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I used to work in machine areas that were all mechanically based, even envelope making machines that were over 60ft long, with not one part that wasn't mechanically driven. OK we had microswitches and magnetic sensors on them but they just ran the counting system (40K pieces per hour) and of...

If you had a rack on the spring loaded 'piston' bit, you could drive it with a small cog coupled to your servo. To get it to automatic fire at the end of a back stroke, just cut two or three teeth off the drive gear. So the sliding component would be wound back to it's start position and when...

Hi Ved, Myfordboy also does a casting and build set for this engine, just a little more refined. http://myfordboy.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-essex-hot-air-engine.html I think this engine has a full build sequence on Youtube, so it might help you with a few of the risky setups. I have bought myself...

Nice one Beta, or should I say two. Everyone has to start somewhere, as they say about little acorns. You are definitely on the right track by joining in here, plenty of experience in problem solving and lots of experience of building, from little wobblers to world class engines. As I always...

Anatol, To cover your questions in the same order. Wobblers - they can be got to very efficient engines. In fact, some of the early steam ships had oscillating engines, with something like 7 foot bores or even larger, so they weren't just used for models. Having made piston valve and slide...

Machined cast iron should come out almost like chrome. I use different grades of steel wool to obtain such finishes, and not only on flywheels, but it is a bit dicey as your fingers get very close to spinning parts. If you can get or make yourself a small die filer, spokes on flywheels can be...

Hi ST, It would be very helpful to know where you are residing, even if it is just the country. That way, you might find exactly what you are looking for. John

If ever you need larger flywheels, this is the place to get them from. They do up to 16" and are very well made with the outer rim usually ready machined. The postage is very reasonable as well. https://www.rc-machines.com/en/model-engineering/flying-wheels John

Make it adjustable. Here are some of mine, same basic engine of 10mm bore X 20mm stroke. Just a few pieces swapped over and they can be either. By adding the gear for the horizontal, with string wrapped around the shaft, it will easily lift a house brick off the floor with only about 4 or...

Hi Eddie, What side of the North/South divide do you hail from? John

JC, You don't say what part of the UK you come from John

Thank you Al. This was from the days I was making batches of the same steam engine, and without it, it would have taken many more hours to achieve what I wanted to do. I just showed the item without the expanation and it fooled everyone, it was only when I showed the second picture that the...

Here is a very old post of mine that shows a little jig you could make for your tapper, perfect for getting things square to an original hole. http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/showpost.php?p=103616&postcount=21 John

What is the use of mincing words, just get straight to the point, no matter how much it hurts. The reason I know those tables are junk is because I have actually had to rework a few of them, just to get them good enough to use on a drill press. The gibs in them are absolutely atrocious. Sorry...

Don't get the wrong idea, I have to make one like Bobs for my lathe. Just that I will be fitting it on the other end of the spindle, just like gunsmiths do to keep the material running straight while it goes through the spindle to the chuck, which is also usually a cat chuck, to get the barrel...

I have a genuine Vertex and when it was converted to run with Divisionmaster I found one slight tight spot, so did what Divisionmaster recommended. They suggested a tiny bit of fine grinding paste between worm and operating wheel, worm and drive into tight engagement and then run for 5 minutes...

As far as my searches around the internet, nothing under about 300 bucks will be good enough for you to modify your table, they are just garbage and not accurate enough, or the table is made from Ali. OK for a drill press, but not for milling work. I suppose you have seen this one, normally...

There is very little new in this game Norman. I read lots of old books dating to the turn of the 20th century and just a little later, and see things today that are just updated versions of tooling or techniques. Most of this very good information and techniques have been lost over time. If...

Nick, I understand what you are saying, and is exactly what I would have done, but all 3 of my dividing tools are 90 to 1 and I thought that because Bob has an almost exact match with the RT I have, I thought I wouldn't mention a thing like that as it could confuse rather than help. John

Lovely work Mirek. It goes to show that Elmers engine designs can be made to look good, and you proved it. John