Shenandoah 1864 by SGraham - FINISHED - Corel - Scale 1:50 - American Civil War-era Cutter

[dgbot]

One of the things I have learned when silver soldering on the small side is that besides cleaniness is next to godliness,  is that the smaller the piece of solder the better.  I will flatten out the wire on an anvil.  Then use a pair of nippers to cut off the smallest pieces I can.  That little piece will melt faster than a wire.  And it will be like water.

David B

Edited August 7, 2014 by dgbot

[src]

I think your more talented than me David, I end up having that microscopic sized piece of solder fall off as soon as the flux starts to boll up and flow.

Sam

[dgbot]

I have the same problem.  After awhile you learn how to use flux  as a glue. 

David B

[shoule]

 Oh, and here's my trick for handling the solder. 

 I wrap a semi loose coil around my ring and little fingers with the end coming out between the middle and ring finger. This way I can use my hand and fingers for stability and manipulation, while the solder can be bent or adjusted to be right where I want it.

 You can also tuck it out of the way to keep working until you need it again.

 I hope it helps.

Edited August 8, 2014 by shoule

[SGraham]

I remember when I was soldering jewelry 30 plus years ago we would cut off a tiny piece of solder, hit it with the torch and turn it into a little ball, take an old needle file that was worn out and had been sharpened down to a point, and with the torch attach the solder to the tip. It got so there was always a little solder on the end of the file. Then it was easy to apply solder where necessary. I have no idea if that was good practice or not, but it took care of handling little pieces of solder. That was with gold solder.

 

Steve

[src]

Steve, interesting technique. Similar to stained glass; put a bit on the iron and touch it to the cameing.

Sam

[JesseLee]

We called it a solder pic

[SGraham]

There you go.

[src]

How is the soldering going Steve?

I looked to the east on Wednesday(?) and saw smoke in your direction. I didnt hear about homes lost or evacuations, you have been quiet of late, is all well? 

Sam

[SGraham]

Thanks for asking, Sam. We indeed had a small fire up in Azusa Canyon, or East Fork again, but they knocked it down pretty fast. I've had some family stuff to attend to as well as getting ready for a bluegrass gig we're playing tonight. So, I haven't been in the Glacial Progress Boatworks this week. I've got to let it live up to its name.

 

Those quarter badges on the Enterprise are simply spectacular--meaning spectacular in a simple way.

 

Steve

[src]

Steve, good to hear. Thought maybe you had taken to soldering the Yucca plants. Thanks for the kind words, have fun tonight.

Sam

[SGraham]

Hello friends. I've been out of the shipyard for several weeks, mostly due to the start of a new school year. Well, my classes are up and running well now, and we were blessed with a nice cool day today, so I headed out to the Glacial Progress Boatworks and started work on the post that will hold up the catheads. The catheads will angle in from the tops of the bulwarks and bevel into the post. The bowsprit will sit on top of the one of the catheads to the side of the post. Not much work, but that's never stopped me from posting photos before.

 

Steve

[captainbob]

Wow!  The deck, the companion way, The bulwarks, the railing and post all look so clean and sharp.  Well done.

 

Bob

[SGraham]

Thanks Bob. I appreciate it.

 

Steve

[src]

Nothing wrong with photos Steve. Looks great like always.

Sam

[shoule]

Beautiful, as always, Steve; glad to see you back at work.

 

 

 S

[jct]

Lookin' good Steve, one bit at a time, have you decided if your going to venture into making your own ropes?

[SGraham]

Thanks Steve, Sam, and J. I've looked at the rope in the kit and it looks more like string. I don't understand rope at all--other than the stuff my dad used to tow me behind his boat with. I think I'll have to look into rope making--and silver soldering--and how mid-19th-century capstans were put together and worked--and what anchors looked like back then--and how they were stowed, etc.

 

Steve

[captainbob]

All the new things we need to learn.  Just like going back to school.

 

Bob

[src]

Steve,

Unless the idea of making your own rope really appeals to you, why not check out chucks Syren Ship Modeling site. I have bought some if his rope already and can tell you it looks great.

The prices seem reasonable to me. Especially when you consider what goes into baking your own rope.

Whith the amount of raw material you would need to buy plus your time, I expect you couldn't make it any cheaper.

Sam

[JesseLee]

I recently replaced my string looking thread with Chuck's rope from his Syren Company. It is the best rope I have ever used!

[SGraham]

Thanks Bob. When I innocently bought the kit, I had no idea I was signing up for a course in 19th-century naval technology. The thing is, you really start caring how pumps were made back then...I think this hobby just makes odd people even odder. In a good way, I hope.

 

Thanks Sam and Jesse. It's off to Syren I go. That's a great suggestion. I do want to learn to make myv own rope, but right now the idea is a bit overwhelming.

 

Steve

Edited October 1, 2014 by SGraham

[src]

I think this hobby just makes odd people even odder. In a good way, I hope.

I couldnt agree more. My Better Half tells me I am the oddest.

 

As far as the rope goes, to me at least, that sounds like an awful lot of work. This is supposed to be a hobby  But then....we are all odd arent we?? 

Sam

[jct]

Really not that much work, and kind of fun watching it form on the walk

[SGraham]

Hello everybody. Well I finally got back out to the Glacial Progress Boatworks. It felt good to get something done on the Shenandoah. I finished the catheads yesterday and then today shaped the bowsprit. The aft end of the bowsprit is square where it connects to the post. Between the post and the bow it's octagonal, and then outboard of the bow it's round. It isn't actually attached yet; it has a wad of tissue paper jammed underneath it where it emerges from the bow bulwarks to hold it up. I roughly shaped it with a small plane and files and then got it round by chucking it up in my drill press and gripping it with sandpaper while it turned. My lathe isn't ready to use yet. Still, I'm pretty happy with its shape. I carved the two cleats out of some scrap ebony. I might have gone a little overboard with the bolts...

 

Question: I made the hole in the bow bulwarks much too large. Did the builders put some kind of gasket there to keep water from entering around the bowsprit?

 

Steve

[jct]

Hi Steve she is shaping up nicely...well done, I like the look of the offset bow sprint

[src]

Steve,

She is looking great. Can't wait to see her on a real monitor - I am limited to cell phone access A.T.M.

Stay dry today.

Sam

[S.Coleman]

Hey there SGraham! A real nice build you have! To be honest I think that gasket you were referring to may be right. I'm thinking of the movement from left to right on the bowsprit so surely there would have to be something plugging the gaps. I love your decking by he way. Great job.

[SGraham]

Thanks J and Sam. I appreciate the kind comments. I've got some time off coming up, so I'm hoping to get some more done. Sam, yup, we're battening down the hatches so to speak. I hear there are two more storms stacked up behind this one. Do you think the Pineapple Express is back on the rails?

 

S. Coleman, thanks for dropping in. I'm thinking of trying to simulate a canvas gasket of some sort on the outside of the bulwark. I'm looking for a picture of how it was done.

 

Steve

[src]

Steve,

I don't know what time off is at the moment. 12+ hour days 7 days a week since mid Nov until December 22!

Enjoy your time off, I am envious.

Yes, I think this drought is going to end in a big way.

Will continue yo live vicariously through yours and other builds!!

Sam