Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

I cut some small well seasoned Aussie eucalyptus hardwood into the correct size to get into the firebox and a small amount of spirits to get the wood alight. The smell out of the chimney was delightful.
After it all burnt down to ash, I was able to suck it out with a small car vacuum cleaner......all in all, it worked quite well!

  Nice video, great idea.  The future goes to the bold.

 I always wanted a wood-fired boiler/engine combo but everything I saw
said "Too big and too expensive".  Now, after seeing your video, I may
need to buy this model steamplant.  I loved it the first time I saw it
a few weeks ago and now I may need to buy this steamplant...  And sell
some others.

  So, how are you cleaning the firebox after use?  Forceps or waiting for
all the coals to cool and then a vacuum?  How long did it take to steam
up, and how much water did you put in the boiler to start? 

  Finally, if you ran it on your kitchen stove would the hood serve well
enough to keep the smoke from invading your house?  It didn't look like
it was making much smoke at all.

Congratulations,
Wayne

  Nice video, great idea.  The future goes to the bold.

 I always wanted a wood-fired boiler/engine combo but everything I saw
said "Too big and too expensive".  Now, after seeing your video, I may
need to buy this model steamplant.  I loved it the first time I saw it
a few weeks ago and now I may need to buy this steamplant...  And sell
some others.

  So, how are you cleaning the firebox after use?  Forceps or waiting for
all the coals to cool and then a vacuum?  How long did it take to steam
up, and how much water did you put in the boiler to start? 

  Finally, if you ran it on your kitchen stove would the hood serve well
enough to keep the smoke from invading your house?  It didn't look like
it was making much smoke at all.

Congratulations,
Wayne

G'day Wayne, there was a bit of wood smoke coming out of the stack (the camera didn't catch it very well) I think a stove top exhaust fan would handle it easily as long as its one that vents outside and not just relies on filters.
I squirted a little water on the coals with a syringe when the water level dropped down.
Theres two thumbwheels that you undo and the firebox just drops down and comes out. I just used a small wet & dry vacuum.
I did this vid and the gas fired vid because for some reason (I don't know why because I have no problem firing the SE-03 on spirits) people are having a lot of problems. All folks have to do is fill the burner up, bring the boiler to boil and the metho should be used by now. Refill with metho, light and enjoy a good 20 minute run without any fear for the boiler running dry.
Not sure what people are doing wrong.

Now that's the Pioneering spirit!

Love wood fired steam engines .... & coal fired too!!!

A fun day yesterday with this Daniel.

G'day Wayne, I've only ever seen the BBQ briquets for sale I've never used them before. Doesn't sound from what you wrote they would make meat taste all that good.

The best runs I've had with the SE-03 is from 75% ethanol based hand sanitizer, the burner tray on the SE-03 is perfect for it.

LOL there's no way I'd burn coal in the house! Jenny loves me and lets me get away with a lot, but there's a limit!

The farriers around here (I have two mates that are farriers) all use propane gas fired forges now.

Any hobby blacksmiths or knife forgers about then?

All use charcoal now.

Quote from: Jim on January 17, 2026, 08:21:45 pm

Quote from: Stoker on January 17, 2026, 07:58:19 pm

Any hobby blacksmiths or knife forgers about then?

All use charcoal now.

Very sad that!!!

Knife forging is a growing hobby down here, there's a professional (full timer) that has a business and runs classes not far from the boy's plumbing premises. He makes high quality cutlery all by hand.
Talking to him he went on and on about the benefits of charcoal forging over coal and charcoal being far superior my eyes started to glaze over when he got onto welding and purities etc.
He's a nice guy, but bloody intense.