ME Vertical Boiler & Hand Pump

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ME Vertical Boiler & Hand Pump

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  • #351326
    Andrew Wood 7
    Participant
      @andrewwood7

      I'm a fairly new member and I've only had my WM180 lathe for the twelve months now so somewhat inexperienced although I did go through the engineering training school nearly 50 years ago. I am following this series with interest and noted that someone commented on the assumption that a mill was needed. As I don't have a mill yet I did the pump body machining on my WM180 with a jacobs chuck (!) and vertical slide fitted as in the picture. Taking fairly small 1mm cuts didn't really have any problems. Coming to the brazing, not having a large brazing torch, i used my plumbing torch on the body and achieved a satisfactory result as far as I can see (first time I've brazed anything). Thought this might be of interest and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. I imagine I might need a bigger torch for the boiler itself.

      meboilerpumpmilling.jpegmeboilerpumpdrilling.jpegbrazingsetup.jpegpumpbody.jpeg

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      #362126
      geoff walker 1
      Participant
        @geoffwalker1

        Good news for all who are interested in making the M.E. boiler.

        M.G. has now completed the articles on the hand pump and will commence the boiler build next month.

        Also it will feature every two weeks instead of every month.

        I hope M.G. includes a full detailed drawing of the boiler at an early stage so builders can see the whole picture before he starts his constructional series.

        Geoff

        #362130
        JasonB
        Moderator
          @jasonb

          I also hope the editor removes the "hand pump" from the page heading now the boiler description proper has begunsmile p

          #363082
          Peter Russell 4
          Participant
            @peterrussell4

            looking at the boiler in issue4591 it looks like the boiler shell bushes are threaded into the boiler – is this a good way to get the silver solder to run in or are they flangeless bushes so need to be threaded to keep them in place whist silver soldering?

            #363084
            JasonB
            Moderator
              @jasonb

              I think the reason is as you say to stop them falling out while soldering this would apply to both flanged and plain.

              Martin does mention that the design has been tweaked a few times following feedback from builders and I suspect one or two may have had a bush come out so he has added the screwed method.

              You would want the filed nicks as suggested to help the solder flow through the joint.

              #368997
              Andrew Wood 7
              Participant
                @andrewwood7

                I'm just making the SS flaring rings and flaring drift in this series and they have been specified with some small external radii R0.5 and R1. Would anyone have any suggestions as to the best / easiest way to achieve these radii on the manual lathe?

                #369002
                JasonB
                Moderator
                  @jasonb

                  For something small like that you can hold a file against the rotating work and roll it around the radius which will soon just soften the corner. Do make sure you have a handle on the file. If you want a small chamfer can be turned first and then finish with a file.

                  #369191
                  Andrew Wood 7
                  Participant
                    @andrewwood7

                    I've flared the tubes as described in the article. However the copper I had must have been harder than the author's as, far from being a gentle tap, it took quite number of firm blows to achieve the desired flare. On average the flare was 0.6mm on diameter for the larger tubes and 0.3mm on diameter for the smaller tubes so I suspect this will be enough to stop them falling through. There was no sign of splitting but maybe if the tubes are hard drawn then they would need annealing before working on them? I bought all the materials from Noggin End as advised but it doesn't mention the hardness on the web site.

                    #369238
                    michael howarth 1
                    Participant
                      @michaelhowarth1

                      Was there a previous series on a vertical boiler published in ME some time ago? I seem to remember seeing it in one of my bound volumes. I have started to plough through them but there is so much material I have given up.

                      Mick

                      #369243
                      Weary
                      Participant
                        @weary

                        Mick,

                        There have been plenty of vertical boiler construction articles over the years, right from Volume 1 of ME!

                        Searchable index here.

                        Most recent detailed construction series in 1997 by Stan Bray (GLR vertical boiler), Vols 178/9, starts issue 4037, page 303.

                        Regards,

                        Phil

                        #369269
                        michael howarth 1
                        Participant
                          @michaelhowarth1

                          Thanks Phil. Thanks also for the Searchable Index- very good.

                          Mick

                          #381844
                          Andrew Wood 7
                          Participant
                            @andrewwood7

                            I have come to the boiler assembly on page 511 Model Engineer 28 September and there are two measurements for the distance over the outside of the tube plates. The text says 102mm and the photo 75 says 100mm. Not much in it but may as well check which is correct?

                            #385804
                            Paul Gilby
                            Participant
                              @paulgilby53625

                              In the latest edition, 21 Dec 2018, boiler fittings it specifies 10mm AF brass, would it not be better to use Phosphor Bronze? This would avoid the possibility of dezincification.

                              #385913
                              Peter Russell 4
                              Participant
                                @peterrussell4

                                Yes I agree any bush soldered directly into the boiler should be bronze for the reasons you have given

                                #385942
                                JasonB
                                Moderator
                                  @jasonb

                                  The bushes are bronze, the fittings brass

                                  Myself any that will be in contact with the water I would do in bronze, those only likely to be in contact with steam I would use brass for. It is the impurities in the water at temperature that can cause dezincification not the steam.

                                  #391861
                                  Andrew Wood 7
                                  Participant
                                    @andrewwood7

                                    I'm part way through silver soldering the boiler and notice that after soldering the two tube plates and fire tube assembly (and first two bushes) with medium temperature silver solder the assembly is then soldered to the barrel using the lower temperature solder but then returning to solder the last two bushes with the medium temperature solder. Doesn't this jeopardise the previous lower temperature solder joints? Or have a I misread the article?

                                    #404077
                                    Dominic Bramley
                                    Participant
                                      @dominicbramley60728

                                      Hi all,

                                      As a soldering novice I'm hoping to get a little bit of advice:

                                      I have just completed the first big soldering job on the ME Vertical Boiler – soldering the fire tubes, bushes and stays to the smoke-box end plate.

                                      All the joints seem to be sound with good fillets – but I have a bit of a problem with one of the bushes: solder appears to have found its way down the thread between the bush and the thread protection plug – soldering the plug into the bush.

                                      Any ideas as to the best way is to rectify this?

                                      Regards

                                      Dom

                                      #404079
                                      Former Member
                                      Participant
                                        @formermember19781

                                        [This posting has been removed]

                                        #404092
                                        Peter Russell 4
                                        Participant
                                          @peterrussell4

                                          Were the protection plugs made with a small hole in them – then if they did get soldered in theres a guide hole to drill them out and run a tap through.

                                          Other wise drill out and fit a new bush – put some tippex (typist correction fluid) on the thread that usually stops the solder creeping .

                                          Pete

                                          #404144
                                          Dominic Bramley
                                          Participant
                                            @dominicbramley60728

                                            Many thanks for the replies – sounds like drilling is the way to go.

                                            I don't have a pilot hole in the plug – it just has a screw head.

                                            Do you think it would be feasible to turn down a guide for a drill though? One side reamed to fit over the proud portion of the plug and the other to accept a spot drill to make a pilot hole on centre?

                                            Having got the fire tubes soldered OK I'm keen to avoid applying any more heat to that end!

                                            Regards

                                            Dom

                                            #404146
                                            Former Member
                                            Participant
                                              @formermember19781

                                              [This posting has been removed]

                                              #405021
                                              Dominic Bramley
                                              Participant
                                                @dominicbramley60728

                                                Quick update: the drilling guide jig worked perfectly and I was able to drill out the plug and re-tap the bush.

                                                Many thanks Bill and Peter for the pointers yes

                                                Dom

                                                #431187
                                                Andrew Wood 7
                                                Participant
                                                  @andrewwood7

                                                  I'm making the smokebox cap former in part 16 and am slightly confused about the layout of the holes as shown in fig41. This says it is a view from INSIDE but when looking at the pictures 89 and 93 it looks the other way around or am I reading the drawing incorrectly? As they are not symmetrical it makes a big difference.

                                                  #431193
                                                  JasonB
                                                  Moderator
                                                    @jasonb

                                                    I do seem to remember discussions at one time that the one shown in the photos was not the same as the one drawn

                                                    #431196
                                                    Andrew Wood 7
                                                    Participant
                                                      @andrewwood7

                                                      Thanks Jason, however I couldn't find any reference to this issue in the forums. I suppose the photos should be correct as I have found the drawings to be in error in the past?

                                                      Regards

                                                      Andrew

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