Thread: reconditioning a windmill (long long story here)

Hi .RC,

I saw this machine working outside the window yesterday, and thought of you.




It has more hydraulic cylinders than I could easily count, I think 6 or 7 extension sections and can swivel left and right to get into tight corners...

Might be some ideas for your next one..

Regards
Ray

"coating it with soap suds first "

Hey Richard,

Can you expand a bit on the application of the soap on the 4140? Please.

I have not tried any heat treating and I know it's something I need to embrace .

Bob.

I did read somewhere it will semi protect the steel from being exposed to the atmosphere when heated and thus reduce oxidation...

A bit off topic here, but here is my oven with a rectangular block of steel in it @ 1000C

Notice the ballooned coating on the steel... This is the oxidiation skin from the heated steel being in contact with the atmosphere at a high temperature..

Soap, Borax or even fine sand all work well to stop oxidization of steel at high temps. If using an oxy setup (acet or LPG), a slightly reducing (oxygen deficient) flame helps to make sure there is no unburnt oxygen that can cause iron oxides. Hardening is just like any other aspect of metalworking, the more precise you are the better the results.

quick update pictures..... I should be further advanced on this but making money in the shipping industry has kept me busy along with the metropolis of Rockhampton not having any 5/8 balls and having to wait several days for them to get some in for me...

A couple of picsw showing the very basic design.... Just a simple crank system.. And the bare main casting with the new wooden bearings yet to be installed.

Ha......... I can remember being puzzled when I was a kid because my father was in his shed making wooden bushes, they might have been for a windmill pump ? He was born and bred on a farm.

What type of wood is it RC ? Turpentine ?

The pump is looking pretty smick too.

Thanks .RC. for the story and pics of the current going-on's of a central Queensland cow chaser.

I bet the truck crane will come in handy around the place.

I hope we get to see a vid of the workings of the mechanism's in operation.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by shedhappens

Ha......... I can remember being puzzled when I was a kid because my father was in his shed making wooden bushes, they might have been for a windmill pump ? He was born and bred on a farm.

What type of wood is it RC ? Turpentine ?

The pump is looking pretty smick too.

No idea what the timber is.... I assume spotted gum...

If the weather is favourable it should go back tomorrow and do hope to have the camera rolling...... I had some complications I had to attend to today..... Namely the ball race it rotates on needed to be machined due to wear...

All over bar the shouting.... Have vid and pics on camera....

It looks great Richard, as does the country. You've had rain by the look of all the green up there, which can only be good. I hadn't noticed Palfy Jnr. on the Landcruiser ute before, - that would have to be useful too, what is its capacity, and does it have outriggers?
Did you attach the vanes before lifting it up, or did you leave them off until you had the main assembly in place and anchored down. A bit less windage that way, but against that, a fair bit of assembly requiring working at height. Either way it looks good from here.
Rob

Hi .RC. have followed the story from the begining,I reckon it should be in book form Has been very interesting reading ,and an eye opener,as to what you have to do with the lack of expensive equipment,to get a difficult job done,I take my hat off to you.


Eddie

Originally Posted by Ropetangler

It looks great Richard, as does the country. You've had rain by the look of all the green up there, which can only be good. I hadn't noticed Palfy Jnr. on the Landcruiser ute before, - that would have to be useful too, what is its capacity, and does it have outriggers?
Did you attach the vanes before lifting it up, or did you leave them off until you had the main assembly in place and anchored down. A bit less windage that way, but against that, a fair bit of assembly requiring working at height. Either way it looks good from here.
Rob

Yes had a really good winter. winter is usually very dry for us...We actually had our first storm yesterday but only got 7mm out of it... More storms around today.... August/September are usually the two driest months of the year here...

The crane in the landcruiser is a Lindsell Hoist one.... I got it several years ago to save my back as I cannot lift 400kg.... It has a leg you can put down is you need it.... It is radio remote controlled, manual slew...

Originally Posted by TKO

Hi .RC. have followed the story from the begining,I reckon it should be in book form Has been very interesting reading ,and an eye opener,as to what you have to do with the lack of expensive equipment,to get a difficult job done,I take my hat off to you.


Eddie

Thanks for the kind words.....

Video has been uploaded and is available for viewing here.....

Enjoy.... I think you will get a laugh out of it..In is rendered in 720HD as well so click on that...

Comet windmill reconditioning - YouTube

Fanxxxxxxxtastic.

Love your work..and methods .RC.

Phil