2" Minnie Traction Engine

Wow - amazing you were able to reshape that part that well. Very well done!

And I thought I heard some new words floating by the window...

Yeah, I've had that happen all too frequently!  Not always copper either, so I don't have the 'sticky copper' excuse.  The 'clumsy oaf' excuse is about all I can convincingly muster!

But your salvage job looks good to me!  I'd be pleased with that 

Kim

Hi guys,

Thanks for your kind comments. I'm sure you may well have heard my comments as they came thick and fast.
I've now started to cut the discs to weld into the front rims to form the tee's  will post more as progress continues.

Bob

Can't believe its Been so long since I last posted  apologies everyone.
Well work is still continuing although I haven't taken many photos as it was pretty staightforward stuff. Anyway as you will see the front wheels are finished along with some of the gears and the crankshaft. The wheels were a copy of Mal Webbers in the they are welded rings inside the ring and ground back. The crankshaft was done almost to the book except I machined the webs together before  pinning and soldering.

Hope to make more progress now I've retired 

Nice to see an update on your project!  Looking forward to more

Your last picture looks a bit like a steampunk Tie Fighter! 

Kim

Hi Bob
Still watching this build and it's looking good Bob,  my minne build has come to a stop for now until I finish Howitzer project I have started but when I do start back on the minne will be asking a few questions on the boiler side of things .

Mal

Hi mal ,
Glad to see your still building. I've taken a short break from gear cutting to give my ears and arm a rest.
Started a small build if a stirling engine from Anthony Mount's book. Its a bit fiddley as quite a few parts are only 0.5 thick but getting there 

At last.........

After a lot of gas and silver solder i've finally managed to seal the boiler and its passed its first test at 200psi.
Now finishing the mounting blocks for the crank, gear and rear axle. These have been cut from steel bar and I'm press fitting bronze bushes rather than steel running on steel. Once these are finished I will fit to the hornplates and it will be onto the rear wheels which I was going to fabricate but in view of the time already passed opted for a pair of Ali castings.

will post pics later.

Concratulations for Passing the Major Milestone a Pressure Test - that Must have fellt Good     

Per

Congratulations on the boiler milestone!
Glad to hear that you are still fitting the Minnie into your life.
Charlie

Thanks for comments,

after spending what seemed a lifetime of soldering and chasing leaks if felt fantastic watching the pressure needle rise and not getting wet. There was a small amount of movement in the firebox crown nothing to bother about. The amount of solder that I've used i think it needs hallmarking as well although a fair bit of that is down to inexperience, but I don't  care now as the first hurdle has been passed.

Been there - the first boiler I did took forever, redoing seams multiple times, finally got it. Several boilers in actually had one pass test first try. I stood there and couldn't believe it!

Great to hear the progress on the Minnie!   
Looking forward to seeing the pictures too.

Kim

Pictures as promised of some of the other parts made whilst batting with the boiler.

First up is the boiler showing bronze stays which I threaded and screwed in 3mm stainless rod for the hornplates.
Second is hornplate fitted showing  shaft bearings, (third and rear axle waiting for bronze to make bushes )
Third  is winding drum and brake drum. Had big fun turning these as the steel was EN8 and would only cut using insert tips and light cuts.
Fourth one shows the 80t final drive gear and winding drum ratchet wheel.

Hope I've not bored you to death as no special techniques just plain turning.

Those are some great-looking parts, Bob! 

Kim