Making Piston Rings. (See "Piston Rings 2" for the results of this experiment)

Instagram: mr_crispin
In this video I discuss and demonstrate various methods related to the manufacture of simple Cast Iron piston rings. The piston rings shown are for my 5" Springbok which is a scaled down live steam locomotive.

[@pontoonrob7948]

I so enjoy both the machining and the quirky humor.

[@howardosborne8647]

A wonderfully well balanced mix of technical know how and sharp wit perfectly blended.

[@andymakes1499]

As a fellow Yorkshireman, I believe the main reason for this wonderful method is so you don't waste the core !

[@TheOwlman]

I was thinking initially that you would be using a boring bar to perform the part but I really was pleased to see trepanning, an underrated technique these days. I should have guessed that a thrifty Northerner would not turn a very handy remaining piece of stock into a big pile of scrap in the chip tray!

[@samshublom8761]

The trumpet chamfering technique was particularly clever.

[@zaraak323i]

Trepanning and you still have most of the iron left. Brilliant!

[@howardosborne8647]

The less wastage the better. That'll be music to a frugal Northerner's ears.

[@oldbloke135]

@@howardosborne8647 This is why northerners invented multi-cylinder engines. The piston rings get smaller each time so you need more cylinders for the same power.

[@andrewstambaugh8030]

I thought the same thing. Great for a homeshop limited budget and everything he did could be done on a low power machine.

[@rayhathaway7831]

Great video Mr C, 48 years as a machinist and I am still learning new tricks 😎

[@joseywales3789]

@Ray Hathaway, here's to another 48 years of you slinging chips! There's nothing like manual machining, many moons ago I had the pleasure of visiting the JCB factory and watching the 5,000 tonne press chop through 1.5" steel for the chassis. The ground shook when the press came down and the press was embedded 30' into the factory floor but the thing that really got my juices flowing was the friction welding of the hydraulic rams. Rotating the cap against the tube under extreme pressure, very impressive.

[@bostedtap8399]

@@joseywales3789 JCB, have five friction welding machines, four of which are Thompson brand, the company is still in business, and doing very well. Regards John.

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

My CNC turning instructor at the RR Apprentice school had done a stint at JCB friction welding shafts. He used to comment it was the kind of job to avoid as it was extremely boring! 2 minute cycle time and allot of loading components.

[@bostedtap8399]

@@MrCrispinEnterprises Basic operator fare, though JCB is a very unique company to work for, very unique!. The control desk with a VDU, was always damaged from angle grinder sparks on dressing incomplete turning of the weld flash!. Their solution was to add a 10 mm polycarbonate protector. I used to install, commission and service the Thompson machines, and even though the friction welders were down, causing production stoppages, it was a pain in the bum to get inside?. Though, it amazes me how they build such an excellent product. Better not say anymore.

[@geoffgreenhalgh3553]

Only 48? I beat you by 1 year!!

[@alanreynolds5985]

Great video. No blaring music, no waffling, and.......I learned quite a lot! Thank You. I never knew a Myford like mine could do such precision work.

[@boots7859]

Not a machinist but watch quite a few, and this is a seriously under-rated channel. No click-baiting, dramatic intro sequence, begging for sub/'Hit the Like Button; etc, etc. Humor is unique yet not indicative of a repressed comedien yearning to break into the big time, and simply quality informative work thats explained properly without being too dumbed down nor journeyman jargon. Subbed of course.

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Thanks for your generous feedback. I'll keep trying!

[@cobre7717]

Something deep down gave me the feeling that you would be returning to check out your new springy rings in your finest sleeping attire.

[@mr.b2232]

Sterling work as usual ! When you said you would come back to have a look before bedtime, I found myself saying "please be wearing PJ's and a dressing gown"....... I wasn't disappointed. The nightcap was a bonus. Cheers.

[@madeljacky]

As an engineer myself I can say thats a brilliant tutorial on how you made piston rings, never had to make piston rings myself yet but after seeing this I now have a better chance of making them if I ever need to make some.

[@klaasbloem]

Hi MrCrispin, your knowledge is beyond doubt but your humor makes it even more enjoyable to watch. Thanks again!

[@mikhailshneyder9131]

I am 67 years old and I learned something new today. I like your attention to detail and the way you describe the process. Nothing is getting omitted. Somebody can actually follow your process step by step. When I compare your instructions to HP network printer setup guide, you win without any questions.

[@stumccabe]

Nicely thought out process! I can't think of a better approach. I particularly like your ring splitting device and the "safety nightcap"! Thanks for the video.

[@terryhowlett1434]

I discovered this channel via a pro board Model Engineering forum. What a find! Clear and concise explanations of how to do stuff, combined with an excellent balance of wit and humour. I am a 66 year old newbie, and I am learning so much from you young sir! Thank you.

[@pravado81]

Excellent video, I don't need piston rings at the moment but I am going to try each of those machining techniques. I learned alot. Thank you Mr.Crispin for your time

[@jarrychicanaux5821]

Hello Funny man with a hat. Difficult to understand your English last years but today after seeing many time all your so great videos, my ears are understanding perfectly everything. For me You are in the top 10 of the world best who have help me so much since 2 years I bought my machines. Joe P and Keith R are also Kings of mécanique like you. Thank you so much from a french Old man.

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Thanks very much for your kind comment. Cheers

[@stuartsurkitt2585]

mr Crispin, you have talent beyond your years. just brilliant.

[@TonyWeirPD]

It's wonderful seeing tutorials here made in 1953.

[@paulmeynell8866]

Really enjoyed that. Amazing how satisfying watching those rings break was.

[@youpattube1]

I am glad you are back making videos. They are better than ever.

[@christopherdean4876]

Hi Mr Chrispin, I think you did a good job, however! Machining the outside of the ring and then heat treating will result in a ring that is not truly round. Better to machine the rings about 15-20 thou oversize, then break them, and heat treat as before. Next job is to machine the outside of the split ring! To do this use a mandrel the same size as the oversize ring and make a tube of steal to a sliding fit over this mandrel. Slide this tube over the end of the mandrel and insert a ring in the end of this tube and clamp the ring to the face of the mandrel with the end cap and secured with a M8 socket cap bolt as you did to spread the ring. Slide the tube back along the mandrel or take it right off and you then have the ring ready to machine the outside diameter to match the cylinder bore. Fit this machined ring into the cylinder and file the gap as you please. Also, when you heat treat the rings coat them all with silver solder flux as this will help to prevent scale.

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Does it not then loose it's circulatory when you squeeze it back down to the bore size again?

[@christopherdean4876]

@@MrCrispinEnterprises No, because you have just machined it to the bore size. You squeeze it shut, mount it on the end of the mandrel inside the tube and clamp it with a thick round plate held by the 8mm socket screw, the round clamping plate to be just under piston diameter, then turn the OD of the ring to bore size. Maybe it is difficult to understand by my description, if there is a way to contact you, I can make and send a drawing to you of the fixture that is needed.

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Ah, I've got it now. Yes that is a good idea. Squeeze them shut again and then machine the OD. I like it.

[@christopherdean4876]

@@MrCrispinEnterprises Also, you show the ring as 1/8 x 1/8 I would suggest 1/8 wide x 1/16 this will make them more flexible and because of the larger internal diameter it will be so much easier to get them on to the piston. Lap the faces on a piece of glass with grinding paste to a sliding fit in the groove and all should be good.

[@jeff1176]

I've never seen rings made in that fashion. Very interesting and nicely done.

[@copasetic216]

I learned so much from this video. Thank you

[@kcraig51]

Been machining 33 yrs. Never would've thought of trepanning those rings off to save all that stock. Excellent!

[@dicksargent3582]

Absolutely great video!! I really like the trumpet chamfering tool, it's such an elegant solution.

[@madhusudanpokhrel8381]

An excellant demonstration about aii the details of piston theoretical and practical . Even a lay man can understands easily. Thanks a lot to dear demonstratrator .

[@leerogers6423]

Ticked several box's on my learning curve . Thanks , great video.

[@handsofrhythm3415]

Am I a homeshop machinist? -Yes. Did I learn some very effective techniques to add to my quiver? -Yes. Am I ever going to build a steam loco? -No............... (not in the next 20 yrs) Am I very grateful for another excellent Crispy vid? (and I do mean Crispy) -Yes Did I giggle my arse off from the trademark dry humour? - Undoubtedly :) Don't stop MrC, you keep me going, outside of the workshop.xx Thank you.

[@toolbox-gua]

Heat treatment with a flame over a wooden bench! This is my kind of New Year’s gift. Love it. Looking forward to every step of the locomotive build.

[@johnmcdyer7297]

Extremely informative and very entertaining just loved that film thanks for posting mr crispin

[@jameshodgson1609]

Love the Mr Scrouge bed cap goes well with the miserly technique to minimise expensive cast iron !

[@sharkrivermachine]

Very nicely done. I have installed thousands of piston rings in my career but have never made one. Thanks for sharing.

[@sanctuaryjunction8413]

Thoroughly enjoyed the video and learnt a lot. I just knew you would have a matching night cap, its the attention to detail that makes these videos worth watching.

[@michaelcarroll6400]

Great video, especially the colour coordinated jammies and night cap

[@223mike]

Really good video! I am building a 1/3 scale model of the Hemmingway Mill engine circa 1850 . The piston is 3 " x 1.250" and your video fits the bill perfectly !

[@peterridgway7355]

Clever way of keeping most of the material for another job! 😉

[@alexiselsass1143]

I got to say, I discovered your channel with this video, impressed by the ingenuity and techniques used in the making of the rings !

[@twotone3070]

This is why I watch YT. I'm not going to make a steam engine or a single piston ring, I don't even possess a decent set of drill bits, but this is absolute gold, thank you for the effort you put in.

[@user-de8bu5es6f]

I watch Joe Pie & Stefan Gottswinter & This old Tony with considerable Respect, but this video just glazed the cherry that's on top.

[@rickswazey9472]

Interesting techniques, Mr Crispin. I especially like your hat boomerang tossing method to get it to land on your drill press every time! Thanks so much for sharing.

[@shinymud7]

Very nice. No wasting the core. Brilliant.

[@anthonywilliams6764]

Meehanite ! Now there's a word to remember, all the way back to 1962 when I started technical college which at the age of seventeeen was the beginning of a life in Engineering, still active sixty years later. My first motor car was a Riley one and a half, RME saloon, which had a number of components made from Meehanite, brake drums, and even the cylinder block. They were very high quality cars Rileys, and the chassis was as strong as a JCB earthmover. I spent every Saturday morning greasing the abundance of nipples thus ensuring long and reliable life by preventative maintenance. I am presently designing a unique zero carbon power plant for the Isle of Man, which at sixty months contract duration will probably be my last big job. Great to meet fellow Engineers online too ! Keep the chuck turning !!!

[@vincit1813]

Worthy of being "Lord of the rings" , marvellous sir.

[@chrisstephens6673]

Sauron, Gollom, Frodo or Bilbo?

[@vincit1813]

@@chrisstephens6673 Yes.

[@chrisstephens6673]

@@vincit1813 what?all four!😯

[@firearmsstudent]

He just needs to make 11 more...

[@alasdairhamilton1574]

David Wilks will be proud of your trapaning, 8:50 was waiting for a snowball to hit the window 👍👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@bruceferrero8178]

Very nice. And a big chunk of iron left over!

[@warrenjones744]

LOL, up to an hours work for a normal machinists and turn it into a 5 day ordeal... I love it! well done Mr. C 🍻

[@mopedmarathon]

Another interesting and entertaining video sir! The thought process was excellent yet again and the parts produced look fantastic. The night cap had me in stitches. I had to watch that section again to hear what you were saying. Keep on keeping on.

[@glaicogobbo4046]

Show of prepared devices in the workshop and material savings. Most importantly: exact measures for the clearance to expand within the cylinder controlled by contraction after cooling the entire assembly after heat treatment on a pre-calibrated internal base. The entire process consisted of very intelligent machining. Grateful for the video Mr. Crispin!

[@MatthewTinker-au-pont-blanc]

I enjoyed your economic approach to making the rings!!

[@johnjohannemann1220]

Growing up and an automotive machine shop I absolutely loved this video and look forward to many more, thank you.

[@andrewgreen619]

john mills aka 'douleboost' has his cammera mounted from the celling above the lathe on an flexible arm so that he does not have to work around the tripod. It allows him to put the cammera anywhere he wants. Love the videos and the dry humour!

[@richardmeyer418]

Well done, Sir. Not only were the trepanning and trumpet chamfering excellent ideas, but you can now sell the rest of the stock to another Yorkshireman who wants to make piston rings for smaller pistons. Bravo. I jest, of course. Watching the way you work is an education. Don't know whether the humour or the machining is the best.

[@cygnet1963]

Excellent approach. I pride myself on being pretty clever but hats off on the tree panning!

[@michaelrandle4128]

Thanks for sharing your skills Mr Crispin, that's one of the smartest set up I've seen on u tube, and minimal waste to your expensive piece of cast,

[@onestopfabshop3224]

I love working with and machining cast iron.

[@JannieH]

Built three locos in my days, one using the Springbok boiler. Also done cast iron rings, but your method of "cracking" the rings left me in awe..superb.

[@100yojimbo]

Excellent set up saved a lot of wastage of stock doing it that way. Was on the edge of my seat when you split the rings. Enjoyed this so much 👍👍👍👍

[@georgespeake5089]

Very nice. I am enjoying your work tremendously. I am happy that you saved some of the Queen’s Ransom cast iron plus, I anticipated you returning in your PJ’s. God bless!

[@DavidLindes]

I lost count of how many times you asked a question that caused me to say "trepanning"... so I'm glad that ended up being the answer you came up with. :D

[@lydwood]

Excellent video. If you've not already seen it then it would be worth reading the technical document "an essay on piston rings" by T D Walshaw (aka tubal cain at the time which was 1992). He was hugely knowledgeable. You may run into installation issues if you heat treated above 520 deg C, as he explains in the paper. There is also useful discussion on how best to break rings and what the shape of the ring will actually be after expanding and heat treating in a fixture. He refers to George trimbles work, which were three articles aimed at making IC engine rings, those articles were published I think in the late 80's in Strictly IC Magazine, but there were a few errors which Walshaw discusses. It's a big subject but you'll find this document avaible free if you search for it. Keep these great videos coming you have a huge knowledge and great skills for your young age!

[@FirstnameLastname-uh4rk]

I’ve been in engineering and machining of one type or another all of my working life. I’ ve seen this, done that, and got the T shirt, but I learn something new in every video from this guy! Thank you for taking the time and effort to produce these educational lessons.

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Thanks for your comment!

[@brucewilliams6292]

I am very impressed with the setup. I hate seeing stock wasted and you did a superb job of avoiding that. Thank you for the excellent video. Stay warm.

[@ActinOut]

Love how you did this. Saved a ton of material from hollowing out the middle so you've still got bar stock from the core for another project. 👍

[@rogerdeane3608]

A true perfectionist with no BRAGGING.

[@Bartyron]

that's a satisfying snap when splitting. I tremendously enjoy your videos.

[@millomweb]

What's known as breaking things carefully.

[@mikemichelizzi2023]

The hat bit never gets old! Clever work on these piston rings - I've come away with at least three things I might be able to put to good use one day. Thanks!

[@thetransformatorium7980]

The trumpet chamfering is Brilliant! Cheers from the u.s. 👍👍👍

[@Rustinox]

Trepanning is a good idea. Saves you lots of material.

[@robertlewis4666]

Nice watching a master craftsman!

[@bcbloc02]

I thought you were going to bore them off. A+ for trepanning them off to save material

[@chrisjohnson4165]

Excellent video, thanks. I was a mechanic for many years, and always liked the precision of piston rings.

[@richardmills5450]

Massive attention to detail.. Fabulous

[@ShevillMathers]

This technique also leaves you with a nice piece of material that has minimal waste and can be used in other projects. Great video comments by a ex Leeds Pom living down under the past 50 odd years building big astronomical telescopes, mounts and cameras and a multitude of associated equipment- My machining is a means to an end and in many instances, not up to your standards. However, I do learn from you how to arrive at better end results, having a medical background rather than engineering and machining-but good design concepts. Thank you for sharing your wonderful‘presentations. 👍😁🇬🇧🇦🇺🦘P.S. Stay safe.

[@NdumN]

Really enjoyed watching your problem solving process... Very well done...

[@projectsfromtheworkbench]

Mr Crispin...very clever way of saving expensive material...i would have likely just turned that internal 1.436" cast iron into chips...but your clever idea kept that as a usable material. Very frugal!

[@russelldold4827]

Control of every step of the process. Inspiring. Human, too 😉

[@chrisseats]

The humor, the machining...this has it all!

[@wmc7870]

Turns out that yorkshire men are not just careful with their 'brass', a very enjoyable saving of cast iron too ;-)

[@millomweb]

Wonder if he sold it back to the supplier ?

[@stanfischer6175]

I saw a trepan job at a shop once where they were preparing material that would make two parts, the inside slug would make the smaller dia. part.

[@Watchyn_Yarwood]

I am thoroughly impressed! Brilliant solutions.

[@samcoote9653]

loved the splitting die, very cool! and so satisfying!

[@steved8038]

Absolutely Brilliant , thank you and I appreciate your sense of humour !

[@Alanbataar]

Spectacular thrift! Admirable application of logic and critical thinking. Delightful tooling. And what a lovely little fly press!

[@TERRYB0688]

Well, there's one thing for sure you are a very talented young man, enjoyed watching this and learnt a lot, cheers 👍

[@ireneocasas6392]

Very nice making a piston ring, I can see the July 7,2021,i salute Mr. Crispin, from Philippine my name is Bogie Casas as a machinist in the Philippines,

[@bostedtap8399]

"Reload" is an anagram of "Ordeal", seems fitting. Excellent techniques, when I served my apprenticeship, part of was spent working as a lathe helper, the turner showed me using the boring technique to produce finished washers, your trepanning method is far more efficient material wise. The material was a bearing bronze, so a nice stable material. Great vlog, thanks for sharing. Best regards from the Black Country. John.

[@johncounts2182]

"I've not bothered to double check enough times to know that it's worth doing." I felt that one

[@pamelacoleman1048]

I say mr Crispin old boy. I thoroughly enjoyed you methods of producing piston rings I was totally amazed, it was a case of well I never.

[@stevesmyth4982]

Clearly a man who is an expert in his work, what's not so clear are the reasons for the 90 down votes.

[@TheKnacklersWorkshop]

Hello Mr. C, A clever order of operation and a pleasing outcome... Take care. Paul,,

[@steamsearcher]

Very Enjoyable. Must wear a hat to our Workshop... Just extended to hold 2 more lathes and a drill. Some say I am making PROGRESS. Laugh from the people into British Drilling machines!!! Groan. The 2 lathes being a Myford 7 and a Raglan 5? Sounds like a gathering of 60's pop bands. Never knew Nottingham was a center for music. I have enjoyed your videos from the beginning. Love from David and Lily. Reading.

[@culmalachie]

Good, and thanks - things here I haven't given much thought to, but now I'm itching to have a go.

[@jpfolly2739]

... Mr Crispin, I have very much enjoyed watching your videos. I believe I have watched them all, alas.. Such accuracy ! ... such precision ! I admire the geometry and the logic of the procedure. Also, the pieces you produce are quite beautiful. Thank you.

[@masterdanprice2904]

Friggin amazing. U R. One smart guy ingenuity galore and its the right type of ingenuity. I learned tuns of information Loved the video Thanks for being yourself

[@peterblake548]

It was very generous of you to share your experiences with us. You could try another method that was told to my by my professor at the University...an avid steam man. Turn the rings oversize an split them in the normal manner with a thin milling cutter the width of which will result in the proper installed gap . Mount them individually an a mandrel the OD of which is the squeezed down inside diameter of ring and clamp them closed with a radiator hose clamp. With an end clamp plate and screw like the one you used, clamp the ring tight in the closed condition then turn the OD to the exact cylinder size. The result is the total absence of light passing the installed piston in the cylinder and a leak free condition. Yamaha had a problem with oval rings in their racing two stroke engines.

[@thorsbyguy5121]

MrCrispin, engaging stuff! The many challenges, failures and eventual success making reliable cast iron piston rings from bar stock for early Cummins diesel engines is notable part of the very good biography "The Diesel Odyssey of Clessie Cummins".

[@opticalmechanic]

Absolutely magical. It would be cool to see a slo-mo of that crack propagation. Great video Mr Crispin.

[@stevetheengineer]

Brilliant, superb mix of how to and humour

[@joycethomas8868]

Very clear video, nice job. Cheers from Akron, Ohio.

[@richb419]

HI Mr Crispin, very elegant way to make the rings and the bonus of saving the material! Rich