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Perhaps someone else will find this method useful : I'm working on what may well turn out to be the longest time for a Webster engine build - I started years ago, but had to shelve the project for a number of reason. However, the project is back off the shelf, and I recently found myself...

Before there were spark plugs, there were "contact igniters." I am looking for any and all information on how there were (and are) made and constructed. If anyone has any information, either of a historical nature of of modern build efforts, I would greatly appreciate hearing about it. The...

Just started working on a project to make some castings for an eventual build of a replica Ford 1893 engine (aka Kitchen Sink Engine). I'm collaborating with an acquaintance to make the mold patterns and get them cast at a local foundry. We plan to make at least two replica engines, with the...

I'm planning to visit the Ford Museum next week and I plan to take a look at the exhibit of Ford's "Kitchen Sink Engine:" https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digital-collections/artifact/361250 Many members of this website are probably aware that a number of people have built...

I ran across this book the other day while looking for information on machining pulleys for timing belts. In this youtube video by Stefan Gotteswinter (Cutting a timing belt gear) he talks about a book he uses in his shop - Tabellenbuch Metall in German. With a bit of online searching, I found...

Introduction: This thread is a variation based on the excellent post by bmac2: Arduino Rotary Table for Dummies. First, I want to acknowledge that the electronic part of my build is based 100% on bamc2's post. However, I took a somewhat different direction in the Arduino programming and in the...

I thought members of this forum would be interested to know that Leon Ridenour now has a website where you can get information and purchase plans for Henry Ford's first (1893) engine - sometimes known as the "kitchen sink engine." I just purchased the "build package" myself. It's a nice set of...

Our machinists group is thinking about doing a team build, and I'd like to get some feed back from others who have done this: What makes for a successful team build? What lessons did you learn - what to do over, and what to avoid? How did you pay for raw materials? When the build is done...

Recently my 11 year nephew was visiting, and wanted to see how the machines in my shop worked. Rather than just showing him the machines, I came up with a quick project which he really enjoyed, so I thought I would share it here. The project was nothing more than making a 5/16" nut and bolt. I...

Southwest Michigan Home-shop Machinists I hope this post is not considered off topic for the group, but I believe this may be of interest to some members: The Southwest Michigan Home-shop Machinists group is open to all interested persons, but as a practical matter we assume that people in...

This post is partly a call for "testers" : I have created a spreadsheet to calculate the mandrel diameter needed to wind a spring of specified diameter and wire type. The spreadsheet is based on Design and Wind Your Helical Springs by Kozo Hiraoko (Part 1 page 20 Home Shop Machinist 1987...

The recent posts by another member (http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/showthread.php?p=264688#post264688) have inspired me to start posting on my own Webster build. I started this build way back in September 2014, but put it on the back burner for a bit while I worked on some other...

Looking for suggestions and advice: I'm building the Webster IC, and I'm using bronze bushings, which raises the question, what is the best way to polish a bronze bushing? And while we are at it, what is the wrong way to polish a bronze bushing. Is this wrong: Wrap some 1200 grit paper around...

This is a question about the cost of taps. Recently I made myself a drill and tap index. While I was at it, I included spaces for taps I don't normally use, with the idea that I would have space for them if I needed them later. Recently, with the idea of filling in some of the gaps for taps...

I made this tap and drill index a short while ago, and I have found it very useful. It holds all of the drills and taps needed for #4-40 through 1/4"-32 for both 50% and 75% threads, as well as drills for close fit and loose fit holes (see picture). This index makes it very simple to quickly...

I recently built the vertical finger engine from the NAMES plans available on the Internet (see picture below). It worked, but I found it very finicky to keep going. As others have noted, the NAMES design of this engine is far from ideal, so I did a few experiments to see if I could improve...

I recently ran across a free (public domain) Geometric Design and Tolerancing font ("It includes upper / lower case with the addition of surface finish, welding and some other metrology related symbols plus composite feature control frames.") This is a TrueType font and should work...

I have been wanting to try out a larger indexable insert holder on my small (7 X 10) lathe, just to see if there were any benefits. When I got a 20% discount offer I took the plunge and bought the tool below (Dorian MTGNR08-2A). After some initial trials I conclude that I would not recommend...

Here's a link to a great article on mechanical "computers" which were used on Navy ships as recently as the 1990's. It also includes some nice videos on the mechanical principles involved...

I just ran across this interesting idea of using an electric toothbrush as a miniature "orbital sander." This idea could easily be adapted for metal working by substituting abrasive cloth for sandpaper. The original post is here...