The exciting bit!
The final fit of the machinery.
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Detail of meshing the spur wheel and spur gear
The spur wheel sits upon its bearings, meshes with, and drives the spur gear (silver cog) on the end of the mainshaft and turns it this is helped by the flywheel (the silver wheel) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As the mainshaft turns, the cam rings (with the bumps on) trip the hammer shafts, also, the mainshaft drives a guillotine wich cuts the metal to size required.
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final fitting and mounting of the waterwheel by Mr.Thomas with his large hammer and Mr. Douglas with his extra large maintainence fitters spanner. This job costs 2 pots of beef stew, a pint of beer and a pint of Guinness!
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The pentrough (which feeds the water from the dam to the wheel) was also made and fitted.
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The 2 fires for the fiery hearth that heats the metal are built and are ready to fit........
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The hearth bed is fitted and ready for the fires wiring in!
The fires are wired in and needed some fuel.........
I have put some PVA glue on it and sprinkled coal (from my local model train shop) onto it! I shall now attempt to explain the hearth details......There are two fires in the hearth and they are separated with a little firebrick wall. Surrounding each fire is what is known locally as "ducks nests!" It is a frame in which each fire is built, to give it depth to bury the metal into, and the blast of air to raise the heat needed to soften the metal comes from directly below. I believe that "ducks nests" were used by the mill pond ducks who settled in on cold winter nights! Obviously well after the fire had gone out!!
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The hearth is now fitted, plugged in and at long last Working!! Now to treat myself to a celebratory can of Lager, turn our kitchen lights off and take some photos!
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