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Author Topic: Have you ever...  (Read 239 times)

Quickj

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Have you ever...
« on: May 06, 2021, 05:57:08 pm »
woke up and thought, What should I do today? My answer for today was Build a Steam Engine!

I actually started this a few weeks back before I went to Colorado for 10 days.  Inspired by Nick's small Buckmans I decided to build a small engine and boiler.  Here is what I came up with;

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As you can see, I used a brass door knob for the boiler.  I machined and Silver soldered a bushing into it that I threaded to accept a plug upon which I intended to mount the engine. I then started looking for plans for a suitable engine.  I decided to use my set of plans for the Steam Powered Tonka truck (designed by James Senft) as I figured that would be about the correct size for this project.  I initially made the engine exactly as designed, but struggled with how to get the steam up to the intake port.

This morning I redesigned the engine so I could mount it upside down.  I machined the entire engine today, assembled it, mounted it to the boiler, and gave it a test run. 

Here are a few more pictures.


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A complex system that does not work is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked just fine.
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Jim

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Re: Have you ever...
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2021, 06:22:32 pm »
How wonderfully clever and very very creative! I really like it! Well done on the build and design.

Now we all need to see it in action of course  :)
_______________________________________________
Cheers.
Jim

My YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/Blue123Heeler/videos


Stoker

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Re: Have you ever...
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2021, 08:10:38 pm »
A doorknob boiler ........ what a brilliant re-purposing!!!
"Information is not knowledge, Knowledge is not wisdom, Wisdom is not truth, Truth is not beauty, Beauty is not love, Love is not music: Music is THE BEST...   
Wisdom is the domain of the Wis (which is extinct). Beauty is a French phonetic corruption of a short cloth neck ornament currently in resurgence..."
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St Paul Steam

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Re: Have you ever...
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2021, 08:30:55 pm »
That is cool , anxiously waiting to see it run.
Bruce, St. Paul Indiana, USA
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classixs

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Re: Have you ever...
« Reply #4 on: May 07, 2021, 02:31:24 am »
Very well done Jim!!!

Looking forward to see it run as well :)
Cheers
Jan
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Dampfopa

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Re: Have you ever...
« Reply #5 on: May 07, 2021, 02:18:14 pm »
Just like the others, I also want to see the little beauty run. Really very well built. Congratulations!
Cheers
Jürgen
Dealing with steam is one way of having fun in life.

Nick

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Re: Have you ever...
« Reply #6 on: May 07, 2021, 10:53:54 pm »
That turned out great  8)

By the way, do you have a steam Tonka?
Nick

Quickj

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Re: Have you ever...
« Reply #7 on: May 08, 2021, 02:13:26 pm »
Thanks for all the comments guys.

I did run this on steam yesterday, but my video turned out really bad, so I won't be posting it until I redo my steam test on it.  I also want to make a little 3 legged stand and a burner for it.

That turned out great  8)

By the way, do you have a steam Tonka?

Nick,  here is my story about that;
Many years ago at a garage sale I found this original "American Edelstaal" kit for the Tonka Steam truck.

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It was this set of plans that I based the little oscillating steam engine on.  Building the first engine exactly as on the plan, and the 2nd a little beefier and inverted.


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At the same sale, I found the kits for the Open column launch engine, and the Hudson River Paddle Engine.

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As I am sure you know, these kits were put out by American Edelstaal to be built using the Unimat lathe.  As a 10 year old back in the mid 60's I really wanted one of these lathes, but we were poor, so of course it never happened.

I have made up for it now..

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A complex system that does not work is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked just fine.
View/Subscribe to my YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv2_Ao6XtHt9bXvJCiKYtpw

Nick

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Re: Have you ever...
« Reply #8 on: May 08, 2021, 04:56:33 pm »
Nice collection!

I have two of the Tonka kits, but no skills to build them yet  :D


Quote
I also want to make a little 3 legged stand and a burner for it.

The Buckman stands are usually made with the legs attached to a ring that the boiler lifts in and out of (tight fitting), not permanently attached
Nick