FIXING A 1900's STEAM HAMMER! Pt. 3

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Alec: @alecsteele

My name is Alec Steele. I am a blacksmith, amateur machinist and all-round maker of all-things metal. We make videos about making interesting things, learning about craft and appreciating the joy of creativity. Great to have you here following along!

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[sientdave]

Carrot valves are made the way they are because it is expected that over time the rubbing faces will wear down, and so you can tighten the nut on the bottom to take out the play, restoring the seal.

[Droplord]

Have you thought about contacting a local preserved/heritage railway? They would have people with plenty of experience in steam pistons.

[duanemiller]

A carrot valve is an old Roman valve. It’s also what you might see on a keg. The nut at the bottom can be tightened in order to increase the pressure to create a seal so when it shut it won’t leak. So instead of replacing a washer on the leaky faucet, you tighten the nut and it stops the leak.

[woodytheskip]

If I remember correctly (and don’t be surprised if I’m wrong 😅) In a steam engine the piston is double acting ( pressure is sent above and below the piston) therefore two condensation drains are needed at each end of the cylinder. Oiling is usually done by mixing steam oil with the steam before it enters the valve box. Oh, and the condensation valves are for when you start a cold engine to prevent hydro locking.

[kevinkirk]

On other air hammers the hole in the buffer cylinder will be for an air pressure feed, this provides the resistance the cushion needs when the ram hits it.

[who-gives-a-toss_Bear]

Re- Oil injectors for steam cylinders.
My suggestion is to contact your local steam preservation society.
17:14 This ½ BSP outlet is another condensate out, if the lower needs an out the upper also needs an outlet.
The oil line would inject before the valves as these also need lubrication with steam oil.
Reworking older machines, just brilliant.

[justinlewis]

Hi Alec, this is fantastic to watch, great work. I am a descendent of the Massey family, on my Grandmothers side. Not sure if you know but there is actually a book about the history of the B&S Massey company, 'Sons of the Forge' that can often be picked up for a few quid on Ebay. Written at least in part by Keppel Massey, my Great-great-Uncle, who was a director of the company for many years.

[dontknowsht]

I love restoration projects that take the time and proper reserch to do it right. This series is great

[robin_marriott]

That segue into the sponsor section was so good I didn’t even notice it was happening.

[Tenosiey]

Take a look at the Cutting Edge Engineering Youtube channel. They restore hydraulic cylinders and barrels all the time. Much to learn there :)

[thetinkerist]

The amount of work that goes into this old power hammer is insane

[Lynkah]

This is one of my favourite recent series on this channel. All have been great but this one is really above and beyond interesting and cool.
I know nothing about this industry but that makes it no less fascinating.

[aserta]

6:37 it's too late now... but personally, i would've called some shops in your area and asked them if they happen to have that rod as a leftover OR that rod as scrap iron from a repair. I know, huge amount of calls with a small chance of success. But when i started repairing things, i used to do this and man, i had some great scores. Usually, they're even happy to fork over other material as well. to get rid of them. Scrap they'd throw away. You're a very personable individual, you'd have no issue talking people up.

I think the biggest luck you could've possibly had (doing the above) is scoring a shaft from a hydraulic cylinder, that happened to have a close enough size to what you need. One of the great scores i've mentioned? It was one of those for me. All i did was shorten the piece and throw some threads for the gland, and i only paid a seventh of the price of a new rod for it.


For new shops, if you kids read this, do it. Worth the effort.

[TomTrys]

I love that you still have that giant lamp still kicking around

[timohebditch]

The valve has linear flow profile compared to a ball valve which is exponential. So every degree of turning the valve adjuster is a set amount. A ball valve opens quickly and reaches maximum slowly.

[jon]

On the topic of boiler suits, for summer, get the 2 piece ones, the little extra ventilation is a *godsend*

[alicehuseland]

Didn’t see that Squarespace ad coming. Chef’s kiss 👌

[aserta]

Alec, think ma boy. Steam oil. You don't need a hole for oil when you have steam oil. Unfortunately for you, this also means that you'll have to take into account adding holes for oil, because you won't be using steam oil, just air. And while, yes, you could lubricate the air, steam oil and vaporized oil aren't the same.
Also, consider that this machine, in particular VS others meant to work on air wouldn't work as good as a steam machine would, when fed air. Air is cool. Steam is hot. It's ALL meant to swell up with the heat of the steam as it runs.

[lol-fhes]

“Can’t be stuck if it’s a liquid”
Can confirm a few seized bolts need to be drained sometimes 😂

[twostroke]

I've had a rogue bit of metal bouncing about in the combustion chamber of motorbike engines before causing very similar damage to the inside of the cylinder head (but on a much smaller scale). I faced off what could be reasonably done and with the deeper divots, I took a burr and radiused them out and smoothed all the edges over so there isn't a stress riser or little compression point for pressure to start nibbling into it or forming a crack. The net effect is to lower the compression of the cylinder slightly, which in the grand scheme of things reduces mechanical stress anyway (at the cost of power). You can compensate for this if it's a problem by skimming some material off the gasket facing or using a thinner gasket to increase the compression back to where it was (loose 1mm off the top of the piston, make the gasket 1mm thinner and you're back where you started).

If it was me, I'd get a burr and turn those divots with threaded patterns in them into smooth rounded dents that have no stress riser and will allow gas to flow over/into/out of them easily.