Hey fellas.. I've got a few questions regarding small steam engines.. Low end ones are all I can afford now but I do enjoy them..
What is the long spring looking things that drive the governer and accessories called? Where do you get them? Is there anything else I can use to run accessories?
I have a Weeden and the buner is a flai metal box with 3 wicks.. What do I use for fuel?
What do you guys use for air compressors for running them on air? I would like to get one for initial testing purposes before putting steam to them..
Do they make burners that you can run off a propane cylinder like a map gas type cylinder? Source?
Thanks for taking the time to read and respond.
Billy
Hello Billy and welcome to the Forum!
To give at least partial answers to your questions:
1.) The spring "things" are generally referred to as drive belts, and they can also be made from various kinds of vinyl materials. Traditionally they were just twine tied to the right length, but many things will do.
2.) Sources for this belting can be most amy of the regular model and toy steam dealers, or even industrial supply houses, all of which can be found with internet searches.
3.) A Weeden wick type burner most typically uses denatured alcohol or methylated spirits like ethanol for fuel.
4.) Typical air compressors for running toy steam engines range from aquarium pumps through airbrush compressors all the way up to regular high pressure and volume shop compressors .... just depends on what you really need, and what other uses you may put it to.
5.) Yes propane and especially butane burners are available for toy and model steam engines, mostly from the same sources as the belting. Sterno and other gel fuels are also a common alternative heat source for these engines.
Hope that helps!