The Workshop Progress Thread (2017)

Neil,

I've used the cheap Rolson ones from Halfords, they are ok and do help relieve the pain in my lower legs when standing for extended periods. The only downside is that hot metal chips do have a tendency to embed into them but they are cheap enough not to worry. I managed to pick up about 50 tiles and edging strip from my local recycling yard for a few quid so I've got a good stock of replacements now.

I have the interlocking matting from MMart on my garage floor; they are comfy on the feet & alleviate my back probs somewhat, good insulation too, so am satisfied with them, actually looking to get some more as have a couple of gaps where concrete shows, not too pricy if funds are restrictive so would recommend them ( usual discl 'r )

George.

That all sounds very encouraging, thanks for the replies. The ones I have on order are from ebay item number 291940476587 and are £51.99 for 192 sq ft which will give me a couple of spare pieces. Fortunately, my milling machine is only a small one but it may pay to put a guard around the machine to prevent chips from being embedded in the tiles.

Brian

I have a suspended OSB floor, which is a lot more comfortable than supermarkets and shopping malls (which always give me backache!) But I do fancy trying these out, i suppose for a tenner I can't go wrong!

Neil

Not much worth showing on teh R&V but have got several little items crossed off the to do list.

On the cart front I welded up a couple of short lengths of angle to make two cross members that will tahe the bolts that hold down the engine base.

Silver soldered on some end plates and notched them out to fit insid ethe two main side rails

Then set about making some of the square headed fixings, mostly all cut from 8mm round bar as that suits the 5.5mm AF I wanted on the M4 threads so the Stevo spin indexer got a good workout.

J

I use the mats available from Machine DRO. Good on the feet and easy to clean.

I bought "Rolson" branded mats when on offer at Halfords. Each 500mm square interlocking and about 14mm thick.

I did the whole 17ftx17ft garage for around £100. They are a bit soft and squashy so nice to stand on, the chips don't seem to embed easily but I do sweep up a lot. Downside of them is that they mark with things like motorcycle stands and weight but this tends to be in the same place most of the time.

My mats arrived on Saturday and I've nearly finished laying them. The look good and are very easy on the feet. The only problem is that they crush down under weights. My Austin Seven was parked on them overnight and left tyre impressions this morning. Not a great problem, even corruugated card, which I keep under to catch any oil drips, helps but I think that some pieces of hardboard under the wheels should do the trick.

Brian

A bit more done on my S50 engine...







George.

Machined up the conrod & crosshead for my S50, getting there...

​couldn't be a****d changing from 3 - 4 jaw chuck so made up a split bush...



​Machining taper on conrod, bit to go yet ...



​Ready for, cutting to length, mark out & drill crank pin & crosshead pin holes, actually marked out on t'other side...



Trial fit to engine...



George.

You are getting there George, keep up the good work.

Machined up the flywheel yesterday...

reaming for crankshaft...


nice smooth fit...


George.

... Set up & machined the eccentric & strap, just need to drill & tap for 7BA lock bolt & split, drill for 7BA grub screw in the eccentric. Etch primed cylinder assembly, 1st coated flywheel... clean up & polish...

Establishing centre of eccentric strap...


Looks good...


Eccentric...


So far so good...


​Etch primed cyl. Assembly & 1st coat flywheel.


​George.

Edited By mechman48 on 07/05/2017 12:19:55

For a bit of a break from the hit & miss engine carts I knocked this up over the last couple of weeks.

About a 2/3rd size replica of the Alyn Foundry "CHUK" flame licker. Will do a build thread with drawings on MEM forum and probably post it here too.

With thanks to Graham Corry (Alyn Foundry) and Andy over on MEM.

Edited By JasonB on 10/05/2017 21:02:36

A little more progress on the Popcorn.

The cylinder with its end covers, piston and piston rod

A cylinder family shot, note the extended steam chest to cater for my error in making the cylinder incorrectly with not enough meat on the valve face. I fabricated the steam chest as I didn't have a milling cutter that was long enough to carve out the middle from one side and also small enough to form small radius corners. It is just possible to see the silver solder joins.

And finally the cylinder assembly mounted on a gash bit of aluminium on which I intend to practice engine turning when I get a round tuitt.

I will be making provision for the air/steam inlet to the steam chest a little later in the build when I come to make the inlet manifold.

Jim

Edited By Jim Nic on 16/05/2017 20:46:12

Neat!

Andrew

I like it1!

​George.

Wow, Jim and Jason thanks for sharing!

S50 some more...

​Machining eccentric



eccentric & strap polished up...


eccentric assembly...


​Crank, eccentric, valve rod, piston, crosshead assembly


George.

Edited By mechman48 on 17/05/2017 13:22:13

Looking good George. I especially like the connecting rod, beautifully finished.

Jim