British 0-4-0 Toy Locomotive: he said

[Troutsqueezer]

Zee, I'm sorry to hear about this.

Please don't take this wrong but it was realized at the outset that once you got on to making your boiler that the entertainment and educational value of your thread would likely increase in magnitude. Sorry it had to be at your expense but darn, I am sure am enjoying it, but in a good way. :bow:

-Trout

 

[Artie]

Deep breath Carl, deep breath.....

Hard soldering isnt as easy as it looks (sometimes it is), it can bite you though, just like you have been now. Its a skill that takes practise, in fact I would have ben surprised had you been 100% successful first time out.

I know by your posts and results that you have set high standards for yourself, but how about just 'patch' this boiler up for now, get the beast running and later build your own.

Cheers Rob

 

[mklotz]

Sorry to hear that. It can be depressing. Take consolation in the fact that it's a pretty complex job for a first foray into the dark world of brazing.

I would add to your list...

1.5th choice...Redesign the boiler/bush assembly for ease of fabrication.

End caps held in place by longitudinal copper stay, threaded end of which forms securing stud. End of stay that protrudes at front of engine covered with decorative 'headlight' or somesuch. Bushes made with shoulder so they can't fall into boiler. Bushes silver soldered after end caps have been soldered. Maybe boiler held upside down while soldering bushes so solder run can't flow over boiler surface. (Use less solder and there won't be any runs.)

Now that you know some of the things that can go wrong, redesigning for manufacture should be a walk in the park.

And finally... cheer up, this isn't the worst disaster you'll ever experience. I know that isn't very cheery but it puts things in perspective. Have a martini. In a fit of empathy, I'll have one too.

 

[ozzie46]

Sorry to hear it Zee, But I know you will come back strong and end up with a boiler to be proud of.

We have confidence in you. Your inner self won't let it beat you.

Have a rest, take a walk, kick a cat er can down the road. Then come back swinging.

Ron

 

[Maryak]

Zee,

S$$T POOP CRAP and BOTHER.

You have my sympathy and I like item 4, sit back, relax with your favourite substance of abuse and contemplate your navel until......................... inspiration strikes. ;D

Best Regards
Bob

 

[bearcar1]

Relax Z', there is always piano lessons ;D :big: Of course you'll have to limber up those elbows a bit more. Sorry to hear of your troubles and it sucks big time. However, perhaps a bit of time away from all of this, a day, day and a half. Maybe think about how to rescue this one, even to a certain degree just for the experience of having done so. You may even surprise yourself and bring it back from the brink. At least you will have tried. Please do not give up, I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing and hearing of your journeys and absolutely enjoyed your sense of humor along the way. A couple more cups of 'olive soup' should cure what ails you and in the morning you'll wonder "what the Hell am I doing this for?" ;D

BC1
Jim

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Hey thanks everyone. And I mean Thanks Everyone.

Let's back up a sec...yeah I'm bummed...but gee...this project has a lot of success associated with it. I mean think about it...3rd (4th? 5th? few) major machining project in my life...I'm pretty happy with the (untested) cylinder work...and the sheet metal work (one of the reasons I wanted to do this)...and there's been some success...at least some experience...with soldering. It's not over yet.

the entertainment and educational value of your thread ...Sorry it had to be at your expense

Not me. I get a lot of satisfaction out of those two reasons. Thanks.

how about just 'patch' this boiler up for now, get the beast running

Thanks Rob (Artie? Just who are you?). Thinking (albeit groggily) about it.

Thanks Marv. A martini? I'm working my third but maybe it's not just because of the boiler. ;D

Thanks Ron. The cat came to mind but the daughter would kill me.

Bob...I had to laugh about the navel contemplation. Let's remember that that was a reason why I started this hobby. ;D I was scared that I'd up end up old doing nothing but contemplating my navel. (It's a pretty nice navel though. It's got this little curve and small...oh.)

Thanks Jim. I tried piano...I'll leave it to wife and daughters (they're good!).

Again...thanks everyone. Bummed but not out. Still thinking about trying to plug the hole and not worrying about what it looks like. I'm not going to let this setback take away from what I accomplished on this build. A little over a year ago I couldn't imagine even getting this far.

Now it's time for supper. A good idea considering I'm on my 3rd dose of 'darn it drink'.

 

[Deanofid]

Shoot, Zee. All through the last 10 posts or so I was saying the 'darn' word, and even popped a pain
pill in the spirit of commiseration. Then your last post came up and I see you're not yet suicidal after all.
Well.. GOOD.

I'm feeling no pain, right along with you. Here's what I'd suggest; Tomorrow, make something unrelated
to the boiler/loco. Something that offers simple success. A plunge center for your tail stock, a free
spinning tap holder for your mill, or turn up a nice little stylus from drill rod and harden and temper the
tip for doing tiny center pops.
Something like that.

Then go back and fix your boiler.

Dean

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Thanks Dean.

It's tough to be too hard on oneself when the daughter decides to make chocolate chip cookies! Here's a tip everyone...chocolate chip cookies! They'll put a smile on your face regardless of shop results. (I haven't told her that I wish she'd add pecans though.)

On a related(?) subject...

I pulled the fuel tank out of the citric acid pickle...

I notice a lot of 'green' in the corners. I associate 'green' with copper patina but this is brass and silver solder. Any ideas?

I'd post a pic but my picture taking finger is wrapped around tonight's local commiseration. Don't ask how I'm able to type this...

I'll try another day...maybe it's the light.

Anyone feel like a song? I feel a song coming on. Let's see...
No...I'll spare you. I know how these things get stuck in your head...
like..."Found a Peanut...Found a Peanut... Found a ....just now...Just now...I found..."

hee hee hee...if I suffer...everyone suffers.

DARN THAT BOILER!

 

[bearcar1]

Do you know the words of the Fighting Irish school song? You don't? Good. Let's keep it that way ;D


BC1
Jim

 

[Philjoe5]

I notice a lot of 'green' in the corners. I associate 'green' with copper patina but this is brass and silver solder. Any ideas?

Zee - brass has lots of copper in it and if you throw chemicals and heat on it the copper patina will show up.

I have empathy for your troubles with the boiler but I agree with the others. Take a day or two and then come back at it. There are a number of options you're looking at now and a few more may materialize in the next day or two.

2nd choice...trash it and go on to another project. Very appealing.

When you solve this problem you'll look back at this option and laugh at how miserable this part of the project made you feel.

Keep on keepin' on.

Cheers,
Phil

 

[ksouers]

Commiserations all around, Zee. Have another cookie, and a 'tini.

I gotta pile on with everyone else. Give a rest for a few days. Let your noggin' work on it while you're not thinking about it. Solutions will come to you, if you don't force them.

 

[tmuir]

Bummer.
When I first got my lathe I decided to make a very simple 'Heros' engine.
I made it all out of copper and being it would only have a table spoon of water in it and to open tubes on it I just butt soldered the boiler endcaps.
I silver (hard soldered / brazed) it all up.
I then decided to mount it in my lathe to trim up the uneven edges on the top endcap as I had already done the bottom side.
This is where I learnt why most people hate machining copper.
Half way through the cutter bit into the copper, stove in the side of the whole little boiler (It was only 40mm long), it ripped it out of the chuck and hurled it across the room.
I never did make another Heros engine. :big:

Good luck on attempt two

 

[doubletop]

Once the front end got cherry red...I was afraid of the cap falling off. I think the bushing was too close to the front end.

..........I don't think it's repairable...even if it is...it just looks like crap. I have no idea how they can make one to look like the prototype.

...........I mean...if it's ruined anyway...

Zee

I missed this run of posts for some reason and sorry to hear of your troubles. So look on the bright side, if it is ruined anyway it can't get ruined further so an opportunity to do something you were trying to avoid. Clamp it down heat it to cherry red and yank the troublesome end plate off. Throw it all back in the pickle and go for a beer.....

Then re-assess the situation. It may just be a case of remaking the end plate with a bush that stays put.

You've been in electronics so you'll understand the concept of a tinned joint. The end of the boiler will be tinned so the new plate won't fit straight away so stand the barrel on its end heat it up and jam the new plate on. It may not go fully home first time but a subsequent clean up and second reheat may get you there.

Nothing ventured nothing gained and if it doesn't work you no worse of than you are now.

Pete

 

[b.lindsey]

Sorry for this turn of events Zee. I second (or third or whatever) Marv's advice. Now that you have done this once...and parts of it WERE successful to be sure... set the little boiler on the workbench, stare at it, go over it in your head (with or without liquid consolation elixer)...what worked well and what didn't... and change the design in whatever ways you think will solve the main issues. As we all learn, machining is more about planning, set-up, and what order to do things in than it is about making chips (or in this case solder joints). The more experience we gain, the more productive will be that mental part of it and you have gained (and shared) a lot of that in this thread. Bu all means don't give up on it...just give it some time and reasoned thought...and when you least expect it... that "ah haaaa!!!" moment will come.

Bill

 

[ariz]

Zee, I'm sorry to hear what happened, but... hey, you were building a boiler and that isn't an easy task
at least when you deal with it for the first time
I didn't build one till now and I'm sure that my attempts would be even worst than yours

so, follow the advices of these great fellows and take it easy
I also toast your success with a martini

 

[Captain Jerry]

Zee

I'm surprised at all of the empathy expressed. Most of us know only success and know nothing of setbacks, great or small. Maybe a nice relaxing day at the office will help take your mind off.

Jerry

 

[fcheslop]

Sorry its gone pear shaped.As you said earlier its all a learning curve it just gets a little grizzly at times . Out of curiosty has the chrome survived and is the boiler beyond saving?.
regards Frazer

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Thanks guys.

Jerry...

I'm surprised at all of the empathy expressed.
Most of us know only success and know nothing of setbacks, great or small.

Ah...a fisherman. How big was that one that got away? :big:

Maybe a nice relaxing day at the office will help take your mind off.

Uh...it's supposed to be the other way round. :big:

Hey everyone...I'm not that down. Like I said earlier...there's a lot of successes in this project (and a lot of fun).
Including the boiler...I've never done this and I'm feeling pretty good I got this far considering where I started from.
Things could have gone a whole lot worse. ;D

Then again...things could have gone a whole lot better. :big:

 

[arnoldb]

Carl, your experience is pure Déjà vu - aluminium melting, solder going where its not supposed to et al , and it still does for me!

I have no idea how they can make one to look like the prototype

Rather simple really; it wasn't one of their first attempts at silver soldering ;D

Hey everyone...I'm not that down. Like I said earlier...there's a lot of successes in this project (and a lot of fun).
Including the boiler...I've never done this and I'm feeling pretty good I got this far considering where I started from.

That's the spirit - as you have shown in the past as well!

There's more positives than negatives in your build. Just tackle the problems head-on. In my limited experience that works; a set-back is merely a moment in time to sit back and evaluate "What did I do wrong ?" and "How can I do it right" or alternatives to do it right. If needed, choose an alternative. Then make a positive decision to go for it again and, well, GO FOR IT !

Sorry; not much useful info here... I think I may have had one too many *beer* :big:

Arnold