Re: Photos of radiant gas fired poker burners in operation
Kevin, I've read your article with great interest. I don't quite understand all of it, but this is my shortcoming and lack of knowledge. I'm still learning. If what I ask throws a curve ball into the mix, or changes the design so drastically that it's way off course with what you're teaching us, just tell me. Let's suppose that we have a pot boiler locomotive (e.g., a Brandbright Jane) with an alcohol burner. For whatever reason, we want to convert it to gas. Can we construct a firebox (perhaps enclosed and well shielded) and use a poker type burner somewhat along the line of what you designed for the Hudson underneath the boiler? For the pot boiler, would we be better off to use the ceramic burner instead of the poker type burner? Would we need to construct a burner of a completely design for this task? I'll accept a flat out NO on all accounts, but if the possibility is there, what design considerations should be taken into account? I have a few ideas in mind, but... Thanks in advance for your time. Later, Trent Kevin O'Connor wrote: >Jim Pitts and I have just posted two photos of gas fired radiant poker >burners to the Notes From Unit Shop niche in the reference section of his >website southernsteamtrains.com .The two burners are modified a Aster poker >burner from John Garrett's Hudson and a two (used to be three) element poker >burner from my Big Boy. >
Re: Decal service
> Are there > any companies offering a computer file to decal type of service? Ideally I'd > like to email the file and get back the decals by FedEx. Is this in the realms > of reality? If not what other methods do you use? Keith (et al.), there are several choices for decals: Rick Blanchard [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://urbaneagle.com/fcc/fcc-index.html PO Box 821 Santa Cruz, NM 87567 505-753-9991 Rick Keller The Personal Touch [EMAIL PROTECTED] (978) 352-2760 voice (978) 352 4980 fax regards, -vance- Vance Bass Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA Small-scale live steam resources: http://www.nmia.com/~vrbass
Re: Feed pumps
Keith, Thanks for the info, but it still doesn't figure yet. Yes, I, too, forgot the slots on the outlet side. They make a big difference! I had a problem with the store bought check valve in the boiler not seating but seem to have cured that. If my pressure is not too high in the boiler, I do get some water to come in. Definetly get a full boiler on cool down, just like you do. Guess I will just keep on pluggin' at it and try not to get too frustrated. Bob
Feed pumps
Norman and Bob, I also used an LBSC design as the basis for my pump. This was from the DIANA 4-6-0 G1 locomotive which assumed a casting for the pump body was available. I made my body from brass stock, silver soldering the various bits together. As the Graham engine runs at much higher rpm than the average G1 steamer I first geared it down 2:1 and I also reduced the ram diameter to 1/8". I have a bypass valve going back the the water tank. When I start up the Graham the bypass is open so the pump is not working against pressure. Once the Graham twin is warmed up the bypass is closed. There is a small reduction in rpm as it works against the boiler pressure, but it's not significant and it drives the loco just fine at nice prototypical speed in low gear. Bob, if it won't pump through the check valve then I'd suspect the valve seats for the ball valves. They may be seating OK with little back pressure, but failing under pressure. I used the usual "whack the ball with a hammer" technique to create the valve seats and they work fine. The other thing is to make sure you have cut slots in the openings above the ball valves so the valves don't close off the outflow ports if they lift too far. I forgot this on the inlet ball valve and sure enough it locked up. I detected it when the boiler cooled. I'd closed the bypass so that the vacuum would suck water through the pump and fill the boiler. Well it started and you could hear the ball valve clicking until it finally locked up against the opening above it. Cutting the slots cured this and I ended up with a nice working pump. It also refills the boiler under vacuum silently. Cheers Keith -- === Keith Manison Phone (876)702-0337 7 Mulberry CloseFax (876)702-0661 Jacks Hill P.A.Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Kingston 6, Jamaica W.I.
Photos of radiant gas fired poker burners in operation
Jim Pitts and I have just posted two photos of gas fired radiant poker burners to the Notes From Unit Shop niche in the reference section of his website southernsteamtrains.com .The two burners are modified a Aster poker burner from John Garrett's Hudson and a two (used to be three) element poker burner from my Big Boy. KO-5
Re: Decal service
In a message dated 11/25/01 5:01:31 PM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << I've since fitted an engine driven feed pump geared off the Graham engine and the boiler level and presrure keeps up with the steam demand of the Graham with cold water being fed in via the pump. >> Funny that you should mention this, so maybe you can return the favor here. I just built and fitted a pump to one of my Grasshopper Loggers and it does not seem to want to get passed the check valve. The pump seems to work pretty good. I built using technique employed by LBSC with a 1/4" ram. Any ideas anybody? Bob Starr
Re: Decal service
Keith, I'm constructing the Kerr Stuart Brazil, G1. Do you have any suggestion or drawings for an axle pump. - Original Message - > > fitted an engine driven feed pump geared off the Graham engine and the boiler > level and presrure keeps up with the steam demand of the Graham with cold water > being fed in via the pump. > > Cheers > > Keith
Re: Decal service
Micro-Mark at www.micromark.com offer an ink jet or laser decal film that makes the process a D.I.Y. operation. Just put it in the printer, print and cut out the finished decal. Rich On Sun, 25 Nov 2001 20:00:44 -0500, Keith Manison wrote: -I need to do some lettering on a Class A Climax I'm completing. My penmanship is -appalling, but I have been able to generate what I need on computer. Are there -any companies offering a computer file to decal type of service? Ideally I'd -like to email the file and get back the decals by FedEx. Is this in the realms -of reality? If not what other methods do you use? - -BTW, as an update to the ceramic burner and boiler used on this loco, -repositioning the burner as per Bob's suggestion worked really well. I've since -fitted an engine driven feed pump geared off the Graham engine and the boiler -level and presrure keeps up with the steam demand of the Graham with cold water -being fed in via the pump. - -Cheers - -Keith --- -=== -Keith Manison Phone (876)702-0337 -7 Mulberry CloseFax (876)702-0661 -Jacks Hill P.A.Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] -Kingston 6, Jamaica W.I.
Decal service
I need to do some lettering on a Class A Climax I'm completing. My penmanship is appalling, but I have been able to generate what I need on computer. Are there any companies offering a computer file to decal type of service? Ideally I'd like to email the file and get back the decals by FedEx. Is this in the realms of reality? If not what other methods do you use? BTW, as an update to the ceramic burner and boiler used on this loco, repositioning the burner as per Bob's suggestion worked really well. I've since fitted an engine driven feed pump geared off the Graham engine and the boiler level and presrure keeps up with the steam demand of the Graham with cold water being fed in via the pump. Cheers Keith -- === Keith Manison Phone (876)702-0337 7 Mulberry CloseFax (876)702-0661 Jacks Hill P.A.Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Kingston 6, Jamaica W.I.
Re: Virus Alert: This is not a hoax
On Sunday, November 25, 2001, at 05:32 pm, Mike Chaney wrote: > I've recently received an e-mail with a strange attachment, which > turned out > to be a worm called W32/Badtrans-B > > Thanks for a properly checked virus warning Mike. > > Yours Aye Tag Gorton Longlands & Western Railway Trematon office Cornwall ICQ 135971280
Jim Curry
Hi List, I have just returned home after an great afternoon of steaming with Jim Curry at his wonderful home railroad. He called this morning, while the weather was a balmy 50° F. (Well, balmy for Maine in November!) What I didn't realize, was that he was making this invitational call from his son's hospital room! Over the Thanksgiving holiday, his son was taken ill and rushed to the Emergency room with a ruptured appendix! Josh, Jim's son, is an old hand at the live steam hobby and as attended Diamondhead with his Dad. While he is on the mend, he is not out of the woods yet, and I'm sure you all will join me in wishing Josh a speedy and mostly pain free recovery. And I want to send Jim a special thanks for taking the time to spend an afternoon with my wife and me while your wife did duty at the hospital. On the topic of autumn steaming, I did find out graphically that Aster Butane fired locos do not care for cool and windy days! Things started out great, but as the sun went behind some clouds, and the breeze picked up, it became a chore to keep the pressure up. The Butane pressure kept dropping, and the fire would get low. A touch of water in the tank to surround the butane tank with water was enough to warm things up a bit, but after a while became a chore. On the whole, I think I like Alky firing better! But the number of days left this year for steaming are limited. So it was a treat to get in one last run for the season! Thanks again Jim! Please give Josh our best wishes when you see him! Sincerely, Keith & Ginny Taylor
Re: Regional Call/uncontactable poms
Now Larry is a Narrow Gauge chap, isn't he kind to this 1/32 pompous snob! Actually, one of my favourite locos is the Merlin Hunslett, clumsily worked over a few times but still powerful and long running. Geoff > >Geoff you are already Grand High Poohbah of our local garden railroad >society, and >Conductor for life. And you want to be a movie star too! Oh such >aspirations!!! > >Larry Buerer >Bayside and Western RR >
Virus Alert: This is not a hoax
I've recently received an e-mail with a strange attachment, which turned out to be a worm called W32/Badtrans-B -see http://www.sophos.co.uk/virusinfo/analyses/w32badtransb.html for details. Mike
Re: Regional Call (Now Mail service)
James and Keith, Something that works a little quicker (or did for me, anyway) is a "Return To Sender". They tend to respond rather quickly to having to pay postage on catalogs returned after they've mailed them out. The only time I've ever resorted to this method is when a catalog of "inappropriate for younger eyes" items arrived for some reason. The Victoria's Secret catalog looked like a Sunday School book compared to this. My children always check the mail so this was obviously a problem. I called, explained the problem, and told them to remove my address ASAP. Like you said, they claimed it would take a few months. I received another one a few days later, did the "Return To Sender" thing, and haven't heard from them since. I suppose I got my point across. Later, Trent James S. Burns, Jr. wrote: >Keith and list, Wife and I had the catalog problem wherein our PO box was >stuffed with unwanted catalogs. It took some time (about 6 months), but We both >called every catalog sender with a 1-800 number and politely ask to be removed >from their list. Most promised to do so, but also warned that it would take >about three months (?) to actually remove us. >
Re: Regional Call (Now Mail service)
Keith and list, Wife and I had the catalog problem wherein our PO box was stuffed with unwanted catalogs. It took some time (about 6 months), but We both called every catalog sender with a 1-800 number and politely ask to be removed from their list. Most promised to do so, but also warned that it would take about three months (?) to actually remove us. To remove the junk and keep the live steam stuff, try it and expect results several months later. I'd estimate an 85% reduction or even higher. Jim Burns Keith Taylor wrote: > Hi Art, > Unfortunately, even the best mail has to be delivered by my local mail > carrier! They try their best, but are inundated with tons of ads for ladies > underwear, discount coupons for food stuffs that nobody would eat on a bet > and a million catalogs that I did not ask for! Since the advent of E-mail, > most all of what gets delivered to my house is unwanted trash! I have to be > very careful to not chuck out something that is of actual importance. > Keith > > - Original Message - > From: Art Walker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Not so. Subscribe to 'Australian Model Engineering' & you will experience > a > > first class service mag & postwise. > > > > Art Walker, Guildford, England > >
Re: clearances
Hello Everyone, I agree with Victor, that hand scraping is not used much anymore for the most part. Although, hand scraping is still used quite extensively in the precision machine building circles. I use this as a gauge that our precision surfaces are not ULTRA precision surfaces. If you ever have the chance to tour a machine building facility, you owe it to yourself to take the time to see the operation. You'll learn a lot. Cincinnati Milacron (if they still promote their products through tours) is an absolute great one to see. Ask lot's of (legitimate) questions! If they don't know the answers, they'll find out for you. Okuma is another good tour but I've been informed recently that they are ceasing all manufacturing in the U.S. and going back overseas. The usual suppliers (MSC, Rutland, Production Tool, etc.) sell the tools used for hand scraping. They're inexpensive and come in flat, traingle, and half round. They may give you some ideas for possible useful shapes if you build your own. (page #220 of the 1999/2000 MSC big book). Later, Trent Jeanne Baer wrote: >Scraping is a metal-working technique which is not used much anymore. It was >essential at one time for producing true flat surfaces, for fitting >bushings, etc. >
Re: Regional Call (Now Mail service)
Hi Art, Unfortunately, even the best mail has to be delivered by my local mail carrier! They try their best, but are inundated with tons of ads for ladies underwear, discount coupons for food stuffs that nobody would eat on a bet and a million catalogs that I did not ask for! Since the advent of E-mail, most all of what gets delivered to my house is unwanted trash! I have to be very careful to not chuck out something that is of actual importance. Keith - Original Message - From: Art Walker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Not so. Subscribe to 'Australian Model Engineering' & you will experience a > first class service mag & postwise. > > Art Walker, Guildford, England
Atlas Lathe for sale
Anyone interested in a good buy on a small lathe? This notice just appeared on the Machinists's BBS, IMHO it's a great bargain (because it's fully tooled) and someone shoiuld jump on this quick: For Sale: 6" Atlas lathe with tooling By: Brett near Portland <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Saturday, 24 November 2001, at 11:21 p.m. I have a nice, clean Atlas 6" bench lathe Model #10100, serial#001074 sold new in 1977. Included are: Milling attachment 3 jaw chuck (both jaw sets) 4 jaw chuck steady rest faceplate tailstock drill chuck dead centers mt-1 and mt-2 live center mt-1 4 collets mt-2 (3/16,1/4,3/8,1/2) handwheel collet closer threading change gears knurling tool parting tool straight turning tool rocker toolpost 1/3 h.p. motor (non-reversible) Heavy steel base (removable) Owner's manual Lathe is clean/tight and virtually unworn in all aspects. Not like new, as there are nicks and dings. I am offering it here, before advertising elsehwere in about 1 week. I will box to ship for $20 plus actual U.P.S. I live in Vancouver,WA (across the river from Portland,OR). $700 complete as described. Maybe more goodies if you are just getting started R.E.: toolbits, center drills, etc. Thanks, Brett Flemming 360-896-6462 ... Cheers, Harry
