A STUART 504 BOILER RENOVATION PART #1

[@ponkkaa]

I was listening very carefully and I could absolutely not hear anything while you were tapping that hole. I actually started watching your videos just to hear your voice, you have a very calming voice. Keep up the good work and thank you.

[@MrZhefish]

his humor is priceless. not many can deliver it in this classic way

[@majoeone]

Mr. Appleton, I first of all would like to tell you how helpful and informative your videos are to me. I would also like to mention to you that you should not let nay sayers on your practices bother you, the good out weighs the bad lol, keep up the good work!!!!

[@keithappleton]

I thank you for your comment }:-)))

[@footlomg8031]

I hope you read these because your videos are like therapy to me I got a way to technical mind and what you do is awesome I have no problems with your standard of engineering just keep making the videos man you're good LOL I'm one of the last good conservatives in Southern California who believe in gun rights and freedom for everybody and I believe in God and Jesus just because you don't hear that kind of stuff I decided I would share. thank you man 😎👍

[@Tocsin-Bang]

Some machining noises are actually quite unpleasant, so I appreciate you balancing the background with your voice, I find it ideal for listening on a reasonable quality sound setup.

[@keithappleton]

Noted - thank you {:-)))

[@patmancrowley8509]

Just for a chuckle for you, Keith, I howled with laughter when you had that machining noise volume up! What a character you are! Peace be with you.

[@steamboatmodel]

Maybe the one complaining about the lack of background noise has never been in a machine shop. I think you have been doing a perfect job on the sound, but I am only a 68 year old machinist so I am hard of hearing. I do have to turn up the sound when you stop talking (which I hear fine) to hear the engines run, but that is my problem not yours. Thanks for the explanation on the 504 boiler, having never had one I did not realize that the one bottom tube was a steam drier line. Had always thought the tube arrangement in photos looked a bit odd, but nobody had mentioned the tube arrangement. Score another one for you, keep up the good work. Now time to have another coffee and rewatch some of your videos.

[@scytherswings]

I lost it at the squeal of the drill, your sense of humor is perfect :D

[@McleanOnTheNet]

What a lovely little boiler, i’m going to have to pay more attention to the auction sites.

[@USAACbrat]

I really like the sound of your videos. Reminds me of a sunny winter days in Yorkshire. i am glad you mute the clatter. aand no nloud music.

[@raymondj8768]

thats a really cool ol boiler there cant wait to see her all fixed up !

[@JamesPetts]

Ahh, a 504! I put one of these together (with help from my father) 10 years ago. I managed to get a new old stock boiler that had never been put together (and persuaded the seller to remove the asbestos before sending it, although I did find some asbestos fibres in the box which required some very careful cleaning). I used kaowool instead of asbestos for insulation. I didn't clean the castings (or know that one is supposed to do so), but spray painted them black with heat resistant paint, which seemed to work quite well. I did not polish the boiler barrel, but instead insulated it with a layer of kaowool and, on top of that, a black painted copper outer skin, soft soldered together, and held in with boiler bands, which looked quite nice when it was all done. That boiler is currently sitting in my attic waiting for the day when I put together my steam plant again. I shall be very interested to see how this series progresses, and especially how you heat this boiler, as I had trouble with the heating end of mine, having cremated one ceramic burner in the way that you described in an earlier video (which I partly caught on video - I have it on my KZbin channel somewhere), and the other one, although better, not quite seeming to give off enough heat.

[@modelsteamers671]

It seems strange that Stuart discontinued the 504 as it seemed to be a popular design and a good steamer. I don't know what they cost new but judging buy the price they fetch on ebay I guess they have held their value well. I'm not expert but it seems to me that the modern Stuart boilers are fairly basic compared to others you can buy at the same price.

[@keithappleton]

I fully agree and never understood either why they discontinued the 500 series, they are easy and simple to make and steam really well . . . 'Tis a puzzle to me but I suppose that they had their reasons . . .

[@modelsteamers671]

Any idea how they compare to a PMR 2 that is of a similar size ?

[@RecklessModelling]

I love the sarcasm! Keep it up!

[@donstor1]

Interesting project. The audio levels seem perfect to me as well as everything else (video and lighting). Thank you.

[@dannygonzalez0861]

God I love you brother. I have yet the laugh this hard watching any of your videos. Thank you for making my day.

[@keithappleton]

Glad you enjoy the videos }:-)))

[@StandardName562]

You are awesome. I dont even know anything about engines, I'm a software developer but I Iove your video's and your humor. Keep it up!

[@esquehill]

Wow, nice auction score.

[@jeffmcd8469]

As always, great video Mr. Appleton. However, could you turn up the background audio a little more next time? I couldn't hear the JB Weld curing. :)

[@ryansandquist7858]

don't change ur videos they are awesome

[@johnhickling9343]

Made me smile

[@mrmyford]

nice video Keith, well explained and a nice boiler thanks for sharing regards...Keith in Swindon (mr-myford)

[@JamesPetts]

Incidentally, you might be interested to know that, judging by the new old stock boiler that I bought 10 years ago, the 504 boilers (and presumably the others in the series) did not actually come with all the steam fittings; some of the steam fittings (such as the pressure gauge) I had to buy new, although I recall that it did come with the steam tap and safety valve.

[@ralfb8869]

Another interesting video as always.

[@DK-vx1zc]

Another great video! Thanks for sharing. I find your audio to be perfect!

[@ThePontiacmann]

Another great video

[@tophatvideosinc.5858]

Keith, my man! You never tell us roughly how old theese boilers are... its hard to appreciate the quality and effort you put in to renovations if we dont know certain details, even if they are just a guess

[@keithappleton]

OK then, the Stuart 504 boiler I have recently renovated is probably from the 1970s - that's the best I can do ......

[@tophatvideosinc.5858]

Thanks a ton. Even if its a guesstimation its great to have an idea of what you’re working on

[@tophatvideosinc.5858]

Oh also, ive been building a steam boiler myself, its made using a 200 psi air compressor tank with globs of weld with threaded holes in it for valves and proper equipment, and a few car exaust fittings passing through the tank for a fire tube/chimney, but for some reason the weld is rejecting the metals... i have no idea why

[@JoshKilen]

very nice job.

[@hdadb]

I'll be interested to see how you organise the firing Keith! Presumably there will be an hydraulic test?

[@Pocketfarmer1]

Hi ,Just an observation, as these are videos for beginners and us dreamers , the actual sounds of machining ,every now and again, would be a help. The rank armature has no way of knowing weather the screeches and groans are normal or indicate something going horribly wrong .

[@machiningbasics1729]

Yep , mine had the azzy lagging on it when I first found It . Nice job !!!

[@glennplumbe7815]

Love your show im a lot younger than your other viewers perhaps? I enjoy the way you take the mickey out of some other D----Head viewers. Please keep up the great work From a convict down under Regards.

[@keithappleton]

}:-)))

[@raymondj8768]

so many experts out there rite MR Keith hahahaha your liking that jb weld to its good stuff

[@vaughanhill6933]

This is perfect timing for me as I'm in the process of renovating a Stuart 500 boiler and a Stuart D10 any chance you can do work like Hydraulic testing the barrel. Also would you recommend replacing the original boiler fittings/ keeping it with Stuart fittings minus aluminium washers/ replacing with alternate parts from your friends at Blackgates Engineering. The videos you produce are extremely positive and gradually convincing me to start M.E. projects of my own

[@keithappleton]

Hydraulic test on Wednesday as I am in my recording studio tomorrow. If the Stuart fittings are serviceable, clean them thoroughly inside and out. (There is a kettle de-scaler that I use that is called "Kilrock-K" which is very good for removing the limescale deposits) Then use copper shim washers. These are my recommendations {:-)))

[@augustvonmackensen9785]

Am I mistaken or that boiler looks like it has been soft soldered instead of silver soldered ? Soldered joints have that Led colour.

[@keithappleton]

No not at all, it is actually Brazed as the earlier 500 series were. The colour is caused by having put it in the acid bath to clean it inside & out and the acid discolours the Brazing material. Definitely not soft soldered.

[@augustvonmackensen9785]

@@keithappleton Thanks Keith, I am currently looking at buying one on offer at the local shop, but I was suspicious about the soldering because of the solder colour. Solder on your boiler looks exactly the same, so I concluded that they are all soldered the same. I am more confident now to make an offer.

[@autocoffy]

Hi Keith! Another great video! After watching this video, I was thrown into another 504 video where the 504 used a alcohol burner, and thought that a variation on that burner would be nice to fire in my wilesco D366. But I can't find much information about how they are designed, if they use weeks, are pressurized or just an alcohol filled tube with a few slits in? Hope you have an answer to this. Best regards / Erik

[@KoRL12]

is the auction site we all know and love Ebay?

[@keithappleton]

Yes

[@J0nnyGT]

Very funny - Loud squeak noise!

[@johnfriedmann2413]

I have yet another inane question: When Tapping a thread, sometimes you don’t go all the way to the finish of the tapping tools’ threads. Does tapping the full length of the tool make the cut threads too large or deep? Or is something else going on here? Thanks again for these fun and educational Vids!

[@keithappleton]

You don't need to go all the way through. Once you are past the tapered part of the tap you can feel that it is no longer cutting so it's time to turn it the other way to wind it out of the hole.

[@thepunk4hire359]

Did it come with the original spirt burner? Looks like one you showed half dozen years back that had a really cool steam turret mounted between shinny water tank and condenser.

[@keithappleton]

no burner with this one .....

[@thepunk4hire359]

Bummer... Stinky ceramic time then.

[@keithappleton]

not necessarily .........

[@thepunk4hire359]

Ahh the suspense builds! good job, keep me watching.

[@ellesmerewildwood4858]

Hi Keith, long time watcher though this is the first time I'm commenting. Watching you polish the boiler just had my itching to ask a question. Recently I acquired a large decommissioned vintage soda fire extinguisher like the ones we used to have at school back in the good old days. Underneath layers of paint it was solid copper and brass with a beautiful shield emblem on the front with scrolled writing. After going through several large containers of elbow grease I've polished it to its original shining glory. I'm just going to mount it as a display piece but I'm concerned about the copper and brass quickly tarnishing again and it's a big job polishing it. My question is, how can you keep your polished copper and brass surfaces bright and shiny ? I thought of using an automotive clear coat but I'm worried about spraying it and buggering up the finish. Any tips ? Also, if I may. On many of your videos you use a material you refer to as 'gun metal', can you explain what that is please ?

[@keithappleton]

Don't lacquer it - just polish it now & then. Gunmetal is a type of Bronze - please Google it :-)))

[@ellesmerewildwood4858]

Thanks Keith, I appreciate your reply. I just googled gun metal and it comes up as "red brass". I just never heard anyone refer to it as gun metal before. Learned something new. I finished polishing the extinguisher about a week ago and when ever I walk past it I expect to see tarnish but it seems to be keeping shiny so far. So I'm going to follow your advice and leave it un-lacquered, especially if it takes a long time to tarnish it's not worth spraying with clear coat. Thanks again :o)

[@steamboatmodel]

Tarnish is the reaction between the metal and the oxygen in the air I think, maybe a light coat of paste wax would help.

[@boyersshave]

Is this big time enough to run a twin Victoria Keith ???

[@keithappleton]

Yes with a good heat source it will run a Twin Victoria I think - 504 boilers are very free steamers .....

[@modelsteamers671]

Great video Keith, I've been considering buying one of these as a second boiler so was interested to see how solidly built they are, I didn't realise the end support plates were cast iron. On the subject of feeding exhaust steam up the chimney via a condenser I'm wanting do that but still want a realistic chuff of steam up the chimney, is a condenser likely kill the effect of steam exiting the chimney ? Thanks :-)

[@keithappleton]

a condenser doesn't seem to affect the "chuffability" that is usually dependent on the load on the engine when running - (and the valve timing for early admission & cutoff)

[@modelsteamers671]

Thanks. 'Chuffability' is a great word :-) you really have to smuggle that into one of your videos. I can't believe as grown men we are discussing chuffabily properties :-) :-)

[@keithappleton]

Take a look at this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/noCln6yHlNmnjK8 ............. "Chuffability" in action .....This is a 5 inch gauge Manor Class locomotive I rebuilt when I was in my 30s - seems a long time ago now ..... The loco was fitted with one of my own design modified blast nozzles, the principle is simple and i will show how i did it in a future video.

[@modelsteamers671]

Thanks, that really scores high on chuffability :-) I've had my new boiler running a few times on coal, it's messy but so much more fun than gas, once I can get the steam routed up the chimney I'll be happy. I have ordered a 1/2" hand pump for water feed to replace the 3/8ths I currently have. I'm hoping that will be enough for a 5" Tubal Cain boiler - it ought be ok for now till I can buy or make a steam powered pump.

[@steamyacht]

Please could you arrange the microphone in such a way that we can hear some of the traffic noise outside and maybe your postman arriving too.

[@VehicularBrit]

Greg Simpson And the dog barking three doors down, don’t forget that.

[@jamesthepuerilis]

Thank you for another interesting video Keith, please ignore the idiots :)

[@georgespeller]

I am a musician and retired sound engineer, who would like to be a better engineer. Your videos are perfect.

[@JonatanGronoset]

Lovely little boiler. If I was anything close to an engineer or a machinist, I wouldn't mind having one and make those cast-in doors into real ones, then fire the boiler with coal. But I'm not an engineer or machinist, so I guess that idea might carry with it all kinds of disasters.

[@kaibroeking9968]

Wow, I was unaware that the 504s are quite so big (I was quite shocked when you reached into the frame and your hands were rather small compared to the boiler drum). Also, it's really good to see how these things are made and how they work. Thanks! How big a machine could you run off this boiler?

[@keithappleton]

They are ideal for most of the stuart range up to around one inch cylinder bore .... they steam very freely.

[@kaibroeking9968]

Keith Appleton Thanks for the answer. I have been thinking of making a boiler for my large workshop engine (2 in bore, 2 in stroke, about 100 rpm) for some time now. That boiler would need a lot more water tubes than this one has, but this type of boiler seems easy enough to make, compared with a model Scotch boiler, or, heaven forfend, a locomotive boiler.

[@StonyRC]

Sorry Keith, but I can't hear your heart beating or (for that matter) the sound of your beard growing - please crank up the volume ;-) Another great video. Many thanks.

[@richglenn3729]

Thought the audio was perfect. As was the video.

[@daveandersonangry]

speak up cant hear you no keep the videos coming just as they are your doing a great job

[@reithsymonds4517]

Perhaps you could add, as a background soundtrack, some of your own music. I seem to recall having watched one of your videos with a background of synth. music which was pretty damn cool!

[@stuartmcintosh5709]

I certainly don’t like to hear back ground noises, it’s not easy to hear constructive information when there going on

[@patrickradcliffe3837]

Yes thank you worse then fingernails on a chalk board.

[@willemkossen]

My poor musicians ears...