The Home Machinist!

Out of curiosity, are any of the current PS4 designs/drawings/patterns/castings from those offered during the PS4 building "contest" started by Live Steam in the early 1970s? As I recall those were produced by a guy in Chattanooga named Lee Stephens. I also don't remember ever having a loco called t...

In all the time I knew Bill Connor, whose Connor Grasshoppers are so well known, he NEVER cleaned his workshop of swarf. What was brushed off his machines became deep snowdrifts of oily chips lining the walls. I was astonished, primarily because of the fire hazard, but that was his way. He couldn't ...

I come in, change to my "house" shoes, and plop down in the big chair with a cuppa' tea and a cookie.

I'm looking for a blade insert holder to use in a rear-mounted parting toolpost (which I've built.) An insert holder which gets raves by ME/HSMs in England is a Sandvik QD item. Although the particular QD holder they list is mounted for use in indexing toolposts, they have apparently concocted a com...

I can make out the materials, "pipe panels" would be the heads, but based upon the proportions of the boiler materials my guess would be it's a 3hp-2cyl vertical marine engine.

I thought this drawing might be of interest to B&O people, or anyone who wants a good bell drawing. The drawing is by Henry Coventry and was publish in Model Engineer in March of 1959. His accompanying commentary to ME included the opinion that many live steam locomotives suffered from poorly design...

Rich,
Thank you for your major contribution to the World model engineering lexicon.

The historical way of sealing a new or repaired riveted and peened seam boiler was to throw a few shovel-fulls of horse manure into it and steam it up. The fiber in the manure would find its was into the seams and act as a caulk. Of course the natural fiber would eventually break down but by that ti...

Private message sent.

Something IS better than nothing, and steam oil is available from a number of hobby suppliers. Are you in or near a club? Steam oil is still used in many industries so your local petroleum distributors (if you have one) will sell it, or if not in stock can get it. Because their smallest quantity wil...

A question this raises in my mind. and one I've not seen asked or addressed (it may have been, I just haven't seen it) is this . . . does steam oil have any detrimental effects on O-rings? As for lubrication during testing I think steam oil is too viscous, especially if cool. I use an ISO/60 hydraul...

Andy, I don't know how I managed to miss this thread entirely, but I certainly echo all of the compliments expressed by most everyone so far. I've always employed extra measures to insure proper form, fit, and alignment, but you've taken the forming process it to a new level. I know what you mean ab...