And I don't mean that guy, with that breading problem from out of space.
Now, I mean the ones coming from Two Rivers, USA
A While ago Charlie and I where talking about Empire steam engines.
And that they are perhaps the most authentic American design steam engines.
Of course, Weeden copied them a bit, but it was Empire who lunched that Chroom and red design.
Somehow they always remind me of the 1930's Indy 500 glamor cars…
I sad to Charlie that a vertical B31was on my wish list, and asked him if it was possible to have a look out for one for me.
Because Empire was only sold to the American marked, so they are quite exotic here in Europe.
As Charlie being mister Empire him self
, he responded I have a few of them, and that he could sell one to me.
So the deal was done, Charlie send it, while I was at war with customs
, but that is an other story.
Anyway, it finely arrived, and to my surprise, there was not only a B31 in the box but also a N°43.
Again Charlie thank you, you're so kind, I don't know what to say.
The B31 Is a pre WW2 engine, lovely cast base plate, super heavy, and of course, like every Empire electrically heated.
The engine Charlie send, lost a bit it's chrome shine.
You, know, if you restore engines for a long time, you start to read the unwritten history, and that can be very interesting.
Like this engine, you see the minuscule deep holes in the chroom, this indicates that the engine wasn't given an oil wipe before it was stored away.
It probably put away in a moist place in storage for a long time.
Then it probably was rediscovered with the chrome covered in green spots, due to heavy corrosion.
And then probably the most damaging to the chroom to place, when somebody try to clean it with steel wool or one of these scratchy kitchen sponges.
Anyway, tip, should you ever find chroom parts corroded, and you want to keep what's still left, then use soft polishing paste and soft cotton.
You never going to get rid of the minuscule deep holes in the chroom, but at least you don't make is worse.
Of course there is also the option of complete re-chrooming, but the question is do you want that on such an old engine.
Finish it with an oil wipe, and repeat this each time you use it.
Another tip, for chroom, WD40 is best oil of treatment.
Now, back to this engine, to get at least some of it's shine back, I first polished it, to reduce the scratch marks made by the sponge, the minuscule deep holes in the chroom will stay.
Then I used my electrolyze chroming kit to lay a new thin layer of chroom, again this will only reduce scratches, not the minuscule deep holes in the chroom.
This way the shine comes back, and it will keep its slightly corroded patina.
I now hear you say, Danny that electrolyze chroming kit how does that work.
Well first of all I do want to point out that this type of restoration was not intended for that kit.
It was a well succeed experiment of mine.
This kit is intended to lay a new pristine Chroom layer.
Normally to chroom something, one starts with a polished brass, If it's iron it will get a copper based layer first.
Then a layer of nickel comes on and polished.
And finely a layer of chroom.
The too chroom a part, gets a negative pole put on the part.
The positive pool is connected to a Nikkel rod.
Over the nikkel rod sits a sponge towel like glove.
That is dipped into a high chroom holding liquid, and rubbed softly over the parts.
The chroom parts stick to the item and the more you go over it the more chroom sticks to the item.
Finished with a polish again.
Anyway after I got the shine back, the engine was put back together.
I noticed that there was a lot of chalk left on the inside from the water that was used.
Simple trick, some plain white vinegar and hot water, leave that for an hour, and the chalk is gone.
But by doing this I noticed a Leak on the water gauge glass.
After close inspection it turned out that the old washers had gone and a small crack in the glass pipe.
Made a new glas pipe, new washers, problem solved.
So here is a lovey soft restored B31…
And of course I had to test it.
Due that we have 220V AC here in Belgium, I had to transform the electricity to the American 110V AC.
Otherwise It would boil very fast but not for long
The other engine a N°43, Is a post WW2 one, and is in perfect condition as it is
and again tested also…
Cheers,
Danny
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