Scraps and Solder Become an Engine

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The_Paso_Kid

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I built this steam engine based on the December 1950 article by that title in Popular Science magazine. I used a little less solder than what the original plans called for.

It runs great.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcp0O1Mg2EI[/ame]

Engine Mod 2.jpg
 
It's nice to see these old style barstock engines still being made and run.

It was only a few years ago that 'Elmers' engines were all the rage on here, but it seems to have died down a lot.

It gave the beginners to this hobby a chance to make something that could fairly easily be made and run without costing a fortune, plus they gave them the experience to move onto more complicated engines.

Very well done indeed TPK.


John
 
Thanks for the link. Great old mag to read, funny how times have changed!

I forgot to ask what did you use for the flywheel? It looks like a old tap (facet) handle.

Ben.
 
I adapted the plans to utilize materials I had on hand. I drilled and tapped to attach parts together rather than use solder to secure the parts and pieces together as per the plans. The flywheel was actually from a broken toy gyroscope it made a perfect flywheel.
 
I am currently modeling and creating drawings for this engine in SolidWorks, I will put the 2D PDF files out here when done as well as some renderings.

Using the Popular Science link from above for the base and adding a few improvements along the way to make it easier to build.

If there are any others that you would like done let me know...............
 
I dug around my files and found this sketch I had done while modifying the plans to suit the materials I had on hand.

Hopefully everything is legible and clear.

My plans.jpg
 
Quick picture of the SolidWorks Model.

Have to figure out the correct valve rod and arm lengths then I will be starting on the 2D drawings.

S&S Engine Assembly.jpg
 
Last edited:
Finished the model (see updated picture above), now on to the 2D plans
 
Happy Holidays Everyone.....

My gift to you is the Scraps and Solder measured plans, see attachment.

There are a few things I will add to this after the holidays, but if you wanted something to do while waiting you can at least make all the parts.

If printed on 11" X 17" paper all drawings will be at a 1 to 1 scale, Sheet 3 has a square that can be measured to insure printing is to scale.

Use this link to see the original design....

https://books.google.com/books?id=y...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Later I will add assembly steps and show the optional wood base and cylinder lagging hinted in the bill of materials.

Until then................

The drawing is also at http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/downloads/scraps-and-solder-engine-328.html

View attachment Scraps & Solder Engine Assembly.pdf
 
I built this steam engine based on the December 1950 article by that title in Popular Science magazine. I used a little less solder than what the original plans called for.

It runs great.
Happy Holidays Everyone.....

My gift to you is the Scraps and Solder measured plans, see attachment.

There are a few things I will add to this after the holidays, but if you wanted something to do while waiting you can at least make all the parts.

If printed on 11" X 17" paper all drawings will be at a 1 to 1 scale, Sheet 3 has a square that can be measured to insure printing is to scale.

Use this link to see the original design....

Popular Science

Later I will add assembly steps and show the optional wood base and cylinder lagging hinted in the bill of materials.

Until then................

The drawing is also at http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/downloads/scraps-and-solder-engine-328.html

View attachment 85911
Does this have the original 9/16" bore? I up-sized mine to 1-inch bore. here the video of it running -https://youtu.be/263MxHRMzRs

 
I built this steam engine based on the December 1950 article by that title in Popular Science magazine. I used a little less solder than what the original plans called for.

It runs great.

[ame]

View attachment 85329

I built an engine from the Scraps and Solder article too. Scaled it up to 1" bore and it runs great.
Hi,

Any chance you could post the plans or where to find the plans?

Ben
Here's the "plans" for what they are, but if you follow the instructions it will work.
 

Attachments

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  • Scraps and solder become an engine 2.jpg
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  • Scraps and solder become steam engine.jpg
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Quick picture of the SolidWorks Model.

Have to figure out the correct valve rod and arm lengths then I will be starting on the 2D drawings.

View attachment 85864
That's an excellent rendering. I just used some sketches, similar to yours above. The "scraps" I used were an un-used aluminum casting for a model engine display stand for the frame, a piece of lawnmower deck for sheet metal, a chunk of window sash weight (cast iron) for the piston. A 1/4-20 bolt for the connecting rod and 5/16 bolt for the valve body. Mine runs fine on steam as well as air. Recently upgraded mine, moving the eccentric outside of the frame, shaving a bunch of metal off of the piston to lighten it and re-designing the
eccentric rod to valve lever connection for strength and appearance. The cylinder head is removable with screws on mine.
 
That's an excellent rendering. I just used some sketches, similar to yours above. The "scraps" I used were an un-used aluminum casting for a model engine display stand for the frame, a piece of lawnmower deck for sheet metal, a chunk of window sash weight (cast iron) for the piston. A 1/4-20 bolt for the connecting rod and 5/16 bolt for the valve body. Mine runs fine on steam as well as air. Recently upgraded mine, moving the eccentric outside of the frame, shaving a bunch of metal off of the piston to lighten it and re-designing the
eccentric rod to valve lever connection for strength and appearance. The cylinder head is removable with screws on mine.
 
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