Recent content by rlukens

Greetings and frustrations, I designed and built this flame eater from scratch. As it turns out, that's what I ended up with... scratch. After many hours and revisions, I give up. Don't try to encourage me. Just let me sulk.

get this flame eater to eat, I'll post a pic. Until then,..

Brian, I too sometimes have that problem. The longer the tool, the farther from dead center it is. I've considered mounting a drill chuck in a quick change holder. Even if I miss dead center, a short center drill will actually "bore" back to center. Maybe someday...

I built automotive dies in a life past. All sections were doweled for location. Drill and ream only. I've also used "dreamers". After hardening usually went to the Sunnen hone for touch up. What kind of accuracy requires more?

My approach would be c-drill, 1/4 " drill, 13/32 drill, then ream. I always ream (and tap) with Crisco at slow rpm and back the reamer out with the chuck or spindle stopped. Old school? Works for me. Btw, the slow speed will accommodate minor chuck runout

I can't comment on drill quality, I buy whatever. I can say that most of the smaller drills are poorly sharpened... no relief. A light touch on my bench grinder makes a world of difference.

Holiday greetings from Florida, I designed and built my own flame eater. I should have paid more attention to the members that bemoaned their start up problems. I've read in other posts that if all is well I should get and audible "pop" when I turn it over without the burner. At what point in...

Excellent write-up. Thank you.

I'm just stupified. Got my ME degree 50 years ago. Wonder what the next 50 will bring. Nice work though... I guess. :D

I'm wondering about balancing a single cylinder crankshaft. I've "designed" and built a few engines myself . I've always balanced the crank by itself, out of the engine, on roller bearings. I'm building my first flame eater and perhaps a little over-concerned after reading other's accounts of...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R5E5PI6/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 20 bucks and you're covered. Btw, I built my first steam engine on my dads's little Atlas, at 13. I didn't know how to read mics so I made the cylinder first.

Were you able to input a wheel diameter that approximates true RPM?

Agreed! Great idea. I've been thinking about making one for my grand kids. They'l wear that out.

I like your work, especially the way you've radiused corners to simulate castings. Question: Did you use a rotary table to make the flywheel. If not, I see a lot of setups and tool changes. Great job.

That is a model 605 depth mic. The shaft was probably turned down to probe a specific small diameter hole