Hello from Hertfordshire

[pat_pending]

Hi and thanks for having me in your forum!

To introduce myself, I’m Patrick and I have a making addiction. Everything from rockets to robots, Gin to go-karts...even some electronics and Software in there too.

Thanks to forums including yours, I’ve taught myself metalwork over the past 4years and have managed to make some steam/air engines that run (Elmers 25 and H-twin), some that don’t (Jan Ridders flame-eater) and a Webster I/C which is almost ready to share!! Eying up a 2-stroke Diesel such as a Boll-Aero as my next project.

My workshop is mainly Chinese (SC6 and Sieg SX3 Converted to CNC with a converted vertex rotary table) but eying up American and English heavy metal for when I win the lottery (soon, I can feel it!).

Anyway, really looking forward to contributing and being amongst likeminded obsessives.

Patrick

 

[Herbiev]

Hi and welcome to the forum Patrick

 

[Cogsy]

Welcome Patrick. My first engine was one of Jan's Flame lickers - they can be a challenge to get running.

 

[pat_pending]

Welcome Patrick. My first engine was one of Jan's Flame lickers - they can be a challenge to get running.

Thanks Al, yours in the profile pic looks beautifully made. I might have another go at mine as I think its not too far off! I'm pretty sure its the slight misalignment of the cylinder to the crankshaft that's preventing it from running as it 'tightens up' at the top of the stroke.

 

[Blogwitch]

Patrick,
Don't be ashamed of your far eastern machinery, with a little care and looking after they are just as good as old iron, in many cases, far superior.

The Jan Ridders flame licker that I built was the first one to be shown running on the open web many moons ago.

But instead of one cylinder, which I got running OK, I made two, tried in a couple of different configurations, side by side and this one.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyrWRBoC-2c[/ame]

John

 

[pat_pending]

Patrick,
Don't be ashamed of your far eastern machinery, with a little care and looking after they are just as good as old iron, in many cases, far superior.

The Jan Ridders flame licker that I built was the first one to be shown running on the open web many moons ago.

But instead of one cylinder, which I got running OK, I made two, tried in a couple of different configurations, side by side and this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyrWRBoC-2c

John

Hi John, that's an excellent build. Nice runner!

RE the machinery, I agree with your point. I guess I'm really just after a few additional features which I tend never to see on the Chinese machines namely quick change gear box and a power crossfeed. On the Mill, it would be a faster/more powerful spindle and a wit more 'bulk' so i can take harder cuts and speed up the process a bit. Very happy with my set up for now though in reality.

Patrick

 

[Woodster]

Hi Pat and welcome.
Where in Hertfordshire are you? I'm in West Herts.

 

[Blogwitch]

Pat,

In fact this engine (still a perfect runner) has done many hours, the discoloration is caused by using a blowtorch to warm up the cylinders for a few minutes. When people call around, they always want to see my engines running, so it has had a lot of warm ups.
With this engine, without warming it up, you will most probably spend hours playing about with the flame position, and you might never succeed in getting it to turn over consistently.

The thing with far eastern machinery, like most things nowadays, the more you spend the more features you get. just like buying a new car. I do have larger far eastern machinery and they have all the features I could ever want, except for a few small mods that I did to make things a lot easier for me. A few more now to be done as I am converting to VFD control and instead of having a pendant, all buttons and switches will be mounted through the main flat fascia plate.

http://www.chesterhobbystore.com/crusader-lathe-deluxe-3980-p.asp

When trying to mod old iron, and I have had them as well, it is more difficult as all cast surfaces are usually curved, so difficult to bolt things to, whereas, especially far eastern lathes,. they are made mainly from flat plate. Not a thing people think about when buying their cherished old time iron.

Sorry to have sent your post off track.

John

 

[pat_pending]

Pat,

In fact this engine (still a perfect runner) has done many hours, the discoloration is caused by using a blowtorch to warm up the cylinders for a few minutes. When people call around, they always want to see my engines running, so it has had a lot of warm ups.
With this engine, without warming it up, you will most probably spend hours playing about with the flame position, and you might never succeed in getting it to turn over consistently.

The thing with far eastern machinery, like most things nowadays, the more you spend the more features you get. just like buying a new car. I do have larger far eastern machinery and they have all the features I could ever want, except for a few small mods that I did to make things a lot easier for me. A few more now to be done as I am converting to VFD control and instead of having a pendant, all buttons and switches will be mounted through the main flat fascia plate.

http://www.chesterhobbystore.com/crusader-lathe-deluxe-3980-p.asp

When trying to mod old iron, and I have had them as well, it is more difficult as all cast surfaces are usually curved, so difficult to bolt things to, whereas, especially far eastern lathes,. they are made mainly from flat plate. Not a thing people think about when buying their cherished old time iron.

Sorry to have sent your post off track.

John

Sounds like some good advice. That Chester lathe looks like an absolute beauty! I think thats probably he size lathe id be looking for when I outgrow my SC6.

Project pics to follow...

Patrick

 

[Rickl]

Welcome Patrick. I've have a C6 lathe and also X2 mill. They've never let down.

Rick
Sth. Australia.

 

[fredepeterson]

Welcome mateee..