Old Steam Powered Machine Shop 58 Planer steam powered

The overhaul of the 120 year old Whitcomb planer continues with making up a countershaft to connect it to the steam powered line shaft in my shop. The shop setting is 1925 when things still moved with horses, indoor plumbing, long distance phone service, and air transportation were rare. Digital measuring and CNC were not even a dream. Comments, questions and stories of steam power, line shaft machinery and old machine shop work are always welcome here. Thanks for watching.....Dave

[@Shaggy.242]

Your old time skills with your old time machine' s make the hairs on my neck stand up straight, Top notch Dave and my thanks.

[@martinswanepoel746]

If i had another chance it would be a pleasure. This is where real craftsmanship starts and gives one the feel of steel especially the feel of measurement

[@davidwilkie9551]

This series is the sum of all those skilled people who never could "get around to setting up right", until now.

[@charleslambiase5670]

I just could only imaginebeing in that shop for a day with that fire going those engines running I remember what I would go fix forklifts and some of the old warehouses around Paterson New Jersey and the Mills I used to go in to see all that stuff those line drives attached to the ceiling run by motors electric motors as well as the forges and stuff in the spring shops that they were still using it's amazing just so cool

[@redbackrecordings]

Anyone else wish they could've done an apprenticeship with Dave in his shop? 👍

[@byrnejr]

AMC77 Handmade Absolutely would

[@georgeswindoll9138]

Absolutely, me too!!!!!

[@zmxl1020]

I wouldn't hesitate a second !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@gbowne1]

@@zmxl1020 me either.

[@chuckthebull]

I suggested that before because the thought of no one carrying on this amazing work fills me with dread.

[@mwhelan53]

Dave, thanks for keeping the steam alive, not just on a respirator in a museum But really alive, thanks for all the work and knowledge that goes into the vids. There’s something about steam power that is good for the soul. So Dave, from the bottom of my heart, just thank you.

[@joshschneider9766]

Holy smokes I used to live in Harrisburg pa wish I would have known about steam power shows, would have loved to see them.

[@94XJ]

It's gonna be a good weekend if we're starting off with some steam powered machine shop!!!

[@richardromano6163]

Just Awesome

[@mikedavis5397]

Hi David. Great production . I like watching you make repairs over fabrication. That just me. I’ve notice you have added some really awesome camera shots. The bike wheel close up is mesmerizing ! Love your style man. Thanks for sharing ! ⚙️🔧👍

[@davidrichards5594]

Good to hear from you again Mike, Thanks....Dave

[@cactikev9685]

It's really great to see the 100 year ago shop knock out modern jobs but - man o live - I'm getting awfully anxious to see that planer in operation ! Thanks for the vids Dave ..

[@richardreynolds9389]

Interesting to see you bring these old machines back to life, by using old steam powered machines to do the work. Thanks you for the time you spend to record and explain your work.

[@davewilson1591]

I'm liking that old planer. That old wrought iron shaft is a rare and historic artifact. I personally prefer the ring bearings with the reservoir of oil. Under the right circumstances they only require oiling once a month. That's running 6 days a week daylight hours. As always you are a consummate professional. Thanks for taking the time for your fans.

[@davidrichards5594]

Yeah, the oilers are a good idea, I just don't like the way they are hung....Dave

[@ericm8811]

Hey David Richards! Thanks for living the steam dream and sharing it with us! Ride ride ride!

[@markabner4046]

Dave, love your videos. Like to see a video about yourself, your background, how you got started restoring vintage machines and describe what all was involved in creating your shop and when it all started. Thanks, keep up the great work you are doing preserving the almost lost art of manual machine work.

[@joed3786]

I am Awestruck.... I've heard stories that Steam Powered Line Shaft Machine Shops used to exist,.... But I thought those stories were myth and legend. Thank You for the Wondrous view of your Machine Shop.

[@rwiliamson8051]

Well worth waiting for. it's nice to see the odd jobs mixed in with the planer project in a calm quiet manner.

[@rhavrane]

Bonjour David, It is always a great pleasure for me to follow your progress. I hope I will see you soon using this so huge tool. Amicalement, Raphaël

[@carbidegrd1]

Love seeing those old machines running.

[@michaellenz9121]

Mr Dave Thanks again for the video. Really enjoy the shots of the line shafts overhead. I don't think most people realize the time and work involved in what you are doing. Gotta love what you are doing. I sure do Thank you

[@davidrichards5594]

Thanks Mike...Dave

[@RetroSteamTech]

Dave, thank you so much for posting this. Great to see the planer coming together, can't wait to see it making some chips. Cheers, Alan. 👍👍

[@chrisabad6666]

Really love these videos Dave...

[@CraigLYoung]

Thanks for sharing! Can't wait to see it running.

[@BentTreeFarmPa]

So great to see you saving a piece of history. I can't wait to see it working.

[@jrb_sland5066]

I wholeheartedly agree with your decision to have the planer's tight/loose pulley control arm/yoke set up to match your lathe arrangement. I have worked in places with multiple machines where each was arranged a little differently, and this makes the workplace more dangerous, IMHO. In an emergency, you want all the "off" or "stop" functions to operate the same way so that muscle memory works in your favor.

[@davidrichards5594]

I don't know if there was s standard way of set up, but it seems more natural to push the stick toward the work for go and back away for stop...Dave

[@AfricanSouthernCross]

Brilliant, I really love this type of videos.

[@ShevillMathers]

A steam driven machine making parts for another steam driven machine is unique in this day and age, love it. Thank you for sharing- 👍😁🇦🇺🔭🎹🛠

[@shawnmrfixitlee6478]

Great work Dave , Coming along very nice ! ENJOYED..

[@MichaelLloyd]

I'm always happy to see the notice for Old Steam Powered Machine Shop videos.

[@spnynorman5519]

Wow, that old countershaft was really chowdered up. You're getting real close now. Can't wait to see the planer piling up chips. Regards, Jeff

[@63256325N]

A very productive and satisfying day in the shop. Thanks for the video.

[@tom87pate]

Hey Dave, my young niece and nephews really enjoy watching your videos out here in Indiana. Keep up the good work and thank you.

[@davidrichards5594]

Its a trick getting young people interested in history. I'll try to work on that....Dave

[@charlesross9260]

This is one of the best and most interesting series around.

[@MrGeroth]

Good job Dave. Anxious for the planer to run.

[@Ham68229]

Love watching the old steam driven machines work. Just something about them... Great video, cheers :)

[@steveshoemaker6347]

lt's always good to see you David....Kinda like coming home for me to watch you videos...Takes me back when l was boy...The tannery had 8 acres under roof....An every thing ran off of steam..Lot's belts and over head pulley's every where lt was a site to see...Thanks again...!

[@bcbloc02]

Nice work on that shaft. Going to be putting power to that planer soon!

[@davidrichards5594]

Hi Brian, Hanging the long shaft Friday....Dave

[@captainhgreen]

David, can't wait to see the old shaper up and running with a project. Looking GREAT. Keep the videos coming.

[@perolovson1715]

Thank You for pouring knowledge over us. I specially like the photage of old indicators and there use.

[@josephmagedanz4070]

Good mods to the shaft, adding keyways, etc. That should keep things in place. Thanks for sharing and looking forward to the next episode. This is a great project.

[@johnstewart7022]

Great Video, Dave as always! You inspire me to get my old flat belt lathe going. Please keep up the good work.

[@ironcladranchandforge7292]

Great start to the weekend Dave!! One step closer to start-up. Can't wait to see the first project on the planer!!

[@hisab-n8c]

Love the videos. Keep them coming

[@ninetwenty]

Glad to have you back!

[@robertwhitney2232]

Hi Dave, glad to see another video. 4 shows in 4 weeks, I must be slacking, I only got 3 for 3 last month, two more and done for the season. Your counter shaft is quite impressive hanging in the air, still need a power shaft from the other side of the wall. Will be real interesting to see the plainer in action. Thanks, Bob

[@TheBuildist]

Another great video Dave! Thanks for taking the time to share with us.

[@r5o4m]

Dave, this is the best content on KZbin!

[@gwharton68]

Great to see doing it the old fashion way. Send some of your rain to Southern California. Thanks for a great show.

[@Amaysing79]

Thanks Dave. I wait for every video love to here the steam machines running. waiting for the planner to make some chips.

[@scottpecora371]

It's coming together, looking good, and so are you! Here's wishing you a great Autumn. Scott, Vancouver WA. No reply needed.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Nice work, coming along nice.

[@davidrichards5594]

Getting the next shaft located so the belt won't interfere with the ceiling joists is the next problem....Dave

[@RRINTHESHOP]

@@davidrichards5594 Looked like it will be a tight fit.

[@jeffreyplum5259]

It is nice to see the shop getting shafted, in a good way. I have some line shaft stuff from an old lathe my father used. I do not know here to pass it on where it would be used. I may check it out and list the parts later. I may have bearing / hangers you could use.

[@davidrichards5594]

Hi Jeff, Right now I am in need of one more 14" + pulley, 6" wide....Dave

[@williamcallaway2245]

Thank you so much David, I have followed you since the very first video. You do have a fabulous channel and I thoroughly enjoy watching.

[@georgeswindoll9138]

Thanks for another great video!!!!!

[@georgeswindoll9138]

Dave I think I can say with confidence in behalf all your viewers , we all enjoy each and every video you make!!!!

[@davidrichards5594]

Thanks George, it's kinda fun to put them together...Dave

[@walterjoncas12]

Greetings from Cazenovia. Keep it up! Never get tired of old steam

[@torque350hp]

A great video you put together. Im looking forward to seeing all the plainer fixes cause like you said in an earlier video, there wasn't anything out there on plainers.

[@edwardmounsey9208]

Hi Mike : thanks for the video, I never miss any of them and always watch as soon as they are available. Keep up the good work. Ed

[@andybelcher1767]

Who is Mike?

[@davidrichards5594]

Mike is a friend that helped me move the planer from Wilmington, DE. He has a good British motorcycle rebuild channel Britanic Motorcycles.....Dave

[@paulduffey7975]

Enjoyed the vid. Like the way you explain things. Thank you.

[@robertburns2415]

Yeah, absolutely fantastic, of all the channels I watch yours is the most anticipated. My only complaint is your videos are way too short.

[@garyc5483]

Some good jobs there Dave. Glad to see the planer coming along nicely. Thanks for sharing. regards from the UK

[@RobertKohut]

Nice!!

[@douglaspierce316]

glad you are having fun at the steam shows. all work and no play makes dull boy. good show, like the work done on new tool. thanks

[@MrTroybilt]

Good stuff Dave! Awesome job as always.

[@silverbullet7434]

Great video Dave , thanks love all the old time indicators in use , I used them in some shops and other machinist said get a new starrett and put the antique away . Work just as well as the dial indicators do. May not be tenths but most job shop stuff isn't. Thanks

[@gullreefclub]

Dave, I honestly don’t know how you get any work done at your shop because I can sit sipping on a cup of coffee or something stronger and listening to your steam engine run and watch the shafts, pulleys, and belts spin for hours.

[@wlogue]

Thanks Dave, looking good there bud!

[@pauljw7697]

It's only appropriate to have post & knob wiring & switch in a shop resembling the way it was done 100 years ago, back in the teens. Somehow, I don't think it's only for decoration. I learned many years ago, that's one switch you don't want to operate without wiping off your hands to make sure they were dry. Did the building codes inspector have blinders on?.....LOL.

[@davidrichards5594]

That switch was at the top of the cellar stairs in the old house I grew up in, now long gone....Dave

[@pauljw7697]

@@davidrichards5594 I grew up in a big old home built 110 years ago. The old post & knob was still in use in the basement when I was young. Recall wiping my fingers on my clothing every time prior to turning the switch knob. Was traumatized by a shock @4 yrs of age. Been cautious of electric ever since.....lol

[@normansands5464]

Nice steam winch you got there

[@johnparkerthegimpygardener]

Would not mind see more from you !

[@elevatorbernie4924]

David, I'd like to see a video how you poured those bearings and made the slinger ring grooves. Great videos, thanks

[@davidrichards5594]

I just poured just the top half with a piece of shaft the right diameter for a mandrel and then cut out the babbitt from the cast in grooves with an air grinder and ball burr. Nothing to exciting....Dave

[@radwayb]

That was awesome. I miss manual machining. This button pushing stinks but pays well. I'm excited to see that planner in action!

[@corycurtis6315]

hi dave. first off i love the channel and the videos you produce are very informative for the hobbyist. there is nothing worse that tuning into a machining video and the first thing you see is a lap top lol. i hope you can help me, i have seen you use a dead center against a rotating part several times. i had a project i could not get my live center into and tried you way. i am not sure what went wrong but i friction welded my center to the part and ruined both. it was fairly slow turning and i oiled the center with what ever can i had close. again thanks for keeping machining alive.

[@davidrichards5594]

Hi Cory: It's easy to sieze up a center that way. Regular motor oil won't get the job done, try a good grade of grease , motorcycle chain lube or heavy gear oil. It will tighten up when the piece gets warm, so you have to keep checking the adjustment. Bring the center in till you can feel it barely touch in the hole. The problem is worse if you are running it fast. The old lube was "white lead" but that is now considered a dreaded, poison, hazardous, terrible substance......Dave

[@corycurtis6315]

@@davidrichards5594 thanks for the reply i will give that a try

[@EngineersWorkshop]

Awesome job! At this rate you'll definitely beat Keith to making chips!

[@2listening1]

God bless your work.

[@bowhit09]

Glad to see someone using a Gem Vise made by JE Martin Machine Works

[@davidrichards5594]

That is a great old vise. It has a horizontal vee in one jaw. I wish I had 2 more like it.....Dave

[@evervigilant]

Thanks Dave.

[@denniswilliams8747]

Looking forward to seeing the planer make some chips. Thanks for the vids

[@bobvines00]

Dave, thanks for another great video! I too am looking forward to your first planer project. I suppose that will be a (hopefully short) learning curve for you. Seeing your line shafts really makes me want to install a small one in my shop to power my "young" (1911) South Bend lathe. But I probably won't be able to power it with a steam engine though -- they and their boilers are hard to come by around here. Maybe I'll luck out & win a lottery and will be able to go shopping at the Florida Flywheelers Antique Engine & Tractor "Swap Meet." My small shop wants to grow up to be like your shop! :D

[@sawyerrob949]

GREAT channel, thanks for posting the vids! SR

[@julioquiroga6388]

maestro son hermosas sus maquinas .que este bien

[@davidrichards5594]

Gracias, me alegro de que estés siguiendo los videos.

[@glennmoreland6457]

Hi again Mr. Richards... I've noticed a lot of the loose pulleys on some of the countershafts I have in storage...the bores have gone oval on em... The Jones & Shipman drill press I've got...the fast/loose shaft on that is worn as well as the gunmetal bushings.... But that's because someone had run it for years without any covers for where you oil em...and so a load of drillings and filings had been getting in...😕 They weren't bothered...they just kept grafting it...🇬🇧👍

[@davidrichards5594]

Hi Glenn, I've had the best result with grease cups on the loose pulleys, the kind that you turn in to give it a shot. Seems to take less attention. I'll convert my drill press loose pulley to that when I get around to it....Dave

[@wilkuyf1559]

Great Video. Regards from Holland

[@smolville]

Some of the old flour mills in the area still run on line shafts. College educated foreman says to take some of them down because they don't use them anymore. Bad idea. That rotating mass has a purpose.

[@tewdogs4475]

a lot of knowledge here

[@terrycannon570]

There you go Dave You made me late for Supper again. LOL Thanks

[@stirlingfromla]

Another awesome video....I did notice that you are starting to get fancy (artsy) with some of your camera work (motorcycle wheel)...Nice job!

[@boblasley5640]

Thanks for another installment Dave! I was wondering how you were going to drive the planer off the line shaft since you had located it in the "new" part of the shop. Now I know!!

[@tiredoldmechanic1791]

I was surprised to hear that you couldn't get 1-9/16 shafting. US roller chain stocks it as keyed shafting in 1018, 1044, 303 stainless and TGP. When we sold steel, we stocked it in 1018.

[@davidrichards5594]

Just what I need, a 100% woman owned corporation with a $250 minimum order....Dave

[@turningpoint6643]

When and not if we have another solar storm like the one in 1859 and if your shop is still in operation Dave then almost for sure it will be the only running machine shop in the eastern half of the North American continent. Since there won't be any power for months to possibly years in some areas, the small addition of some kerosene lamps would keep you going while the rest of us slowly freeze. Very much looking forward to seeing your new planer operational. Not half as much as you are I'm sure.

[@davidrichards5594]

If that happens, come over and hang out. Bring wood.....Dave

[@turningpoint6643]

@@davidrichards5594 LOL, thanks for the invite, but your roughly 2700 miles from me Dave. And my guess is your eastern hardwoods give a lot more BTU's than our western soft woods can.

[@ВалентинТкаченко-т3б]

Хорошая работа !!

[@isbcornbinder]

Always the best

[@ironwill8596]

Can't wait to see it run

[@tandemcompound2]

So I got the big end bronze bearing out of steam boat. It is pretty worn. Looks like they wore out the bronze, sleeved it with brass, wore it out then babbetted it. Dunno if I should make an entirely new bronze shells or rebabbett. The two shell edges do not meet but float with a 3/8 gap.

[@sighpocket5]

Nice!!!!

[@jimwilloughby]

You've even got knob and tube wiring. Wow! When cutting the keyway, I noticed you used an oil can to lube the cutter while the machine has an oil cup with a spout aimed at the cutter. do you not use the oil cups at all? Oops. I wrote this when I paused the video, and it turns out I was too soon. I'm sorry. I see it came down rain pretty good to fill the feedwater barrel pretty quick. It's probably the best water to use in the boiler. I always look forward to the next video, but more so for this very next one. I think it will be a very interesting one.

[@davidrichards5594]

Hi Jim: The way I have it set up, it takes a long time for the oil to start dripping from that oiler. I need to change that....Dave

[@RambozoClown]

Nice to see that countershaft up. I wasn't sure how you were going to deal with the low ceiling. Now it's clear. But where are the lineshaft mice?

[@davidrichards5594]

Maybe on the new shaft where they have a long way to run....Dave

[@robertbridges4570]

Dave. Love the videos. Keep them going. Question: what is the oil you use on the running metal that does not smoke Thank you Bobby

[@davidrichards5594]

Hi Bob, There I was using up some straight mineral aircraft oil. It does really smoke, that was some pretty light finish cuts....Dave

[@bobtherat99]

I love your videos. On the bike wheel - I'm kinda new to this whole thing so pardon me if its an obvious - won't the centerline of the rim move? Is that an easy thing to correct for?

[@davidrichards5594]

Hi Bruce: The rim centerline would be the same or made very close with the side bushings. It was the chain location the the customer was wanting moved to line up. I probably didn't explain that very well. Thanks for watching....Dave

[@RickRose]

Careful! Looks like your steam shop is planning a takeover! Question for you: I never see you (or can't recall seeing you) finding center on your lathe tools. How do you manage that while using a lantern toolpost? As always--Thanks for the great content.

[@davidrichards5594]

HI Rick, I do it mostly by eye. I check myself now and then, but if threading or doing something small diameter I check it with the center point....Dave

[@garneybaker]

Is that a 2' x 2' x 8' American Tool Works Planer ? I ran one for EGB Manufacturing that was serial number 16. It was donated to a museum outside of Calgary after I made a number of railroad switch points on it for the LRT system of Calgary transit.

[@davidrichards5594]

That was pretty far back. Mine is a Whitcomb of that size, very similar. There was a switch point set up on East Broad Top RR's big Cincinatti when they closed down. Still there.....Dave