Vacuum pipes in 5" gauge

Jim · Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:19 pm Post subject: Vacuum pipes in 5" gauge

Faced with a need for some vacuum pipes for my Mk1 coaches I decided to make my own.
I had a roll of 7mm black neoprene garden watering tube left over from one of my many failed attempts at gardening and decided to use that as it was flexible and just the right diameter scale wise.

To form the ribbing in the tube I used my micro blow torch fitted with a fine chisel point soldering tip. The torch was mounted on the tool post, a short length of suitable brass was pushed down a length of tube which was then mounted in the chuck with the other end supported in the tail stock. If you're doing this for the first time the length between centres needs to be no more than about 6" or 155 mm otherwise it will deflect too much when cutting the ribs. Similarly the tail stock should only engage the end of the rod with enough pressure to support it with out bending it. The rod had been centre drilled prior to starting all this.

The lathe was set to cut a 20 tpi thread, the micro torch turned on and the 'thread' cut in the usual fashion as the photos show. You have the option of leaving the pipes 'as is' or using a file to gently break the ridge formed when cutting. It can then be peeled off to give a slightly smoother pipe as shown here

I've shown the finished result alongside a fine scale commercial pipe and its lovely lost wax castings.

Jim.

Jim

_________________
'If you're a friend of the captain you wipe your hands on the sails'