John Haining Dairy Engine

Hi, I am about to pull the trigger on the 2 inch scale Dairy Engine but before I d I need a little advice. According to the drawings it would be impossible to fit the grate, which is 3 3/4 inches in diameter, into a space only 3 5/32 diameter. the written notes say the grate sits on top of the boiler feet but I cannot see how. If anyone has built one of these little engines, some guidance would be well received, or in fact any advice at all would be most helpful. I have attached the relevant parts of the drawing...

Edited By Nick Clarke 2 on 16/12/2020 13:02:26

Looks like it should be about 3" dia or a little less so it does not get stuck in there.

Are you going to risk buying a set of castings or fabricate?

Hi, I was going to buy a set fo castings from a chap in the midlands. What is the risk in using castings? It would be far easier for someone of my limited experience to use castings. I was thinking of lifting the foundation ring and drain plug by 3/8" and shortening the firebox pro rata to accomodate the grate.

Many thanks for your reply,

Nick.

Nick,

Don't be surprised if some details are not included in the drawings at all.

Quite a few people have had problems getting castings from the only supplier of these that I know so depends who your "chap" is but you may want to search this and other forums for threads about them.

Rather than lift the foundation ring I think I would just make the barrel longer so you have some material projecting down below and then the grate would fit in OK.

Edited By JasonB on 16/12/2020 14:04:59

Ok, thanks I will look in to it. I didn't mention the name as not sure about promoting commercial suppliers.

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There is also Anthony Mount's "Verto" from Polly who are OK to deal with.

Or as BR says any combination of a vertical boiler and suitable engine would make up into something similar though I would probably cut the base from a piece of 12 or 16mm aluminium plate and mill a moulded edge onto it.

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