The Home Machinist!

Tom Bee Bettendorf with 1000# springs

Wife and I are coming over from Las Vegas. Bringing the Shay. See you Friday.

vr Bob

I picked up a lot of neat ideas. Especially Borac Acid to eliminate the blackening on hardened parts.

Check out this guy on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8Y146v8HxE

This guy has LBSC's article on "Doris", a 3.5" ga Black 5. Might help some.

http://www.john-tom.com/html/LBSCEngines.html

Hi David. Just add the citric acid powder to water and stir until no more powder disolves. When the powder just starts to settle out, you are in business.

Citric acid comes in powder form. I got it from McMaster-Carr, 5 lb tub will last a long time. I hear you can get it at most health food stores, but don't know for sure. Mix it in water until saturation. Citric acid is non-toxic and has no fumes. Sulfuric acid is dangerous stuff. It eats steel, wher...

Good news David. You will be pleased with that torch. It's all practice. IMHO "reading" the flux is important. The flux goes through a number of stages as it heats up. Just before the solder flows the flux is mostly clear and bubbles. You will see bright shiny metal underneath as the bubbl...

Just want to echo what the board says about Sievert torches. They are first rate and worth the investment. I had to replace the handle recently and got a new one from this outfit.

http://www.bestmaterials.com/default.aspx

I had the same thing happen to mine. Fiddled around with it, tried all the fixes. Ended up hauling it to the recycle. Some times life is too short to mess with things like that.

Interesting Bob, I didn't either. :o Are you planing to make a cannon? If so , it would be nice to see another thread on this subject. :) Jack. Hi Jack. A cannon has been on the "to do" list for 40+ years. I had a quarter scale 12lb mountain howitzer in 3/4" bore. Got it from Dixie G...

From this image on the internet. Did not know all these parts had names.

Have a Happy New Year, Bob