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Brian, On the beam engine, you advise to use toothpaste on the valve for lapping. I've used toothpaste in the past when I was building plastic model cars to smooth out a paint job. Do you suggest gel or white toothpaste and about what grit is it? Grasshopper

Thanks. I like the idea of flat bottoming a drill bit. I have a lot of used bits and this idea sounds just like what I was looking for. Grasshopper

When drilling a blind hole, you are obviously going to end up with the bottom having a 118 degree "funnel" at the bottom. I'm looking at suggestions to help me "square off" the bottom of the hole. I've tried using an end mill and my boring head but I'm not comfortable with either. Any...

Brian, Never mind getting back to me. I found Post #134 and #135 of this thread that answered all my questions. Grasshopper

Brian, I've finished the valve, bored the piston and valve holes on the cylinder. I'm getting ready to bore the air inlets on the side. After boring the two 0.080 inch holes through the valve hole to the cylinder bore, do I need to somehow fill in the hole on the outside of the valve hole? Or...

Beautiful work on the Trevithick. I'm still stumbling my way through your "Larger Simple Beam Engine". Still having "learning" experiences. Do something wrong and "learn" not to do that again!!! Grasshopper

Brian, I had a Honda 160 motorcycle, 4 stroke, that fired on every stroke like that. When I was racing motorcycles in the Mojave desert, my bike had 2 spark plug holes in the head, one being plugged. It was a 2 stroke Yamaha. I mounted the coil on the bike, stuck 2 plugs in the head and found...

Gunner, here on Veteran's Day, thank you for your service.

Ved, great words of advice.

Well done. Congratulations on your first build. I gave one of my machines to a nephew who is working on his PHD in AI Robotic Computer Programming. Computers doing all the work for you. I gave him this message, "No CNC machine will ever give you the same satisfaction as getting dirt, grease and...

Ken, Upon research, I found pictures like this. It looks like something that can be attached to a caliper. Just wondering if an attachment like this is available if you're unable to make one like yours. Grasshopper

Brian, Thanks for the advice. Yes, I will make sure your dimensions are machined to the prints. Grasshopper

Brian, I've started on your "Larger Simple Beam Engine". With my skill level, turning the square required for the column is bothering me. My question, can the column be made from 3 pieces, silver soldered together? The square at the bottom looks to be decorative, not rather functional, so I...

While reading Ken I's gear cutting pdf, I saw "radius measuring attachment for calipers". Where can one find this attachment? I have a 6" Brown & Sharpe (Tesa) caliper. Grasshopper

Ved, OOHHH, I like it! Looks like you are experimenting with using what we learned from the Sun-Planet Engine? For now, until you perfect the design for this one, I think I'll tackle Brian Rupnow's simplified beam engine. I've thought about an IC engine, but the ones out there look like more...

I finally finished my "problem child" Coomber. I followed Vederstein's plans. All through this build, I was encountering small "teething" problems, mostly because I didn't follow instructions!!! When I assembled all the finished parts, it would rotate very freely with no air. Introduce air and...

Bazmak, when using a fly cutter with that kind of diameter, what speed is recommended and how much is the max depth? Still learning from you masters. Grasshopper

a41capt, you say you raced motorcycles in the 60's. Did you race desert? I raced in sanctioned events in the early 70's in the California Mojave Desert. Here are a couple of pictures taken of me during a couple of events. I used 175 Yamaha's. Grasshopper

I finally finished my "problem child" Coomber. I followed Vederstein's plans. All through this build, I was encountering small "teething" problems, mostly because I didn't follow instructions!!! When I assembled all the finished parts, it would rotate very freely with no air. Introduce air and...

thegallery, Plans, plans, plans!!! Do you have plans to make this project? I'd pay to get your plans and give this project a go. Grasshopper