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A tip I heard from an old toolmaker was use kerosene for tapping aluminium and if tapping brass, either dry or use turpentine.

The plastic calipers are definitely a good idea Marv. I had to measure some rare earth magnets once 2" square and 1/2" thick, nerve wracking experience even with the plastic calipers. The large 6V lantern batteries are also made up of an array of smaller cells, depending on the brand it can...

An older couple were being interviewed at our church, and when asked the secret of their 55 year marriage he replied with "I try and make sure we go out at least one night a week, I go out Tuesday nights ,she goes out Wednesday nights."

This is looking good Kel, all those tiny parts! I like your flexible coupling in the run in shot, those poppins sure do get up some revs Byrne

Hi Chuck This is my take on the german engine on the john-tom page. I think the plans actually show a steel cylinder pressed into an aluminium finned housing. I changed the valve to be more like the poppins, and made the bearing standards vertical rather than inclined. It wasn't much of a build...

Hi Mike 6/10 is right, but if you leave it as 30/50 it tells you how many holes to move on your 50 hole plate. So as Marv said, counting the current hole as 0, you move to the 30th hole and that is the required position. hope this helps, I am a visual learner so sometimes my descriptions are...

Hi Tin I have tried all the local EDM users, but they all use copper for their electrodes, I'll have another try tomorrow

Hi all, Now that my flame eater is up and running, I was hoping to give either a stirling or lamina flow engine a go. It seems that graphite rod is the way to go for the pistons. Does anyone know of a supplier in Australia? preferably in Sydney. All my searches keep directing me to fishing...

Thank you all for the encouragement, I don't think I could have found a friendlier or more helpful group to have shared this with.

First up apologies for a very poorly kept build log, trying to find time to build let alone photograph has been very difficult. Secondly and more importantly a big thankyou to everyone who contributes to and helps run this site. It is such a wealth of information and an inspiration. Without HMEM...

200 Killerwasps should do it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npnZvTLMR1w

Arnold that is looking lekker hey. A beautiful piece of work.

I read this as a cutting speed of 420 feet per second and wondered how you got your lathe to run so fast. then realised it is frames per second, :D

Another thing I found worthwhile to check on a new machine vice is that the fixed jaw is perpendicular to the base. After the head is trammed attach a dial indicator to the spindle nose and run it down the face of the fixed jaw. I had a vice that was running out 0.05 over 50mm, makes it hard to...

Well I sent in the archaeological team and they unearthed this from page three. Flu and work don't mix well with trying to build an engine, no matter how simple it is. Nothing very exciting to show, just the crank and cam The crank was built up using mild steel rod and brass, silver soldered...

Hi Alan What size machine are you looking at using the ER40 on? At my work our mill uses ER32 mainly and we have an ER40 chuck for one operation and it is a very bulky holder compared to the ER32 and the 5/8 clarkson holder. Byrne

Thankyou everyone, feel like I am on the right track now.

In a number of other posts I have seen powdered graphite recommended for lubricating flame lickers. I am hoping someone can tell me where it would be available in Australia? Or is it possible to use the 'lead' from a good quality artists pencil, maybe a 12B as that would have less binding agent...

Hi Arnold Nice work so far, I enjoy seeing the mods/improvements you have been making to your machines. On your last pic I noticed the thread table underneath has British cycle thread on it. Just wondering where you got that table as it looks useful Cheers Byrne

My dad tells the story of when King George V or VI was touring Southern Africa and visited a foundry in Southern Rhodesia. Seeing some men operating the steam hammer he asked them how accurately they could work it. They in turn asked him for his pocket watch, placed it on the anvil and brought...