whats the best metal to use?

[billj pump]

hi, im making the Edgar T Westbury "Warrior mk II" engine, its all been made from bar stock materials and need to know what the best steel would be to use for the cylinders?

thanks

billj

[jones]

Hi Bill,

I have read that 12L14 is often used, and the upside is that it is easily machined.

Regards
Andrew

[John Lee]

billj said:

hi, im making the Edgar T Westbury "Warrior mk II" engine, its all been made from bar stock materials and need to know what the best steel would be to use for the cylinders?

thanks

billj

It depends on whether you intend to run it frequently. But for long life you could do worse than cast iron of the meehanite variety. As you are in E Yorks take a trip over to Blackgates maybe; they stock it.

Regards,

John

[greasemonkey]

Make the cylinder from steel and then shrink fit a cast iron liner! Blackagte do stock Meehanite in a variety of sizes.

Andy

[jones]

Also, many people use aluminium for the cylinder to aid in cooling, then they drop in a 12L14 steel liner. This, with a cast iron piston and rings, is what many construction articles call for.

Andrew

[billj pump]

thanks guys, i'll ring blackgates.

[chameleonrob]

try a few other suppliers as well, when I bought the iron for my cylinders (about 18 months ago) blackgates were about 50% more expensive. I went to mallard metal packs in the end and was very satisfied.

rob