another Clyde Puffer

[mmcp42Participant @mmcp42]

greetings all

I’m new round here

thought I’d start posting about the Clyde Puffer I’m about to start building

I got the plans from Model Maker back in 1978; got as far as building the keel and frames, and, of course, the propellor

then life and family got in the way

kids now (almost) grown up and granddaughters now filling that gap

(so much better than children, in fact, next time, I’m cutting out the middle man!)

anyway, the plans are yellow and faded,

so I decided to go high-tech

had the local print place copy them to PDF – and started converting them ready for laser cutting

keel and framework all done (one sheet of the plans)

after a lot of work with Fusion360 I have a set of shapes ready to laser cut

Nephew has a cutter so will be visiting him very soon

cheers all

[James Hill 5Participant @jameshill5]

Hi Mike, welcome to the Forum.

The information on the steering system was provided by Colin in his blog on his building of a Greek Fishing boat in Build Blogs.The connection with the Puffer is that they were chain steering and his design was almost identical to what I was working out.

At present I`m just making the rudder and working out how many hinge points to use and the best place to position them.

Another modeller is building a Puffer in tin plate. An interesting build to follow.

Best of luck with your build,

Jim.

[James Hill 5Participant @jameshill5]

I forgot to mention that I got the chain for steering from my local Hobbycraft shop.

Jim.

[Len Morris 2Participant @lenmorris2]

Hi Mike, welcome to the site and to the unofficial Puffer section!  🙂  For whatever reason it seems we have a Puffer pandemic.

I like the sacrificial top bar between the bow and stern posts.  It’ll give a good datum when you want to flip the hull upside down.

Follow Jim’s thread.  It’s a wealth of information and a top notch build.

Len

 

[mmcp42Participant @mmcp42]

hello Len

yes, there do seem to be a lot of Puffers about

Hope I live up to the amazing standard I’ve seen here

will be watching them all for hints and tips as my build progresses 🙂

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

During the changeover, Banjoman (Mattias) comprehensive topic on his Eilean Mor Puffer went missing. It is now visible again.

Eilean Mor

Colin

[mmcp42Participant @mmcp42]

@Colin: oooh thanks for that:)

[mmcp42Participant @mmcp42]

apologies for the radio silence from me

visit to nephew (and his laser cutter) never happened, so I’ve been working away at plan B – build my own laser cutter

after some furious Fusion 360 work, I present the puffer cutter:

cutting area is 607 x 417, with a maximum height of 38mm (but that can easily be increased by printing taller feet 🙂 )

the size is based on some aluminium extrusion I had left over from when I built a CNC mill many years ago

add in 31 printed parts, 3 stepper motors (twin X-axis), 3 drive sprockets, 3 timing belts, 9 idlers/rollers, sundry3 drag chains I found in my workshop,  nuts and bolts and a baseboard; not to mention a 10W (that’s real optical watts) and we’re ready to start assembly. More pictures as the work progresses

it’s driven by an Arduino running GRBL with DRV8825 stepper drivers on a protoneer shield

cheers

Mike

 

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Impressive! Just imagine what the crews of those old Puffers would have made of this technology. They would probably have regarded it as magic!

Colin

[James Hill 5Participant @jameshill5]

Hi Mike,

That’s certainly some piece of kit you’re building there.

My laser cutter is mark one eyeballs ( mostly worn out now! ), a Stanley knife and various saws!

Looking forward to following your build.

Regards,

Jim.

[Len Morris 2Participant @lenmorris2]

Looks brilliant for mass production.  Are we going to have Puffers everywhere!  Well done.

Len

[mmcp42Participant @mmcp42]

@Len

that wasn’t my aim, but if anyone wants as set I’d be happy to oblige 🙂

Mike

[Fred Ellis 1Participant @fredellis1]

Hi Make

I was wondering how your Puffer is going?

Fred

[mmcp42Participant @mmcp42]

Thanks for asking Fred

puffer itself is on hold while I finish the laser cutter.
redesigned it to reduce the mass being thrown around.  Almost ready to fire up the laser!

pictures soon

cheers

Mike

[Fred Ellis 1Participant @fredellis1]

Thanks Mike, hope you get back to it soon.

Fred

[mmcp42Participant @mmcp42]

finally got the laser cutter finished

cutting area is 410mm x 610mm which is plenty big enough to cut the keel in one piece

just wondered which adhesive people use

keel is 3/32″ ply, the ribs are 3/32″ basswood

any advice most gratefully received 🙂 thanks

Mike

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

I always use a white PVA glue on wood.  Be prepared for a different answer from every member!

[mmcp42Participant @mmcp42]

thanks Richard

one vote for white PVA

🙂

[Fred Ellis 1Participant @fredellis1]

Hi Mike

I use a Polyurethane glue (CLEAR GORILLA GLUE POLYURETHANE ADHESIVE ), it takes a bit longer to set than PVA. As Richard said we all have our go to wood glue,

Fred

[mmcp42Participant @mmcp42]

thanks Fred

[James Hill 5Participant @jameshill5]

The glue I’ve been using lately is your  standard Gorilla Glue, the white stuff.

I’m also using their 100% waterproof glue , which is brown in colour in a small bottle and a bit like thin treacle! The only thing with that one is you have to use it very sparingly, as it expands into the surfaces as it foams. So far not made too much mess!!.

Jim.

[mmcp42Participant @mmcp42]

Thanks Jim

think I’ll avoid the brown variety then!

cheers

Mike

[Len Morris 2Participant @lenmorris2]

Have a look at Cascamite.

Len

 

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Have a look at Cascamite.

And then buy something else! My particular preference is Deluxe Aliphatic.

Colin

[mmcp42Participant @mmcp42]

@Len

thanks – a new contender

@Colin – obviously not a fan!

cheers both

Mike

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