A couple weeks ago Michael Martin asked for reactions to the BAGRS project loco, and I wrote to him with a couple of my concerns about the BAGRS loco as well as with a request for sources of information for rank beginners in small-scale live steam. Michael responded to me with a most thoughtful and thorough reply, and he suggested that if I found his comments useful I might want to forward them to the list. I am quite pleased to do so and expect that others will profit from his remarks. I should add that the article on silver soldering to which Michael refers is entitled "The Art of Silver Soldering" and is to be found in the March/April 1996 issue of _Live Steam_, and that back issue is still available (as of Feb. 9) and may be ordered by telephoning 800-447-7367. Bob Blackson ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 02 Feb 2000 21:43:43 -0800 From: Michael Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Dr. Robert M Blackson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: BAGRS kit reaction Bob, You bring up several interesting points. Please let it be understood that my rebuttal is not in any way intended to invalidate your observations. In fact, I appreciate your spending the time to elaborate on the reservations you have that may be shared by others. I am concerned that this lack of basic information may still prevent potential live steamers from joining the ranks. I must take the blame for not "spreading the word" better. The Project Engine was designed with the intent of giving people enough confidence to "jump in". The fact is, I never envisioned the world wide attention that the engine seems to have garnered. I am always available at local steamups to help with questions and have spent countless hours helping people learn about running live steam engines (usually by putting them in charge of one of my locos). The following points need to be made clear to any prospective builder of this engine. If you feel that this is of help, feel free to forward this letter to the small scale live steam list. Dr. Robert M Blackson wrote: > My first reaction or opinion regarding the BAGRS project is the need to > have an assembled boiler available. As a rank beginner, and I still am, I > have no experience with silver soldering whatsoever; The boiler that is part of the Midwest kit is designed by the manufacturer to be assembled with ordinary soft solder. The pressure it operates at is about 10 to 15 psi. The temperature at that pressure will not get high enough to be a problem. Any solder available at your local hardware store that has a melting point above 400 degrees fahrenheit will work well. If you would like to avoid the lead fumes, consider one of the many lead free solders made for household plumbing repairs. You may also use "silver bearing solder" which is still a low melting point "soft solder" that contains about 5% silver. It is somewhat stronger than ordinary "plumbing" solder but does not require any special skills or equipment. The liquid flux required is readily available in the same section of the hardware store. I used "Staybrite" brand. You still need plenty of ventilation when working with these kinds of chemicals. Outdoors is ideal. The amount of heat required to successfully solder the boiler in one operation is available from any of the standard multi-purpose propane torches that are available at the hardware store. The key is to thoroughly clean the mating surfaces with medium-fine sandpaper, apply a liberal amount of flux, and avoid playing the flame on the joints. The heat is conducted to the joints quite well by the copper portions of the boiler. (I set the parts up on ordinary bricks that were arranged to support the flue.) The whole assembly must be allowed several minutes to cool before being disturbed. The engine requires considerably more skill to cleanly assemble than does the boiler. That said, it's not all that difficult and is exactly the sort of skill builder that will give you pride and may lead to more advanced projects. > I am not excited about working with cadmium fumes. Neither is OSHA. The vast majority of silver solders no longer contain cadmium. Manufacturers are required by law to disclose the contents of their silver solder alloys. > I doubt that other entry-level people to whom the BAGRS project is directed > have experience in silver soldering, True, yet in many ways it is easier to master than soft soldering. I would encourage you to try your hand at it if you have a chance. (Not on the Project Engine) The temperature requirements are greater of course, but don't let that discourage you from experimenting with small workpieces. You can easily bring small parts up to a dull red heat with a household propane torch. I have a tiny little butane torch that I purchased for under $10 that is ideal for really small jobs where precise application of heat is required. > Second, the engine on the project loco is, I believe, referred to as a > single action engine, one that you have to push to get going. I would > prefer to see a double acting engine on the project loco. Even my little > Mamod starts running on her own, and that's a nice feature. True, and worse, the engine does not reverse! On the other hand, the Project Engine capitalizes on existing parts wherever possible. Unfortunately, that meant some compromises. Yet I am always amazed at the attention the Project Engines receive at steamups despite their decidedly "low bred" origin. If you haven't seen one run, reserve judgment. Even then, it may be they are still not to your taste. However, they are just odd enough to be interesting. > If you can suggest a videotape or book that explains and illustrates > silver soldering for Gauge 1 locos, I would be much obliged. I have > bought a few books, but the sections on soldering and brazing are geared > to larger, ride-on locos. The torches illustrated in these books for > soldering and brazing would, I'm afraid, vaporize my whole loco. What > this hobby needs is a beginners' book on techniques. I suggested a series > of such articles to Ron Brown, but his response was that his readers want > more sophisticated construction articles than what already appear in SitG, > not more elementary ones. > Thanks for listening, > Bob Blackson Wow! that's the hardest part. I joined the Bay Area Garden Railway Society largely because they advertised a "resource guide" as part of the membership package. I was hoping that it would contain this very sort of elusive information. I was less than pleased when I finally received it. The entire guide was based on where to get bonsai trees and the best prices on ready to run equipment. Good stuff no doubt, just not what I was looking for. That's one of the reasons I spent so much time on the Source list for the Project Engine. I wanted to give others a "leg up" on getting started scratchbuilding. I am beginning to understand that not everyone is as rabid a steam fan as I, but wanted to make the list available nonetheless. Scott, of course, doesn't provide that list in his kits. However, I think he should so that the adventurous ones might start collecting parts to build the next engine. Write to the editors of Live Steam magazine and ask to purchase the back issue of their magazine in which Kozo Hiraoka describes how to silver solder. It is the best explanation of silver soldering I have seen in print. Any of his books on engine construction are wonderful. He describes how to make fixtures and tools that are applicable to many types of work. For either, contact: Village Press, Inc., 2779 Aero Park Drive, Traverse City, MI 49686 (231) 946-3712 Books by Martin Evans and "LBSC" are quite helpful. I am looking at my bookshelf and see that it contains over 100 books that have someway been helpful in my pursuit of this fascinating hobby. You should also get Sulphur Springs Steam Models' catalog. The owners, Bob and Carol Paule, are two of the nicest and most knowledgeable people you will meet in this hobby. Contact them at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] SULPHUR SPRINGS STEAM MODELS, Ltd., PO Box 6165, Chesterfield MO, 63006-6165, (314) 527-8326 Of the couple of dozen videos, two stand out. " An Introduction to Small Scale Live Steam" by Marc Horovitz is full of information. The other is Roundhouse Engineering's "Raising Steam". Check for ads in Garden Railways Magazine for the former, while Sulphur Springs should be able to supply you with the latter. I truly hope this was of some help. I would be interested in your comments. Thank you, Michael Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED]
