Building the Trevithick engine

[Brian Rupnow]

So, the Trevithick is completely finished. The painting was finished 3 days ago, and it was all reassembled this morning and posed for some "beauty shots". I had a few issues with this build which involved the cylinder and the 4 way valve, but in the end I used a more conventional slide valve and finished with a well running engine. Thanks for riding along with me, and saying 'Hi" once in a while. It is a very pretty engine, and now it will go up on my shelf to the place of honour along-side the Stephenson's Rocket.---Brian

 

[LorenOtto]

So, the Trevithick is completely finished. The painting was finished 3 days ago, and it was all reassembled this morning and posed for some "beauty shots". I had a few issues with this build which involved the cylinder and the 4 way valve, but in the end I used a more conventional slide valve and finished with a well running engine. Thanks for riding along with me, and saying 'Hi" once in a while. It is a very pretty engine, and now it will go up on my shelf to the place of honour along-side the Stephenson's Rocket.---Brian

Thank you Brian for another delightful project and for sharing your techniques with us. Loren

 

[Brian Rupnow]

Thanks guys.--A word of warning---I would not use that brand of paint again. As soon as it dried it started flaking off. I have never had that problem using Tremclad or Rustoleum paints, but the colors are somewhat limited. This paint is "Dupli-Color Perfect Match" sold in aerosol spray cans by Canadian Tire.

 

[Ghosty]

Brian, If the Dupli-Color that you used is the same as we have down here, it needs a primer on steel or etch primer on alloy to work. Loved the build, can't wait to see what you come up with next
.

Cheers
Andrew

 

[Rdean33422]

So what is next Brian?

Ray

 

[Brian Rupnow]

Ray--I don't know. I pour my heart and soul into building these machines, and by the end of the build I am burned out. Right now my lathe is broken, and back at the suppliers in Toronto for repairs. My next build will be when the lathe comes home, and it will be something to aid a 74 year old man moving a great big heavy lathe by himself, back into a very small and hard to get to machine shop.

 

[LorenOtto]

Ray--I don't know. I pour my heart and soul into building these machines, and by the end of the build I am burned out. Right now my lathe is broken, and back at the suppliers in Toronto for repairs. My next build will be when the lathe comes home, and it will be something to aid a 74 year old man moving a great big heavy lathe by himself, back into a very small and hard to get to machine shop.

Brian, I am sorry you are having trouble with your lathe again so soon. I'm sure you will come up with an easier way to move it in and out. Loren

 

[Brian Rupnow]

Loren--I got a call this morning. Trouble was caused by a loose connection at the reverse switch. Lathe will be home on Wednesday. I have designed something to help me put the lathe back in it's place, but will start a new thread for that.---Brian

 

[ddmckee54]

it will be something to aid a 74 year old man moving a great big heavy lathe by himself, back into a very small and hard to get to machine shop

So I'm guessing that the project is NOT going to be some form of multi-ton bridge crane?
Don

 

[Brian Rupnow]

I will start a new thread on moving my lathe. There is nothing real earth shattering about what I have designed and built, but it is new and a bit different. I am very conscious about the possibility of hurting myself when moving machinery, so people may find it interesting.---Brian

 

[johwen]

No matter what you do or make in the end it is part of you and another great achievement and I'm sure it makes you very proud when you look at at them and reminisce over the hours spent in their making. Well Done! John

 

[davidyat]

Beautiful work on the Trevithick. I'm still stumbling my way through your "Larger Simple Beam Engine". Still having "learning" experiences. Do something wrong and "learn" not to do that again!!!
Grasshopper

 

[werowance]

well shoot Brian, i was looking forward to some complicated mechanical device that you worked through and explained how you did it. i have enjoyed the trevithich engine build (hope i spelled it right). i want to say that i appreciate you and all the other members showing the setups and procedures for making all these intricut cuts and describing the procedures to do it. it really helps and ill have to say i am getting to the point that i can now start adapting the information you all give into other things that i do now.

long story short - thank you for sharing your build and thanks to all the others who do / did the same.

 

[Brian Rupnow]

A big "Thank You" goes out to Rick in Sarasota Florida. Today, in my mail, I received a 3D "stamp" of the Trevithick engine. It's about 0.8" x 1.2" in Bas-relief. Rick said that he enjoyed following my Trevithick build on the forum, so he made the stamp for me.