Under Engines/Boilers (centre tab) Mike, top of the pile!

Dietrich, Very nice work. A suggestion. I restore very early steam cars as well as well as play with steamboats. Something I discovered recently for cleaning brass and bronze is a cheap simple formula. Take equal parts of salt and flour and mix them in a bowl, then pour in white vinegar until a cre...

I have to say I feel that to be a slightly precised acount from Pete, I think it was probably somewhat longer winded than that. The first side definitely served as a learning curve for the second, which went much better and quicker. The air drill mentioned was actually a CP 1/2" drive Impact Wrench,...

Pete sent me a photo today and I'm sure he wont mind me sharing it. Once seen it shows the obvious problem of even welding a stub to it, remembering also that the boiler is in the boat and this is a bottom plug, so at floor level. I/we have the kit, I'm sure a short (properly distanced) trip for me ...

Sounds like a good day!

Pete, if they are that tight then I wouldn't worry about them getting tighter when being drilled, just keep the drill speed down so they heat up less from the drilling. C/wise drills I can 'Blacksmith' for you or if they will go in your own lathe chuck you could manage do them yourself. Pete, just h...

They look more like a second cut, than a first. Look to do the job though.

Today we refitted the bearing to the crank with a 0.004" shim but without the rod, and it felt a touch tight with an obvious light tight spot, so we removed it again and attacked the high spots with a bearing scraper, and re-assembled with an extra 0.001" shim. I was happy with it at that. It felt a...

I did think about it but wasn't sure if A) it was still available or B) if I could get any in time. I can only remember seeing it I think once before, and that was a very long time ago, so it was only really a passing thought. Edit: - A quick Google found it straight way on eBay and Amazon. Not expe...

The deed is done! Today with an end-mill I put a 'finding' cut across both slippers (they were both pretty true), and then flipped them over and removed 0.012" in three light cuts. The result is now 0.002" under pin size, which will become 0.002" over, with a 0,004" shim. Exactly where we aimed to b...