Recent content by colby15642

All compression-ignition engines like to be hot, as in 200 degrees F. In fact most engines like to be that hot as long as you're not degrading the lube oil or paint.

Use a small inexpensive Garretson demand regulator to prevent flooding the engine or having fuel gas escape into your shop...

The Coolspring Power Museum operates some of its early Otto Cycle and Lenoir Cycle IC stationary engines on bottled hydrogen. The hydrogen mixes with the combustion air outside of the combustion chamber during the intake stroke. As expected, the combustion event is noticeably rapid but the...

The orange Dexcool and similar G05 Ford, and red VW spec antifreezes work best of all on mixed metal systems, as long as long as one of the mixed metals is NOT lead-based solder. I learned that the hard way over the last 20 years. I accidentally became an expert in solder bloom in vintage...

Reverse Osmosis ("RO") removes most mineral salts from water, maybe leaving up to 10% of the original concentration. The RO process reportedly is less effective in removing some trace organic compounds. For model engine cooling purposes, RO filtered water should be acceptable. Since RO water...

Steam-distilled water will have some trace minerals in it due to its loosely-controlled commercial process, but it won't damage your steam iron or lead-acid battery if you use it to top them off. De-ionized water is almost completely free of mineral contamination, but is more aggressive...

Water Wetter is a surfactant, basically a soap, which by itself can be corrosive. Its main purpose is to reduce the surface tension of the water agaist the cooling system internal surfaces, thus maximizing heat transfer. It's effectiveness can be difficult to quantify. Softened water by use...

I have used Kasenit No. 1 for 60 years with no ill health effects. You can find a lot of information online about its contents, which does include a food-grade cyanide anion. That is not the same compound as the classic poison cyanide. Kasenit products are reportedly not available in all...

Jake, If you like vintage stationary gas engines, consider coming to our annual show next week in Coolspring, Pa. www.coolspringpowermuseum.org A few of the engines here have been modeled. Clark.

George Brayton is hardly forgotten. His cycle lives in every gas turbine, either flying in every commercial passenger plane not having a propeller turned by a babbitt beater or in various stationary services. I believe George's largest engine currently produces over 500,000 horsepower...

Yes. These soft plastic bits hold your three thread wires on the micrometer spindle and anvil. Just like having extra fingers that never become tired! These sets are sold by most USA machinist supply houses and also by Amazon and probably others.

This is how this clumsy machinist in Pennsylvania holds the three thread wires...

Another problem with the pointed-end center locator is that the surface in which the hole to be measured is drilled has to be smooth and precisely perpendicular to center-line of the finder. Otherwise, the finder's cone surface will always contact the highest side of the hole and produce a...

Buy an inexpensive "sliding machine-mount" tap wrench like this one for $16.00: https://www.mcmaster.com/tap-wrenches McMaster-Carr part #2550A64 First drill should be a spotting or center drill for precise hole location in relation to spindle center-line. Drill and tap with one set-up so...

I have some of the same advice as others have provided. 1. Rack your brain for an alternate design that allows through-tapping and/or more thread engagement. 2. For some reason, I have had poor luck drilling an accurate hole with an end mill. It may have something to do with the shape of...