USS Monitor Engine Removed from Water for First Time in Nearly a Decade
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- Опубліковано 28 гру 2010
- When Navy divers and NOAA National Marine Sanctuary marine archaeologists recovered the USS Monitor steam engine from the Atlantic in 2001, the pioneering Civil War propulsion unit was covered in a thick layer of marine concretion. Sand, mud and corrosion combined with minerals in the deep Cape Hatteras, N.C., waters to cloak every feature of Swedish-American inventor John Ericsson's ingenious machine, and they continued to envelop the 30-ton artifact after nine years of desalination treatment.
So just this past month, conservators at The Mariners' Museum and its USS Monitor Center drained the 35,000-gallon solution in which the massive engine was submerged for nine years and began removing the 2- to 3-inch-thick layer of concretion with hammers, chisels and other hand tools.
Working slowly and carefully to avoiding harming the engine's original surface, they stripped off more than 2 tons of encrustation in their first week of work alone, gradually revealing the details of a naval milestone that had not been seen since the historic Union ironclad sank in a December 1862 storm.
Get an insider's look at this work and the Monitor's engine out of the water for the first time in nearly a decade.
Information from Jeff Johnston, program specialist with the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary: The Monitor's steam engine was rated at around 400 horsepower and capable of pushing the ship through the water at 6 - 6 1/2 knots.
This unique side lever steam engine has been undergoing active conservation since its arrival at The Mariners' Museum in July 2001. The process is a slow and lengthy one designed to remove chlorides (salt) that have penetrated the ferrous metals down to their core. A thick layer of marine concretion covered the components that were exposed above the sea bed for 139 years prior to recovery. The conservation process loosens this concretion to where it can be carefully removed form the components revealing the original components where they survive. The iron underneath of thsi concretion is now very weak on the surface and in some areas is no longer really classified as metal. What remains is a graphitzed surface that is soft and brittle and it has to be stabilized through the conservation processes.
Many of the smaller iron components of the links and levers associated with the engines running or operating gear have completely deteriorated away inside of the concretion and when removed we are only left with a shell casting of what was once there. Sadly the materials the machinery was originally made from has actually contributed to its deterioration in seawater. The brass and bronze components are in incredible condition, but their material encourages iron components to act almost as a sacrificial anode corroding away in preference to the brass and bronze.. So wherever there is a bearing, oilier, or valve, the iron in that area is usually in far worse condition that areas that are iron on iron components.
Once the engine has completed its conservation process, it will be placed on display inside of the USS Monitor Center at The Mariners' Museum. As incredible as a working USS Monitor steam engine would be on exhibit, the exhibit will be purely static as the condition of the materials of the machinery and its associated components are far to fragile to ever to have them operational again.
We currently have an artifact inventory of 1,344 components, sub components and associated artifacts that have been recovered from the Monitor. These include a wide variety of materials including glass, ceramics, wood, leather, food stuffs, paper, and leather. The larger components recovered include the Monitor's 9-foot cast iron propeller, the 32 ton steam engine and associated components, and of course the world's first rotating gun turret that was recovered intact in August 2002 with the two XI-inch Dahlgrens, their carriages and hundreds of artifacts from within the turret.
Learn more about Monitor National Marine Sanctuary: monitor.noaa.gov/
when the camera is off he grabs an air hammer.
Ha! I was thinking that an air hammer would be perfect and you'd probably have better control.
Needle Scaler
@@MrInnovativeEnergy Electric slide way scraping tool.
Lasers!
Eight o'clock.
Day One.
Fascinating; to do this kind of work, knowing that every fraction of an inch you expose means you're the first person to see that particular surface since Civil War sailors saw it.
break a small piece of granite and you will be the first person to see that particular surface in over 3 billion years of existence.
@@MrTexasDan What an enlightening idea, Mr. Geologist. However, I just don't find that as interesting as Civil War machinery.
This is from years ago yet I never knew this engine had been raised. The people involved in the preservation and restoration of these historic machines do a remarkable job.
I didnt either, i knew they had raised the area where the sailors manned the ironclad but i had no idea they got the engine up,pretty awesome.
Legend say’s he still picking on that engine
At this rate he should have it done in a hundred fifty years LOL
Engineering from 177 years ago, some of the stuff was patented in the 1840s
He needs a bigger hammer, this video is 10 years old, I should think you still doing it.
USS Monitor, launched 30 January 1862 ships engine (this very engine) developed 320 Horsepower.
fast forward 44 short years...
HMS Dreadnought, launched 10 February 1906 ships engines developed 23 THOUSAND horsepower.
the quantum leaps in technology in literally less than 50 years back then is even more staggering IMHO than today.
P.S. keep up the great work on the Monitor. she's absolutely priceless!
The power of internal combustion over steam. Not the level of nuclear fission over chemical explosives, but a decent comparison.
I it amazing this was even possible!
As a Swede i can't help feel a bit of national proud in this too.
God I could do this day in day out, it’s so satisfying...
Amazing the number of negative comments! Have any of you got any ACTUAL experience in preserving the remains of a 140 year old shipwreck? If you don't then I suggest you ask questions rather than criticize!
@Flasher Trasher nevermind the fact that, well, it was submerged in saltwater for over a century.
saltwater is pretty corrosive.
@Flasher Trasher I mean, yeah perhaps the brass can be salvaged.
The iron through is trashed. But perhaps it is just better to make a exact replica and showcase that, while leaving the original as a static display. Not an expert, but that makes more sense to me.
Troll!
Yes, they are all UA-cam experts, there is NOTHING you can tell them.
Indeed, lots of suggestions that could potentially damage it, and they fail to understand the difference between conservation and restoration.
Are there any updated images or video of the engine available? Also, is the really rusted stirrup looking thing at about eye level the eccentric for the valve mechanism?
*What's amazing is how skilled those old Cowboy engineers were in designing and machining those complex fittings, gears, etc.*
Ericsson was no cowboy. He had been building steam engines since the 1820’s as one of George Stevensons competitors in England.
They werent cowboys. They were actual engineers with you know, maths and rulers and tables and stuff.
@@sugarnads Of course you could look at Herbert Hoover who was both a cowboy and an engineer...
@@sugarnads It's a "figure of speech"... They existed during the "Cowboy" era or the "Wild, Wild West"... You do the math - LOL
Geez guys cut the man a break. I bet he does a great job, and he has to admin this project as well.
I wonder if he knows the difference between coal and Fe3 ferrite?
What an awesome job. I am truly jealous!
Great video
you think when that thing is cleaned up they will be able to start it?
I go through the same problems working on trucks bought from the rust belt states.
Yeah, looks like a 3 year old michigan salt/ plow truck. I feel your pain
air hammer goes: *BAP* *BAP* *BAP*
John Ericsson was way ahead of his time.
Should be using ultrasonic cleaning methods - much like a dentist removes scale from teeth.
If I ran the restoration crew I'd tell them to shot blast that sucker clean. It'd be done in an hour. Dude, it's cast iron. You aren't going to hurt it.
amazing stuff!
Great work and fascinating! Can you do a "will it start?" episode? : )
Why is it so hard to find any updates on the monitor or the hunley???? anybody know?
No worries, just look 1 inch to the left or right.
Decades Old' more like a Century and 6 Decades Old.
How about a pneumatic Slag/Descaler? Would that be too aggressive?
Don't know if I could do that job, takes a lot of patience!
vinegar bath with sonic cleaner might be worth a try works wonders on stuff i have removed calcium from and rust
they may have considered it i do not know just a thought
Dream job😊
We have family letters from the civil war that mention a secret weapon called "Monitor"
Very neat
What about using a "laser" to remove layers of debris?
I wonder if PB Blaster would work?
Rock built in progress
A little extra history about the USS Monitor. The monitor was not developed only by John Erickson, but in collaboration with one of my distant relatives, including this engine, Cornelius H. DeLamater. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornelius_H._DeLamater
You may already know of this PD, ua-cam.com/video/VWn8gQ9Ykpk/v-deo.html I happen to know the builder and have been told just some of what was involved in the years of research, drawings and machining time for his replica. He also gives lectures to some of the museum staff where the full size engine now is. Your relative was involved in an amazing effort to help design and build the engine and ship as quickly as they did.
seems like there must be technology available to make that job easier and not disturb the item. while a hammer and chisel is cheap and controllable. ie one blow at a time, it's still a chisel and hammer. not the most delicate of approaches. but if it works for you then my compliments on your patience and dedication.
nearly a century
Nice
looks remarkably well preserved! I've removed iron tools from the dirt in worse condition than that!
Iron rusts.
Anything with copper or copper alloy tarnishes but doesnt rust away like iron.
Bromze swords are often found on an archaeology dig even tho theyre hundreds of years older than iron swords which are rarely found.
We want to see how you do it, you can talk after. Thanks
wow just wow wish that the hole ship was there
10 years later and he's still chipping away
@er10b He states in the video even (While not directly) that the engine was coal fired...
try using black cat firecrackers in a controlled demolition fire sequence!
Why not use a dental ultra sound cleaner? Powered up a bit it could break free encrusted stuff like it does on a tooth. Easy enough to test out.
it would probably do damae to corroded metal, I've seen thorns used in some types of conservation to protect the valuable object under conservation.!
Why?
so that's who we use a chisel.
You'd think this would be the perfect project for a tanker car full of naval jelly...
Air hammer with a skilled body man behing it
That would be a good job for the laser that burns off rust and crud without hurting the metal.
That would work maybe but... This was over 10 years ago I don't think the laser cleaning systems were available yet. It would be interesting to see for sure. Those buggers are like something out of a SF movie.. The sound the make is a bit unsettling.. Cool as hell though.
I have seen oscillator tools and diamond bit die grinders do less aggressive work improving efficiency . Also a CNC apparatus with the z depth programmed can be less invasive to the metal .
@@jackierogers71 ... to use CNC technology you'd have to know all the original measurements to program the cuts.
Why not use a bronze chisel?
Thing looks great for as long as it was down there,those "arms" that push the pistons or levers or what not are in really bad shape,you can see how the corrosion has eaten away at them, corrosion is pure cancer and it will eat and eat and never be satisfied.
Just squirt a little starter fluid in the intake and it should turn over.
Must be a government worker paid by the hour.
@acfinney1
Why do you types that haven't even submitted one video even comment on these things?
Anyway, since you've likely not visited a museum and found out. Most private museums are supported my their members, as would be apparent if you'd bothered to even look at museums's web site.
Get a stonemason carver. They did this all the time.
OK- take some time , but come on this was a steam engine when new, not a Faberge Egg. I can't imagine tourists running in terror because there was a chisel mark on one of the bolt heads.
They get paid by the hour.
This guy might be getting paid but a lot of these people dont, a lot of museums dont have much funds and use volunteers that are proficient in restoration.
If i lived in the area i know i would volunteer a few days of the month for free just for the privilege of working on something this historical, a lot of museums that restore old tanks also use free volunteers and they love their work, every minute of it @@garyv2196
Probably not invented yet at the time of this video but I wonder if a laser cleaner would be the perfect tool for this cleaning.
Jesus, just sandblast the thing. It's metal... sometimes i think they take this stuff a little too seriously.
Get me a needle scaler and an airchisel!
I wonder why they didn't use 20K or higher water jet cleaning? It won't damage base metal.
I do not think the engine will ever run again.
Electrolysis my friend try using electrolysis.
Would be much faster.
Hammer and chisel...surprisingly low tech. Ultrasonic technology is not a viable alternative?
The second best way to preserve a wooden vessel is also surprisingly very low tech. I supersaturated bath in sugar water is, in fact, the second best way. But I do wonder why a hammer and chisel is being used on the cast iron motor. Maybe it is just to take off the really thick stuff and then a higher technology method is used for the finer details of the cleansing.
Maybe a brass chisel be better,, from damage
Antiquities laws and regulations make this job a bitch.
I think, but not really sure, all of this equipment was patented so perhaps drawings are available of the engine.
Great job ..I tip my hat to yall....ok now start it up let's hear it run😉
looks like a big block
That area he is chipping on is going to be severely pitted no matter what, might as well use an air impact gun on it to get down to solid metal. I have done a lot of this kind of work, the black matter is not coal, it is just the byproduct of oxidating metal. Sometimes called “ carbuncle”.
People that do this kind of conservation would never use any kind of air impact gun,they just dont want to risk it,they will use these little chisels even if it takes them 500 years to take all the stuff off, i work in a machine shop and we work on massive machines,Ive used air impact guns many times,i know what you mean.
What about a low pressure, pressure washer.
Why not use a softer than iron chisel? Remove the risk of damaging the iron.
Pimp My civil war boat
Less chatty more banging
How is that poor cameraman doing these days? Has the parkinsons got any worse?
Wrought iron con rods
SCRAP IS HIGH......
Very tedious work, not for the impatient.
Dry ice blasting works better my friend
Just get an air-powered needler and make quick work of it, you're not going to hurt that iron. No wonder why these restoration projects take forever everybody scared to hurt iron.
ha ha ha ha, i work in a shop and we use those things all the time to chip paint off,for a person thats has never used one it sure shocks the hell out of people the first time they do.
My hands use to go numb years ago, now i dont even notice it whenever i use them,they are aggressive but seeing this engine,you could just control it and hit the big chunks slowly and remove most of the stuff.
Interesting work. “How was your day at work today, honey?” 😐
Chip chip chip chip chip chip chip chip chip chip chip chip
And for some mysterious reason you are not saving any of that coal? I mean shit, I’d pay for a chunk of that. You have any idea how many rock hounds you just made clench?
Needs to be sumeraged in a tun o 1 part molasses to 8 parts water for a month and it will all wash off.
They had already submerged it in a solution for 9 years. Read the description
wow just like watching paint dry he must be paid hourly
Why isnt the worker wearing safety glasses with side shields or a face sheild?
He is wearing safety glasses and at the pace he is working there is no chance of anything,i have done this kind of work for years on massive natural gas compressors removing scale and rust, only time we are required to use a face shield is when power tools come out, I'm sure if one was working for NASA they would require face shields when you zip up your fly.
It's interesting for the first 3 minutes.. the video is 10 yrs old..
How's the progress today?? That's what I want to see... Or did the just re'submerge this engine after this technicians 15 minutes of fame..
Dare I say that putting everything in a tub of mild acid would be faster, and pose less risk of damaging anything. I'm sure there is a reason you do it the way you do but I don't understand why.
To not damage the original surfaces would be my guess...
Acid would cause galvanic corrosion between the dissimilar metals.
The big question, will she ever run again?
nah, the pistons probably froze in the shafts.
The parts are far too brittle to ever be operated anymore. Only way to see this incredible piece of engineering at work is to build a second, full-sized and operational replica.
@Flasher Trasher The boiler isn't even in this video, just the engine itself.
And the engine itself could probably be restored to working order, at great expense, with a full rebuild. Many smaller more intricate components would need replacing, likely the pistons too, and the cylinders would need to be bored and sleeved, but technically doable.
@Flasher Trasher You wrote about how no way the boiler would be safe to operate, in a comment talking about the engine itself, on a video of the engine by itself.
Perhaps read your own comment, since evidently you don't know what you wrote.
@Flasher Trasher I was responding to the first part of your comment not the whole thing, if that was somehow not evident. The opening statement carries the implication that I was referring to the boiler, I was not.
My second part of the comment was detailing what it'd take to get the engine itself running, as there is no way it will run without rebuild, air or otherwise. Funny how you mention steam yet I've repeatedly said nothing of using a boiler, and you "duh" me over pointing out I didn't say to run the boiler? Cute.
Also boring and sleeving cylinders is not replacing them, in fact it's the exact opposite, it's a way to take a bad original cylinder and make it functional again.
Is it just ridiculous to speculate that they could re-start that engine one day??
Davey Givens that thing will NEVER run again.
@@glenonions4311 ... if you read the description they already said it will not run. This is for a visual display when done.
Yeah he knows that, the original OP is the one that was inquiring@@rupe53
What, huh, what? Is he done? I fell asleep.😴
Pity about the 'shaky cam', i had to stop watching as soon as he started chipping away at it.
you are sensitive
I didn't learn anything
I didn't see a whole lot of working...lots of talking though
Paid by the hour and funded by some endless stream of cash
He’s probably still chipping away to this day
That is scrap !!!!!
Definitely paid hourly
This guy wouldn't survive in the fair system. woosey
Meticulous obsession
@bezy29 I agree. Who is paying for this waste of time? You could retire with that hammer. It is not the Ark.
Terrible videography. Use a tripod or a stabilizer for crying out loud! Out of focus and the footage shakes like hell!!!
SeismicCWave
... I don't think that was an option 10 - 11 years ago when this took place. I also thing we've gotten spoiled since almost every cam has this technology these days.
Good anthracite yankee coal