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Hi all I'm looking at - considering buying - a Craftsman Commercial 12" (Also called Atlas 3000). This one is pretty clean but has no accessories except a 3jaw and a 4jaw, not even a tailstock center. Does anyone here have experience with them? What are known problems? Popular improvements? How...

Hello Everyone I have been thinking a lot about uniflow engines and I have some questions. In the literature, it is argued that uniflow engines derive efficiency from the fact that the exhaust exits at BCD and so does not cool the cylinder head/inlet ports. But - whatever 'exhaust' is not...

I am, very slowly, restoring a Frejoth 12x36 gap bed lathe, probably around 30 years old. (Its almost identical to similar Grizzly, Enco, etc). The other (hot) day, while doing a lot of on/off, the thermal overload popped. A few days after I took a look in the electrical box and saw a unit with...

I've located a s/h Nikko adjustable 3 jaw at a good price. I'd like to add an adjustable 3 jaw to my collection. Anyone got one? They're pretty decent aren't they? Any advice on what to check? - assuming its not on a lathe? Does the adjustment fix runout, or just centering? The latter I assume.

I have an alignment problem with my 1980s Frejoth 12x37 lathe (very like a Grizzly 4003, and various ENCO etc) and 6” D1-4 3jaw chucks. I know 3 jaw chucks are not that accurate but I think it should be better than what I’m seeing. D1-4 backing plate is running acceptably true - within 1 thou...

Hi all I am (slowly) moving towards building some unaflow engines and am in need of some advice. 1. In a (simple) unaflow, the exhaust gas that is not evacuated through the exhaust ports is compressed to a maximum at TDC. Presumably this pressure exerts a braking force on the piston returning...

What kind off pressure gauges should (and should not) be used for steam? I'm guessing all stainless or non-ferrous internals. Dry or liquid filled? (I see the recommended operating temp range for glycerin filled gauges is 40-140F.) thanks!

Somewhere (here) recently I read an aside that people have used hydraulic cylinders for steam cylinders because of their mirror finish. Has anyone has experience with using such cylinders, or cylinders and pistons? It seems like a double acting hydraulic cylinder might be quite adaptable. I see...

I'm drawing up a design for a 2 cylinder unaflow scotch yoke engine, about 1" bore. My goal is efficiency and simplicity. I know there are good argument against the scotch yoke, but it reduces moving parts substantially, and with good design of the yoke "follower" (?) I think wear can be...

I've read the piton O ring thread here, and also found this article online, about using graphite filled ptfe. http://modelengineeringwebsite.com/Steam_piston_rings.html I know cast iron is the traditional material, does anyone have experience with PTFE or other materials: plastics or metals? thx!

I was at the Cowichan Bay Maritime Center on Vancouver Island about a month ago. Amongst their collection was this marine engine. The motor guy there said someone built the boiler for it but it couldn't deliver enough steam. It looks like two single cylinder engines bolted together. I've got...

I wasn't sure where to put this question. I have a (mid 1970s American) winch/windlass - company is long gone. It has an unusual splined shaft (It's ~ 1" OD, inner shaft is ~ 0.75") and the splines are semicircular in cross section. Has anyone seen one like this, know the name it goes by or...

Hi all I'm wondering if anyone has some general guidelines/ratios about relative volumes or bore and stroke for cylinders in a two cylinder compound engine? Is there a general rule? I assume these ratios would vary with steam pressure. thanks!

I was appending this note to my last post but it seemed to be a new thread. I was doing a valve job on my old Toyota pickup and marveled at the weight of the timing chain and valve springs. I thought - it takes a lot of energy to throw those valves up and down at speed. It seems that an...

I've reviewed with admiration and interest the thread : Three Cylinder Radial Steam Engine Discussion in 'A Work In Progress' started by SBWHART, Dec 14, 2009. I'm a fan of Westbury's designs and of radials, and I am interested in (viable) non-reciprocating valves. Could someone please...

Hi all what are your opinions on the (efficiency, reliability) of the scotch yoke? It seems a clever way to avoid making cross slides. What are the pros and cons? Should it be made of cast iron for wearing? I guess the rod could have a sealed bearing on the end, running in the yoke?

In some sectors, the opinion its that compounding is a waste of time with high speed high pressure (steam) engines. But the exhaust steam, say from a uniflow, still has a lot of energy in it. Does anyone know cases where that energy has been used to drive feedwater and/or oil pumps? Or would...

I'm thinking about non-ferrous, but also new composites as solutions to steam engine challenges - I'm looking for a 'magic' material, non-corroding, minimal thermal expansion, precision machinable, 'self lubricating', able to make seals at high pressure, high temp with water humidity. Is that...

Here I am again, mining the experience of all you experts :) As always, thankyou! I've been doing a bit of reading about labyrinth seals. Pretty interesting. In these days of high tech piston rings, are they useful in a small to mid size steam engine? For piston seals or piston valve...

What would be the best choice of metals for making piston valves from stock (not castings)? What metals work together for best seals, minimum wear etc? . I've seen talk of the way cast iron gets a mirror finish, and that (some kinds of) stainless work harden. I've also seen warnings against...