Recent content by Ratshooter

Those are great looking engines, and bases.

For what it's worth...... I've heard that Rudy had articles and plans published in Popular Mechanics magazine. (possibly popular science) As the magazine was evolving into what it is now, demand for machine work articles was dwindling. About that same time, Rudy moved to Live Steam Magazine, and...

Village Press might have back issues July/August 2008 Sept/Oct 2008 Nov/Dec 2008 Note that the engine was installed in a Swedish ship, and the article has all metric dimensions. I had no trouble with the change over to inch sizes, and I substituted nearest sized inch hardware.

OOPs, the file is too big...…..

Here's a video of my Side Lever Engine running. I'm running on 5 psi air, and adjusting the speed with a valve on the engine.

Here's a couple photos of my Side Lever Steam Engine, ran for the first time today.

HI, I'm helping a friend look for Little Kathy plans. He says he has been unable to contact Tiny Power to order from them. Their website is still up. Anybody know if they're still active? Or have a set of plans/prints or whatever? Thanks, TC

A couple things: 1, put a dummy shaft in your pulley, and drill halfway into the work (and halfway in the scrap shaft) This will make the "carriage pumping" with the parting tool less tedious. 2. Practice on something that doesn't matter and see if you can make it work before you put your one of...

I had a HF Mill/Drill that I replaced with a Bridgeport. Over a few years, I looked at some BP's, and the clones thereof. The Round Ram type has, most often, a "M" head, which has a shorter quill stroke, of about 3", I think. Also there are about 3 collet types 2 of which are hard to find, and...

Well, the airplane guys seem to use zinc chromate primer. It was/is available in fizzle cans. Haven't seen any for awhile, but haven't looked for any either. Let us know what you find. TC

Thanks for posting. Now that all my projects are smaller, Some of my machines are a little too big. Your shop and machines are just right for my work, now. Keep your place clean and well maintained, and keep posting! TC

I found out that for me, the space became move valuable than the stuff in it. So, I thinned out the stuff. I'm not sorry, either. TC

Well, this looks nice. I wonder if it will work on a bench vise. I have a couple nice vises here, including a Wilton machinist's vise. There's no way the jaws remain parallel and square under force of tightening. This will cause the ring to be funnel shaped, don't you think? Maybe better done on...

I posted in the thread about what to do with finished models, which got me to thinking. Recently retired, I'd like to think I've lots of good years left. I have a lifetime collection of tools used in my trade as a truck mechanic. Then there's the hobby shop. So, when the time comes, what happens...

Well, this year a friend and I attended the NAMES show, at Wyandotte, Michigan. Between us we had some rare stuff, I had a Stuart V10 which was the only one I found in anybody else's display. In any case, 2 people asked if I'd sell one, and how much. I was surprised, I didn't think there would...