The Home Machinist!

I will always take Barry's statement as offensive, if I can! There is "whomp" and there is WHOMP!!! Many years ago, when running my 1/2 scale traction engine at a local show, lunch time rolled around and I needed to go to the cook shack for my vittles so I dropped the draft door on the bab...

Thanks. I've always thought they put out enough heat without the roar of some methods. That is one of the things I like most about them! They are so quiet when running that you can't hear them. The only drawback is that they take a fair amount of blower to keep the boiler drafting properly. They al...

Hi Dianne, I was looking at your web page and was wondering if you'd describe your propane burner a little more? Is that a plate burner like other Manitoba folks have in their engines? Yup, same idea. It is two brass plates with clusters of small gas holes around each "air tube" which pas...

Been a busy winter in the shop, getting ready for the 80th season of Manitoba Live Steamers & Model Engineers! Made changes to the propane burner to get more BTU - should be 20% more and hopefully that will keep steam up at speed - well "speed" for a little American! Completely rebuild...

Kimball McGinley wrote: ↑Wed Mar 06, 2019 11:22 amThe reason heated vinegar worked so much better can be attributed to van’t Hoff’s rule........

Chemistry wasn't my strong suit in college. Actually college wasn't my strong suit either ......

PROBLEM SOLVED! I was able to free up two of the three tri cocks by soaking in vinegar for a few hours and carefully working the handles back and forth a little at a time and working some oil in until they had full travel back. The third one would not budge! :( I boiled it in vinegar for a couple o...

cbrew wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2019 1:34 pmdo you use the tricocks?

Honestly? No, not even on full-sized I can't tell the difference between steam and water LOL!

cbrew wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2019 1:20 pm if copper, does the boss have enough surface to open up to a 1/4-40 mtp?

No boss - threaded directly into the copper boiler sheet. I'd hate to open out the holes to 1/4-40

cbrew wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2019 1:05 pm sounds like a 10/32 screw should fit. any idea if that was a straight or a tapered thread?

Can't tell but I think it is taper.

A 10-32 nut fits on the valve like a charm.

My LE American uses 3/16-32 tri cocks that are in bad shape and I was looking for three new ones. 3/16-32 was a ME "standard" back in the day but can't find them now.

Has anybody seen 3/16-32 test cocks?

I have been kicking around the idea of doing wood beam trucks with Adirondack Foundry and doing "period correct" trucks REALLY appeals to me!

I'll let you know how it goes.

I'd like to build a couple of boxcars for my 1-1/2" scale American and I'd like to stay with the Civil War era. Being retired and on a meagre pension, $$ is always a consideration so the more I can make from "stock material", the better. I am thinking arch bar trucks with flat iron fo...