toxx
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Sexy Sadie and Petite Isabelle running!!! - p. 3... this one's gonna be the companion of my Jensen #85. Got her stripped down, and will start repainting shortly. I used my usual brutal paint-removal method: Boiling water with detergent.
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johnreid
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That really does a good job of paint stripping.
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toxx
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... yes, this time is was extremely easy: The paint just flaked off, all that was left to do was brush off the residue in the nooks and crannies under running water with a steel brush. Im gonna use a anti-rust primer on the base before spraying it red. The fire box will get a coat of black vht. 
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MooseMan
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Tom, I know this has arisen before, but can you remind me: is it laundry or dishwasher detergent you use?
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johnreid
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I think it is the variety that is for Dishwashing Machines. I will try that soon myself as I have a steam engine coming that will need some painting soon.
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toxx
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... I use laundry detergent. It kinda smells when boiling. I boil water, toss in the parts I want to strip of paint. The water is now a rolling boil. Reduce heat and gingerly add some detergent. Careful! It'll boil over in seconds if you've got the heat to high up. Let the stew gently boil for 30 minutes. Then brush with a steel brush under lukewarm water.
DON'T add vinegar or anything else to the boiling concoction: You might create toxic fumes ... best leave the kitchen window open, anyway.
This method has worked for me countless times, but the results vary. This time, the paint of the MM1 just flaked off. Other times, the paint would still be stubborn after an hour of boiling, and removing would be a lot of scraping, sometimes boiling the part a second time.
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oldstuff
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Sounds like a pretty good tip, Tom. Especially if you don't like messing around
with those chemical strippers. 'Course, if they were to give up the drugs... 
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Les Marsh
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I look forwards to the finished article.
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MooseMan
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Will definitely give that a go on my next stripping job!
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toxx
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... gents, I measured top fill of the MM1's boiler to be 90ml. How much do you recommend to put in the boiler, and how long will it (safely) run?
Thanks for your tips, mates!
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johnreid
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I bet Dishwasher powder is more caustic, I agree though, do not inhale the fumes as that could do some serious harm. Plus while you are collapsed and unconscious from breathing toxic fumes the detergent would boil dry and probably ruin the Steamer 
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Wallace
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| toxx wrote: | ... gents, I measured top fill of the MM1's boiler to be 90ml. How much do you recommend to put in the boiler, and how long will it (safely) run?
Thanks for your tips, mates! |
Try about 70ml - 75ml in it and see how it goes. The fill varies from engine to engine but about 75% is usually good.
The wick burner can last a lot longer than the other type.
Try it for 10mins and see how much water you have left. I've heard of people getting 20mins but always best to be safe
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toxx
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... thanks, Wallace!
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Minor1PJG
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I regularly get at least 20 mins out of a wick burner on my MM1 and 15 mins on the mesh meths burner
Minor 1's are great. Have I said that before 
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Mamodman123
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Great job on the paint stripping Tom!
I can imagine this one is going to be a cracker when done! MM1's are wild when in steam! Got to love them!
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toxx
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... here's the finished engine (pix is a bit dark). Fire box repainted with black vht, base wine red. The green colour is a tic to 'greenish'. Larger flywheel! The original is, TMM, ridiculously tiny. It's my SE3's original flywheel. I had to insert a reduction tube into it, since the MM1's f/w axle is thinner and has a thread. Tomorrow, she shall have her trial run!
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johnreid
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Looks like an entirely different engine. Are you still going to mount it to the same base as the Jensen 85?
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steamyman
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WOW! great work Toxx, luv the big f/wheel!
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Les Marsh
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 That's good.
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toxx
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| johnreid wrote: | | Looks like an entirely different engine. Are you still going to mount it to the same base as the Jensen 85? |
... yes, John! The little MM1 will be the companion of the #85 Petite Isabelle.
I'm looking for a nice name for the MM1 ... any suggestions, mates?
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steamyman
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| toxx wrote: | | johnreid wrote: | | Looks like an entirely different engine. Are you still going to mount it to the same base as the Jensen 85? |
... yes, John! The little MM1 will be the companion of the #85 Petite Isabelle.
I'm looking for a nice name for the MM1 ... any suggestions, mates? |
Big Mal (Mal Models)
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pauly
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love that BIG flywheel.
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Les Marsh
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The 'Mighty Minor'
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Mamodman123
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Looks great Tom!
Not sure how the little cylinder will get on with that flywheel. Will be a smooth runner though
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Nick
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Great job Tom!
I love the flywheel. 
I can't wait to see this mounted with the 85. How close are the dimensions of the two?
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madeinenglang
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Great job
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toxx
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... of course I couldn't wait until tomorrow! I tried her out with 73ml normal tap water; after about five minutes, she took off like a charm, spraying me nicely with steam and droplets of scalding hot water. She makes a satisfying clap, clap, thonk, thonk sound (as good girls do ). Interesting: Her boiler leaks from one end cap ant 2 places, oozing a drop about every 10 seconds. The amount of water loss is minimal, and there seems to be no pressure loss, since the leaks are at the lower part of the caps, well under the safety amount of water I have her run on (this would be a point for Reid to ponder on).
After about 15 minutes she started to slow dow: The wick was getting low, and I don't know how much water was left. The big flywheel might slow her down a bit, but that really doesn't matter since I don't want her flipping all over the place anyway, 'till she's mounted to the wooden board.
All in all a perfect first run!
Any more name suggestions for her, gents?
Nachtrag: I just emptied the boiler - 34ml water left after 15 minutes running. That's just fine and a good safety measure.
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Les Marsh
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Saucy Susie.
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toxx
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... I like that name, Les!
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Minor1PJG
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I like the Mighty Minor, I have to say.
Great flywheel!!
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Les Marsh
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| Minor1PJG wrote: | I like the Mighty Minor, I have to say.
Great flywheel!! |
Was that me.
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toxx
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... I mounted Sexy Sadie (after the Beatle's song) to her new home, next to Petite Isabelle. The pic isn't the best; lately, I been messing up digital pix quite a lot. But I guess you can see what the layout looks like now. Tomorrow (I always say that! ), I'll run them together!
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johnreid
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Looks great, I also like how the flywheels ended up on opposite sides, kind of works out nice that way.
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Les Marsh
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They do look nice together.
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toxx
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... thanks, Kameraden! I'm glad you like them ... you guys know me: Of course I couldn't wait 'till tomorrow, and had to steam the girls now (they were begging for it ). It was ...
... plain super!!! Isabelle and Sadie huffed and clanked away merrily, spraying steam and water everywhere, letting their heavy base board vibrate and dance. Interesting: At some secret interval (Reid would be able to figure this out), the vibration would suddenly disappear, both machines, though in age and construct so far apart, humming in perfect unison. Like two stars rotating around some strange centre of gravity ....
Cut the sentimental crap, Tom ...
Anyway, one great afternoon steam with the girls ... ahem! The bigger flywheel doesn't slow Sadie down one bit ... gosh, does the little lady have power! Just as yours truly here likes 'em ...
Okay, okay, I'll shut up. Here's a pix with 1/4 sec, I hope you can see the motion:
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oldstuff
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That came out nice, Tom. I like those fasteners you used, they look like posts.
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Nick
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Looks great Tom.
What are you using for a burner in the 85?
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Roly Williams
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| toxx wrote: | ... gents, I measured top fill of the MM1's boiler to be 90ml. How much do you recommend to put in the boiler, and how long will it (safely) run?
Thanks for your tips, mates! |
I usually recommend about 2/3 to 3/4 full. 3/4 is safer but can cause priming and wastage of time / fuel. If there's still plenty of water left after the fuel runs out, then reduce the water to 2/3 full.
Just checked my MM1 and it has the overflow at 1/2.
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toxx
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| Nick wrote: | Looks great Tom.
What are you using for a burner in the 85? |
... I use the standard tin Esbit-burner tray, since my meths burner doesn't fit in there properly. The Jensen tray is a flimsy piece of tin. I put a wooden handle on it, 'cause it gets damned hot.
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Nick
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| toxx wrote: | | Nick wrote: | Looks great Tom.
What are you using for a burner in the 85? |
... I use the standard tin Esbit-burner tray, since my meths burner doesn't fit in there properly. The Jensen tray is a flimsy piece of tin. I put a wooden handle on it, 'cause it gets damned hot. |
I'd like to see a better picture of the burner handle if you get a chance.
I learned the same thing when I picked up the burner on my L4 last night. 
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steamgranny
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I love Tom's interpretations & personal touches (& those very elegant fasteners, too )
But you must get video Tom, this is just so frustrating not being able to see them run! 
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Wallace
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They look fantastic
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toxx
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| Nick wrote: | | toxx wrote: | | Nick wrote: | Looks great Tom.
What are you using for a burner in the 85? |
... I use the standard tin Esbit-burner tray, since my meths burner doesn't fit in there properly. The Jensen tray is a flimsy piece of tin. I put a wooden handle on it, 'cause it gets damned hot. |
I'd like to see a better picture of the burner handle if you get a chance.
I learned the same thing when I picked up the burner on my L4 last night. |
... here you go, Nick! It's just a piece of wood I screwed to it:
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toxx
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| steamgranny wrote: | I love Tom's interpretations & personal touches (& those very elegant fasteners, too )
But you must get video Tom, this is just so frustrating not being able to see them run! |
... thank you, Alicia! Yes, it's high time I get some sort of cheap video camera. It's a financial problem - have problems making ends meet.  Perhaps I could get one cheaply off ebay ...
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