Member postings for Paul Lousick

Hi JP,

A video of aligning the tailstock on a Southbend is on Youtube. Search for South Bend Lathe Tailstock Alignment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmMmM8B40bs

There is also a Southbend user group on Yahoo.

Paul.

Neil,

These are a profiles of traction engines. They are drawn to scale to see the comparison between models.

If readers would like to send drawings of other engines, I can add them to the drawing.

Paul.

The manual which I have states that the Colchester student has a 3MT taper spindle. You need a collet which is threaded on the end for a drawbar. 3MT collets are readily available, but finding the drawbar could be the problem. You could make your own if you cannot find one.

Paul.

Hi Michael,

Running small engines on air was also discussed in a thread called "Air compressers for steam engines"

In which I said that I saw some small engines running on a steam cleaner. Very quiet and real steam.

Paul.

A collection of old petrol blow lamps on display at a recent antique engine fair.

Paul.

1 bar (or 1 atmosphere) = 14.5037738007 psi

Edited By Paul Lousick on 19/02/2015 06:40:13

Edited By Paul Lousick on 19/02/2015 06:41:09

Hi Grahame,

My oxy/propane torch is a CIG Porta Colt and is about 25 years old but still works. problem is the price for oxygen bottles. I only use 1 D-size bottle per year and the cost of rental for the bottle costs me more than the gas which I use.

Paul.

Hi Andrew,

A Bemzomatic TS8000 is good for silver soldering and brazing small parts. It has a valve to adjust the flame size and a trigger which opens the gas supply valve and ignites the flame. Great one hand operation. Got mine from the local hardware shop.

Propane and Map gas canisters are available in different sizes. Map pas produces a hotter flame but costs a bit more. For brazing bigger parts I use an oxy/propane torch.

Paul.

Hi Chris,

I live in Sydney and had a similar problem to you with shipping. Originally, I ordered most of the castings for my engine from a supplier in the UK. They weighed about 250 kg and cost me about $700 for shipping which I considered reasonable. Unfortunately I did not include a casting which is required for my engine. This casting weighs approx 30 kg and sells for about $150, BUT the cost of shipping by sea was quoted at more that $200. I asked if it could be sent by air freight and was told that it would be more expensive.

Apparently heavy items like the casting has to be packaged in a large wooden box and fumigated before it is shipped. The box that I originally received was about 900 x 900 x 900 and was only 1/4 full. (probably so it could be handled by a forklift). It is the cost of the and handling fees which add to the cost. OK for large quantities but not for small numbers. I am now fabricating the part instead of using a casting.

3D printed patterns and having then cast is a good option, especially for 1-off castings made from wax.

Paul.

A machinist friend (from the old school of engineering) told me to rough machine the crankshaft and the cast iron cylinder liner for my traction engine and then leave it outside for a couple of months. The repeated heating and cooling by the sun relieves the stresses in the material..

Paul.

Hi Ed,

I have done a lot of radius turning on my mill, and as Fizzy has said you have to be aware of backlash in the rotary table. I learnt the hard way and smashed some of the teeth in my rotary table. Use sharp tooling, take small cuts and use conventional milling, not climb milling.

Paul.

Hi Michael,

Fitting a taper pin is possible, but I have enough projects at the moment to keep me busy. It only takes a few minutes to tram the table with a DTI so is not a big problem.

Paul.

Hi Euan,

My SX3 (which I also bought from HAFCO) has about 0,01mm runout at the end of the spindle after 3 years hard use. (Measured at the un-machined shank of a cutting tool held in a collet).

The SX3 has a tilting head which has to be trammed accurately with a DTI to align it with the table. The locking pin that locates the pivot head in the 0 degree position is only an approximate position which is OK for drilling and rough milling.

Paul.

Neil,

Where did you find the grinder ?

Paul.

Michael,

How do you add a link to a previous thread ?

Paul

There should be 2 ways of adding water to the boiler. Either a pump and and injector or 2 injectors, in case one of them fails. I drive a full size traction engine and find it far easier to use a pump while moving. There are too many things to do if you are driving down the road (especially with only 1 person). eg. Watch the road and steer the engine, monitor the water level, feed the fire and turning one valve to feed water is simple. If using the injector you have to turn on the water and then the steam. Sometimes the injector fails to pick-up the water. Pressure differences affect the injector and they like a steady flow of steam or will fail to work. Sometimes the injector will not work if under load, chuffing up a hill and you have to slow down or stop the engine. Injectors are great when stationary because you do not have to put the gears into neutral and turn over the engine to run the pump. Both have their good and bad points and having one of each is an advantage.

Paul.

Hi JP,

The gear is not a single idler gear. It is a reduction gear and was available in different ratios. Search under Southbend and also Hercus lathes. If you cannot find one in the UK, they are available in Australia.

I just did a search and found a 72/18 tooth compound gear for $69. (approx ₤40) at Australian Metalworking Hobbyist. Other ratios are also available. (Probably cost that much in postage.)

http://australianmetalworkinghobbyist.com/store/index.php?route=common/home

The spacer washer on my lathe is about 1/8" thick. You could easily make your own if it is required.

Paul.

Edited By Paul Lousick on 12/02/2015 11:54:36

Exactly what I have already said.

Hi David,

I have the opposite problem, need glasses to see up close and had a pair of specs made with a clear top. The problem I see with with your solution of cutting off the bottom to see things up close is that you no longer have your eyes completely protected if you are operating a machine.

Paul.

Hi Jp,

The idler gear is a special gear with 2 sets of teeth on the one gear. 72 teeth and 18 teeth.

You also need a spacer washer with a keyway to go onto the lead screw shaft and fit over the key.

Paul.