Thanks Stuart!
I got the steam chest and steam chest cover done today.
I'm not sure I did things in the right order...but I started with machining the boss? end? thingie? that the valve rod goes through.
If I'd done the inside first, my concern was being able to hold onto something.
1st Pic shows the start of machining the thingie the valve rod goes through.
2nd Pic shows it 'done'. Still to do the drilling/reaming for the rod and threading of the nut.
3rd Pic shows the steam chest and cover. (That's the 2nd cover actually. When I was milling the recess...I went too far.)
4th Pic shows a partial assembly.
The steam chest is a tad too long towards the valve rod end. Not too bad. I believe it's because I measured for the mounting holes from the wrong reference.
Won't be noticeable once the model is put together. There'll be plenty of boo-boos to distract from.
Pay no attention to the socket head cap screws.
You might notice the green aluminum shims. "Rolling Rock". Used to be drink-able but I wish I'd gotten some Amstel Light.
Just a heads up...I may be temporarily closing shop before the engine is complete.
I've made one engine, started another, and pursued some other hobbies in my 'new' shop which has shown me that some changes/improvements are needed.
Most aggravating is the swarf. I can't allow anyone in the shop because I track it all over the place.
In addition, there's some wasted space and I'm thinking of an HO train system in a corner.
I'm thinking of getting the mill and lathe closer together and providing a 4' wall around them so I can contain the swarf to a smaller area.
The mill is against a wall so the 4' wall really applies to the lathe.
Changing shoes on entering/exiting.
You might wonder about the HO train system...
We (or I anyway) go from diapers to toys to girls...then from girls to toys to diapers.
I seem to be in entering the 2nd toy phase.
But going back to the thingie through which the valve rod goes. A question.
I drilled undersize and then reamed to 1/8". But I find that the 1/8" shaft has a little bit of wobble.
My suspicion (given the rod is 1/8") is that my reamer is a tad oversize.
In fact, I think my cheap reamer set is all over the place.
My question though...when do you ream undersize?
On the other hand...it could be that there's not a whole lot of steam chest to hold the rod for any real length.
I'm just wondering if what I'm seeing is 'normal'.