Peckforton sawmill

[LNR]

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.

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I also found aluminium foil in 300mm wide rolls 36g at a craft store which will go straight through the crimper.

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With ally drink cans I found you need to anneal them first to get a decent crimp pattern.
Grant.

[ge_rik]

With ally drink cans I found you need to anneal them first to get a decent crimp pattern.
Grant.

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

[Big Jim]

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.

[GTB]

Might try annealing to see how much difference that makes and presumably has the added advantage of removing any coatings.

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

[ge_rik]

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

[philipy]

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.

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.

[ge_rik]

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.

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The next stage is painting and then figuring out how to model the various bits of machinery.

Rik

[Peter Butler]

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.

[ge_rik]

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.

Nice idea - but I'll know they're there....

Rik

[Peter Butler]

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.

Nice idea - but I'll know they're there....

Rik

And so do we Rik.... as long as you are content that is the main issue.

[Soar Valley Light]

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

[LNR]

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.

[ge_rik]

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.

Hi 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

[FWLR]

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.

[ge_rik]

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.

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Still got to add the guttering and downspouts and then make a start on the interior detailing.

Rik

[tom_tom_go]

That looks brilliant, proper job!

[4MT]

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.

[philipy]

That's looking really good Rik. Colours are spot on.

[Peter Butler]

Love the paint effect Rik, transformed the whole thing.

[ge_rik]

Love the paint effect Rik, transformed the whole thing.

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.

Rik