MACHINE SHOP TIPS #162 Part 1 Making Flywheels for Model Steam Engines tubalcain

Tubalcain casts spoke flywheels for his model steam engines Part 1.

[dalegriggs]

Mr. Pete,
I like looking at your many different videos you’ve made over the years.
This one brings back memories of the hours I spent over a plumber’s pot just like the one you have. This was normally a shop mounted device but my dad made a mounting bracket to put it right on top of a propane tank so we could take it to job sites. I always questioned the safety factor but we never had a tank blow.
I spent a lot of time fishing the Illinois river and the sloughs and bar pits around Valley City. A considerable amount of my dad’s plumbing lead were turned into sinkers. I made my own molds and even made weights to put on a couple of gill nets I fished in the river currents.
Dale

[idahodad]

Ramble away, these videos are priceless.

[gary.solexa]

When I first heard you mention lead flywheels in another video, I found myself turning my nose up. But looking at this I see a wonderful process, great tooling and a superb end result.

[BoffinGrusky]

Keep 'em coming Mr. Pete and ramble as much as you please!!  I NEVER miss one of your videos!!!

[lacetmiel]

I always felt that the real "danger" from a linotype machine wass the damned noise. All the old guys in the composing room were deaf from working around a half dozen of those machines going full blast. Of course they have gone the way of the horse and buggy, but they were sure a mechanical marvel.

[mikeschotte]

My Grandfather was a pressman for almost 40 years. You wouldn't believe the thousands of things around the house and garage that he cast from molten lead. I keep finding them where I least expect it.

[MyWillyboi]

I find it hard to believe, that only 2 people in the world that have made their own molds for the flywheels.  CNC's are amazing for this type of thing, Molds piece of cake!

[KU]

On the topic of the magic marker inside your mold, heating it actually bakes it one somewhat and makes it harder (but still reasonably easy to remove with spirits)

[lestergrenz]

Very interesting. I spent 50 years in the printing industry starting at age 13. As a kid I did a lot of casting when hot metal was king in the industry. Thing of the past now.

[bozkurt]

I'm sure your students are watching you now, with much love/respect, you really are "one-of-a-kind".

[skoue]

I have actually used a Linotype machine! Linotype metal is a mix of a bunch of metals so it will set fast and be hard. Linotype alloy consists of 4% tin, 12% antimony and 84% lead

[JWW]

Thank you for your time in making these videos, always interesting.

I use to pour lead figures and I used rubber molds. The company I bought the molds from recommended and I used graphite powder as a release agent. Dusted the mold and never had a problem. Goes a long way.

John

[geoffgwyther]

Judgeing from the way that the lead flows, I would say having the melt just a little hotter would help. Also you don`t have any vent ways in the moulds. The air in the mould has to come out past the inflowing lead. 2 vents each side, only 1mm sqr cross section would be bound to help.   shot gun lead pellets also have antimony in the mix.

[craigstorer]

Dear mrpete222, I really enjoyed this video. You have a good speaking voice and it is relaxing to listen to and watch this video. I enjoy you rambling on about things or telling your personal viewpoints about things. Watching your videos is like visiting a friend while they are working in their shop on a mutially interesting topic.
I haven't seen a plumber's furnace since my father used one for sealing castiron drain piping under a new house in 1965. I think they had to stuff some sort of rope looking material in the joint first. hmmm?

I recently melted down a 20oz. fishing sinker in a pan over a single burner camping stove. Doesn't heat the lead up as nicely as those old Plumber's furnaces though.

Take care!

I will probably cast my own flywheels in the future, but I agree with you, they will be too labor intensive for me to want to sell any of them.

[goofyguy]

Thank you for posting this. One trick you may consider when casting lead with an aluminum mould is to apply carbon black to your casting surfaces. A kitchen match or two will do a pretty good job of this and it makes your release much nicer.

[markfryer]

I was thinking last night that the large vice might be acting as a heat sink until it warmed up, and when you consider the cold [ambient temperature] out in the garage it would really suck out heat from the aluminium mold. Pre heating or insulating the vice would definitely pay dividends Mr Pete.

[DoRC]

ive switched my files to the nicholson soft plastic handles from the wood ones. they make a big difference in hand fatigue. i suggest trying them out:)

[lingcod]

mrpete- in video 162 you gave a rant about lead, also a pet peeve of mine. I had a Stained Glass business, plus did years of electronic work . . . No apparent health issues. Granted it is a danger but it's believed you fall over dead after a single encounter with it.
In Portland Oregon, a bridge was due for repainting. When it was discovered that the original primer was red lead the city went nuts. (Wasn't flaking off) Gotta' Come Off--Deadly Chemical--Hazardous Material. What did they do . . . sandblasted the whole bridge . . . into the Willamette River below . . . then safely proceeded. They created more problems than if they'd left it alone. I now work with oil painting, and can say there is nothing as good as white lead for a primer. It's how the Old Masters produced such brilliant paintings.
A toddler would have to eat an entire Rocking Horse to have a problem with lead in paint.

[oldSawyer]

Guess I shouldn't have scrapped my bucket of wheel weights last

Great video as always. Keep them coming.

[eliduttman]

I think the typemetal slug you showed was made by Ludlow, not Linotype.  Notice that the printing surface is larger than the support below it.  Also, notice the marks on the support.

Ludlow used individual character molds and a special composing stick.  The stick had clamping features.  The character molds would be hand stacked, clamped, and the slug cast.

Eli D.