Steam Tractor 3/4" (Rudy K)

[zeeprogrammer]

Wow. Beautiful looking smokestack.

You gotta be sitting there with a smile on your face.

I always find boring operations pretty interesting too.
I mean operations with a boring bar are pretty interesting.

Sigh.

[b.lindsey]

That came out just great Kim. As always, great photos and write up as well. Nice to see an update on the traction engine!!

Bill

[Dave Otto]

The smokestack turned out very nice Kim! 

Dave

[90LX_Notch]

Kim that stack did come out beautiful.  Great work.

-Bob

[Kim]

Thanks Zee, Bill, Dave, and Bob,

Yes, I'm sitting pretty happy here right now

Though looking at that gap, I'm wondering if I should try to do a little more soldering there - try to fill it in a bit?  Or is that likely to end in tears and me throwing what had been perfectly passable smokestack across the shop because I melted it into a heap of slag?


These are things I can think about till my next shop time...
Kim

[crueby]

Silver solder is not good at filling gaps like soft solder is, I'd leave it and stay happy!

[b.lindsey]

I agree with Chris, and since that area isn't open into the smokebox, its just that small area of fillet missing. Its not like smoke will be coming out of an unwanted area. This engine has so many focal points, I think even you will stop noticing this small gap shortly.

Bill

[Kim]

Thanks for the experienced advice Chris & Bill,
Sounds like I should just leave it alone. As you said, it won't cause a functional issue, and its certainly not a structural problem.  I just want to get better enough at this, that by the time I get to silver soldering the boiler that I don't screw it up too bad!

Thanks for the advice,
Kim

[Steamer5]

Hi Kim,
 The stack looks the part! You should be very happy with that, I know I would. Question is are you going to paint it? If so the old adage, paint covers a bunch of sins ...... just putting it out there...

Hope my  field survived today's downpour, it's looking like it's going to be needed over winter!

Cheers Kerrin

[wagnmkr]

I don't think that is worth worrying about. As you said, you could make it much worse by trying to make it better. I wish my quality was as good.

Tom

[Kim]

Thanks for the input Kerrin and Tom,

Question is are you going to paint it? If so the old adage, paint covers a bunch of sins ...... just putting it out there...

Hope my  field survived today's downpour, it's looking like it's going to be needed over winter!

Yes, I am planning to  paint the tractor, but I want to leave some of the pretty brass showing.  So I'm not sure yet.  Hadn't thought that far about what specific pieces I'll paint.  Maybe this will dictate the paint scheme I choose

Yes, hope your field comes out OK.  You guys have been having a wet summer down under?

Kim

[Don1966]

Nice work Kim and the smokestack looks great. Yeah I wouldn't worry to much about the little spot. Just clean her up good and it won't be noticed. I have done some reflow, but like Chris said silver solder doesn't  cooperate to much filling gaps unless the heat is just right.

Don

[Kim]

Thanks Don,
Appreciate the advice!
Kim

[scc]

As has been said, that smokestack (chimney) has turned out really well. Great pics as usual                     Terry

[Steamer5]

Hi Kim,
 We're still waiting for summer! Haven't had many days were we've hit 25C in 3 months. Our council brought in water restriction 1 January, they end 31 March. R has only hand watered the garden 3 or 4 times,  seem to only go 5 to 10 days without some form of rain, even then we may have had a sprinkle overnight!
Still we don't have inches or more of snow!

Keep up the good work! Went past the  field yesterday & it's still growing well!

Cheers Kerrin