The Home Machinist!

I have heard of people using flat cotton shoe-string (tennis shoes/sneakers) as an insulating wrap for small pipes. Charles...shoe laces are a good substitute for piping insulation. One has to wonder how much "insulating quality" a layer of shoe lace material might provide. Still, if it r...

Thanks all for the metallurgical background info on the various types of boiler plugs. Much appreciated. Obviously, a sacrificial plug is better than a stuck-in-place. Carl B.

Carl, I would not use stainless steel plugs. Use brass plugs. In fact, they make brass socket head plugs. Use teflon tape and Nevr-Seez when installing plugs. Hello Marty, good to hear from you. Okay, I'll bite...why would you NOT recommend the use of stainless steel plugs? Understand the idea of u...

Following my last post regarding boiler washing, wanted to continue the discussion about bedding down the loco and more. I'm convinced (as seen on Chaski), ask 10 guys how to shut down a loco, you're likely get 20 different opinions. Some may have merit, others maybe not. Following the replacement o...

While not exactly a loco bedding down procedure, thought I'd share the following with the group. Don't want to take away from other comments and suggestions here...but I believe people get a false sense of security if you think blowing down your locomotive will completely clean out the mud ring. I d...

Mike, Currently considering a run at a 1.5" scale electric loco. So dimensional constraints will be different than your 1" scale project. Can't give you specifics to answer your question. BUT...things to consider... 1st) are you building a loco with a full-width car body? If you're buildin...

SHOW PIX Well guys...THANK YOU! Really appreciate the kudos and comments. If nothing else, can only hope my efforts inspire others to do something on their own...or better. If not passenger car related, then at least use some of the tips, tricks, techniques described here and use those in their mod...

DETAILS - NO MORE! Well guys, thanks for joining me on this journey for car #7's construction. But the time has come to stop the tease (yeah, I was playin' with y'all and holding out on some things to the end). Now, was time to show what happened when all the elements of the #7 build came together....

It won't be long before you move in lol Ody...don't think the inside of car #7 is anywhere near large enough for me to squeeze in...and the observation deck shortened the car interior even more! However, there is room towards the back of the car for a remote brake unit that ties into the brake pipe...

DETAILS - Still yAWNING! Part 2 Believe I'm about at the end of the line describing various details for car #7. Will finish up with awning and related items. In the last post, was describing making the awning and curtain rod clips. Knew a bunch of the clips would be needed for the curtain rods and ...

DETAILS - So tired, I'm yAWNING! Part 1 Figured this last detail description might take 2 posts. So here goes. Will start by bringing up a previously posted photo from the back end of the Guatemalan Ry rear end observation car...the Elisa. FEGUAguastatoya950-1.jpg See it now? Car #7 needed a rear e...

Hopefully you got a third chair to fit you so you can take in what you have accomplished. But there's more? Jim Jim...3rd chair is right behind the Rutland cab! I know what's at the back of the train. When I decide to stop and take a break, can stand back and see what others think. Carl B. :shock: ...