The Workshop Progress Thread 2021

[Jim NicParticipant @jimnic]

Onwards and upward with the Norden. This is the end product as built by Neil Wyatt, our esteemed editor, who designed it:

This update shows my almost completed cylinder with the crocodile type crosshead guides:

and a family shot of progress to date:

The next item on the agenda is the slide valve. The steam chest is quite shallow at 10mm so a bit tight for my preferred slide valve mechanism of a valve rod operating on a bar a in slot machined across the valve. Neil has shown an alternative on his drawings so I may accept that he knows best and make that.

Jim

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

Hope this is not in the wrong place.

No making or mending but Today is the first day of me journey into model engineering. This has started with the clear out of my wood store where many of my turning blanks are kept. Once that shed is removed a fresh base is being laid with slabs so that my existing workshop shed can be emptied and moved to this location so that the new workshop can be erected in the location where the workshop is at the moment I hope that makes sense.

The reason for all the moving about is the wood store is on it's last legs where as my current shed still has some life left in it.

I have just under 2 months to move everything for the new workshop.

Who said this hobby is cheap

Edited By Derek Lane on 29/06/2021 20:11:02

[Steve NeighbourParticipant @steveneighbour43428]

Did you just wonder if Model Engineering is "cheap" ?

I always tell swmbo it is really cheap (a lot less than her gardening and other hobbies)

Anyone think different ? probably be wise to

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I reckon its cheaper than the amount of cash folks spend on booze, smokes, holidays, restaurants,cars, clothes and other assorted tat

edit: and the food which goes to waste

Its the amount of time it can consume which is considerable(and makes it so useful in life)

Edited By Ady1 on 30/06/2021 08:35:52

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

I always thought that any hobby is a pleasant way of spending money.

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

I remember being at a Club meeting (as a visitor) when we were reviewing some milling cutter costs. One member commented that he could not afford such prices, did not like it one bit when I suggested that perhaps he was into the wrong hobby.

[HOWARDTParticipant @howardt]

Not a cheap hobby, is there any hobby that is really cheap, you might say something like bird watching which is alright until you want binoculars then do you pay £10 or £1000, We have to do something to keep all our marbles. When you consider a day out can easily blow through £100, with fuel and food and that is just for two people. Also remember you cannot take it with you.

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

Those that know I already have a fully equipped woodworking turning workshop and the machines are only the tip of the iceberg. I did say that last sentence in my last post as jest.

I am sure I will find lots when I empty the old shop that will need to be passed on as no longer used, but that is for a different forum to this one as they will be woodworking related

[Nick Clarke 3Participant @nickclarke3]

Posted by Steve Neighbour on 29/06/2021 22:18:47:

Did you just wonder if Model Engineering is "cheap" ?

I always tell swmbo it is really cheap (a lot less than her gardening and other hobbies)

Anyone think different ? probably be wise to

But honest dear – lathes and milling machines are expensive because they come with all the accessories and materials you will ever need!

Even I couldn't make that seem plausible!

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Finished my air cooled version of the Farm Boy hit and miss engine

Rod

[DiogenesIIParticipant @diogenesii]

Nice, love the trolley detail

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Looks good Rod and running well with the governor controlling the speed, just watch your hands on those two files that are missing their handles

[Jim NicParticipant @jimnic]

Very nice Rod, a real good looker and fine running too.

Jim

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I decided it was about time I finished off the 1/3rd scale VJ Monitor engine that has been sitting about part done for a couple or three years so ordered up some 20 x 40 black bar and cut the crankshaft from it. 7" long, 7/16" dia with 1/2" dia pin. There was some comment that **GT inserts are not durable but this was all done with them except the pin diameter and they coped well with the interrupted cuts, mostly 0.2mm tip radius with just an 0.8mm insert being used to do the internal fillets.

That allowed me to do the flywheel using the crankshaft as a plug gauge to get the fit I wanted.

[Ian McVickersParticipant @ianmcvickers56553]

I havent gotten a huge amount done this year but have managed to get a new to me Startrite bandsaw, which I think is an SP147, 10 speed. Its had a strip down, check over, rebuild and paint. Converted to single phase and some new electrics.

Next on the list was a new linisher build from scratch. I did think about one of the 2x 72 belt linishers but i think mine will be of more use to me.

I need to finish this off with some drive belt guards and linisher belt covers with extraction connection point.

So I started to build a small set of rolls about 2 months ago and just got them finished. I damaged the tendon on the middle finger of my left hand so its been in a splint for 8 weeks now so this has been very slow going.

I can start on the covers now and see if I can improve my TIG welding in the process.

Edited By Ian McVickers on 02/10/2021 20:34:38

Edited By Ian McVickers on 02/10/2021 20:35:27

[DiogenesIIParticipant @diogenesii]

Finally got so offended by the lumpish and ill-proportioned base that I'd made to mount my Senft vacuum engine on, that I resolved to make a nicer one – and a new burner as well – some kind of catharsis for me, up until now the main interest has been the engines themselves.. ..the beginning of a slippery slope I guess..

I couldn't quite bring myself to dismantle and paint the engine.. ..though maybe my hand will be forced, the 'patina' is a little gummier than I'd hoped for..

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

I signed up for "Getting to grips with the Blues" at my local music school. At 10lb weight I'm struggling with my Epiphone Les Paul. So I put this together with bits and pieces from my wood store. The body outline is a Gibson melody maker/LP junior double cut and the neck is a Fender style bolt on.

The neck is from a piece of rock maple I was given years ago, the body is from poplar that was used as packing from a timber purchase and the top is a book matched bit of figured maple that was a failed bass viol back. Weighs in at slightly over 5lbs

Rod

[geoff walker 1Participant @geoffwalker1]

Very nice Rod, you must have plentiful bits and pieces box. Who's your man Rod, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters?

I made a guitar some years ago, les paul copy with Schaller golden 50 humbuckers. Not much of a player but sure enjoyed making it.

I seem to remember inserting a curved steel rod in the neck. It had an anchor point in body and a thread and nut in the head. By tightening the nut you could straighten the rod a little which would counteract any flexing of the neck when the the strings were tuned.

You don't seem to have rod in your neck Rod, excuse the pun, why is that?

Geoff🤓

[Mike HurleyParticipant @mikehurley60381]

Posted by HOWARDT on 30/06/2021 10:41:56:

Not a cheap hobby, is there any hobby that is really cheap, you might say something like bird watching which is alright until you want binoculars then do you pay £10 or £1000, We have to do something to keep all our marbles. When you consider a day out can easily blow through £100, with fuel and food and that is just for two people. Also remember you cannot take it with you.

Just be hopful that 'er indoors never gets hooked on serious Dolls houses! Talk about a money pit. Makes my humble workshop purchases fade into insignificance. Still, on the positive side, bithday and christmas present choice are a breeze now.

All the best, Mike

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Hi Geoff,

The guitar does have a truss rod. It's inserted in a slot in the back of the neck

and adjusted at the body end

The cover strip for the rod is much wider than it should be because the bit slipped out of my Aldi router and chewed up the edges

I used a double action truss rod like this

(image from StewMac)

Saves having to make a curved depth slot and, depending on which way you turn the screw, can adjust the neck curve in both direction.

All blues is good but, on the whole, I mostly favour Clapton's interpretations.

Cheers,

Rod

[geoff walker 1Participant @geoffwalker1]

Thanks Rod,

Not seen the double rod before, but certainly a good idea.

Cheers geoff😎

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Please use the 2022 thread from now on.

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