ACHLUOPHOBIA or ATYCHIPHOBIA?
by John
The Bolton 9 triple expansion steam engine build has stalled, and it is all due to achluophobia
Achluophobia, in case you are not fully aware of the term, is fear of dark places.
The next step in the build, is to drill or mill the steam passages (the dark places).
These passages are slots less than 2mm wide, and up to 14mm deep. The plans call for 6 of these deep, narrow, dark slots to be made in the cylinder blocks, upon which many many hours of work have already been lavished. In addition, the slots have a 90 degree bend in the depths. And that bend is only 2mm away from the cylinder.
The thought of a broken drill bit, or milling cutter, at those depths in the cylinder blocks, fills me with apprehension.
So I have done what I usually do when facing a difficult task with potentially disastrous consequences…. nothing.
I am waiting, thinking, and hoping that some thought bubble will pop, and give me the answer as to how to accomplish the task with some certainty of success.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
Maybe it is not achluophobia. maybe it is atychiphobia.
johnsmachines 
So why cannot one just say, “scared of stuffing it up”?
Still, thanks for your well photographed and documented adventure into the triple expansion engine build. I can certainly empathise with drilling deep, narrow bore holes plus at an angle, (shudder / cringe).
John B
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Hmmm….
I cant think of any good reason.
How about fewer letters to type.
Or a doctors love of big words.
Or trying to make a boring subject a bit intriguing?
OK. You win. Scared of stuffing it up is better.
John
ps. I am still procrastinating. Bugger. There I go again.
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Ha, Naturally I had to look em up then went looking for a phobia of success. Couldn’t fine one, it’s known as, ‘The Jonah Complex’ coined by Maslow of the hierarchy of needs thing. Probably should confine myself to model making stuff on your blog. Keep making good stuff and using big words, it helps me learn new words even if in a short time they are forgotten.
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