The Home Machinist!

I have a set of "lapping" tools with different size balls on the ends that I made. Basically I take a ball end mill with a matching radius, cut a dish in the end of the rod, and then Loctite a chrome ball to that. I then use a none destructive lapping compound like "Time Savers" to lap the ball onto...

Might be better to make a "spider" that either threads on or is a close fit to the major diameter of the threaded rod. This assumes the rest of the whistle is reasonably in line with said threaded rod. $.02

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Ken-

For miniature boilers, newly constructed boilers are hydro tested to two times the working pressure. New boilers that are taken to the 2 times working pressure, usually have all fittings removed and all bushings plugged except the one going to the hydro test pump. (A hand pump works fine for this) ...

That was a peculiar article with the author sighting 6 chime whistles as "out of tune messes". I was like, Huh? Anyway, I've built nearly 20 whistles, some of which work some of which don't :) I've bought pre-made whistles that worked on air and not steam. Horizontal whistles are a pain but it's tra...

I did the stipple method on my bobber caboose. Just a brush with cut down bristles. Don't expect full coverage on the 1st coat (or more so, don't try to get full coverage). Let the first coat dry and then do another. Once you get a solid color you can go in for the details that may cross kerf bounda...

This thread was helpful to me when I was outfitting my trailer for hauling trains:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=99905

Ken-

You don't mention the size of the loco. I think there might be a line in terms of the value of a hand pump in a Northern or Challenger. I have a small loco (1.5 Kozo A3) with a hand pump in the tender and I have been saved by it enough times to warrant having it. Piped as Bill does in the line for t...

Thanks to all who replied. This was very educational for me and shows the wealth of knowledge in this group. Dick's drawings show what looks to be a slot in the frame with a pin which I hadn't seen before and then the spring itself just rests in it's "wings". Looks like the Dec has a similar arrange...

I'm in the process of examining a number of prototypes for a possible project, in this case Alco and/or Baldwin moguls from the 20's. Looking at a number of drawings, I notice that the center of the very rear leaf spring seems to be attached to the frame at the very back of the last driver. I unders...

Dave, Do you have the ability to view the flame while your running? I ran into a similar situation with my loco but I found that I was not getting enough air to support combustion. It worked great on level tracks but once you began working a grade pressure would plummet. I found, by watching through...

Excellent! Sounds like you got what you need to get started. Get it done.

Ken-

Kyle, You don't mention what previous experience you have in fabrication, machining, and/or building locomotives. I'm familiar with the prototype engine and there are no "kits" available that accurately represent it. Depending on your level of accuracy, an Allen mogul may or may not be able to accur...