From the "why do I do this stuff?" department - new Stromberg OF idle jets

[Scott_Conger]

Who knows why I do this stuff? For me, it's interesting mechanical archeology and the sheer satisfaction of replicating interesting or complicated or miniature things.

More parts falling off my lathe today - one original and two clones:

[John bevardos]

excellent Scott !

[kelly mt]

Nice work! I have to make a needle for a Winfield I have. Haven't made one before, should be interesting.

[SurfCityGene]

Beautiful job Scott. Did you make any improvements? I know that would be next to impossible since I run an OF!

[Henry K. Lee]

Very Very nice work Scott! Another reason why you do it, because you can, and you share the passion.

Your Humbled Hillbilly Friend Down Yonder, Hank.

[Scott_Conger]

Gene, simply making some was challenge enough and I am in no position to improve something that folks a lot smarter than me designed. I puzzled over it for quite a while before I realized the original was a soldered assembly and then the whole thing came together in my mind. I think if I'd been less fortunate during disassembly and the original had simply broken, I'd have figured out the secret much faster.

Hank, I apprenticed as a watchmaker before going into industry. This stuff just naturally facinates me. For years, my jewlers lathe was a LATHE. Eventually, I bought a 9" and 10" lathe and then another 9 just so I could keep them set up for different work and from my perspective, they were LATHES! Now that I am surrounded by farm shops and gunsmiths, I realize that I am still a piker when it comes to the size and amount of equipment I have. I am always amazed and impressed at what comes out of shops like yours, and really hope we can meet one day.

John and all, thanks, and am glad that you enjoyed looking. I figure it is a shame to not share interesting stuff with others if you can (at least I think it's interesting).

After making several of these, I know why they are not available in the Lang's catalogue, that's for sure.

[Rich Eagle]

"Because it's there." Isn't it fun to have the time, the talent and inspiration to do those things.
It's always great to see them.
Thanks
Rich

[StanHowe]

Probably a fun project but I can't imagine there is much market for them.
People who can't get them out usually twist them off trying or strip the slot in the top; I think some people who "rebuild" OFs don't even know there is an idle jet in there.

Some screw right out, some take a hot wrench and a specific vocabulary.

Anyway, that is the early design made up from three pieces, the later design is all one piece.

The early design tends to break at the solder joint, the later design tends to strip out the slot if it is stuck in a hundred years of old gas and varnish.

The RF is way worse. The brass idle jet and the aluminum body tend to weld together and the only answer is usually to drill it out, make a new idle jet and hope it works.

Nice work.

[Scott_Conger]

Thanks Stan

Now that I know how they're made and have made some, that summit has been broached, so probably won't go there again any time soon. I simply enjoy a good challenge and now the challenge is over. Time to move on.