The Contraption 2.0

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Tue May 06, 2008 8:21 pm

Manâ€¦

You guysâ€¦

Pinemom left me not knowing what to say and now somebody has to go and let the cat out of the bag in The Bar thread...

Heh Hehâ€¦

And Box, I feel that when you give something out into the world it sort of takes on a life of its own and can change and grow with the person to whom it was gifted. I think that piece should be retitled from this point on. When you first saw it you nailed it better than I could have by saying it looked like lazy sunshine. So I think from now on it should be called thatâ€¦ Lazy Sunshine. It makes me think of the playa which is probably what I was subconsciously thinking anyways. But it's your piece now, so what do you think?

And please... please... no more cake.

karine · Post by **karine** » Tue May 06, 2008 8:55 pm

Oh Lawd! No more cake.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Tue May 06, 2008 9:04 pm

Last night Karine and I went over to a friends house who has a nice toy in his shop. I had made a fixture to mount the steam engine heads to and we set it up in said toy and did a little CNC milling action to get those radii cut on them. Yet again, a good friend dives in help make things happen. And guysâ€¦ on that note, I do so appreciate every single drop of sweat and bit of thought thatâ€™s been gifted to this project so far. Itâ€™s made it a great interactive, ongoing and fun part of life for me.

Hereâ€™s a few pics of the milling machine whirring happily along.

And also, since its disassembled at the moment, Iâ€™m thinking of some method of oiling the valve rods. Iâ€™m sure that after a bunch of heat and steam, it will appreciate me having done such a thing. Maybe some small oil cups or something?

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue May 06, 2008 11:36 pm

Such cool stuff, Le Chat

Here's a kitty viddy for the morning after.
http://www2.b3ta.com/i-love-you/
http://www2.b3ta.com/sleepy-kittens/
http://www.b3ta.com/links/I_did_an_ad_w ... orking_out
http://www.youthofbritain.com/chillout/

Box Burner · Post by **Box Burner** » Wed May 07, 2008 12:55 am

Our Contraptionist is a real artist. Look at this...

Lazy Sunshine

Yep that was my very first impression when I saw it.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed May 07, 2008 1:01 am

That's very pleasing work.
I don't know why.

Is it the same reason I enjoy that engine so much?

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Sat May 10, 2008 1:04 am

Is this the same car?

I couldn't say -- at least not without digging thru those old negatives again. But if that's the car, then it's from a later year, as there is a blanket on the blower. My experience with Tom was the year he did the very first firing of the engine -- on the old Chrysler iron block. No blanket, no straps, no... lots of nos. I think he did wear a helmet. Judging by the rats nest of plumbing, I would have to say it could very well be.... LOL

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Sat May 10, 2008 7:50 am

Elliot wrote:
Is this the same car?
I couldn't say -- at least not without digging thru those old negatives again. But if that's the car, then it's from a later year, as there is a blanket on the blower. My experience with Tom was the year he did the very first firing of the engine -- on the old Chrysler iron block. No blanket, no straps, no... lots of nos. I think he did wear a helmet. Judging by the rats nest of plumbing, I would have to say it could very well be.... LOL

Yes this would have been in the last ten years. I was standing talking to JD who was running the staging lanes. The car had drawn my attention because I didnâ€™t recognize the motor. JD didnâ€™t know either. We where standing there when the driver walked up. We asked what the motor was because we had both never seen a fuel motor like that one before. The drivers head was in a different place than we where. He missed the question and told us he would be ready to start the car and started putting on his helmet. I took the pictures because of the unusual motor. I knew it was an overhead cam but had no idea who built it.

Funny how things come full circle sometimes.

I do think it is the same car.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Sat May 10, 2008 9:26 am

The drivers head was in a different place than we where.

That sounds like Tom!

I swear I took detailed photos of those hand built heads, but I think they got "buried" when I moved five years ago. One of these days I'll unpack them. Right now, I need to get out in the garage and assemble a 12 foot human powered Ferris Wheel for an event tomorrow.

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Wed May 14, 2008 7:32 am

BBBBBBBBBBBBumPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed May 14, 2008 7:39 am

MozyBonz wrote:BBBBBBBBBBBBumPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

You are disturbing the disturbed.

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Wed May 14, 2008 7:40 am

doh sorry john......

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed May 14, 2008 7:45 am

MozyBonz wrote:doh sorry john......

The project is still in the boxes and drawings in my head along with all the bugs.. Rain today, so will clear the table of landscaping..

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Wed May 14, 2008 7:58 am

Too busy building three entries for KSR in ten days.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed May 14, 2008 8:58 am

Elliot wrote:
Too busy building three entries for KSR in ten days.

Put off for tomorrow what you could do today!

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu May 15, 2008 5:03 pm

Shop cat Tyger Shedder passed away today..

His heart just run out..

My heart is broken..

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu May 15, 2008 5:25 pm

So sorry to hear that, Unjon.
Another good soul gone.
Sounds like he had a good life though.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Thu May 15, 2008 8:12 pm

unjonharley wrote:Shop cat Tyger Shedder passed away today..

His heart just run out..

My heart is broken..

Oh unjon...

God, I'm really sad about that. Just tonight, I rubbed my shop kitties on the head and thought, "I'll miss you when you're gone", 'cause I know that chances are I'll outlive them... just like all the other great cat-buddies that I've had the pleasure to share some time with. Those two that currently help me by working so hard... they're such a part of my life and the shop would be so much emptier without them.

Its a good bit lonelier in the Pacific northwest tonight, so here in rainy Kentucky, I'm lighting a candle.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu May 15, 2008 8:36 pm

I don't think cats enjoy anything so much as a shop to prowl around in.

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Fri May 16, 2008 9:12 am

unjonharley wrote:Shop cat Tyger Shedder passed away today..

His heart just run out..

My heart is broken..

Lost is always hard. But with lost comes new connections. It seems lately we all have had family and good friends pass from our lives. I cherish those that have passed and embrace those who have yet to come.

Lights a candle for Tyger Shedder.

Need to get a new kitty john. There is a kitty that needs your rescue out there.
The last addition to our family (shadow) took to an old member of the family (Pepsi) who passed shortly after. In the last months before he passed away they where buddies. He had lost his buddy (Oscar) years ago and you could tell he missed him.

Shadow has now taken to the Great Dane and Sonny loves her. Itâ€™s funny to see that giant use a gentle touch with that small kitty. They sleep together now.

Itâ€™s ok to be sad
But donâ€™t let it keep you from making a new friend.

Lucy is my studio cat she could be le chatâ€™s twin sister.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Fri May 16, 2008 9:29 am

Tyger and I rescued a guy last July..

His name is Rus-t-fur Nails..Pet name is Rustypants

From then the size of a pet rat to now 12lb..

Today he is sad and wants me to sit while he sleeps on my lap.. He crys if I can't..

I'll stay in the house mostly today.. He will help in the shop this afternoon..He knows all the work he has to do..He's a monkey-do behind Tygie..

bigbluedoggy · Post by **bigbluedoggy** » Fri May 16, 2008 12:18 pm

So sorry to hear of your loss Unjon. As I sit here scritching our two office cats, which aren't mine but which I am totally in love with, I can really empathize with losing your unquestioning friend. I agree though... time to adopt a precious new friend! All the best!

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sat May 17, 2008 9:01 pm

Ok, now...

We've got to get our minds off sad things, remember our pals now gone, yes.... but also keep on thinking of what we're going to do while we're still here in this wacky place. So to keep on carrying on, I'll add that I got the drains done for the intake part of the engine and moved the exhaust port to allow any collected condensation on that side to flow out and up the pipe!!

And I blackened the heads and sort of gave the whole thing a start on the antiquing treatment.

Here's a pic from the back, showing the drain system for the intake passage:

And here's a pic of the front, showing the new exhaust port location and a short, temporary exhaust pipe:

And here's a detail pic of the heads, showing the newly installed oil cups, which provide lube to the rotary valves.

Keep your head up unjon. Rustypants will need some projects soon, else he'll get in a long term funk. And that cannot be allowed to happen. Shopcats need projects.

bigbluedoggy · Post by **bigbluedoggy** » Sat May 17, 2008 9:31 pm

Looking good LCN! Glad to see you hard at work!

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun May 18, 2008 1:06 am

I learned that one of the early model trains was a real working steam engine.
When it fell over, it could catch on fire.
How cool is that for a toy?

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sun May 18, 2008 7:36 am

The project is on the layout table..The plans are in the "go brain beat your brain stage"..

Rear frame and axel assembled..

Next is the running gear frame..
Which will take a few days..

Then maybe some pictures..

Dusza Beben · Post by **Dusza Beben** » Tue May 20, 2008 5:52 pm

Your engine is a pure work of art.
I want to eat it.

DB

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Tue May 20, 2008 6:07 pm

It is crunchy and high in iron.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue May 20, 2008 6:25 pm

LeChatNoir wrote:It is crunchy and high in iron.

"Old" grease is what gives it flavor..

I'm just going to sit in a corner and suck my thumb today..

The bearings I ordered came.. Wrong size..

The bike tires I want cost 40$ per..

Need those two items to go next

I can buy a bike at Wally Word for 75$ that has the tires I need..

Guess I can buy the bike for the tires and sell it after Burning Man..

Other than that the weeds got a good rain and jumped out of the ground..But I'm still having fun..

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Tue May 20, 2008 6:25 pm

Wellâ€¦

I suppose it is officially beginning to pick up speed around here.

This very night, my brother and I went into the barn and roused up the Old Rust Bucket herself, and rolled her down to the side of the shop. She saw the light of day for the first time since last September and it sure looked good to see those wheels out and rolling.

While napping for season, it picked up a bit of barn-dust pantina to boot.

ON th eengine side, Iâ€™ve started assembling the boiler and am now waiting on the type K (thick walled) copper tubing for its innards.

Tomorrow evening, I suspect Iâ€™ll be measuring for placement of jackshafts, pillow block bearings, and steam engine mounts.

Let the Contraptioneering begin!!