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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted -
25/11/2004
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14:20
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I've always been fascinated by the things people do in their spare time when they can do exactly what they want to do. Men and sheds are a particularly fertile field. Women tend to do their thing in the comfort of the house.
I was delighted to see Andy's picture of the clock movement he has made.
It struck me that we could perhaps start a new topic devoted to spare time skill. So Andy starts it off and my contribution is this:
It's a small steam engine made from scratch and is based on the Stuart 5A but a longer stroke. One of these will drive a 14 foot boat with steam at 250psi. By the way, we don't like to call them models, it's exactly the same construction and materials as a full size engine, just smaller. So come on out there, let's hear about what you make in your spare time. I reckon we could be in for some surprises!
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 03/12/2007 : 17:47
Or less....... Never got in the shed, life got in the way..... Getting worried!
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 04/12/2007 : 16:17
I fitted the steam chest far too tightly.... We started off with a very thin sharp wedge and finished up using the pry bar but I got it off in the end without any damage. Before I got here I tried rectifying the threads down the bore but it was a miserable failure.
If you look carefully at the near left hand corner you'll see the broken tap..... Luckily I got it out quite easily and poked the tapping drill down it again and joy of joys, the piece of thread left in the hole came out with the drill. I poked the tap in and managed to get about 5 threads, good enough for me!
Shortly afterwards here we are with a full complement of studs. The threaded rod is there because when I tried the thread it bit straight away. Never look a gift horse in the mouth, I screwed it down tight and cut the excess off.
By 4pm I had the cylinder laced up and installed and the con rod cut down to size. The valve is to go in yet but I decided that this was enough excitement for one day. I'll fit the valve, centre it and time it tomorrow.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 05/12/2007 : 17:11
First job this morning was to get the valve in, centre it and time it and then get the lid back on and sealed.
That's the high pressure end set up and ready to steam.....
Turn the engine round and strip the LP end down. Pack the piston rod gland, seal the face between the bottom cover and the standard and replace the set screws holding it down, all of them sealed with Hermetite.
Using the lid as a template, drill the 2BA tapping holes in the valve face.
By 4pm all the stud holes in the valve face are drilled and tapped. The holes in the lid and the steam chest are all bored out to clearance for the studs. I poked a 13/64ths drill though instead of a 3/16, I don't want this to be as tight as the last one! Tomorrow is a stud-making morning and with a bit of luck I'll have this end laced up by teatime tomorrow..... Do you realise what this means? All the engines are ready for steam, in effect they are built. They can move out of the erecting shop into the fitting out department for lubricators valves and pipework. Hee Hee! You can't beat an obsessive Old Fart!
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 05/12/2007 : 17:20
I wrote my article for the BET and walked Jack.... So I decided to get some castings out and let the dog see the rabbit....
I went back and had a look. This where we were at the beginning of July, looking at the rabbit. so.... just over 5 months from castings to steaming condition..... lots to do yet of course but that's not bad going. Quite pleased with myself.....
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 06/12/2007 : 17:41
The day started with making 15 studs for the steam chest. Here they are after initial fitting.
By dinnertime I had put in the sealant between the chest and the valve face, installed the valve and packed the valve rod gland. I left it under pressure for an hour while Jack and I went for a walk.
By 15:30 when I had to go to get the results of my routine blood test I had installed the cylinder on the standard, fitted the piston, fitted the con rod, centered the valve and timed it. Back on with the lid and Hermetite and all the nuts bar one on and tightened. The last nut will be a fiddle, I put the studs too close together, I have to reduce the nut thats tight in oreder to get the last nut on. I'll do that tomorrow.....
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 07/12/2007 : 16:07
Not a lot done today, Friday is domestic day..... However, I found a few minutes to Finish nutting the lid on the valve chest, sealing the cylinder cover and bolting it down. I'll leave it until tomorrow when the excess Hermetite will have stiffened up, it will just peel off and leave a clean joint. That's it for the actual building, apart from pipework, valves, lubricators and a drive plate for the propellor shaft. I shall leave this engine alone now and concentrate on the two small ones. First job for them is a flywheel apiece. They need a flywheel to run because they're single cylinder, the compund doesn't need one. nice feeling, we're getting there.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 08/12/2007 : 16:27
I think Doc must be working on the server..... I've been trying to upload oics but no joy.
Here's one I did last night. The three engines sat on the worktop erady for the final fitting..... Lovely sight!
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 08/12/2007 : 16:33
Then I got down to it.....
Here's the first flywheel of the two getting a centre and a face.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 09/12/2007 : 15:34
Getting serious, one face done and making sure the opposing face is dead central. It was within a thou, that's good enough with castings because they change shape all the time you are cutting them.
Later in the afternoon, the flywheel is ready for final sizing of the bore and the last cut across the face.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Big Kev
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Posted - 09/12/2007 : 20:25
Unfortunately my house didn't come with a shed so I have to make a mess indoors. Latest project was the log burning stove in the front room...
Much cleaner than what was there....
Big Kev
It doesn't matter who you vote for, you always end up with the government. |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 10/12/2007 : 07:30
Nice...... Is it a Jotul? I keep thinking of making a small one for my front room. I like stoves.....
I got a nice compliment yesterday. I answered a query from a national museum in the States and they checked up by asking the SM in London. The man there told the enquirer that if Stanley said that it was right, he is one of the few men left with the practical experience..... very nice, I am still glowing.....
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Big Kev
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Posted - 10/12/2007 : 09:45
I've not found any manufacturers marks on it. It was salvaged from a barn over in Trawden. It was in pieces and very rusty when i picked it up........
Big Kev
It doesn't matter who you vote for, you always end up with the government. |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 10/12/2007 : 16:58
Looks like a goodie, you did well. Nice fire irons.......
No work in shed. Doc turned up and by the time I had gassed with him, we'd gone up onto Letcliffe, I'd had my lunch, gonre sleepy and retired to bed for a sleep..... it was 3pm. Bugger the workshop, have an easy day......
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
softsuvner
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Posted - 10/12/2007 : 22:56
Stanley
I notice you often get sleepy after Doc visits. Not "drinking out of wet glasses" again? Mind you I can talk, I haven't been near the workshop this week, tied to a desk at home with Christmas card lists to work through, books and DVD's to find on the net for presents, and letters to Oz to write!
Malcolm
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 11/12/2007 : 08:40
No, too early in the day. It alters my routine and that seems to do it. No worries.... the Managing Director is very accommodating, he has a sleep as well. It's an age thing you know........
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |