The Home Machinist!

Greg, I have done that on some old alum frame trucks where someone used any old set of springs they had, but the springs were too loose. Not only does the round head screw on top of the bolster bearing up against the inside of the side frame bolster pocket to provide a pivot point, it's also intende...

Dick...have seen a hobby truck supplier use 1/32" clearance between the car body bolster and the side sway limits. There's two ways to accomplish this...machine the truck bolster center and the (2) side sway limits to the same plane...and install a 1/32" spacer on the center. OR...machine the 1/32" ...

Pipescs....have used (2) kinds of 12 volt compressors. For the remote brake system that goes in a caboose for card order switching operations...there are plenty of small 12 volt compressors on the market. Buyer beware...if the compressor looks cheap...it is cheap...like something you used to find at...

...have any idea yet how much your competed car weighs? ...1.5" scale? Just curious. Carl B

Russ...I'll add, safety chains are good, but ONLY as good as the size of materials used AND the method of attachment to the car body. A 1/4-20 safety chain eye bolt hook is good, but all too often see people "unwind" the hook as opposed to twisting the eye slightly to the side. Does either way weake...

Schlick...been moving an Allen 10 wheeler around for 19 years. Before showing/explaining some ideas, need to ask the following? 1) do you have front end coupler? 2) do you intend to move loco and tender pinned together? 3) do you have a removable steam dome cover? Discussion... 1) saw an idea for a ...

Bill...PTFE might have no shelf life, but it's suspended in some kind of media that might. Don't know if kneading the tube to mix the paste up before use would help or make a difference. As a side note...have a small bottle of Teflon grease on the shop table. Whatever is mixed in with Teflon DID sep...

Our resident boiler fabricator has suggested using anti-seize compound on flange gaskets. Easier to take things off (like a steam dome) without damage to the gasket. My fall-back for years for the same application was graphited steam oil. But sometimes still had separation anxieties! Threaded joints...

My water fill adapter hose used to fill the boiler and tender for initial steaming has a marine gas-line mesh filter (available at places like Ebay or Walmart). Don't know the "mesh factor", but have been surprised how much stuff is collected from using rain water. IMG_5999.JPG IMG_6001.JPG In the t...

Diane...if you have access to the library of Train Shed Encyclopedias...might start there. I know they have "volumes/books" that feature 1800's ear equipment. Carl B.

Doublereefed...used a sand blaster to clean up the silver soldering (see previous photos). Did a nice job of pitting the casting to accept paint. Would suggest instead...use glass bead for blasting...that's not as "aggressive" on the casting metal. Leaves a nice patina too. Polished the check valve ...

Doublereefed...will 2nd your request for a larger hex on the check valve cover! Went thru this back in 2014 when the top hex was destroyed trying to remove the cover. Could not get that cover to budge. So...removed the check valve from the loco. Milled off the original hex (what was left of it). Dri...