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Thread: Whisperings
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20th November 2011, 07:58 AM #1SENIOR MEMBER
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Whisperings
Hi all
A few people have asked me to show what I do for a living. It certainly isn't your normal day job that's for sure, but it is a facet of engineering that is quickly becoming lost. In essence I suppose you would call it general engineering from around the turn of the century, last century, not this one. I actually get paid to repair/restore antique machines and steam engines that get used as working (not static) displays. A requirement of the job is to also use all the old skills that are quickly becoming lost with the advent of CNC machines. Quite a lot are hand skills, filing chiseling scraping etc.
My workshop
Vanguard lathe with compound slide removed for setting up a job
Jones and Shipman pedestal drill. New century model
Geo Richards & co. Vertical mill
And of course the Buffalo vertical steam engine to power it all
Heaps more if anyone is interested including the forge and anvil plus the power hammer.
Phil
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20th November 2011, 08:23 AM #2Distracted Member
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Phil, are you using a camera or a phone? The pics are too tiny to see anything. I would like more details of all of those machines, especially the mill. I can't tell if it's a weird configuration or there's something behind it. Sorry to whine, but it's not fair to tease us!
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20th November 2011, 08:39 AM #3SENIOR MEMBER
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Hi Bryan
Photos are from the phone
I will repost from the computer...in fact I will do it now
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20th November 2011, 09:01 AM #4
Hi Phil,
Nice one, I'm intrigued. More pictures, then we start with the questions..
I'm sure I'm not the only one who's more than a little envious of your job... any vacancies?
Regards
Ray
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20th November 2011, 09:07 AM #5SENIOR MEMBER
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Try these and let me know
Phil
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20th November 2011, 09:13 AM #6SENIOR MEMBER
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20th November 2011, 09:51 AM #7SENIOR MEMBER
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As requested Ray,
some more pics
Heaps more to come
Phil
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20th November 2011, 10:21 AM #8
Hi Phil,
There's plenty of good history there, I'm surprised at the size of the steam engine, I guess the boiler is outside..
Need more power on the mill, just throw a few more logs into the boiler... Sort of an early version of a VFD..
I like that power hammer, with the foot pedal.
I'm a bit confused by the drill press bolted to the post, is it hand operated?
Regards
Ray
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20th November 2011, 11:04 AM #9SENIOR MEMBER
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Hi ray,
The boilers are situated in their own house about 100 feet away. Steam engines have a lot of torque and build up serious momentum once they are running.
Ya gotta love the 1850's version of the VFD, if I don't have the right speed on the lathe etc. I just slow down or speed up the engine until perfect.
The power hammer is a Champion Blower and Forge Co. No1 power hammer made in Lancaster PA in July 1902. I have used it but the foundations had rotted away so I am relocating it and renewing the foundations.
The post drill is hand operated and made by Dawn. It also has auto feed on it. Only a smithy could operate it for any length of time as you need a strong right arm...as I found out.
Phil
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20th November 2011, 11:17 AM #10SENIOR MEMBER
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Hi Bryan,
She is a state of the art mill. The configuration you might be talking about is the traverse reversing trip rods and mechanism. When traversing automatically the stops move the rods and engage either forward or reverse gears for traverse. At the end of each stroke the quill moves down a notch.
Let me know if you need any more info
Phil
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20th November 2011, 12:35 PM #11Pink 10EE owner
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Very nice.... That is what you call a place with character...
Light red, the colour of choice for the discerning man.
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20th November 2011, 02:10 PM #12SENIOR MEMBER
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20th November 2011, 03:18 PM #13GOLD MEMBER
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Hi Phil,
Interesting picture Thanks.
I remember being in the building with the metal spinning lathe, the line drive gently rocking pretty much the whole building (if a building can gently rock lol) side to side . Still got the fry pan to prove it.
Stuart
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20th November 2011, 03:52 PM #14SENIOR MEMBER
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20th November 2011, 04:25 PM #15Product designer retired
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How about a tour?
Whilst the kids are fossicking around Sovereign Hill, what are the chances of us oldies having a tour around your fabulous workshop?
Of course we'd bring ice cold bottles of Ballarat Bitter and famous Ballarat cake shop pies.
Ken