The Home Machinist!

if you want a SCALE DISTANCE -> then be prepared to do a lot of repairs should you have a de-rail. in the 'real world' - the height of the bottom of the 'cow catcher' should be greater than your rail head height. but that is my opinion -> and i am not a 'scale model builder'...I like a reasonable lo...

thought it would be......enjoy not sure how you would get it in / out of a Juliet 2, what with the arch and all.... all considered, a big Sievert-like propane burner shoved in the firedoor might be an option. I have one that I use on my 1" scale loco for quick heating tests....the OS factory di...

exactly.....easier to either find a new supplier and / or move to another fuel.

the fun is not at the 'separating coal' stage

that is preparing for the future....or over-ordering.....

I have started a methanol burner topic so that those of you interested in burning liquified 'cow gas' can shift gears...

The 'soon to try out' tank is made from a pair 2 x 4 steel tube tanks with ends welded on and welded to a frame anchored to the riding car. tank 1.jpg tank 2.jpg The tanks are liquid tight with: welded on end caps an air vent filling openings (1.5" diameter with rubber, air-tight plugs} crossov...

Here is the final burner, ready to go nellie burner 6.jpg nellie burner 7.jpg the bottom 'plate' is pushed up against the mud ring, sealed by furnace gasket to keep out unnecessary air. Using 'pins' that normally hold the ash pan in place, a series of compression springs push 'up' to compress the ga...

I took steve's drawings and built a burner from stuff i had around the shop. 3/4" square stainless tubing and some sheet to make the plate and arch. holes for air and combustion mixture were based on his recommendations and a lot of experience on my part with other burners nellie burner 1.jpg n...

burner in steves maisie.png This is a picture of one of Steve's application of the burner in a Maisie. and a picture of my first test in the 1" loco burner test 1 small.jpg yes, that is a plexiglass cover on the tank so that I can see the level. the flame in the firebox, running on a test stan...

based on request, here is a series on a methanol burner for small scale - and according to the original designer - any scale of loco. Steve Bratina, a fellow small scale live steamer, has been converting most (if not all by now) of his locos to this burner. this design is entirely his -> i take ZERO...

Only thing in my shop with a date is the 4'x8' piece of 1/4" brass plate that has a freight date on it. Otherwise I do not want to remember how many decades some of this stuff has been sitting around. Some of the stuff goes back to my first loco in the 1970s that "I will save for later, mi...

Sure . Just hire a rigger and a truck. It's a FREE MILL.

I would love to have it also, but would need to build a shop to hold it -> or get my wife to give up her dance room