The Home Machinist!

Harold, it has to do with a lot, and most directly the trends of people choosing the trades over other avenues. How many times is there bemoaning on this board over the lack of youth involvement and interest in the skills required to keep this hobby alive? No, it's not always comfortable but with pr...

Not unexpected.  The average American blue-collar worker has priced himself out of the market.  We are seeing a sped-up version of this right now in the fast-food industry in California. If that's your take, you're not just out of touch with the job market but with the closure of this plant as well...

The owner of Plum Cove has, so to speak, many irons in many fires. I think that it would be fair to say that it is not the center of his attention. Take that as you will.

With all due respect, I think my eyes are now permanently affixed to the back of my head

When you think you've heard it all...

TIG-brazing, while possible, can be too hot for cast iron. You will want to avoid extreme temperature swings in both directions. I would recommend a silicon bronze brazing wire, with a preheat on the entire driver to about 800-900°F. Temp-sticks are great for this. As you correctly surmised, the cra...

This is Chaski...

Oxy-fuel welding was an accepted process on boilers decades ago. There's a reason it's gone the way of the dinosaur. I've yet to see it done outside of a welding school, and honestly I'm not even sure why they still teach it. Working on antique boilers the #1 thing I see cutting into old oxy-fuel we...

I personally prefer 4140. In our scale it doesn't really matter, especially if they get case hardened. In my opinion, I'm not sure hardening is even necessary. Are your bearings going to be bronze?

Funny enough, it's not a painting either. AI generated images from random prompts have come light-years in just the last handful of months.

I realize this thread is a little old, but thank you for visiting and your interest in the WF&P David! Since your visit last year, myself and several other volunteers have progressed nicely with 4-4-2 #300's rebuild. Here's a couple photos showing about where we stand. Most recently we completed...

https://californialocomotive.com/

Currently out of stock, but I think he is almost done with the next run.

Those are crazy Dan! Do any railroads in the US use them?? The Russian Decapods or the self guarding frogs? The frogs are most definitely still used. The locomotives mostly had long and successful careers, particularly on the Frisco and then later the Eagle-Pitcher (Some railroads like the Pennsy a...