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Author Topic: Steam Engine Wickholders.  (Read 18203 times)

Offline Stilldrillin

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Steam Engine Wickholders.
« on: March 21, 2010, 02:13:19 PM »
I regularly help out the members of the Steamtoy Forum by machining widgets for their engines.

One of the most needed components is a wickholder for SEL engines.

The originals were upset from 3/8” tube. I can`t do that........ But I can machine from solid......

Prototype. 3yrs ago......




Must have made around 20 or so, now......





Had my first serious workshop session of the new season today.........

A backlog has built up due to orders over the winter! 8off needed...... All for export!  :thumbup:

Plus 2, spares.

Plus 2, just in case of woopsies.   ::)

Here we go........

 



10off done, 1st op......... 2 peeping out of the bar.......




It felt nice doing a batch job. Getting into a swing with the work.

2nd op. tomorrow...... Maybe!  

David D
« Last Edit: March 23, 2010, 02:14:14 PM by Stilldrillin »
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Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline sbwhart

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2010, 02:27:51 PM »
Good start Dave

Widget building on a production scale  :headbang:

Have fun

Stew
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Offline John Stevenson

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2010, 03:47:52 PM »
What toolpost is that ?

John S.
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Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2010, 04:36:29 PM »
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David.

Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #4 on: March 21, 2010, 06:44:42 PM »
Hey Dave!

Looking good. Love doing work on my tools (helps pay for the tools and I enjoy doing it!)

Eric
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Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2010, 02:13:19 PM »
On with the 2nd op......

Found I`d parted off all of them to within .004" oal. Not bad for an old `un, with a 6" rule......  :D

Turn locating dia to .003" interference.......





Drill through to .050" short of breakthrough....... Remember, 9 turns tailstock handle.

Not much wall thickness left......





3rd op. Drill 1mm dia breather holes.




All done..... Time for a group shot!



4off, bound for Germany.
2off for America.
2off for Australia.

NO woopsies!  :headbang:  4off spare, for as & when.......

Just a bit pleased!  :)

David D
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David.

Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline CrewCab

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2010, 02:15:25 PM »
Nice going David  :thumbup:

CC
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Offline sbwhart

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #7 on: March 23, 2010, 02:52:58 PM »
Quote from: Stilldrillin on March 23, 2010, 02:13:19 PM


All done..... Time for a group shot!



4off, bound for Germany.
2off for America.
2off for Australia.


You should go under the name stilldrillin international,  :D

Well done Dave nicely shown  :thumbup:

Stew
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Offline Bernd

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2010, 03:43:23 PM »
Nice work.  :thumbup:

Quite a world wide clientel there too.  :clap:

Bernd
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Offline slowcoach

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #9 on: March 24, 2010, 07:12:25 AM »
Nice bit of production work  :thumbup: fancy a job at my place  :clap:

Rob
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Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #10 on: March 24, 2010, 08:43:40 AM »
Quote from: slowcoach on March 24, 2010, 07:12:25 AM
Nice bit of production work  :thumbup: fancy a job at my place  :clap:

Rob

Thanks for your comments Chaps..... Appreciated!  :thumbup:


Ooohhhh....... Steady on Rob!  :bugeye:

Your type of place has made me the man I am, now.......  :doh:

Crumbling......  :lol:

David D
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Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline slowcoach

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #11 on: March 24, 2010, 03:34:36 PM »
 :lol: :lol: You've never lived until you have stood at a bench, drilling and tapping a big box of urgently needed parts for two weeks solid  :D


Thank goodness for CNC's  :bow:


Rob  :thumbup:

« Last Edit: March 24, 2010, 03:37:05 PM by slowcoach »
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Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #12 on: March 24, 2010, 04:52:28 PM »
Quote from: slowcoach on March 24, 2010, 03:34:36 PM
:lol: :lol: You've never lived until you have stood at a bench, drilling and tapping a big box of urgently needed parts for two weeks solid :D


Thank goodness for CNC's  :bow:


Rob  :thumbup:

Thanks for the memories of a small firm`s employees, struggling 1972 - 79 Rob!  :bang:  :scratch:

CNC finally came along in 1985.......  :thumbup:

We then just struggled a lot faster!  :lol: :lol:

http://www.bulroc.com/

David D

« Last Edit: March 24, 2010, 04:54:19 PM by Stilldrillin »
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Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline slowcoach

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #13 on: March 24, 2010, 07:13:42 PM »
Quote from: Stilldrillin on March 24, 2010, 04:52:28 PM
Quote from: slowcoach on March 24, 2010, 03:34:36 PM


Thanks for the memories of a small firm`s employees, struggling 1972 - 79 Rob!  :bang:  :scratch:

CNC finally came along in 1985.......  :thumbup:

We then just struggled a lot faster!  :lol: :lol:

http://www.bulroc.com/

David D


Sorry David, I didn't intend to stir up old memories  :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

At our firm, the new employee's are given the real boring stood in one place drilling jobs, Most don't bother coming back after a week of it, The few that stuck at it, are still with us. I'm on my 12th year  (I had a full head of hair when I started  :scratch:)

CNC arrived in 2003, now I seem to spend my time standing watching parts being made through a little window  :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Rob  :thumbup:
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Offline Dean W

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #14 on: March 25, 2010, 01:13:07 AM »
Those came off very nice, David.
International sales.  That's dandy!

Dean
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Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #15 on: April 02, 2010, 03:51:34 AM »
It`s nice to hear from a happy customer!  :thumbup:

I recently received this pic, from Germany......




Most of my widgets leave me, never to be heard of again...... Sometimes, not even a thankyou!  ::)

This made a very pleasant change.  :)

David D
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Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline Bluechip

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #16 on: April 02, 2010, 11:42:13 AM »
Dave SD

Ahhhh! How curious   ....   just read all the way through this post, so what is the reason for the breather holes?

The reason I ask, is donkeys years ago I had some dealings with a hot air engine with a similar heat source. This used to flare up after some minutes use, because vapourised Meths was venting through the breather holes, and igniting. It was not my engine, the owner asked me to block the holes. I refused on the grounds that it would not stop the effect, just make the consequences worse. It was reduced by only about 1/5th filling the tank. By the time it got hot, it was empty. Hopefully.

Not a home made job, it was some commercial tinplate 'Mill Engine' thing. Don't remember who made it.

I surmise that these burners don't exhibit the same antics... or do they ?

Assuming they use Meths ..

These holes must either be to release any internal pressure, or to allow air in to replace used fuel. Can't see any other reason.

Hmmmmm... interesting ....

Where do you fill them ?? Can't see any filler cap.

Dave BC
« Last Edit: April 02, 2010, 11:45:35 AM by Bluechip »
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Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #17 on: April 02, 2010, 12:32:32 PM »
Dave,

To fill, pull out the wick holder, as in 1st pic. It is a push fit in the tank.......

These meths burners are well known for flooding, when filled enthusiastically! But, with the tank 3/4 filled, all is usually ok. Most kids learned, before Mum spotted the scorch marks......

The vent holes are placed there so the gasses are ignited by the wick, when safely under the boiler.

There was an early (Japanese?) burner, filled & vented through the hollow handle, which flamed like a blowlamp when in use! Not really safe for kids to play with. They didn`t sell many......  ::)

David D
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Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline Bluechip

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #18 on: April 02, 2010, 12:46:54 PM »
Dave SD

The one I was involved in looked much like the centre one from German Pics. The filler cap was in bottom RH corner IIRC, wick about where furthest one is.

Not a hollow handle. Could have been Japanese tho. Dunno.

The burner did not seem to be from the engine. There were 4 pressed lugs, as if the 'proper ?' burner had a flat base, to slide into. Also seemed too high.

Anyway, went well after cleaning the carbonised oil off the piston rods.

Did Mamod or similar make them?

This one had a black base, and a 'Brick' painted and embossed smokestack wotsit. Can remember that bit. IIRC base would be about 9" square.

Dave BC



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Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #19 on: April 02, 2010, 01:25:35 PM »
Dave,

That sounds like a Marklin, or maybe Bing, pre war hot air engine, with a non original burner........

They show up occasionally on Ebay.

There`s a couple of little pics on Google...... "hot air".......

My pal Roger had his dad`s, 55yrs ago....... Never seen one yet, that matches my memories of it.

Sounds as though "your" burner was getting too hot. Not ventilating properly, as it was too large for the space available.

David D

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Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline Bluechip

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Re: Steam Engine Wickholders.
« Reply #20 on: April 02, 2010, 04:16:49 PM »
Dave SD

If you go down this site to the 'Carette' pic. it was much like that, I'm pretty sure it was NOT actually one of that model, but in a general way it was configured like that. No Standards or line shaft. And the firebox was longer towards the RH, not so square. Burner went in from front.

Nice though, can see why folk get an affection for these things.   :thumbup:

http://oldtoyz1.com/hotair.html




Dave BC
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