Shed Matters 3

[Stanley]

This morning I marked the position of the cylinder and front lid while making sure they were in the correct relationship with the target end with the valve face perpendicular with the base, Then I went back to hand work.... after drilling the target face clearance for 4BA I filed the front face of the casting to ensure there was a positive face for the nuts. That took half an hour..... Now I am after my breakfast.

[Stanley]

This morning was not my finest hour.... I started well, doing some meticulous checking and adjusting of the marks which affect the angle my cylinder is mounted on the bed. I needed to make sure the valve face was perpendicular to the base. Having found that I moved on to drilling and tapping the two holes in the cylinder for the 5BA CS screws..... I drilled them clearance instead of tapping, a rookie mistake but in this case more likely a senior moment. So I had to go digging in the treasure chests for two 4BA CS screws. Then I tapped the clearance holes 4BA and I have got away with it by the skin of my teeth! I shall cut the screws to length tomorrow.... That took an hour. Now I shall have breakfast.

[Stanley]

This morning I cut the 4BA CS screws to size and fitted the front lid using them as fasteners. Then I drilled the four remaining holes 4BA tapping size. (No 32 number drill) tapped them and fitted the 3/4" studs that will attach the cylinder to the target face. So I am back on track after yesterday's mistake. There is a certain perverse satisfaction to be gained form correcting a mistake so elegantly..... Now for breakfast.

[Stanley]

This morning I spent half an hour massaging the fit of the cylinder to the target end until I had the valve face perpendicular to the bed. Next I need to increase the clearance between the two far side studs and the casting so as to allow the nuts to rotate freely. But that will do tomorrow. Right now the target is breakfast.

[Stanley]

This morning I used my Dremel multi to grind off enough metal to give the far two studs enough clearance to mount the nuts. Then I revisited the fit of the studs in the holes in the target face and massaged them until my valve face was truly perpendicular to the base. That took over half an hour so I am ready now for my breakfast.

[Stanley]

First job this morning was to make sure I knew exactly what stage we are at.... I decided that this morning I would drill and tap for the steam pipe. I did this and then decided not to go forward with the next step because that is to strip the cylinder down and make the piston and rod. Not a big morning but I have earned my breakfast.....

[Stanley]

I started the day by stripping my cylinder down to its component parts then marked and drilled it ready for tapping. I set up for tapping but then knocked off for breakfast, I have done enough for one morning.

[Stanley]

This morning I tapped the cylinder for the studs needed for the back lid. Minimal fitting needed to adjust the register of the lid locator and the holes. Half an hour's careful and error free work. Just how we like it. Now for breakfast.

[Stanley]

I had to decide this morning where I wanted to go next. I decided to bite the bullet and get set up ready for painting, one of my least favourite jobs! So I wasn't in the shed for long this morning, all I did was break the castings down to their component parts. Now I shall have breakfast and second sleep....