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Hydrostatic Dazza
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by Hydrostatic Dazza » Tue Jan 20, 2026 9:57 pm
Cheers from Dazza, The Hydrostatic Lubricator
The chances of finding out what’s really going on in the universe are so remote, the only thing to do is hang the sense of it and keep yourself occupied. Douglas Adams
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Dr. Bond of the DVLR
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by Dr. Bond of the DVLR » Thu Jan 22, 2026 1:49 pm
Brilliant progress, really shaping up. What do you use to make filing buttons?

The railway which people forgot
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Hydrostatic Dazza
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by Hydrostatic Dazza » Thu Jan 22, 2026 9:37 pm
Dr. Bond of the DVLR wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 1:49 pm
Brilliant progress, really shaping up. What do you use to make filing buttons?
Thanks.
The time honoured method of making filing buttons is to use Silver Steel (High carbon) and is not hard to do. Available at most Model engineering suppliers.
One can machine, file and mill the material, but it is tougher.
Then heat to orange in low light conditions
quench in water to harden it full.
No annealing steps, use them as fully hard.
If making D bits or such like tooling one has to anneal or it will be much too brittle to use.
Many including Captain Plod use untreated Silver Steel as axles and motion pins.
I think the USA call it Drill Rod.
Handy book to have in the workshop. Copies abound second hand for a few gold coins.

Cheers from Dazza, The Hydrostatic Lubricator
The chances of finding out what’s really going on in the universe are so remote, the only thing to do is hang the sense of it and keep yourself occupied. Douglas Adams
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Dr. Bond of the DVLR
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by Dr. Bond of the DVLR » Mon Jan 26, 2026 12:07 am
Thanks for the info! I'll keep an eye out for that book.

The railway which people forgot
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Hydrostatic Dazza
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ge_rik
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by ge_rik » Tue Jan 27, 2026 8:14 am
DRO?
Rik
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Durley
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by Durley » Tue Jan 27, 2026 10:00 am
Beautifully machined
DRO is a digital readout.
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ge_rik
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by ge_rik » Tue Jan 27, 2026 11:17 am
Durley wrote: ↑Tue Jan 27, 2026 10:00 am
Beautifully machined
DRO is a digital readout.
Aha! That makes sense
Rik
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Hydrostatic Dazza
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Hydrostatic Dazza
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Hydrostatic Dazza
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Hydrostatic Dazza
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Hydrostatic Dazza
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ge_rik
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by ge_rik » Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:39 am
I love watching your builds come together....
Rik
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Hydrostatic Dazza
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ge_rik
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by ge_rik » Sat Feb 14, 2026 9:19 am
Just out of interest, Dazza, how are you going to get the steam to, and exhaust from each bogie?
I was describing your build to a couple of mates I go walking with each week. One was a mechanical engineer and the other a mining engineer but both have an interest in railways. The mining engineer's dad was station master on one of the two foot narrow gauge lines in South Africa and the mechanical engineer was a keen train spotter in his youth.
We were discussing the various ways the problem could be solved. We decided you would probably use flexible hoses rather than ball and socket type joints. Or do you have a cunning plan?
Rik
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Hydrostatic Dazza
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by Hydrostatic Dazza » Mon Feb 16, 2026 11:15 pm
ge_rik wrote: ↑Sat Feb 14, 2026 9:19 am
Just out of interest, Dazza, how are you going to get the steam to, and exhaust from each bogie?
I was describing your build to a couple of mates I go walking with each week. One was a mechanical engineer and the other a mining engineer but both have an interest in railways. The mining engineer's dad was station master on one of the two foot narrow gauge lines in South Africa and the mechanical engineer was a keen train spotter in his youth.
We were discussing the various ways the problem could be solved. We decided you would probably use flexible hoses rather than ball and socket type joints. Or do you have a cunning plan?
Rik
Flexible Teflon hoses and fittings, purchased from Roundhouse. They use them on their on the Double and Single Fairlie and the Darj Garratt.
Easy to adjust and swap out if required. Also much less heat loss with these as well.
Beyer type ball sockets in this size and amount of articulation for 760mm radius is a challenge too far for me in this life.

Cheers from Dazza, The Hydrostatic Lubricator
The chances of finding out what’s really going on in the universe are so remote, the only thing to do is hang the sense of it and keep yourself occupied. Douglas Adams
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Hydrostatic Dazza
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ge_rik
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by ge_rik » Tue Feb 17, 2026 11:09 am
Hydrostatic Dazza wrote: ↑Mon Feb 16, 2026 11:15 pm
ge_rik wrote: ↑Sat Feb 14, 2026 9:19 am
Just out of interest, Dazza, how are you going to get the steam to, and exhaust from each bogie?
I was describing your build to a couple of mates I go walking with each week. One was a mechanical engineer and the other a mining engineer but both have an interest in railways. The mining engineer's dad was station master on one of the two foot narrow gauge lines in South Africa and the mechanical engineer was a keen train spotter in his youth.
We were discussing the various ways the problem could be solved. We decided you would probably use flexible hoses rather than ball and socket type joints. Or do you have a cunning plan?
Rik
Flexible Teflon hoses and fittings, purchased from Roundhouse. They use them on their on the Double and Single Fairlie and the Darj Garratt.
Easy to adjust and swap out if required. Also much less heat loss with these as well.
Beyer type ball sockets in this size and amount of articulation for 760mm radius is a challenge too far for me in this life.
Of course, sorry, you mentioned this previously.
Rik
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