Search found 706 matches

by John_S
Thu Jun 27, 2019 8:37 am
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Tender Water Valves
Replies: 12
Views: 12170

Re: Tender Water Valves

I just took the handle off and silver soldered a piece of round bar to them. Made nice little brass handles that are held on with a single bolt through the extended rod.
by John_S
Sat Jun 22, 2019 7:38 pm
Forum: Live Steam Marketplace
Topic: Shop sale
Replies: 2
Views: 4300

Shop sale

Posted over in the general for sale forum, but I figured I'd post a link here for folks like me that only typically read the live steam section:
http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/vie ... 8&t=108379
by John_S
Tue Jun 18, 2019 11:37 am
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Technology is great
Replies: 17
Views: 13956

Re: Technology is great

FYI, I re-worked this up out of 11ga (.120 wall) tube for extra strength and it comes out only $40 more per set of two stands. I also have modified the joint between the legs and the rails to have a little better meet-up. I found that when I welded my first two together the ends of the rails that ex...
by John_S
Mon Jun 17, 2019 11:04 am
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Technology is great
Replies: 17
Views: 13956

Re: Technology is great

We've got plenty of capacity now on our machines (we have six tube lasers now). Wondering if anyone is interested in some of these in kit form? I can easily adjust the tube size, wall thickness, or OAL of the stand if needed. The leg length can be left extra long for you to cut to length based on th...
by John_S
Tue Apr 16, 2019 7:31 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: 12VCompressor for a Brake Car
Replies: 64
Views: 44543

Re: 12VCompressor for a Brake Car

Our club uses the Tom Bee compressor unit on our club cars with great results. It powers breaks for four cars. Wayne https://tombeeonline.com/collections/tom-bee-air-brakes/products/tom-bee-12-volt-compressor-unit I bought his system a few years ago for my boxcar/toolcar/brake air supply car and I ...
by John_S
Tue Feb 26, 2019 3:15 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: McMaster carr part number
Replies: 16
Views: 12639

Re: McMaster carr part number

My local Ace Hardware sells the coils of heavy wall tube. A long time ago I bought one coil each of 1/4 and 5/16 and still have a lot remaining after piping two locomotives.
by John_S
Wed Feb 20, 2019 12:56 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Coupler Standards ?
Replies: 16
Views: 11414

Re: Coupler Standards ?

Andy R wrote: Wed Feb 20, 2019 9:49 am it appears that mating isn't the greatest challenge, It is keeping the things coupled, especially upgrade, on a curve.
That sounds more like a track issue than a coupler issue.
by John_S
Sun Dec 23, 2018 4:50 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Atta Boy for Eccentric Engineering Injector
Replies: 11
Views: 9316

Re: Atta Boy for Eccentric Engineering Injector

Had to come and give a huge thumbs-up to EE's injectors. My wife bought me one as a Christmas present this year (how about that?!). Installed it last week and ran yesterday and it worked the first and every time without any issues at all. So glad we have a source of reliable, well built injectors ag...
by John_S
Mon Dec 10, 2018 7:08 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Coal dust bricks again
Replies: 37
Views: 24008

Re: Coal dust bricks again

I built my coal hopper car with 1/4" opening wire mesh over the chutes out the bottom to let all fines work their way out as I pull it around. Having a readily available supply of really good blacksmith coal available in the area there's no reason to recover the fines and process them into usef...
by John_S
Sun Dec 02, 2018 10:43 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Steam Dome Throttle
Replies: 42
Views: 30923

Re: Steam Dome Throttle

Hmmm, that has possibilities. I'll look into similar ball valve installation into my steam dome. Regarding the ball valve itself: How do you find the operating characteristics? Can you get a smooth launch without a jump forward or instant speed or easy wheel slip? How about low speed regulation? Ca...
by John_S
Mon Nov 26, 2018 7:07 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Steam Dome Throttle
Replies: 42
Views: 30923

Re: Steam Dome Throttle

Check out how I handled the ball valve and linkage here:
http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/vie ... 35#p338835

I've built two this way and they work great. Used an off the shelf 3/8 ball valve from Ace Hardware and all stainless materials for the rod and lever.
by John_S
Fri Nov 16, 2018 10:02 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: OMG, Kamikaze bugs!
Replies: 14
Views: 10333

Re: OMG, Kamikaze bugs!

If you use Tom Bee's brakes on your rolling stock, cover the Schrader valve connections when in storage between runs. Prime targets to get filled with mud daubber muck!