British 0-4-0 Toy Locomotive: he said

[Deanofid]

I meant which silver content wire, Zee, but I think I have it figured out looking back at what you
bought from SRA.

It's looking very much like you've about got this sorted out. If you have a few spots where the
wire doesn't flow you can put it in the pickle for a while to clean it, rinse it off, re-flux and do it
again. It won't hurt the joint you've already done.

You can mix two different wires, too. If you have to do a heat in two or three stages, you can
use 45% for the first heat to get things stuck together, then use 56% for subsequent heats and
know that your piece won't fall apart. The 45% melts at higher temps.

Dean

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Ah sorry Dean. I thought you knew it was the 56% and was wondering about what size I was using.

I'm hoping tomorrow will be a good day to start doing the 'real' thing.

 

[Deanofid]

No need for "sorry", Zee! Gee whiz, all I had to do was look at the earlier post where you got your
Hunt Bros. stash.
'Course, if I ask dumb questions, it keeps your thread on top, where I want it.
8)

Dean

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Quick update...pics will come after I successfully or unsuccessfully overcome what could be a serious disaster...

How's that for a teaser?

Soldered on one end cap. As expected, lots of discoloration but otherwise I have to say I'm pleased. I'd preformed the solder.

Soldered on the other end cap. Same result.

Then went onto the two burners..The jig worked wonders. Originally I was going to set it up so that the block was on top and I would wire it down. It was much easier just to use the jig as a stand and set it upside down.

Not too happy about the result. This time I just poked at it with the wire...I should have preformed the solder. Kind of crummy. And there appears to be a hole on one side but I can't tell if that's a problem. I think it's going to be okay because the tubing goes through.

Disaster still to come...

Went back to the boiler and set it up with the jig to hold the bushing. Preformed the solder. Soldered and stuck the thing in the citric acid.

I was very pleased with the result. And then I noticed the stud on the one end cap.

Disaster.

It had come loose. Luckily I was able to prevent it from falling into the boiler and I managed to get a nut on it. The question is...how to fix it?

I'm thinking I could tap a hole in a length of 1/4" square aluminum...screw the stud into it (holding onto it so it don't fall into the boiler), set the bar on some brick, and hang the boiler from the bar. Then resolder.

If you think more solder is needed from the inside...then I could try to get the stud out the remaining bushing hole...wrap solder around it, tie thread around it and fish it back to the hole...then do the above.

Rats.
Let us hope this does not turn into 'foo'.

 

[zeeprogrammer]

A couple of pics...

You can see the nut holding onto the stud. The nut is just big enough. I'm thinking I should repair that before I solder in the last bushing. Otherwise...

The chimney is just there so I can see what it looks like (and remember what nice brass the rest of it used to be) ;D When I do the other bushing though I have the chimney on there so I can eyeball it vertical.

The fuel tank went well except the inlet fell further into the hole. I had a clamp on it so I'm not sure what happened. For that matter...I don't why they didn't design a shoulder on it so it you wouldn't have to clamp it from above.

It doesn't fit the loco. I can either trim the tab on the loco so the fuel tanks sits on the lip...or try and heat and lift the nozzle up. I'm inclined to trip the tab. It's not much of a holder anyway.

Oh...and the tube coming out is just a little bit crooked. I just bent it. You can't see it.

Here's the back side.

No foo yet. No dim wail yet. But I'm not done yet.

 

[fcheslop]

Hi Zee,just an idea could you fit a blind bush instead of the stud ?.looking good best of luck with the rest of the build.
regards Frazer

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Thanks Frazer. Unfortunately I don't know what a blind bush is.

In any case...I went to repair the stud. Luckily I thought about it a little bit more. Hanging the boiler off the bar could likely result in the end cap coming off.

So instead I took a smaller length of 1/4", drilled and tapped the hole and then shimmed the two ends against the end cap.

A better method would have been to drill/tap 3 holes and use the two outer ones to 'draw' the stud out. But I didn't think of that until later.

Either way...I couldn't see the back side very well...I'm waiting for it too cool off and then we'll see. Boy oh boy...I'm hoping this works.

Trying avert the 'foo'...

 

[zeeprogrammer]

foo





Didn't catch at all. Stud fell in boiler. Stud is bigger than the bushing.
Screwed.

 

[zeeprogrammer]

But wait!

A little pin, some fiddling, some luck...and the stud is sticking out again.
Sort of like those stupid little games where you try and roll a bunch of little balls into their respective holes.

Now the question is...how can I make sure the thing is clean enough for another try?

Looks like it didn't get hot enough. Poor lighting made me think one side was done...but the solder hadn't even melted around the rest.

Probably too late today to continue...kids are over...they want food.
Well...so do I. Hamburgers and hot dogs.

Let me take back the 'foo' for now....'oof'

 

[Deanofid]

Hi Zee;

Just spit balling here. Get a piece of wire. It needs to be stiff. Bend it something like this:

Make the round part so it bumps against the flue fitting before it goes too far into the boiler.



Squeeze it together and snake it into the flue hole:

You may have to use some clips or a clamp to keep it positioned, but then you should be able to
set the boiler on end and re-solder the stud. You could make up a simple aluminum disc with a
hole tapped the size of the stud. Then you can leave it on the last few threads while you solder
the stud in case you need something to grab (with pliers) while you're working.

Put a ring of wire around the outside opening of the stud and just keep your heat in that area. Then
you won't have to worry about the whole end coming loose.

You'll get it! Enjoy your BBQ.

Dean

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Nice idea Dean. Thanks. I worry a little bit about the wire moving ever so much and the stud falling down again.

I was working on the 'better idea' of a clamp...and learned a lesson after getting burned pretty badly...

Today's lesson...

I was drilling the holes for a new clamp to try and fix the boiler stud issue. 3/8" square stock. Apparently I hadn't tightened the drill bit well enough and saw that the chuck was spinning but the bit wasn't.

Turned everything off...grabbed the drill bit. I hadn't thought it was spinning that much. It didn't occur to me that it would have gotten hot.

I have a pretty good burn between my thumb and forefinger. Hurts like the dickens even now. I'll be peeling that skin off in a few days.

Man it hurts.
Boy was that stupid.
Gee I'm glad it was a cheap lesson.

[EDIT] T got me some aloe vera...wonderful stuff. Gosh I like her. What a friend.

 

[fcheslop]

Hi Zee, sorry for the delay in replying for some reason my PC has decided to show print very very small and I'm visually impaired at the moment(some say mentally) so can hardly read.I think the problem SWMBO has slunk of to bed ha.I just thought if you can remove the stud(bolt) and make a bush a bit like the outlet bush but not drilled right through and tapped the same thread as the stud bit like a top hat it could be soldered from the outside . Hope this makes sense

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Thanks Frazer.

I can't get the stud out anyway. I'm assuming your method requires that?

Ow. Time for more aloe vera.

 

[Deanofid]

Nice idea Dean. Thanks. I worry a little bit about the wire moving ever so much and the stud falling down again.

That's why I mentioned the aluminum disc tapped for the stud. Make the disc larger than the hole and it can't
fall in. Put it on the last few threads of the stud so it isn't resting against the boiler cap, and you have room
to solder.

Sorry about the burnt fingers. Why do these things have to happen to something you use so often?
If it were on your elbow, it would hardly bother you!
I guess the gist of the story is, use your elbows to change drill bits...

Dean

 

[fcheslop]

Hi Zee, thought it may have come out through the other hole sorry.Keep that burn cool try wrapping them round a long cold drink :big:

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Thanks Dean. Hm...I wonder if the women like elbows with such flexibility. I'd ask T but I know the answer..."You're such an idiot."

Frazer...you got that right. Aloe vera for external application...3rd martini working the internal. It's down to a low hum right now. But the "I don't care anymore" is quickly catching up. :big:

Darn it....my biggest disappointment is not getting as much done on the loco as I'd hoped. And it'd be foolish to think I wouldn't have some set backs.

It'd be nice to have this running by the time T's parents and mine arrive next month.

On the other hand...they don't have a lot of appreciation for this. You all know what I mean. "Uh huh..nice...what else can you do?"...

I'd better stop now...that 3rd martini is hitting pretty good. u no wht i meen?

 

[fcheslop]

Ah well a least the anesthetic working it will look better in the morning .Finally sorted out PC funny how they say computers are friendly Iv never found that.All the best

 

[bearcar1]

Hiya Zeep,

*ahem* I hate to bring this up and I do hope that I am wrong, but doesn't the boiler plate with the stud go towards the rear (you know what I mean). If so, then would that not put the flue in the other location? :hDe: Please tell me those plates aren't bass-ackwards.

**edit** upon further review, please disregard that last transmission

Hmmm, flexible elbows. Now that might be a unique quality and of some use, I can see the headlines now, "American Idol winner plays piano recital with elbows while sipping martinis :big: :big:


BC1
Jim

 

[Deanofid]

On the other hand...they don't have a lot of appreciation for this.

I usually get something like, "What does it do?".
I feel like, "What do you mean, what does it do? Can't you see it running?".
But, then the little man in my head says "Forget it. They're not mechanical geniuses, after all".

'Bout then they say, "Did you say something?"

Huh?

 

[Troutsqueezer]

I get that nearly every time I show my engines to someone. "Now you just need to get it to do something!" Apparently, if it ain't "doing" something, its just taking up space......Arghhh.....

-T