The Home Machinist!

Glenn, As Wichita mentioned, the motors need to be well "matched" to do this. I have experience with this on a smaller scale (RC car racing plus some play with R&D for the same), and it often meant picking through several motors and dyno testing them to get a pair that were close enough to run as tw...

From what I can see in the pictures, the welds look like they lack penetration somewhat, but I would guess that the tube has cracked or corroded right behind the weld in the "heat affected zone". Unfortunately, time to tear it down and re-tube the boiler. If it's 40 years old, it's probably time.

I would not recommended Quads at high velocity.. I've printed out extensive information regarding feet per minute, temperatures, expansion/temp relation, and the like. This is correct, I think the feet per minute in a steamer exceeds the specs for the quad type rings. Glass filled PTFE seems to be ...

OMG "exercise in continuous maintenance" so true. I was told that for every hour run time = 2 hours maintenance and another guy said not true. Well I have been at this cense Aug 17, 2019 and still don't have one hour of run time. I don't want to "leak water" on live steam, but this is one of the re...

BDD, I'm curious what material your brake discs are made of? Steel? Cast iron? Stainless?

I have added brake drums to my axles so I have more braking area and longer pad life, that is also not on a tapered surface. From what I have seen of others work here, many just make their pads square and let them wear into the taper of the wheels. And then there are disc brakes... :D truck_ass_1en...

I don't think using actual brake lining material is a bad idea. I am using the friction material from McMaster-Carr on my build, they have 4 different kinds with various feet/per min, PSI, and temperature ratings. I don't think you can go wrong with real brake show material if that is what you've go...

I received your email and replied from my company email. I'll await your drawings.
We can "keyhole" the bottom of the firebox on the new boiler so that it will fit between the rear drivers, Glenn is having the same problem.

Thanks for the plug Glenn. Yes our shop has PP, R, S, and U "stamps" for building certified pressure vessels and piping. In some states riveted and lap seam boilers can be ran on private property only, other states disallow them being pressurized all together. You're welcome to PM me if interested a...

http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=105775&p=379957&hilit=headlight+lenses#p379957 This was the link for the lathe turned ones. Note that for many lights, the lenses are actually clear and it's the bulb, or a colored shade behind the lens in the case of a searchlight signal, tha...

If the bumps in the track were offset from each other, it would nicely portray the old bolted rail that got super lumpy. I have childhood memories of my mother backing her car back up from a RR crossing, because the 40' gondola's of coal heading the power plant on the 40' jointed rails were bucking...

Some years ago someone posted a very interesting thread about making fresnel lens by heating acrylic disks and pressing them into shape with a die he made up on his lathe. I’ve been looking for it ever since, to no avail.... Glenn Glenn, I think someone posted that as a response in my signal thread...