Chris's Un-Ransome Tree Feller

[bent]

"LoppenElfer 1900"

Yer killin' me!    

[ddmckee54]

Chris:

I think you've got your syntax incorrect.  Shouldn't that be the "ElfenLopper 1900"?

[crueby]

Chris:

I think you've got your syntax incorrect.  Shouldn't that be the "ElfenLopper 1900"?

Thats a competing brand...   

[crueby]

Got the base frame silver soldered together, so on to the handwheel. I dug out the jig I had made for the handwheels on the brake bands of the Kearsarge windless engine, and gave the slots a fresh coat of the solvent based WiteOut since there were exposed metal areas after removing the previous handwheels. The coating will keep any solder that runs down the bars from sticking to the jig.


And have the pieces prepped and ready to solder up for the wheel itself. The hub was drilled around the edge for the spokes, then the center drilled through for the worm shaft. The handle has a hole in the base to slide over the rim, hiding the joint in the rim and holding it in place. The rim was bent around a piece of round bar in the vise, then a saw cut taken across the overlap.

A little later, after the witeout has cured up well, I'll put the pieces in and silver solder all the joints...

[Kim]

I remember that jig! Great to be able to reuse it here! 

Kim

[crueby]

I remember that jig! Great to be able to reuse it here! 

Kim

Yeah, it saved a lot of time having it already! The soldering is done, its cooling off now...

[crueby]

Pieces assembled in the jig, ready for soldering,

and after soldering. Let it cool for a little while, then popped the handwheel out. The witeout did its job, just popped right out. It will get a bath in the pickle solution, then I'll file off any extra solder thickness and chuck the hub up in the lathe to clean out the inside of the hub where the spokes stuck through. After that, just need to make the stop collar for the other end of the shaft, and make the display base/tree holder!

[cnr6400]

  Handwheel looks great! almost looks like it would even work on a ship's anchor windlass engine...   

[ddmckee54]

That white-out must be some tough stuff.  I expected it to be more discolored after the soldering.

[Vixen]

The white-out works well. Please remind me what the jig was make from

Mike

[crueby]

The witeout is some sort of ceramic mix, quite tough as you say. It will scrape off before heateing, so fragile. The heat turns it glassy. Some knife makers use it to line canisters when making Damascus steel. At one time there were two versions of it, not sure if thats still true. Its the quick dry version that works as a solder barrier. You can paint it onto the part to keep solder from running away from the joint. Must let it dry before fluxing.


The jig was turned and milled from a brass offcut left over from a cylinder. Steel works just as well, I just had this chunk on hand. Back when I  built the Kozo New Shay model, he showed using some th8n sheet steel for a similar  jig for soldering up the spoked drivers. Key is to have holes around all joints so flame and flux can surround the joint, minimizing the  chance of soldering the part to the jig. I used flat bar to make j8gs to solder up steel I beams on the Marion shovel model.


 




This afternoon I  made up the wood base and gave it a coat of clear. Should be able to assemble everything  tomorrow and do a trial cut!

[Vixen]

Thanks    

Mike

[bent]

Wow, that was quick!  Of course, the jig was up already. 

Nice handwheel!   

[crueby]

And we are there! Ready for some test cuts on a pine 'tree'...
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j-FLzKmMqo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j-FLzKmMqo</a>
Running pretty well, took a few tests to get the pressure and valve setting to give it enough power to get through the 'tree', which is held by a screw through the end of the display base, with a threaded insert in the display base to take the screw. The saw itself is bolted up through the display base to hold it in place. Running pretty good!!     


Here are some pictures too...

[ShopShoe]

LOVE IT!

It's beautiful to look at, with just the right amount of bling from the contrasting metals.

Seeing it run is amazing.

Perhaps a diorama display with a "tree" made from a real stick of forest wood, with a suitable knothole so another elfish character can be peeking out in distress that his home is coming down?  :'(

ShopShoe