The Home Machinist!

Yes.
RussN

The 110 ton 2-6-6-2 logging Mallets I was privileged to operate had a "soft talk", sounding more like a shuffle, even pulling 4-5 heavy weight coaches.
I miss doing that.
RussN

Sure looks good.
I hope to visit some day in the near future.
You have done a LOT of work!!
RussN

And we inherited my wife's Parents' home and built a large separate shop to ALLOW us to move in.
RussN

Dan:
I totally understand enjoying whatever you like in the live steaming world! And more power to you.
Same with me. And this is one of the things I love about our live steam adventures. Room for all.
I hope you get to coal fire your locos long into the future.
Steam on.
RussN

Adapting to propane so I could operate my steamers at several tracks was an easy decision. especially for Train Mountain RR in southern Oregon. My background includes decades operating full-sized oil-burning steam locomotives. My propane fired steam locomotives are similar in operation, and bring my...

What year and model is that Stanley?
Nice project.
RussN

HAHA LOL!
A good acquisition! BTDT.

A good shop really helps locomotive construction and more. Enjoy the process and results.
RussN

I would use hot-rolled steel bar pressed into slotted ties.
RussN

RussN

Bill Shields wrote: ↑Tue Apr 09, 2024 10:18 pm IIRC Fred did it with a small chisel re-shaped tool to round the ends over, about 10 degrees at a time.

Brings back memories:
I have beaded hundreds of 2" boiler tubes using an air hammer and those hooked beading tools.
I get sore just remembering that!
RussN

Interesting. The drawings shown on your chosen website illustrate the same final inner/outer expansion/beading you can get with the expanding tool I was referring to. I can see that for large tubing a solid tool rotated as illustrated would be required. Thanks for sharing. Of course I was thinking a...