Air Gun Home :: View topic - Where can I find extremely small, rigid tubing?

AirGunEric · Site Admin

I have no idea where to look to find very small rigid (i.e. brass or steel) tubing. Small as in 1/8" outer diameter and 5/64" inner diameter (or thereabouts, give or take).

A similar size tubing is available in the automotive world- but made out of copper for flexibility- it's often used for oil pressure gauges and such. Copper work hardens, unfortunately, which is no good.

Any ideas where this sort of thing might be found?

Alstone · Moderator & Site Supporter

Hi Eric
In the UK we can buy brass or aluminium tube in small sizes at model engineering shops or just model shops in general, you should b e able to get some over there.

AL

StevieLaner7777 · Moderator

Exactly what I was going to say! Thanks Alstone!!! What he said

My dad does a bit of model engineering and he has a tone of the stuff about his garage!! RazzDouble

Too bad I can't send you a bit of it as it would cost more than it's worth to transport it to ya!!! Crying or Very sad

Stevie

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Model engineering shops? I definitely wouldn't have thought of that. Thanks for the tip- now I have to go find one!

And just to know- what do people typically use brass or aluminum tubing to accomplish in respect to models?

StevieLaner7777 · Moderator

Hi

I don't know to much about the uses of brass tubing in Model engineering,!! But I do know a few things!! It's usually used for hot steam to flow through from the boiler to the pistons on model steam trains and can also be used to circulate cooling fluids to various other components on all kinds of models!

I found an Image of the stuff in question on Google so I'd thought I'd just throw it in so people know exactly what we're talking about!

Here's one of my Dad's little creations! Don't ask me what it's technical name is cus I honestly don't know!! All I do know is that hot steam comes through one of the little brass tubes, Then fills up the piston with hot steam that forces the piston head outwards that rotates the flywheel and as the fly wheel moves 1/2 rotations round that redirects the steam to the other little brass tube and the rotating flywheel pushes the steam out through the other one and so on...

clever stuff really!! but complicated to explain! I hope you understood what I tried to say!!

Stevie Thumb Up!

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Ah, I see- little mini steam turbines. Funky.

So now I have to dig out the telephone book and hope I can find some model train places within 100km/60miles. Sadly, before I moved out here to the middle of never-never land (I live, literally, in the trees- the adjoining property behind me is a sawmill) I knew where 2 model train shops were- both within a 20 minute drive (not during rush-hour!)) of my home. Teach me to move 4 hours out of an overcrowded mega-tropolis area to the sticks. Wink

StevieLaner7777 · Moderator

Hey there!

Why not try a DIY store as well, Just in case they're out of stock at the model shop. I Know for sure that B&Q and Rockfield do them in all shapes sizes and materials! But what I don't know for sure is if B&Q and/or Rockfield is also in the USA!!

Good Luck on finding them!!!

Stevie Thumb Up!

Alstone · Moderator & Site Supporter

Hi all
This is what I use Model shop supplies for. All are scratch built the Loco is a 2 1/2 inch gauge and runs round my garden and is coal fired, the Traction Engin runs on liquid gas, and the Boat is full radio controle and has a 10 lb pull. It all keeps me busy in the winter when Co2 freezes.
Al

AirGunEric · Site Admin

That's pretty neat!

One question though- how do you get the coal burning hot enough in a model-sized box to get the steam system operating? Do you need to start the fire with a pile of small wooden matchsticks- or do you use some sort of accelerant (i.e. kerosene or gasoline)?

broommaster2000 · Moderator

That's quite awesome indeed.

I used to do some model-building in WW2 stuff. I'll try to make some pictures when I got time. Just plastic models though, not really anything special.

Alstone · Moderator & Site Supporter

To get coal to burn in a small firebox you soak small pices of coal in metholated spirit over night, then next day put it in the firebox put an old car heater fan ontop of the chimney (in suck mode) and draw the fire up, once it is going alright you can remove the fan and use the steam blaster nozzle at the base of the funnel to draw the fire as and when needed.

The heat smoke and smell as you chuff round the garden like a little kid takes some beating.

AL

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Thanks again for the tip guys- I've found one hobby store that keeps tubing in stock- about 50 miles/85km away and am waiting to hear back from another store a bit closer. Now I have to take the 1077 'project' apart again to look things over... 'Tard