Brake discs a suitable source of case iron

Roy,

At the risk of stating the obvious ...

It might be worth checking whether the "dull thud" versions are Lead

MichaelG.

I cannot imagine sash window weights being made from good quality iron, garden furniture is made of similar crap iron. It is so bad some it cannot even be welded!

Should be obvious from the much greater density of lead, plus lead sash weights have a hole through the middle.

My apologies,

But I cannot see how some of the above recent posts contribute to good axlebox design and material for miniature locomotives.

We have here a 5"g GWR 14XX class loco with inside cylinders and crankaxle.

Cheers,

Julian

Michael The dull thud is probably more of a clunk, however a magnet is attracted so I'm going for cast iron

Neil There is a hole across one end for the sashcord. I've never come across one with a hole up the middle

Roy

.

Sounds like a good deduction.

One man's dull thud is another man's clunk, I guess.

MichaelG.

I am going to come in here because I think i have seen quite few sash weights in my time. When i moved my factory shortly before selling my joinery business I took the left over sash weights to the scrap yard & there were 9 tonnes.

Some sash weights had a hole through the centre top inch down to a cross hole so one could put the knot. Good in that it allowed the weight to go right to the pulley but not so good that the edge could dig into the box. Others had a tapered end with a cross hole. Better in that they did not grate on the box so much but if the carpenter did not tie the knot tight they took up more room. Make weights, designed for increasing weight where one needed to due to the initial weight being undersized were usually about 1/2 to 1lb & had a hole right through so the cord could pass through & tie to the main weight. We used to see how many different forge names we could count cast on the weights of the old ones.

We had lead weights that more often had a hook cast in, square steel weights with hooks welded on & some with holes drilled. The largest weights would be about 34 - 36 lbs & the average 12 lbs although I had hundreds in the 6 & 7 lbs size . Shape would vary from round to square. size from 1 inch to 2 inch across

As for quality - some times we might cut one down & some were like honeycomb & would break somewhere else whilst being cut & some were really close grained. You takes yer pick

I just wish i had kept a few, but i mentioned in the pub last week i wanted some & 2 have turned up unannounced on my drive, so who knows in another 25 years I might have some more

I made quite a few sash windows in 25 years & sometimes had orders for up to a 800 at a time.

Thanks for sharing your recollections, Sam

... It's good to have something more than hear-say and speculation.

MichaelG.

As a small boy I built a "nuclear reactor" from an old metal tank with sash weights as control rods operated by string. If you lit a fire in the tank the whole thing warmed so was more realistic when sitting on the top 'controlling the thing" Somehow never go round to making a real one though. Happy days.

Martin

I've made all four axle boxes now from my disc and I'll update my estimate as I'm only used about 1/3 of the dics (scrapped one box as I overbored it a touch).

So I recon I could get at least another 10 from the remains of this disc.

What do folks consider a sensible clearance on the axle ?

Lee

Another source of good cast-iron is the base off an anglepoise lamp, the genuine ones. About 6" dia and an inch thick. I know 'cos I've just dropped one on my foot.

... but not a cheap source of cast-iron as genuine anglepoise lamps sell for fifty quid upwards.

Roger

... and my genuine Anglepoise lamp has a square base.

George

Then you probably haven't found a lead one. I think an eye would be unreliable in lead.

Neil

I can't see how that contributes to good axlebox design, but I enjoyed reading it

Neil

My genuine anglepoise hasn't got a base

I just have a few strategically placed 1/2" holes in my benchtop.

Neil

Mr Provins- thanks for the info, one genuine ,round base anglepoise going on sale, will not bother to paint it. Hard to match the genuine grey blue, like a washed out myford.

ref brake discs i use vw t4 18mm thick merc vito again 18mm or landrover def 14 mm

If you end up with discs with a hat shape, that raised bit made a rim for a flywheel.

Ian S C

I am based in Worthing and I have just bought a pair of Nova Discs. I only need one so I have one going free if anyone would like it!