johnsmachines

I could not understand why the domed boiler end would not fit into the cylindrical boiler shell.  After all, I had carefully measured the required diameters, and precisely made the wooden form, and I used a heavier hammer to finish the bending the flange.    But the bent over flange still remained too big to fit into the cylinder by about 1mm.

A phone call to my expert friend Stuart provided the answer.  Of course!   When you make a 7″ disk fit into a 6″ space (roughly speaking), the material has to go somewhere.  The material thickens up!

So back to the lathe.

Skimming the surface until it fits into the boiler cylinder.  Turning copper, I discovered, requires a very sharp cutter, and low rpm’s.  The relief on the cutter was too severe, so I flatttened the cutting edge when sharpening it.   Those chatter marks occurred at 600 rpm but vanished at 300 rpm. 

And at this point it was an easy sliding fit, perfect for silver soldering later on.  I also polished the surfaces for the photo.  Those hammer marks were more persistent than I expected.  Probably just as well that it will be painted.    The scrathches on the turned face were from test fitting the end in the cylinder.

AND ON A DIFFERENT SUBJECT…..

Reader Tim sent me some photos of this lathe which he has aquired.  Looks like a quality machine.  And I look forward to seeing it after restoration.