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11
Machine Tools, Machining, and Toolmaking / Re: Wahlstrom Chuck Demo
« Last post by jkbixby on January 21, 2026, 05:58:15 am »
That's neat how it works but looks like an accident waiting to happen.
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General Discussion - Model & Toy Steam Engines – Stirling Cycle – Flame Lickers – Small Antique Originals / Re: Retrol EngineDIYshop SE-03 Vertical Steam Engine Plant Wood Fired!
« Last post by Jim on January 20, 2026, 08:22:56 pm »
Quote from: komet163b on January 20, 2026, 12:04:18 pm
Hand sanitizer....I'll check some out and read the ingredients.
I'm picky about what I burn in the house.  No stinkies!

  I just checked the shipping status and it left there for...I'd like
to think directly here.  Maybe this time next week?

I've been looking at the photos, especially regarding the firebox.
I see the two knurled knobs that hold the base of the firebox up.
Do you just undo the nuts, it drops down, and you slide it out?
There may be better solutions. 

Regarding the 'after run' duties.  Does the boiler have two drain
plugs?  Looks like it does.  Maybe one of those could be used to
pump water into while it runs.  Seems like a no-brainer. 

Don't even have it and I'm thinking of how to add features.

Sunny and frigid,
Wayne

G'day Wayne,
You back off the two thumbscrews and the firebox (with a slight twist) drops down.
Mine didn't have enough clearance to pull out though and I've just uploaded a video showing the small mod I did to raise the boiler 3mm.

Yes, you could use one of the plugs to pump water into the boiler which would be great for running on gas. The only problem I can see with that is that there is no blow down on the glass sight gauge and like all glass sight gauges that don't have that feature you can get a bubble (or two) in the sight glass column that doesn't allow you to know the true extent of how much water is left in the boiler.
This isn't a problem with spirits (or now I know hand sanitizer gel) as the amount of fuel in the firebox is matched to the amount of water in the boiler leaving enough that it won't run dry. But pumping water in and bubbles in the sight glass, could prove an issue. You would have to be on the ball to keep water in there and not trust the sight glass as it is.
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General Discussion - Model & Toy Steam Engines – Stirling Cycle – Flame Lickers – Small Antique Originals / Retrol EngineDIYshop SE-03 Small Modification
« Last post by Jim on January 20, 2026, 08:13:49 pm »
This is a small modification that I have made to the SE-03 because I'm dropping the firebox out on a regular base's because I'm mostly using hand sanitizer gel with 75% ethanol as it's worked out for me as just the perfect fuel for this steam plant with plenty of steam pressure and good powerful runs for around 20 minutes. A simple mod turning down some brass and parting it off so that the risers were 3mm gave the perfect clearance to the boiler base of the plant and now the firebox is a quick and easy removal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKJi4JgKCtA
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General Discussion - Model & Toy Steam Engines – Stirling Cycle – Flame Lickers – Small Antique Originals / Were MetalWare/Empire engines painted green?
« Last post by komet163b on January 20, 2026, 03:01:40 pm »
  Were MetalWare/Empire engines painted green?

I'm looking at a B-30 (solid flywheel version)
the engine of which is painted green.  The tag says
'Empire Transformer Company' and the base is black.

Legit or not?

Wayne
15
Machine Tools, Machining, and Toolmaking / Wahlstrom Chuck Demo
« Last post by Weedensteam on January 20, 2026, 02:24:17 pm »
Changing a bit while drill press is running:

https://youtu.be/e8sYjrhk3Ag?si=9YKWyfYvKsEqU__W
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General Discussion - Model & Toy Steam Engines – Stirling Cycle – Flame Lickers – Small Antique Originals / Re: Retrol EngineDIYshop SE-03 Vertical Steam Engine Plant Wood Fired!
« Last post by komet163b on January 20, 2026, 12:04:18 pm »
Hand sanitizer....I'll check some out and read the ingredients.
I'm picky about what I burn in the house.  No stinkies!

  I just checked the shipping status and it left there for...I'd like
to think directly here.  Maybe this time next week?

I've been looking at the photos, especially regarding the firebox.
I see the two knurled knobs that hold the base of the firebox up.
Do you just undo the nuts, it drops down, and you slide it out?
There may be better solutions. 

Regarding the 'after run' duties.  Does the boiler have two drain
plugs?  Looks like it does.  Maybe one of those could be used to
pump water into while it runs.  Seems like a no-brainer. 

Don't even have it and I'm thinking of how to add features.

Sunny and frigid,
Wayne 
17
Collections & Pictures / Re: Interesting (To Me) Empire Short 43
« Last post by RichSteamTx on January 19, 2026, 07:47:22 pm »
The seller messaged me back after I asked if he had any history on the engine.  He told me that he found the engine & accessories in a box at his father's house after he passed away.  It seems he nor his younger siblings knew anything about a box with a toy steam engine!  He is guessing someone gave the engine to his dad but no one in the family really knows for sure.  While the dad wasn't a collector vintage things, the seller said his dad was a NASA Engineer - so one could see how a friend / colleague could have given it as some kind of a gift.

My mind thinks of some kind of a cool NASA Engineer's x-mas party in the 70s / 80s and it was a White Elephant gift!  Wouldn't that be a hoot of a gift LOL!
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General Discussion - Model & Toy Steam Engines – Stirling Cycle – Flame Lickers – Small Antique Originals / Re: Retrol EngineDIYshop SE-03 Vertical Steam Engine Plant Wood Fired!
« Last post by Jim on January 19, 2026, 04:15:33 pm »
Quote from: komet163b on January 19, 2026, 02:57:53 pm
  Screen.  Hmmm.  Stainless steel screening (from a pan anti-spatter screen)
is what I've used to cover several wicks, such as in the pm solar.

  I think I might need the wicking material to soak up the alcohol and get it to
the rolled screen.  Maybe a rolled-up screen would wick it up from the reservoir
but I'll have to test that.  Either way, I won't have to quick-step to save the
wick from burning down in an inconvenient way.

Wayne

Wayne hand sanitizer is a whole lot simpler than using spirits and the SE-03's burner works perfectly for it -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arsYTfAu140
19
General Discussion - Model & Toy Steam Engines – Stirling Cycle – Flame Lickers – Small Antique Originals / Re: Retrol EngineDIYshop SE-03 Vertical Steam Engine Plant Wood Fired!
« Last post by Jim on January 19, 2026, 04:12:15 pm »
Quote from: Stoker on January 19, 2026, 10:33:51 am
Quote from: Jim on January 19, 2026, 01:54:21 am
Quote from: Stoker on January 18, 2026, 09:28:35 am
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.

Seems likely that he'd be a good bloke to talk to about the best kind of charcoal to be using then!?!?

I make my own charcoal.
20
General Discussion - Model & Toy Steam Engines – Stirling Cycle – Flame Lickers – Small Antique Originals / Re: Retrol EngineDIYshop SE-03 Vertical Steam Engine Plant Wood Fired!
« Last post by komet163b on January 19, 2026, 02:57:53 pm »
  Screen.  Hmmm.  Stainless steel screening (from a pan anti-spatter screen)
is what I've used to cover several wicks, such as in the pm solar.

  I think I might need the wicking material to soak up the alcohol and get it to
the rolled screen.  Maybe a rolled-up screen would wick it up from the reservoir
but I'll have to test that.  Either way, I won't have to quick-step to save the
wick from burning down in an inconvenient way.

Wayne
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