Author Topic: Steam Tractor 3/4" (Rudy K)  (Read 242014 times)

Offline Kim

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Re: Steam Tractor 3/4" (Rudy K)
« Reply #240 on: February 07, 2016, 04:37:47 PM »
Thanks Don, Bill, and Dave!

Yes, the little HF brake has been working well for this 20 GA steel.  I did some heavier brass on it too for something - it was 6-8" wide, and it worked quite well for that.  Didn't groan or complain at all.

Its a little slower to use than brakes I've used before, but at $30 its hard to complain too much!  Someday, maybe I'll get a real bending brake.  But they don't give them away.  A quality squaring sheer would be welcome too. But I'll just do it my slow way, and maybe someday I'll upgrade :)

Kim

Offline scc

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Re: Steam Tractor 3/4" (Rudy K)
« Reply #241 on: February 09, 2016, 10:49:54 PM »
Excellent work Kim :ThumbsUp:    Terry

Offline Kim

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Re: Steam Tractor 3/4" (Rudy K)
« Reply #242 on: February 10, 2016, 07:06:26 AM »
Thank you Terry,
Kim

Offline Kim

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Re: Steam Tractor 3/4" (Rudy K)
« Reply #243 on: February 14, 2016, 02:45:58 AM »
Before I attached the Throat Sheet, I decided to add another rivet to my row of decorative rivets on the side of the Boiler Shell (if you'll recall, it was short one rivet). While I was doing that, I decided to replace a few of the ugliest, most offensive rivets. But as I started working on it, I realized I was offended by a lot of the rivets. By the time I was was done, I'd replaced about 15 of them!  And now looking at the picture, while it looks better, I can see another half dozen that I probably should have drilled out and replaced.  Maybe later. For now, I'm ready to move on.


I devised a way to clamp the Throat Sheet in place and then drilled the rivet holes using the Firebox Wrapper as a guilde.


Here's a close-up of that process.  After drilling a couple of holes, I stuck brads through them to help keep things aligned.


Here's the progress after a few rivets.


At this point, I needed to figure out where to position the Steering Bracket Mounts.  When I figured that out, I clamped them in place, and again, used the rivet holes in the Firebox Wrapper as a template for drilling the rivet holes.


Here's the same process on the opposite side.


And here's the Throat Sheet and Steering Bracket Mounts riveted in place.


And the other side:


A shot from the inside, showing the back of the rivets.  The heads that don't show aren't very pretty, but they are holding quite well!


Here's a final parting shot of where we're at:


Thanks for following along,
Kim
« Last Edit: July 08, 2017, 05:58:16 PM by Kim »

Offline Bearcar1

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Re: Steam Tractor 3/4" (Rudy K)
« Reply #244 on: February 14, 2016, 02:52:42 AM »
That is a handsome piece of work KIM, well done….. I am enjoying the adventure with you. Thanks for posting up your progress.  :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp: :popcorn:


BC1
Jim

Offline Don1966

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Re: Steam Tractor 3/4" (Rudy K)
« Reply #245 on: February 14, 2016, 03:18:39 AM »
Nice piece of work Kim, you should be elated.......... :ThumbsUp:

Don

Offline joe d

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Re: Steam Tractor 3/4" (Rudy K)
« Reply #246 on: February 14, 2016, 05:39:09 AM »
Looking good, Kim :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp:

You're getting the hang of those rivets.

Joe

Offline Kim

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Re: Steam Tractor 3/4" (Rudy K)
« Reply #247 on: February 14, 2016, 07:08:25 AM »
Thanks Jim, Don, and Joe, for the kind words!
The encouragement is greatly appreciated!
Kim

Offline mal webber

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Re: Steam Tractor 3/4" (Rudy K)
« Reply #248 on: February 14, 2016, 10:44:05 AM »
Kim its looking really nice with you.

Mal

Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: Steam Tractor 3/4" (Rudy K)
« Reply #249 on: February 14, 2016, 12:09:12 PM »
And now looking at the picture, while it looks better, I can see another half dozen that I probably should have drilled out and replaced. 

You may be just 'too close to the work' if you get my meaning.

Looking great to me.

 :popcorn:
Carl (aka Zee) Will sometimes respond to 'hey' but never 'hey you'.
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Offline b.lindsey

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Re: Steam Tractor 3/4" (Rudy K)
« Reply #250 on: February 14, 2016, 01:31:20 PM »
Zee is right Kim...I think it looks fantastic. I really admire your patience and tenacity, and it shows in the results!!!

Bill

Offline Kim

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Re: Steam Tractor 3/4" (Rudy K)
« Reply #251 on: February 14, 2016, 03:22:07 PM »
Thank you Mal, Zee, and Bill!
While it's true that we each are our own worst critic, if you held it in your hand and looked at it, I have no doubt that each of you could see the issues that I see.  They aren't all that subtle  :-[

Be that as it may, this is my practice engine!  My next one will be better! It's so much more fun and motivational to have your practice work be something that your excited about!  Doing 500 rivets on their own would be good practice, but it wouldn't hold my attention.  This way I'm excited to go work on my practice piece and I end up with something cool and exciting, even it if has blemishes.  And I'll improve even more on my next project! :)

Thanks for the support!
Kim

Offline Tennessee Whiskey

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Re: Steam Tractor 3/4" (Rudy K)
« Reply #252 on: February 14, 2016, 09:11:50 PM »
Kim, I think it's looking great;  you're becoming quite the "Rosie " with the riveting  :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp: and the sheet metal skills aint bad either  :cheers:

Cletus

Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: Steam Tractor 3/4" (Rudy K)
« Reply #253 on: February 14, 2016, 10:20:10 PM »
you're becoming quite the "Rosie " with the riveting

Uh oh. Another moniker that may stick.

Kill it before it grows Kim.  ;D
Carl (aka Zee) Will sometimes respond to 'hey' but never 'hey you'.
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Offline Dave Otto

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Re: Steam Tractor 3/4" (Rudy K)
« Reply #254 on: February 15, 2016, 01:31:59 AM »
Kim

It's beautiful! We as builders know where every little problem is; but as you continue to make and add parts all those little things you are not completely happy with will just disappear and you know how to do it better on the next project.

You should be very happy and proud with what you have accomplished.

Dave

 

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