British 0-4-0 Toy Locomotive: he said

[b.lindsey]

I have to agree zee...leave the lathe alone for now...it kinda like carrying an umbrella on a cloudy day...its a sure bet it will keep the rain away!

Where did you order the solder from if I may ask?

Bill

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Not that I'm superstitious ..

Well I am. I believe in 3rd time's charm...but have to admit it hasn't held up in this hobby..4th try...5th try...6th try....

If you leave the lathe ready to work, there will be no mistakes... It's a proven fact, mostly.

Ah. As Bugs would say...You don't know me very well. Do you?

I have to agree zee...leave the lathe alone for now...it kinda like carrying an umbrella on a cloudy day...its a sure bet it will keep the rain away!

Where did you order the solder from if I may ask?

Good point Bill. T watered the garden today. So we got rain. It's why I never wash my car.

I ordered the material from SRA. Dean put me onto them. I'll try to report on their service...but I'm sure it'll be fine. I also ordered the 601 flux from them.

This way it'll be all Dean's fault. ;D

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Went by 'The Great Pumpkin' today...a local health food store.
Found Citric Acid in 4 oz size. $5.

I don't recall anyone saying so...but apparently it's also used to 'help sprouting'.

I don't need anything more to sprout. :big:

I need something that 'rejuvenates'.
Even better...something that 'improves on the original design'.

IF...you know what I mean.

 

[mklotz]

$1.25/oz! At that price you should be putting it behind your ears.

43 cents an oz here...

http://www.americanspice.com/catalo...acid&_ssess_=d0bd318390fa4f8d1a783f4b3562b47a

I know you needed it NOW, but for future reference... They have alum, too.

 

[zeeprogrammer]

$1.25/oz! At that price you should be putting it behind your ears.
43 cents an oz here...
but for future reference... They have alum, too.

And probably $1 an oz for shipping. :big:
Thanks Marv.
You did make me think I should have checked T's source for spices...Penzeys...but it turns out they don't carry any.
Alum is readily available at the grocery store. I bought some early last year but have yet to use it. That's not to say I didn't need to use it.

 

[Deanofid]

Wait, wait. I have an issue with this poo-poo.

Well I am. I believe in 3rd time's charm...but have to admit it hasn't held up in this hobby..4th try...5th try...6th try....

You're such an exaggerator when you're not telling the truth! You make lots of parts in one go. I know. I saw some. You're getting kinda good at this. You can't fool us, sometimes.

This way it'll be all Dean's fault. ;D

Alright. This part might be true enough.

Found Citric Acid in 4 oz size. $5.
I don't recall anyone saying so...but apparently it's also used to 'help sprouting'.

With all the mulch you've been spreading this season, (and getting on a more earthy topic) I think you need anti-sprouting stuff. Round Up works wonders..

IF...you know what I mean.

Huh?

Dean

 

[fcheslop]

Hi Zee, Just done a descale on my espresso machine and happend to notice that the descaller is Citric Acid and is made by an American company might be worth a try they are at www.everpure.com and they do 1.75oz,7oz and 2.2lb packs you may have to buy a box but some of you guys may be able to club together and split it.I use this as a pickle for my small boilers and it works well.Good luck with the rest of the build I have really enjoyed reading about your escapades.Oh nearly forgot its called ScaleKleen in the U.K and the part number is EV9796-50
regards and best wishes Frazer

 

[Philjoe5]

Looking good Zee. I shall use your photos, explanations, trials and tribulations as my personal tutorial to try silver soldering. My first and only attempt some time ago was a dismal failure. I've since picked up much more information about it so when the need arises I'll jump into it. Keep on keepin' on, ;D

Cheers,
Phil

 

[kustomkb]

Your loco is looking good Zee!

Lots to learn from this thread,

Thanks all.

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Thank you Dean, Frazer, Phil, and Kevin. Very much appreciated.

It's been 24 hours in the sprout food citric acid...improved...but I'm not sure it'll get better.

I'm sure the solder will remain...but I'm surprised by the discoloration on the other side.

I have a couple of questions...

Should a soft brush be used? Like a toothbrush?

I mixed 4 oz to 1.5 quarts of water. Any reason not to make it stronger? My fingers mind this less than when I peel an orange.

I'll give it a couple of more days (well...most likely until this weekend when I have more time) and take a picture so you all can compare.

I'm glad I didn't break down the lathe for cleaning...I forgot I have a jig to make to hold the burners in place for soldering.

 

[Deanofid]

Should a soft brush be used? Like a toothbrush?

Yes Zee, but not your own.

I mixed 4 oz to 1.5 quarts of water. Any reason not to make it stronger?

That's about the ratio I use. I don't measure very carefully. I think I mentioned 8 oz for two to three quarts of water. You can make it stronger, or you can warm up the solution. It will work faster if it's nice and warm.

You used regular soft solder, and if you used regular flux (not white paste like for silver soldering) it may not come off as well in citric acid, though the brass should still get clean. For regular soft solder, I just use soap and hot water to get the flux off, then put it in the pickle to clean the brass.

Dean

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Thanks Dean. I'll leave it set for a few days. Maybe strengthen it later.

I managed to make the jig for soldering the burners...

The instructions just had you set a piece of stock on top of the burners for soldering. If I had more experience I might have gone the same way. Instead, I turned down some 'pins' to fit inside the burners to hold them.

I'm not worried about the heat being sucked away by the pins. The parts are small and I'm sure the burners and feed pipe will heat up well enough.

The burners are straighter than they appear in the picture. I'm quite pleased.

When I get ready (I have some practicing to do first), I'll wire the setup onto a scrap of Hardibacker board before I solder it.

 

[Deanofid]

You make a nice jig, Zee. It looks like it really holds things lined up very well.
Good work, and good thinking on the way you made it.

Do these get soft, or hard?

Dean

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Thanks Dean.

I think this calls for very small diameter solder. All I'll have is hard (Bag-7, 56%).

 

[b.lindsey]

I'm glad I didn't break down the lathe for cleaning...I forgot I have a jig to make to hold the burners in place for soldering.

See there, we told you so :big:

Nice job on the fixture too!!

Bill

 

[arnoldb]

A very nice Jig Carl Thm:

And like you said, you need just enough solder to close the gaps. On the end one, too much might cause the solder to run in and fill the hole in the feed pipe. Are you going to cross-drill the feed pipe for the middle hole before or after soldering?

Regards, Arnold

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Thanks Bill.
Thanks Arnold.

Are you going to cross-drill the feed pipe for the middle hole before or after soldering?

I'm not sure I understand the question but let me try explaining what I'm (supposed to) going to do...

Once soldered I'll take that modified drill bit (as an end-mill) and drill/mill into the middle burner enough to take the top off the feed pipe.

Wish me luck.

Hm. Actually...I won't use that modified drill bit...I'll use a regular bit...it just needs to cut a hole.

 

[Deanofid]

You know what, Zee? Probably don't use a regular bit unless it almost fills up the tube that will hold
the wick. Otherwise, it's going to hunt all over the place on the little radius that is the outside of the
long feed tube. Very well might cause an ugly problem.

If you have a transfer punch the same size as the ID of the wick tube, drop it down in there and tap
it a couple times to give the bit a fighting chance. If you don't have one, it's a five minute job on any
kind of steel rod. You don't need to do any hardening on it for this one thing, 'less you want to.

Just a suggestion, you know.

Dean

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Oh thanks Dean!
I hadn't thought about that.
(I'd like to think I might've when it came time...but I suspect I wouldn't.)

Now you have me thinking...

I think a center drill can reach. Certainly enough to put a divot in it.
Wouldn't that be better?

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Got the Bag-7 56% silver solder today.

This is about $75 worth of stuff...

.025 in the back....031 in the front.

Don't mind mini-zeepster's frown. He's feeling a bit low for me due to today's earlier adventure. ;D

Maybe this weekend I can do some more soldering (practicing).