Peckforton sawmill
Re: Peckforton sawmill
Guess it depends on your requirement for corrugated iron. If you search around, the paper crimper that Rik linked to is
also available with aluminium rollers. I took mine out of its plastic frame and made up a very hasty one of aluminium
angle that clamps in the vice and results in a more even crimp.
I also found aluminium foil in 300mm wide rolls 36g at a craft store which will go straight through the crimper.
With ally drink cans I found you need to anneal them first to get a decent crimp pattern.
Grant.
also available with aluminium rollers. I took mine out of its plastic frame and made up a very hasty one of aluminium
angle that clamps in the vice and results in a more even crimp.
I also found aluminium foil in 300mm wide rolls 36g at a craft store which will go straight through the crimper.
With ally drink cans I found you need to anneal them first to get a decent crimp pattern.
Grant.
Re: Peckforton sawmill
Useful to know, Grant. Thanks.
Yes, the plastic frame for the crimper is a bit flimsy. Trying to put slightly thicker beer can alu through the crimper forcibly 'dismantled' it. Might try annealing to see how much difference that makes and presumably has the added advantage of removing any coatings.
Rik
Re: Peckforton sawmill
A little trick for annealing aluminium.
Take a bar of soap, wet it slightly. Rub over area to be annealed, no need to totally cover it but you want a good spread. Heat with blow torch until the soap turns black.
This should allow you to stop before you start burning holes in the metal.
Take a bar of soap, wet it slightly. Rub over area to be annealed, no need to totally cover it but you want a good spread. Heat with blow torch until the soap turns black.
This should allow you to stop before you start burning holes in the metal.
If at first you don't succeed, use a bigger hammer!
Re: Peckforton sawmill
You need to be careful annealing aluminium, as the annealing temperature is fairly close to the melting point. Unlike other metals you can't just bring it up to red heat and let it cool down, as the melting point is below a visible red heat.
Also, it won't get hot enough to burn off the epoxy coating used on the inside of a drink can before the metal melts. All the coating does is turn brown.
This link below has some instructions for annealing aluminium in the home workshop, using soap as a temperature indicator, which is the common model engineering trick.
http://steamshed.com/annealing%20process.html
Here in Oz, because most new roofs are prepainted steel and lead flashing can't be used, aluminium flashing is available in rolls. It is annealed and the metal is about twice the gauge of pie pans.
Regards,
Graeme
Re: Peckforton sawmill
Thanks Jim & Graeme.
You get some really useful and serious advice on this forum - which is why I prefer it to the other forums to which I subscribe (but mostly lurk).
Rik
You get some really useful and serious advice on this forum - which is why I prefer it to the other forums to which I subscribe (but mostly lurk).
Rik
Re: Peckforton sawmill
Aluminium flashing is available in the UK too. It tends to get used on low lean-to roofs because real lead gets nicked within a few days! No idea about thickness though.
Philip
Re: Peckforton sawmill
Progress is slow with this mill. Still finding my feet with this construction technique - it's a case of now I've done one I think I know how I'd do the next one.
The roof has been clad in corrugated aluminium foil (from baking trays) and the sides clad in coffee stirrers. The next stage is painting and then figuring out how to model the various bits of machinery.
Rik
The roof has been clad in corrugated aluminium foil (from baking trays) and the sides clad in coffee stirrers. The next stage is painting and then figuring out how to model the various bits of machinery.
Rik
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Re: Peckforton sawmill
Such a pity all the work on creating the Belfast trusses is now hidden. A couple of translucent panels or some gaps with a maintenance team carrying out repairs would expose some again.
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?
Re: Peckforton sawmill
Nice idea - but I'll know they're there....Peter Butler wrote: ↑Sun Jan 21, 2018 1:13 pm Such a pity all the work on creating the Belfast trusses is now hidden. A couple of translucent panels or some gaps with a maintenance team carrying out repairs would expose some again.
Rik
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Re: Peckforton sawmill
And so do we Rik.... as long as you are content that is the main issue.ge_rik wrote: ↑Sun Jan 21, 2018 5:43 pmNice idea - but I'll know they're there....Peter Butler wrote: ↑Sun Jan 21, 2018 1:13 pm Such a pity all the work on creating the Belfast trusses is now hidden. A couple of translucent panels or some gaps with a maintenance team carrying out repairs would expose some again.
Rik
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?
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Re: Peckforton sawmill
Hello Rik,
It really is coming on a treat. It's going to be another masterpiece. I think the hidden detail is as important as the visibled to the creator and those who have seen the build. All part of being the real thing in miniature.
Andrew
It really is coming on a treat. It's going to be another masterpiece. I think the hidden detail is as important as the visibled to the creator and those who have seen the build. All part of being the real thing in miniature.
Andrew
"Smith! Why do you only come to work four days a week?
"'cause I can't manage on three gaffer!"
"'cause I can't manage on three gaffer!"
Re: Peckforton sawmill
Different countries, different weather I guess, in Australia it would be far more open up high, to clear heat and dust. Really looking forward to the machinery aspect of this model.
Hope you buy the coffee stirrers, if your drinking that much coffee you won't sleep for 6 months.
Grant.
Hope you buy the coffee stirrers, if your drinking that much coffee you won't sleep for 6 months.
Grant.
Re: Peckforton sawmill
Hi GrantLNR wrote: ↑Sun Jan 21, 2018 11:06 pm Different countries, different weather I guess, in Australia it would be far more open up high, to clear heat and dust. Really looking forward to the machinery aspect of this model.
Hope you buy the coffee stirrers, if your drinking that much coffee you won't sleep for 6 months.
Grant.
I did consider leaving the upper part uncovered but the images I've seen of sawmills in this country seem show them fully or partially enclosed. I also wondered whether to go for a slatted effect by leaving bigger gaps but felt it looked better unslatted.
Cheated with the coffee stirrers - £5.50 for 1000 on eBay seemed to me to be a bargain.
Rik
Re: Peckforton sawmill
I bought my coffee stirrers Rik when Anne and I went on the North Norfolk Railway Line last year in the cafe at Sheringham Station for £4 for 1000. Great day out by the way.
ROD
Life is so easy when I run my trains.
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11364
https://www.youtube.com/@fairywoodlightrailway
Life is so easy when I run my trains.
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11364
https://www.youtube.com/@fairywoodlightrailway
Re: Peckforton sawmill
A touch more progress with this build. Now painted and a signboard attached. The name comes from the 1911 census for the immediate area where my railway is set. Although in 1911, John Naylor the timber merchant was 67 years old, his son (also John) was 23 and so I'm assuming he would be running his dad's business in 1932.
Rik
Still got to add the guttering and downspouts and then make a start on the interior detailing.
Rik
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Re: Peckforton sawmill
Hello Rik this is a wonderful project to follow love the tin roof and the weathering on the wood cladding, looking forward to seeing the guttering and drain pipes.
Regards
Kai
Kai
- Peter Butler
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Re: Peckforton sawmill
Love the paint effect Rik, transformed the whole thing.
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?
Re: Peckforton sawmill
I did consider staining the wood, but decided in the end to go for a heavily creosoted look. My mate on Oz has sent me some sound files of a sawmill in action so looks like (or sounds like?) I shall be adding some additional atmosphere to it when it's done.Peter Butler wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2018 3:58 pm Love the paint effect Rik, transformed the whole thing.
Rik
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