Recent content by davedfsme

The "simple" model aircraft engines like the .049s are 2-stroke glow ignition IC engines. The red-hot element in the glowplug acts as a catalyst to ignite the mixture at ~TDC. This saves on the weight and complexity of spark ignition, but fuel can be quite expensive. (Little ones don't...

Ksor, Ken may be rambling, but he speaks truth. Skyline is right too, but he may have assumed that the bolts may need to carry the greatest part of the current. He may also have assumed you were using an electrode bolted to the arm "axially normal" to the electrode . . . Your design is...

Welcome to the group Garry. Whereabouts are you from? What would you like to build?? DJD

Ian, Again . . . you are absolutely correct. There is no taper produced, because the block being bored is being traversed past the cutter rotating in a single plane. You know, I started composing a completely different answer before giving my forehead a smack . . . I guess you could say...

First Principles. Romartin is absolutely correct, except perhaps on one point? If you make any adjustment to the tailstock between cuts in the usual sense, i.e. in the horizontal plane, you WILL end up with a non-circular "taper" in your bore. It WILL be larger in a horizontal plane, but...

Goldstar, I'll gladly forgive any repetition, if you'll allow me to fill in a few details . . . ;) Acid Pickle: I like sulphuric acid pickle too. Cheap, easy to find (any automotive battery shop) and effective. Minor downside is disposal once it is played out. Do not use full strength...

Any electrical shop that rewinds electric motors will have a wide variety of fiberglass sleeving. You might find a size that will slip over your pipework, or just wrap your pipe to simulate asbestos lagging. If you wrap on more than one layer for thicker insulation, you might find it helpful...

Jim immigrated to Canada in '54. His mum's house was just east of London during the war, but a buzz bomb fell short or was shot down before reaching the city. Apparently, the kitchen table ended up in the basement. I have obviously screwed up in remembering his rank. Jim was apprenticed at...

My turn to ramble . . . My mentor, Jim Mandy, passed away in '07 (at 85) of cancer. He started out building instrument panels for Spitfires in WWII, became an artillery Master Sergeant, was a gunsmith after the war, and worked in a university hospital as an instrument maker, where he was...

Who's wandering now?

Goldstar, OK, we all "wandered" a bit, but not "off-topic". Methods and materials used for cleaning parts, and dangers inherent in using wrong materials . . . risk of death is important, no? Let's recap, then we can carry on from here: Don't use use "Grandpa's" aerosol brake cleaner...

Rodue, Gotta watch your voltage rating. Electronic capacitors (condensers) are often rated much lower than the "fly-back" voltage you might see when points break on even a 6 volt system. Perhaps "fly-back" is not the right terminology? Point is that the voltage spike on the break in a...

Mark, I know the scrub pads you are referring to, but the cheap domestic ones from the supermarket have an industrial counterpart which are far better, IMHO. I am not sure of the rules on this forum regarding product plugging. If this is too cryptic, PM me. There is a Mining and...

Pete, OK, fair enough. I strongly agree that you make a very valid point about educating oneself about the materials you intend to use. That is only common sense, which unfortunately, is becoming less common . . . I googled "Phosgene", and I see exactly why you are so concerned. Anyone...

Skyline 1, I have to apologize . . . you used the exact same "cleanliness is next to Godliness" that I attributed to "Yo' Mama". My mama had the same to say, but to the best of my knowledge, she never did any silver brazing . . . DJD