A Nube from Downunder

[Hrcoleman66]

Hi all,

Hugh here from Melbourne, Australia.

A fitter and turner from way back but many years out of the trade now and stuck at a desk designing Automotive Special Service Tools and project managing.
Always wanted to build model Steam Engines, but for one reason or another, never got around to it.
Now, setting up my workshop with a SEIG 7x12 and a small mill... And slowly accumulating all the necessary paraphernalia (Rotary table, Boring Head, etc, etc...).
I started an own design engine today.
Double Acting Slide Valve Mill Engine. 12.7mm Bore with a 19.05mm Stroke (that's 1/2" by 3/4 for those that only use big numbers).
Based the design of the cylinder on the little "Danni" that Bengs Modelbau do.
Turned main body with a soldered on Valve Face. The Steam Chest will bolt on with the Cover.
Not sure yet whether to go for a slide style Cross Head (A la Stuart S50) or a cylindrical type one.
Anyway, that's me.

Cheers,

Hugh

 

[ausdier]

Welcome Hugh,

Glad to have you aboard hope to see an engine build log from you soon.

Cheers and have some fun. wEc1

 

[Herbiev]

And welcome from Adelaide wEc1

 

[Swifty]

Welcome Hugh, great to see another Melbourne member here.

Paul.

 

[oldboy]

Welcome Hugh sounds an interesting project. Welcome again from Sydney.

Barry

 

[Hrcoleman66]

Thankyou all!
The project is pretty fluid at the moment (the main concept is there, it's just the details that are undecided).
It will certainly be a Mill Engine type. The Flywheel will be 75-80mm Dia (Depending on what I can get hold of in a Cast Iron billet). Need to grab hold of some Bronze bar and some Silver Steel as well.
Using scrap brass from the bin at work at the moment (Aircon Service machine fittings)... It's the right price at least!
There is no particular prototype that I am trying to replicate. Maybe later I'll look at a particular engine and look at modelling it, but at the moment, I just want to get my machining and fitting skills back where they need to be. And this project will help to do that I hope.

Cheers,

Hugh

 

[Swifty]

Hi Hugh, where about's in Melbourne are you located?

Paul.

 

[Hrcoleman66]

Hi Paul,

I work in Mulgrave, but live up in the hills at the very end of the Puffing Billy line.

I was thinking of taking a trip down to Sims Metal in Noble Park at lunch time and see what they have going to the general public (I don't even know if they actually do sales)... But then, there are multitudes of other Metal/Engineering suppliers close to Mulgrave as well.

Cheers,

Hugh

 

[Swifty]

Hi Hugh, I live in Mount Martha, some of the bigger scrap metal dealers don't sell to the public. I tried the local Sims a couple of years ago with no luck. I do get some scrap from Highet Scrap Metal in Braeside.

Paul.

 

[Hrcoleman66]

Thanks Paul,

That sounds like an option.

Cheers,

Hugh

 

[gus]

Hi Hugh,
Warm welcome from faraway Singapore.
Will very very addictive and fun to build and run your own engines.

Took a ride on the ''Puffing Billy''.

 

[MarkB]

Hi Hugh,

Welcome from Stawell.

You will enjoy the learning experience, buying tools, scrounging for stock. I am?

Mark

 

[Hrcoleman66]

Thanks Mark.

Tried Highett Scrap Metals today to see if I could scrounge some cast iron for flywheels... no luck.
They did have plenty of bronze bar, but I don't really want to be wasting bronze on flywheels.
I have a long weekend this weekend, so I'll make some calls... Oh, juts got myself a Rotary Table off Evilbay as well
Cheers,

Hugh

 

[Rays]

Hi Hugh from Western Sydney.

I was lucky to pick up from ALDI some marked down cast weights 4 2kg box set for $9.

Here in Sydney a number of scrap metal places will sell cheap to modlers. I also buy from Ezimetal they do off cuts

 

[Hrcoleman66]

Thanks Ray,

It's amazing what they sell at Aldi. What sort of weights were these?

Cheers,

Hugh

 

[Hrcoleman66]

I'm going to move this discussion over to a build thread if nobody minds.

Cheers,

Hugh

 

[Rays]

Hugh I'll check today but cast steel I think a box set of 4 4"x1"? 2.5kg

They did this sale about Jan/Feb this year it was 2 weeks or more after and the box was damaged and marked down to $9 so I grabbed it. I figured I can make face plates for the wood lathes or depending on what type of cast other things. I'll take pick today also just need to wait for rain to stop to get into garage.

Edited to add photos.

They sure look like cast steel but I could be wrong.

 

[Hrcoleman66]

Good idea! I was wondering where to find material to make an adaptor plate for my chuck to mount on my rotary table!

And a face plate too!

Thanks.

Hugh

 

[Rays]

I'm a long way from making any sort of engine but I reckon with some machining they could make great flywheels also.

They did have larger weights up to 10" dia but $$ for one wasn't worth it.

Other sources of metal I have picked up my sons Pulsar flywheel, a lamp base which when pulled apart had a cast steel plate 9"x3/8"

If we go past road side clean up's we always check them out often some interesting pick ups.

Recently I scored from a woodworking mate his old planner/thicknesser which ad been in the trailer for the tip for 4 years out in weather. I was initially just after the HSS blades, I scored threaded shafts, roller shafts, scores of cap bolts, gogs for the height adjustment and chain. I expected all to be so rusted yet it came apart quiet easy. Mate said motor should still fire up yeh right says I, sure enough except for magnetic switch which died I now have a 8000rpm motor one new switch $65.:wall:

Old printers have sources of some real nice bright steel some times stainless rods all small sizes 1/2" down depending on size of printer.

 

[Hrcoleman66]

Hi Rays,

And a source of gears and cogs as well! Check out old Microwaves next hard rubbish. Nice little gear boxes that might lend themselves to cam drives and such like!

Cheers,

Hugh