K1 Frame starts to take shape. Sunset I1sa frame in back.
Well I’ve had my first lesson on the milling functions of my Sherline lathe/milling machine. I just spent a nice weekend up above Scranton learning how to use the machine. My friend Matt Forsyth was patient enough to guide, teach and watch me timidly use the machine. I did get better as we did more.
The project was to make a new tail-beam for theframe of the RDG K1 2-10-2. Here you see a photo of the progress. The new tail-beam has been made and attached to the frame (the next Sunset PRR I1sa donor frame is pictured behind). It’s missing the main driver because that is part of the next work on the model, changing the main driver to a disc driver. More on that later.
One of the toughest things about the process was taking a hack saw to the rear of the I1sa frame to start the project.
I didn’t break any cutting tools. That I left to the folks that know how to use the machine. Besides you were taking the tailbeam out of the vise when you broke that little mill.
Nahhhh, Geo…
You weren’t timid, just not too fast with the handwheels. But that’s only because you were green. Now that you’ve had your “baptism by fire”, you are ready to start breaking off your own cutting tools, because you were taking a facing cut that was too agressive!!!
MF