Search results

I was given another steam engine shaped object as a birthday gift. Unlike last years project, I think I saw this one on E-Bay. It appears to be an incomplete abandoned attempt at a dual in-line engine. I did a rough rework this morning on the valve cylinder using a black felt pen and my...

Just fitted an add-on third octave key and accessory left hand F# key to an older oboe. Good silver to silver welding practice. I use silver filler rod and silver soldering paste from Rio Grand jewelry supply. They also sell a brass and bronze filler paste that works ‘ok’ but I have not...

I’m collecting material to build a Yarrow boiler with a 3” main tank. If I used domed tanks, I can’t get to the inside of the rivets. I‘m thinking hard solder and maybe something like this pic I found.

I bought one of these cheap hit-miss engines from China for fun. Water from the hopper leaks around the pressed in cylinder as it runs. The piston rod bounces from side to side on the crank shaft. Kinda rattles, but it runs and the problems can be corrected. For the price I can’t complain.

I started the 1” bore horizontal Clarkson which is mostly identical to the vertical version I completed earlier. These were kits my younger brother acquired back in the 1970’s supposedly from a High School shop teacher who used them as class projects. These two kits were clearly left overs...

I was presented with an (engine?) for my birthday. It is proof that a pound of JB Weld and a can of silver spray paint can fix anything. It’s pretty hysterical, however I do feel obligated to make it run even though it would be easier to build one from scratch. When I get a few minutes I...

I’m outlining a design for a Yarrow boiler. I have a 14” length of approx. 3” OD pipe left over from my vertical boiler. I’m thinking 1.5” OD for the two lower drums. One of the factors will be my ability to make a swedging tool for the tubes as I have to reach into the main drums to deal...

Ran into an interesting project. A friend of mine has a 1922 Dodge and asked me if I would look at his leaking water pump. He thought some new packing would do the trick. I told him that I did not think there was enough packing on the planet to seal this shaft. It was rather hysterical and...

I built a swedging tool for use in restoring vintage musical instruments. It works well, but I collets do not stand up to constant use. I was thinking about case hardening. I found a product called “Cherry Red” that I think might work. Typically I am working with brass or silver. I often...

It had been next to the parents fire place since 1968. I cut a new crankshaft for it and ran it at an engine show several years ago. The carburetor, tank, strange piping, and wooden handle went with a Folders coffee can for cooling. I initially went with the coffee grinder look. I was told...

Just found a complete casting set with the drawings from the 70’s. These we’re sitting in the rafters of the shop.

I was talked into teaching a CNC course several years ago. A student figured out when I was born then showed me this article and thought we should build them. Here are the prototypes made from scrap off the shop floor.

I am trying to identify this engine. My dad acquired this engine in 1968 then painted it and set it next to the fireplace as a house ornament. Visitors always asked about the strange little coffee grinder. The crankshaft was badly repaired at some point so I made a new one years ago to get it...

This Engin mill was buried in my parents shop missing the motor and quill since the 70’s. It was bought at a sealed bid school auction and the quill and motor we’re missing when it was picked up. I built a quill to take an R8 collet, but missed the length by a full inch. I will correct this...

I’m building a 3” boiler from scratch. The area for water is 3” X 6.5”. In the pic is a test braze that I did not like. The final result worked out nicely. I am building a ceramic burner and just got the ceramic material. The feed pump is ready to go and I should be able to complete the...

This is one of two Clarkson casting kits I found sitting in the corner of Pop’s shop for 40 years. The other is the horizontal version. The kits plans are dated 1969. The smaller castings were hard like diamonds at the corners, but I was determine. The kit even had a casting for the...