BreakPoint
Random Posts (An alternate to side discussions)
Actually, barrel making is up, with the growth of small wineries, and the massive needs of the US Bourbon industry (the law in the US says barrels for making Bourbon can only be used once for that purpose, they are then sold to wine makers, craft breweries and makers of other types of whiskey).
As to maintenance of the old steam engines, it is mostly lubrication, of usually not very sophisticated bearings, replacing bushings when they wear out. Descaling the parts that hold water (boilers, etc.) if hard water is being used. They should last for generations with proper maintenance. The same is true for the early generation hydro powered generators, some of which are still in use 100 years later. The bearings, and brushes, which will wear, need regular maintenance. When equipment designs were based on hand calculations or slide rules, there were bigger safety margins added! Particularly when the science behind the metallurgy and other physics were less well understood. Big and beefy. We aren't tying to make an aircraft (though many have tried!)
@Blokk wrote:
@Ben wrote:
But once I have that figured out, we can skip over the stone age, bronze age, and animals used as energy sources right to the steam era when life for humans becomes relaxed enough to be able to rest on the week-ends and not have to work 7 days a week just to survive....and this is how the steam-punk literature will just become the reality of our future!
6 day work-weeks may have predated the "Iron Age" Exodus 20:9
@LV_Pro wrote:
Actually, barrel making is up, with the growth of small wineries, and the massive needs of the US Bourbon industry (the law in the US says barrels for making Bourbon can only be used once for that purpose, they are then sold to wine makers, craft breweries and makers of other types of whiskey).
As to maintenance of the old steam engines, it is mostly lubrication, of usually not very sophisticated bearings, replacing bushings when they wear out. Descaling the parts that hold water (boilers, etc.) if hard water is being used. They should last for generations with proper maintenance. The same is true for the early generation hydro powered generators, some of which are still in use 100 years later. The bearings, and brushes, which will wear, need regular maintenance. When equipment designs were based on hand calculations or slide rules, there were bigger safety margins added! Particularly when the science behind the metallurgy and other physics were less well understood. Big and beefy. We aren't tying to make an aircraft (though many have tried!)
Exactly!
If one were attempting to purchase one of those old steam tractors, the price is dependent on the condition of the boiler, not the engine.
The ones I have use split bronze bearings that are machined from bronze half-round castings. No fancy bearing required.
Ben
My better half and I attended a Convention of States (CoS) presentation last night and I think that I can share this without violating any rules.
The CoS is controlled by Article V of the constitution. the scenario plays out as follows;
1) State legislatures call for the convention.
2) After 2/3 of the states do the same then congress just sets the date and the place.
3) States send as many reps as they want but each state only gets one vote.
4) Any and everything can be discussed but only those things that get a majority vote move on.
5) If 2/3 of the state ratify the proposals then they become amendments.
So even if they propose to abolish the 2nd amendment, or toss out the constitution, it only takes 12 state to say no and it does not happen. The founding fathers were clever!
So if you are not happy with Washington and what comes out of that place, check out the Convention of States to learn more.
Stopping now before I get into trouble.
Ben
Actually, Article V says it takes 3/4ths of "the several states" to ratify an amendment. 🙂 Which works out to roughly the 12, or 13, depending which way you round, having the final say.
