| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
mcardellg
Newbie
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Posts: 4
|
 Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 3:27 pm Post subject: Bowman PW203 Soldering |
 |
|
Hi all,
I recently got hold of a Bowman PW203 stationary engine from a local charity shop for £10.
It is in pretty good shape, but the fixing for the whistle has become unsoldered.
I am a complete newby on restoring model steam engines, although I do have a background in small hardware repair (electrical equipment).
My question is, what do I need to fix this solder joint? Is normal 'soft' solder OK or do I need to use silver solder? A normal soldering iron wouldn`t have a chance to heat up the tank enough so what do I need to use?
Thanks in advance,
Giles |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
SPOKESMAN
Guest
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 3:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Welcom Giles!
£10 - jammy sod!!
Soft soldering will be fine. There is a particular thread relating to soldering - use the search function above. (I think its under the technical section!!)
Pics always welcome!!!
Mike
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tmuir
Steam Supreme Being
Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Posts: 13779
Location: Western Australia
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 3:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Yes all that was used on the engine when it was built is tin / lead soft solder.
You will need a small blow torch as a soldering iron isnt good enough.
A cheap butane powered blowtorch / soldering iron you buy at an good electrical shop is fine.
To do a neat job you need to remove the end cap but if you arent that fussed about looks and dont feel your up to it just solder it from the outside.
Just make sure the brass is clean or the solder wont take.
You will probably have to rub down the area with a fine grade wet and dry paper to clean it.
If you are worried about other parts desoldering, wrap them in a wet cloth.
Oh yeh and 10 pounds for a PW203 as Mike says 'You Jammy sod!'
Mine cost me 60 pounds.
I'm assuming you know it is a Bowman from Luton made in the 50s not 30s too.
Welcome to the forum and good luck with your restoration.
_________________
http://www.freewebs.com/ozsteam/index.htm
http://members.iinet.net.au/~tmuir1/
A nice example of an Australian made Scorpion Donkey Engine |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mamodman123
Steam God!
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 31056
Location: Midlands, UK
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 4:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
As above really
Personally i would remove the end cap for a neater job
_________________
Solid Fuel tablets explode
You could get a nice flatbase for that
www.mamodsteam.tk
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Chris
Steam Legend!!
Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2235
Location: Hampshire
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 5:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
What a bargain! Just paid £50 for mine.
Nice engines, hope you get it sorted and running. The guys here are full of good advice.
_________________
Chris
http://www.chrisfisher-photography.co.uk |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SPOKESMAN
Guest
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
You love removing those end caps MM . . . .    |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mamodman123
Steam God!
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 31056
Location: Midlands, UK
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| SPOKESMAN wrote: | | You love removing those end caps MM . . . . |
gives me something to do 
_________________
Solid Fuel tablets explode
You could get a nice flatbase for that
www.mamodsteam.tk
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SPOKESMAN
Guest
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| . . . too much time . . . . |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Wallace
Supermoderator
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 11021
Location: New South Wales, Australia
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 6:51 am Post subject: Re: Bowman PW203 Soldering |
|
|
| mcardellg wrote: | Hi all,
I recently got hold of a Bowman PW203 stationary engine from a local charity shop for £10.
It is in pretty good shape, but the fixing for the whistle has become unsoldered.
I am a complete newby on restoring model steam engines, although I do have a background in small hardware repair (electrical equipment).
My question is, what do I need to fix this solder joint? Is normal 'soft' solder OK or do I need to use silver solder? A normal soldering iron wouldn`t have a chance to heat up the tank enough so what do I need to use?
Thanks in advance,
Giles |
Along with what others have said, try here
http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/ftopic760-0.php
A guide from MM, which is very handy. 
_________________
http://www.freewebs.com/mamodsteam/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mcardellg
Newbie
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Posts: 4
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 7:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
Wow, what a lot of replies, this is one active forum
Thanks to everyone for the help, I will go with removing the end cap (once I have the desoldering equipment that is, this is a good excuse to update/add to my workshop equipment  ). After all, if your going to do a job, might as well do it properly.
Yes £10 is a bargain, but then I`m buying extra tools (not just the soldering equipment, also cleaning materials/paint etc).
... and yes I did know it was a post WW2 Luton Bowman, thanks to MooseMans website: http://www.freewebs.com/odilon/bowmansteamengines.htm
No doubt I will find other problems in restoring this engine, so I`ll probably be back here soon.
Thanks again for the help everyone,
Regards,
Giles |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mcardellg
Newbie
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Posts: 4
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
Oh, and here are a couple of photos:
And after stripping it down (I have started to clean the boiler here):
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tmuir
Steam Supreme Being
Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Posts: 13779
Location: Western Australia
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mcardellg
Newbie
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Posts: 4
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
Incredible, I looked around and valued the entire thing at about £70.
Are the burners particularly rare then? Is that because they get broken or is it because they get replaced by solid fuel do you think?
Don`t know if I`ll be selling it though, still not sure if this is the start of a hobby or just a one-off experiment.
If I do decide to sell it I`ll make sure I post it here first. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mamodman123
Steam God!
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 31056
Location: Midlands, UK
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
| mcardellg wrote: | Incredible, I looked around and valued the entire thing at about £70.
Are the burners particularly rare then? Is that because they get broken or is it because they get replaced by solid fuel do you think?
Don`t know if I`ll be selling it though, still not sure if this is the start of a hobby or just a one-off experiment.
If I do decide to sell it I`ll make sure I post it here first. |
Burners are just sought after! they go missing easily as you can imagine!
Nice Bowman and very good condition
_________________
Solid Fuel tablets explode
You could get a nice flatbase for that
www.mamodsteam.tk
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SPOKESMAN
Guest
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
| That looks a nice project to do . . . I like it!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
)