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Hi, I am a bit late in the debate but when I started this hobby about 18 months ago I had to ask the same question. My advice is to not bother with cheap sets and buy as the engine plan calls for. Most model engine designs require only a couple of sizes of taps or die and you'd find that these...

Hi, The advice of TIN and the explanation of KEN I are excellent, you may also wish to have a look at the design of the TiNY no 23 by Elmer, the location of the ports by a simple jig is really easy and fool proof , you might wish to adapt the idea to your design. Regards, A.G

Hi, Have a look at this link, it maybe what you are looking for. http://www.deansphotographica.com/machining/projects/gearcutting/gearcutting.htm Regards, A.G

HI, I use these taps made by Europa Tools, they are the best I have ever used and no material is too tough for them. Use 1.6mm drill for 2mm tap and any cutting tapping fluid will work with these. Do not be heavy handed with small bore tapping please...

Hi, Once two pieces of metal have been soldered together, the solder forms a metalic bind between the two metals, this is not a joint in the conventional way but a metallurgical one. It is therefore very difficult if not impossible to unsolder the joint if the soldering was done correctly in...

Hi Eddie, I am sure that you know that you'd only need a propane torch to bring the tool to cooked carrot colour, I just use the domestic oven heated to about 250C to temper it. As far as hardening goes you only need to harden the teeth and not the whole length of the tool. Regards, A.G

Hi pacman, If you look up Elmer's designs for model Air/Steam engines, you'd find that he designed these to be mostly machined on a lathe and drill press only. I would say that engines made from castings generally require a lathe and a milling machine. Regards, A.G

Hi, This the one that I have, hope is of help to you. http://www.minimagneto.co.uk/Products.php Regards, A.G

Hi mark, Crobalt is a Chrom and Cobalt alloy but the Cobalt % is very high, up to 50%. It can cope with very high cutting temp without loosing the edge and could be cut with normal grinding wheels, the only caveat is that it is very sensitive to thermal shock, so no quenching during grind up...

Hi, That is true so long as you understand that the hob will only approximate the involute curve, but in most cases that is more than acceptable. The trick is to cut the gear in multiple cuts not in one go. A.G

Hi Mark, Don't bother with them, utter rubbish. I have two sets of them and they are not worth the money. I only keep mine as a last resort spare . The glanze stuff mentioned were reasonable in price before all the recent price hikes, still at least they are usable. I use the tool shanks...

Hi, First make sure that the mill z axis is perpendicular to the table over at least 4" of travel other wise the hole will drift in xy direction. Then make sure that the work piece is held true to the table. May I ask what is the purpose of this hole as you are attempting to drill a hole...

Hi Man, Many around but I only remember them when the questions are asked. just having a bad memory I guess. Regards, A.G

Hi, As Maryak has already mentioned use either silver steel and or drill rod , once the teeth have been cut heat to cooked carrot colour and quench and then heat again to about 250 C to temper , I just wack the oven up to its max and leave the tool there for about an hour as I find it...

Hi, Unless you wish to make gears for commercial purposes then I would strongly advise you to learn to make your own cutters, the best ones being a home made hobb. This will approximate the involute gear shape if multiple cuts are taken and it is a hell of fun to make. They are well documented...

Hi, I have built the Webster engine on a little Taig lathe and even a smaller Taig mill which to this date refuses to be trammed properly. The aluminium valve blocks seal together without the use of gasket material. I milled them using 1/4" TILAN coated end mill but for once I listened to...

Hi, As has been said you can make an engine entirely out of aluminium so long as it runs on air , one of the problems with aluminium piston is also the expansion of the stuff with heat, that is something that has to be considered if you are going to use steam ender pressure. I have a small...

Hi, I use both, hss is easier on your machine but you need to watch your speed and feed rate or you will blunt it in no time, needing a regrind. The best compromise for me, a relative newbie, is an indexable carbide tool and tool bit such as a dcmt type bit. If the lathe you have purchased...

Congratulations Brian, Now I am inspired to get the old Webster going asap. Regards, A.G

No Worries mate, It is a pleasure to be of help. I have almost learned ,whatever little as it maybe , on machining from this forum in the last 18 months since I took this hobby up. I used to be photographer, well still am, and used to participate in some of the discussions in other photo...