Stationary Engine Series ME

Hi. I'm a long time lurker in here. I build an engine most years, mainly stationary from whatever metal I have around. I have been looking for my next set of plans when up pops just what i'm looking for in ME This month. I think it's a cruel and tantelising trick to start a build with nothing to make ! I have been forced to start making round bits of metal the correct Dia for things like the Cylinder (Old bit of Cast Iron sash weight). may someone please give me Patience, but i want it now ! Alex.

Sounds like you have contracted engineprojectitius

Edited By Stewart Hart on 20/07/2013 06:40:11

The problem is that if Stew started with some construction somebody else is bound to moan that there is no list of materials, you can't win

Don't listen to them. Stew did this on purpose, just to wind you up

Neil

I'd like to know where you're getting the sash weights from there as scares as rocking horse poo Your'e teasing me with that one Stew

> sash weights from there as scares as rocking horse poo

Constipated rocking horse... the only one I have got is so hard a hacksaw bounces off

Neil

Neil, I had a couple of sash weights that were as hard as hard can be, chucked them in the wood burning stove and built the fire on top of them, left them there overnight with a slow burn and they have 'normalised' to a state where they were machinable. Turned out to be a nice bit of iron after that.

If you don't have a woodburner, a charcoal barby will suffice instead Just bury the iron in the embers after a good cook out and see what happens.

Graeme

Sash weights, quick check guide.

Bang one on the floor and break the end off, if it's a dull even grey all over on the break then keep it.

If it's got shiny bits in or shiney all over lob it at next doors cat.

When they were made sash weight were the last thing cast from a melt to use the metal up so they can vary from melt to melt.

A bit like pit props, the good wood goes for manufacturing, then it's pit props, then it's IKEA.

The sash weights came form a Reclaim Yard. Paid a copule of £ for em. The crust is always hard as you like. Hacksaw will never touch it. Tipped lathe tool is the only answer. Clean out the old rope. Tail in the hole. Bottom in the chuck and away you go. Just part it off. HSS Tools will not do !

Hi, 4 1/2" cutting disc will cut the rubbishy end off and cut the length you want to work with. Using a thin disc is best.

Regards Nick.

Apart from one that shattered when I dropped it, the weights that I havecut easily with a hacksaw, or the bandsaw. The broken one was too hard for carbide tools, and I don't have a log burner, or Barby.

Ian S C

I've been buying a few of the CI offcuts that Alan at MJ Eng has had recently. All about 6"x6" and 40-50mm think and around £5 each. At that price you can cut them into square section and then turn round and not worry about the waste. Some of our ME suppliers would be looking at £65 for an similar amount of 40mm sq bar!!

J

Some of our ME suppliers would be looking at £65 for an similar amount of 40mm sq bar!!

It's tough to supply model engineers - there's a big difference between offcuts from a major stockholder and being a man with a garage holding a good range of sizes. It could take twenty years to sell nine feet of 40mm CI bar a few inches at a time.

Neil