Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Steam => Topic started by: mogogear on September 29, 2008, 02:13:34 am

Title: Procedure to make steam plant mounting plate
Post by: mogogear on September 29, 2008, 02:13:34 am

I have a pair of pliers for welding I have used to moderate success to bend the flanges on plate material so I can fashion a mounting plate. But these 1/4" high edges on these plates are difficult fro me to bend and mold into place.. any tips anyone would share short of having a sheet metal brake that would assist ?

I am using mild steel ( sheet metal 18 ga) I have also used aluminum...

Thanks for any secrets you divulge !!

Title: Re: Procedure to make steam plant mounting plate
Post by: Proteus on September 29, 2008, 04:59:32 am

get two pieces of 1" x 1" steel angel iron and a vice , I have had some success with brass annealed first and some ally . leave the up stand poking out the top put a g cramp on the end not in vice and use a lump of 3x2 timber to fold it over, if not brio it round and ill put it in my bender.

Proteus


Just spotted where you live , may be cheaper to buy one than bring it round   :D

Title: Re: Procedure to make steam plant mounting plate
Post by: kno3 on September 30, 2008, 02:29:38 pm

I have made one from sheet brass for my steam plant, just under 1 mm thick. It might seem thin at first, but after bending the sides up it gains a lot of strength. I used a bench vice for bending the metal, and it didn't come out perfect, but acceptable. You have probably seen it in the topic about my steam tugboat.
If you want to avoid the bending, which can be difficult unless you have the right tools, you could also solder some L-shaped profiles to a sheet of metal, or fasten them with small screws.

Title: Re: Procedure to make steam plant mounting plate
Post by: wideawake on September 30, 2008, 02:45:11 pm

I need to do this for the boiler and engine on my Wideawake.  I'm going to do both!   Bend two opposite sides and use brass 1/4 inch angle soldered on for the other two.

BTW Proteus, I got the twin slide valve engine you pointed out on ebay.   It didn't meet its reserve and I made him an offer after the auction.  It's arrived at home but I've not seen it as I'm working away until Friday  :(

Cheers

Guy

Title: Re: Procedure to make steam plant mounting plate
Post by: mogogear on October 01, 2008, 04:32:52 am

Thank you both for the input-It always seems that so many of the plates seen in pictures all look so perfect-I feel a little better about my method since since I do not have a sheet metal brake...

cheers

Title: Re: Procedure to make steam plant mounting plate
Post by: Bunkerbarge on October 01, 2008, 08:18:23 am

Bending is notoriously difficult without the  correct tools but fabrication does open up a lot more opportunities.  You can buy brass in extruded lengths including angle iron which would be perfect for this and you could either screw it to your plate or even solder it.

Title: Re: Procedure to make steam plant mounting plate
Post by: SteamboatPhil on October 01, 2008, 09:13:19 am

I tend to use aluminium angle all the time, sometimes having a plate fixed between the two sides for pumps etc. I have welded the corner joints of the frame in the past, but find rivits on the cross members work just as well. Of the course the advantage of having the whole plant on a bed is it all comes out as one for cleaning and maintenance.  O0

Title: Re: Procedure to make steam plant mounting plate
Post by: mogogear on October 02, 2008, 05:42:16 am

You have summed up my intentions well. The suggestion for use of small scale angle aluminum trusses is a good one. Then I could just cut and affix the bottom to the framed "outline " formed by the angle.... I do want to be able to remove the boielr and the engine as One unit for periodic cleaning and repairs etc.

Thanks Phil.. I hope your steam Springer is still advancing...