Member postings for GaryM

Thanks Lofty,

I thought that was probably the case. It is odd that the drawings and even the text from ME that I've been following don't actually tell you which way is correct and it will fit both ways. I couldn't try it the other way to see if the engine would run unless I filed the slot in the valve, although I suspect that it wouldn't.

Gary

Hi guys,

Finally managed to get my S50 running today (at long last they all say). However, I have a very basic question that I've tried to figure out myself without complete success. Which orientation should the slide valve have on the valve spindle. The first pic below is what I think is the correct orientation and the one that I used and it ran. Should it have been like the second pic? Just looking for confirmation. Most of you can probably answer this.

Thanks

Gary (now making swarf again)

Today, I got back in the workshop after nearly seven weeks of banishment while recovering from a broken ankle.

Yippeeeee

Gary

Hi Brian,

An alternative approach here **LINK** for a small flywheel from Harold Hall's very helpful website. I used this method for the Stuart S50

Gary

Allan,

When taking close-up shots on your phone, what might work better is taking them from slightly further away and then cropping the image down to the subject. Assuming you've got some software to do it. Just an idea.

Gary

Hi Doug,

The Anson Engine Museum **LINK** just up the road from Macclesfield (~6 miles) is well worth a visit, if you like old engines. Only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday though.

Gary

Hi Chris,

While you're figuring it out have a look at the video at the start of this thread on MEM.

**LINK**

Fascinating to watch if you're not familiar with the capabilities of modern CNC machines, like me.

Gary

I don't know the answer Nick, but it might be because model engineers grind their own HSS tools and maybe industry don't use them.

Gary

Bob,

I'll carry on dunking then.

I had a go at dressing the coarse wheel a while back when I'd noticed it wasn't cutting as well as when new. I used a single point tool from Machine Mart like this **LINK** However, I think I've made a bit of a bugger of the wheel. It sounded easy, just pass the tool across the wheel but the practice was a bit different. I've been using the fine wheel while I come up with a plan for getting it right.

Allan,

This **LINK** might help.

Gary

Hi Bob,

I've done this since I started grinding my own tools but I'm sure I read recently that you shouldn't dip them in water as it causes small cracks in the tip. Can someone with more knowledge than me comment on this.

Gary

Hi Allan,

I don't think you'll look back once you've started to grind your own tools. When I got my lathe I bought a set of the ubiquitous brazed tip carbide tools sold by our usual suppliers. I couldn't understand why I was getting such a poor finish even allowing for the fact that I was a beginner. Someone, probably on here, suggested grinding my own. I was a bit wary of the grindstone, viewing it a bit like an unexploded bomb in the workshop (someone else's phrase). Anyway, I had a go, and the first tool I ground gave a much better finish than the brazed tools. Since then I've made quite a few others. If you've got a stock of tool steel and a grinder you're never stuck for that special shape.

Gary

I'd just like to add, good luck to Bob in doing what is undoubtedly a worthwhile thing. I also think we need to build a lot more resilience into society for the future. One reason I got into model engineering was as an offshoot of wanting to be able to repair things instead of throwing them out, so my main motivation is learning how to use the tools. I also like the freedom of being my own boss while in the 'shop.

Gary

I sometimes think we live in a very sick society where most of us can see things that we would change for the better but there doesn't seem to be an easy way of changing them. Those with right-wing views blame the loony left and provide examples of councils and hospitals wasting money and creating pointless jobs. Those with left-wing views blame unrestrained free market capitalism with examples of big business getting away with not paying taxes and abuse of workers rights. While we are all blaming each other the rich elite are doing very nicely, thank you, and are not being troubled by the likes of us lot.

But there are many things we could probably all agree on. As a minor example, who here is in favour of unsolicited phone calls from overseas. I bet they annoy all of us. Or how about junk mail? If I want something I am quite capable of finding out who can supply it.

Not that long ago all the staff at my place of employment were forced to be CRB checked because some parts of the organisation deal with children and vulnerable adults. In the area where I work we have no contact with either and some of us objected to this as unnecessary and a waste of time and money. To do it properly the manager of each group should review their staff and decide which ones needed checking but they decided it was easier to issue a blanket policy. We even contacted the CRB people themselves and were told we were correct. Nevertheless the management threatened us with disciplinary action for causing them trouble. We reluctantly complied feeling we had made our point. The thing that amused us was that "Human Resources" were shocked that some people were prepared to stand up to one of their diktats. I seem to spend less and less time doing the job I started thirty years ago and more time enabling others to tick boxes.

Sorry for the long rant and thanks for reading it.

Gary - looking forward to retirement.

Don't think you came away empty-handed Nick.

Gary

Hi Andrew,

I'm in my fifties and started in model engineering just over two years ago and haven't regretted one minute of it. If you decide it's for you then you'll wish you'd started years ago.

This site is quite good for ideas **LINK**

I'm not retired yet so don't get that much workshop time but I first made the little oscillating engine in my avatar and album. I'd almost finished my second project, a Stuart S50, when I broke my ankle so much frustration at the moment.

Best of luck.

Gary

Does any other forum software put Smiley's where you didn't want 'em? Or is it just this one?

Gary

Hi Neil,

Well I looked out for you today. Out of the many people who'd said they were going, you were the only one who I knew what they looked like (thanks to your avatar). I even asked one guy who looked like you if he was called Neil. It must have been the heavy disguise that foiled me.

I did manage to meet Derek ("magpie" at the big window and "millwright" from MadModder. Also had a brief word with Ketan Swali from Arc and John Stevenson. Nice to put some faces to names.

Gary

Thanks for the replies.

AndyP: I think I should be OK with 20psi then I might try your idea for straightening at some point, just out of curiosity.

Julian: Yes, I think the 5/32" was KS pipe, so I know you can get it.

John: "I tend to use thin wall all the time as you can go down a size and still have the same bore as the thicker stuff" Hadn't thought of that.

I just thought one sort might be easier to bend than the other and there seemed to be no guidance on any suppliers web sites. For that matter the whole subject of piping, unions, valves etc. never seems to get a mention in books or on web sites. Loads of build logs on engines and boilers but nothing on connecting them. Article Neil?

Off to Harrogate now.

Gary

Your S50 looks very nice by the way. I particularly like the main bearing caps and the cylinder cleading and banding.

Gary

Hi Anthony,

Thanks for the reply, but I don't want to thread it. I want to silver solder a union to it.

Gary