tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post6579580622152073107..comments2024-03-29T07:55:45.502+00:00Comments on Phil's Workbench: Brass buffers badUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-28746883387358938912014-11-27T13:43:04.876+00:002014-11-27T13:43:04.876+00:00Interesting point. I always think of the shanks be...Interesting point. I always think of the shanks being bright steel. Maybe all the steam trains I get on have been buffed up especially because of my presence? <br /><br />Anyway, too late now, as you'll see tomorrow...Phil Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15673614093646938053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-16774297498480205972014-11-27T11:54:27.382+00:002014-11-27T11:54:27.382+00:00Like Paul and Mark I would go with the chemical bl...Like Paul and Mark I would go with the chemical blackening approach. You mention that you want the shanks to be 'steel' by which I presume you mean brightish metal. Modern hydraulic buffers do have a very bright and thick shank, but older sprung buffers of the sort fitted to steam locomotives usually have just a dull metal shank (Unless they have been bulled up for a special working, of course...).<br /> Chris Thomasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-52048725121857137922014-11-27T09:13:19.259+00:002014-11-27T09:13:19.259+00:00Solder - That's an interesting possibility but...Solder - That's an interesting possibility but I'd have to take ther things apart and the weird old design relies on crimped ends on the shanks which I don't think I could un-crimp. If only they were Slaters-style nuts!<br /><br />Chemical blackening would change the colour but not to one I want, the chanks should be steel. <br /><br />However, if I'm honest (and I'd get drummed out of the finescale world for saying it) I'm not fussed about working buffers. In use they won't see any action as I'm not planning to use 3-links. I appreciate the fine turnings giving a finesse that it's hard to get with whitemetal though. Phil Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15673614093646938053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-33062951502899973582014-11-27T09:05:44.236+00:002014-11-27T09:05:44.236+00:00Rather than paint the heads I wonder of its possib...Rather than paint the heads I wonder of its possible to tin the shanks with a thin layer of solder then chemically blacken the buffing face?Paul B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05278773151546187084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20340207.post-44630009371419597892014-11-27T05:53:19.524+00:002014-11-27T05:53:19.524+00:00Why not try chemically blackening them instead of ...Why not try chemically blackening them instead of painting. That way you might be able to keep the spring motion.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02418527698793489162noreply@blogger.com