Toronto Society of Model Engineers

THE TORONTO SOCIETY OF MODEL ENGINEERS

VOL 34 No.6

FEB 2004 THE MODELLER

Ho Ho - winter is still very much in evidence around here. A good way to get through this cold, white and blustery season is to get out and enjoy it ! That’s a good reason to get out and come down to the next TSME meeting. Please drive with care on you way here and join your fellow members for the February 2004 meeting. See you there on

FRIDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2004 AT 8.00pm, at 1001 QUEEN STREET WEST, TORONTO

Don’t forget to pay your $2.00 parking fee and to leave the ticket on the dash !

WE’RE STILL IN OUR 70^th YEAR – IN THIS EVENING’S PROGRAM, YOU MAY EXPECT TO HEAR FROM:

JIM SMALL – Jim will give Part C of his talk on making a casting

DAVE SAGE – will tell us about rebuilding his Marine Engine, as this work continues,

TIM HILL – explain the workings of the Engine he is now making parts for,

DAVE POWELL – will talk about machining a Traction Engine Cylinder block, and a small Drill Bit Sharpener,

JOHN CHAPPELL – Santa’s Workshop – the processes that are of interest to Model Engineers,

ANDY WOJTECZKO – making up Race Car components,

LLOYD HALL – heating your machine tools so that they are warm to the touch, if they are out in the cold shed,

ROBERT WYSS - will have something of interest to talk about

RICHARD TROUNCE – is going to talk about Superheaters Part 2, and the Whistle for his Boston and Albany

DON CARR – machining the Swing Links for his Hudson, and making Leaf Springs

IF YOU HAVE A PROJECT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON, or recently finished – please bring it along and we will certainly do all we can to fit your item into this program.

WHAT’S UP & COMING : MEETING DATES 13 Feb, 12 Mar, 9 April, 14 May, 11 June

HAMILTOM MUSEUM OF STEAM & TECHNOLOGY:

Heritage Week Lecture: February 18 at 7.30pm. Charles Cooper will speak on Hamilton’s Other Railway’’, the Hamilton and North Western. Co-sponsored by the Hamilton Model Engineering Club. Admission by donation.

Views of Our City: 1854 – 1938. March 4 to May 4. Trace the changing face of Hamilton in this exhibition of images of the city.

March Break: March 7 to March 16. Daily 10.00am to 4.00pm. Activities, games, and family fun.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT – THE JANUARY MEETING (notes taken at short notice by ART GORDON – many thanks for stepping in Art – Dave Bray)

JIM SMALL continued his talk on making castings by showing his techniques in making molds and cores. Using both split and solid patterns Jim demonstrated the preparation of the mold box. The foundry sand requires just the right consistency – not to dry and not too moist – and must not be packed too hard. Sand is reusable which is fortunate as the nearest source is in northern NY State, there being none in Canada according to Jim. He then went on to describe the making of a core box. These are cast in plaster using the pattern and then modified with wax or other suitable materials. Two halves are required. The casting medium for the cores are Sodium Silicate, ie water glass, which is hardened in the core box in an atmosphere of Carbon Dioxide and further gassed after removal just to be on the ‘safe side’. They are then placed in the lower mold cavity with the upper half on top. After the casting is removed from the mold it placed in water to allow the core to dissolve. Water glass is not a pollutant.

During the intermission our guest J. P. RISHEA demonstrated his “Alien Monstrosity” or “Super Spider”. This is a pneumatically powered four legged walking device capable of carrying the operator. J. P. told us that it represented approximately 5 months work and was about half complete. The next stage of development will add four more legs and an onboard power source in the form of one or more scuba air tanks. We can look forward to its return later in the year.

GEORGE COCKBURN described his Gauge 1 spirit fired locomotive displayed with an assortment of goods wagons that he had also built. The locomotive, in which the only castings used were the wheels, has two inside cylinders with ‘semi-piston’ type valves driven by slip eccentrics and is to a design by the Gauge 1 Society. It is a close representation of a South Eastern and Chatham Railway 4-4-0 and if George can be persuaded to paint it in that Company’s ornate livery it would look very impressive.

DAVE SAGE talked about the restoration he is undertaking of an ‘Acadian’ 3 hp 2-stroke engine from Nova Scotia, parts of which were on display. It is believed to date from the early 1930s at least. The carburetor is finished and Dave explained that the restored finish was obtained with a mixture of salt, vinegar and elbow grease. Unusual features were the hinged big end bearing adjustable for wear by shims and pegs to prevent the piston rings moving in the grooves. These were located a short distance around the ring from the gap. The plain main bearings are in Babbitt metal which prompted some discussion on the composition and uses of this material. Those interested are referred to Machinery’s Handbook under Plain Bearings.

JEFF KINGMA showed a tool grinder he has made. The spindle is based on a design in the book “Spindles” published by Nexus. The spindle bearings, from Canadian Bearings, are not sealed or tensioned and Jeff is proposing to fit wave spring washers to eliminate end float. “Monster Track” tee slots from Busy Bee are fitted in the base. The wheel guard is a piece of 6” pipe and is adjustable.

GERRY REED explained how he removed the broken quill from a Jacobs Chuck. No easy task as it took a force of 15 tons to shift it. He also passed on some words of wisdom on the difficulties of getting Babbitt metal.

The meeting closed with the showing of the video “The Legends, the Truth, and the Models”, highlights of the Society’s history prepared by SCOTT BARRIE from the movies in the Society’s archives. Copies will be made available for sale to members

SOME TIPS:

Four Workshop Principles:

1. The one wrench or drill bit you need will be the one missing from the tool chest.

2. Most projects require three hands.

3. Left over nuts never match left over bolts.

4. The more careful you plan a project, the more confusion there is when something goes wrong.

First Rule of Intelligent Tinkering: Save all the parts.

Meyer’s Law: It is a simple task to make things complex, but a complex task to make things simple.

FOR SALE, WANTED AND/OR FOR FREE

WANTED: by DON CARR. Ph. Parallel Machine Files for an Oliver Die Filer. The files would be 8” overall.

WANTED: by ROBIN COLLARD. Thread Dial Indicator for South Bend Bench lathe, Model ‘A’.

WANTED: by RON MELVIN: Ph. Any back issues of “Strictly I.C.”

FOR SALE: Contact HENK HOOGEVEEN.. Heavy Duty work Bench, 6ft long x 34” high x 32 deep

FOR SALE: By GERRY REED: Atlas Horizontal Mill – good condition. With mandrels and some spare parts.

WELCOME NEW MEMBER: No one this month.

FOR CORRECTIONS / CHANGES PLEASE EMAIL:

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