Rusty Hopper’s Modeler’s Corner

By Staff
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A quad O-ring, also refered to as an 'x'-ring.

Hello again everyone. Last issue, I talked about using an O-ring
as a piston ring. I’d like to start off this issue by sharing
with you a response I received from fellow model and scale engine
fan Nick Rowland:

‘Rusty, I’ve never tried using an O-ring to replace a
normal compression ring, but I’ve seen it done plenty of times
over the years in everything from hit-and-miss models to
high-performance scaled V-8 engines. However, have you ever heard
of a quad-ring? They’re made of the same material as an O-ring,
but are made for linear movement (like a piston) rather than radial
shaft sealing. I have looked at quad-rings, and I’m sure they
would work.’

Thanks for the idea, Nick, and it will be interesting to see if
we hear from anyone who has tried using a quad-ring. While I am
still on the subject of O-rings, I wanted to share another use for
them.

I push my lathe to its limits, often turning flywheels that are
close to my lathe’s maximum turning ability. When I do this, it
can cause what is called ‘chatter,’ which is the cutting
bit bouncing on the piece being tooled. This creates tooling marks
on the rim or face of my flywheels. To some people this is a fine
look, and I have seen full-size engines with the same kind of
marks. But to me, on my own models, it looks bad, and I have
adopted an easy fix to stop this problem.

On my lathe and milling machine tooling bits, I have a simple
way to help eliminate these tooling marks. Very simply, I keep a
handful of small O-rings close to my lathe. I install these on my
cutting tools when I think the work I’m doing might cause
chatter. If the cutting tool starts to chatter during machining,
the rubber O-rings absorb some of the energy. This reduces the
movement, or chatter, of the tool. I install maybe a half-dozen of
them on the cutter, and will even stretch them over the tip of my
tool holder.

Sometimes, the hot, metal chips that fall off while turning on
the lathe will melt one or two of the O-rings and they will fall
off, and on the milling machine the O-rings have a tendency to
creep down into the milling work. When this happens, I simply put
on more O-rings or reposition them. And remember: never, ever reach
into your machine while it’s turning. Always shut the machine
down before you install another O-ring or two.

In as much as this column is a place for me to pass along useful
tips or ideas that I may have, I would like your ideas, as well.
Starting with this issue, I am going to pass along information on
one or two models I think are interesting, along with contact
information for getting casting kits or plans. This information
will be in no particular order, and am I not endorsing any of these
suppliers. This is simply a way of letting you know what is
available.

Dinky Dears Inc. makes a 3/10-scale John Deere 1-1/2 HP Model E.
Phone them at (541) 679-0114.

Richard E. Shelly & Sons makes a 1/3-scale 5 HP Galloway.
Phone them at (717) 665-5684.

These tips are for your thoughts only, and your fuel lines may
vary. – Rusty Hopper

Have a tip you think other model makers should know? Send it to
Rusty Hopper in care of Gas Engine Magazine, 1503 S.W. 42nd St.,
Topeka, KS 66609-1265, or e-mail: rustyhopper@hotmail.com

  • Published on Mar 1, 2004
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