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Rally in the valley 2012 I attended a traction engine rally in Bridgnorth (near Wolverhampton) England. The site is in a valley next to the river Seven. I filmed Guy and Hal Debes pulling a Caterpillar using the drum of their Fowler ploughing engine called “ The Chief ”. They had a strain...

Great workmanship Jason. Well done. I see you have started another engine for the next project of the month. Keep em coming Dave Bick

When I restored my Bridgeport I had the idea that I could clean the original old metering valves. What I found when I took one to bits is they have their own filter the metering is achieved by the oil travelling round a thread and through a one way valve. I replaced all the valves and the pump...

Cast iron castings that has been removed from the sand whilst still near red hot can have chilled areas or foreign steel items can find there way into the metal during the melting process causing hard spots. A friend of mine stated he chose the best grade of cast iron the foundry had. On...

Great little tool I Like simple easy to make tools like this. I wont knock the more complex projects but I’am more likely to make this one, the sort I can make in a few hours. Thanks for sharing Dave Bick

Not sure how you anneal aluminium but annealing aluminium is something I have to carry out on a fairly regular basis. Using a gentle flame and keeping the torch moving I try to heat a large area using a piece of soft wood stroke the alum whilst heating. The wood will char or leave a black mark...

Jason A truly beautiful engine. A great bit of engineering. I’am sure it will run as well as it looks. Its not easy painting an engine that is up to this standard but I’ve no doubt you will. Thanks for sharing the build Keep up the good work Dave Bick

I was told the mixing of aluminium dust and iron dust can cause a explosive mix. Has any one had or know of even a little bang from sanding both these metals on a sander? Dave Bick

Shopshoe You can get what they call a cheat lens for welding masks. I have never used one or seen one. But they are advertised on the Internet. I weld using my reading glasses and the mask adjusted so as not to come into contact with them. I know when you flip a welding mask down if not...

Thank you all who have commented on safety glasses. I now have some food for thought. A good friend Keith Wilson (of Model engineer fame) when he lived just round the corner would always be wearing a Magnifying visor thing on his head. I sometimes wondered if he ever took it off. Thanks Dave Bick

Last week I had a hot piece of swarf fly of a steel bar I was turning in the lathe and hit me in the corner of the eyelid. No great damage a few small burn marks. Due to failing eyesight I had been wearing my reading glasses to see up close. And by wearing them on the end of my nose, so as to...

In the U.K. we call it a hand-powered swager or hand-powered jenny (you can get them motorized). They fetch a fair bit of money on flebay. As pointed out you can put a bead along the edge of metal or some tools allow the edge to be turned over to make a small flange. I use one at work (see...

This is a clocking in machine. I use it has my workshop clock. For all of my working life (40 years and lots more to do) I have had to clock in and out of work. All the jobs required a time sheet to be filled in and just lately an extra daily sheet, logging all the jobs done on that day, the...

You know by today's standards none of us was suppose to ever make it. HIGH SCHOOL -- 1959 vs. 2010 Scenario 1: Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck's gun rack. 1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's...

I’ve just received my digital taco from a seller in china advertising on ebay. It’s the same as Firebirds (the first entry in this thread) and I used his link to ebay to buy it. The cost £3 plus £5 post. It took 19 working days to arrive to the U.K. It seems to work O.K. They do tell you to...

Congratulations on your first engine. Thanks for sharing the build with us, and the excellent step-by-step photos (We like photos) I’am sure with the skills learnt so far another project will soon be in the making. Dave Bick

Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year to all. Don’t eat and drink too much. Like I will :) All the best Dave Bick

Ether very short telegraph poles or very deep snow (Not sure where this photo came from)

Grampa at the Supermarket A woman in a supermarket is following a grandfather and his badly behaved 3 year-old grandson. It's obvious to her that he has his hands full with the child screaming for sweets in the sweet aisle, biscuits in the biscuit aisle; and for fruit, cereal and pop in...

Tom T I have over the year’s cut, beaten and welded steel as part of my job and hobby. May I say I'am truly impressed by what you have achieved. Well done. :bow: Dave Bick U.K.