market but nostalgia strikes again. Maybe I will have a look at a different nichrome wire element as David suggests. Thanks for the help.

Mick

My usual soldering iron failed over the weekend so I dug out a Henly Solon 25W iron which I bought as used/new some years ago. Sadly this also failed after about 10 minutes work on electronic components. When I stripped it down the heating element seemed to have suffered a partial disintegration. Working on the principle that I have never had anything but a positive response from the members of this site, I thought it worth asking whether Solon spares are available at possibly some remote outpost ?

Mick

Neat job. Well done.

I save knackered junior hacksaw blades for leaf springs. The serrations file off easily enough.

Mick

I was wondering why my lathe work was such rubbish.....but now I know......I live near the sea.

Mick

Not keen on LPG heaters then Gents ? I think I will have to go with the majority opinion on this one. Thank you for your thoughts.

Mick

I recently bought new, an LPG heater for the workshop for the coming cold season. My workshop is only fairly small (10ft x 8ft) and when the heater is in use the door is always cracked open and an up and over window is opened. Additionally I usually switch on a small extractor fan. I also have a carbon monoxide detector. I usually only have one radiant burning.

Despite this aeration , I find that the products of combustion are quite obnoxious and I have noticed a slight headache after a while. Theoretically, the products of combustion are water and carbon dioxide. The burner burns a clear blue flame on the surface of the radiant. The fuel I am using is Calor butane. I know that LPG does usually have an odoriser .....could this be the problem?

Mick

I ordered mine yesterday and I am really looking forward to receiving it and the countless evenings that will be spent perusing it. Chronos also used to do an excellent catalogue which similarly, I thoroughly enjoyed perusing, getting ideas from and finding solutions. There was never a problem identifying what my wife or kids could buy me for Christmas or birthday. Flicking through a website is of no enjoyment to me and the reality is that I will not go to a website just to browse but only if I "need " something or to order something that I have seen in a catalogue.

Mick

Having decided to go for the electronic water level indicator, I have knocked up a sensor which will feed into a spare boiler bush and go about 1 inch lower than the bottom of the gauge glass. When the circuitry is complete an LED will tell me when I have about 1/2" of water covering the tube plate. I had worried about producing an insulator with a copper core which I could bend into a right angle but I solved that problem by using shrink tubing. I now have an early warning from the sight glass and a shut-down warning from the LED. Thanks for the interest.

Mick