Posted: 4/27/2014 9:40:30 AM EDT
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Anyone else like to run these?
This is my vintage Wilesco D6. Not sure when it was made but it was old and in rough shape when I bought it at a flea market about 15 years ago. The smokestack was missing, I replaced it with a copper tube (it's decorative anyway, doesn't actually do anything). Pretty basic, nothing fancy, won't win any beauty contests . . . 
I have it mounted to a wooden base with felt pads for feet, it does move around a little when it first kicks over with a good head of steam. After the rpm drops a bit and levels out it will sit still. It's been on a shelf gathering dust for awhile now, hadn't run it in years. But the last time my granddaughter (just turned 4) was here she showed an interest in it and I told her we would run it when I got more fuel. Bought a few boxes of Esbit tablets last week and gave it a shakedown run today to make sure it was going to perform when the time came. Three 4g hexamine tabs and 100ml of warm water, and the steam built up to a head in just a few minutes 
One day I will build my own boiler and steam cylinder from scratch. Yes, one day. When I get a few dozen of my other "one day I will" projects out of the way. 
So, steam engines, post'em if you got'em . . . 
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http://www.ar15.com/media/viewFile.html?i=63343 Don't know much about it...passed down through the family, guess it's 70 or 80 years old.....cast iron - copper - brass construction......steam whistle and pressure relief valve are functional...ran it a few years back on sterno... That is awesome! 
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Thought of these for running a generator after the SHTF/natural disaster. How plausible is that? Not when they outlaw burning wood.... There are several project threads where guys have done just what you're talking about....most of them salvage the old boilers out of hotels or apartment buildings that have been modernized... One guy even wound and epoxied his own generator coils- stator. ...the whole thing...I think he used a trashcan lid for a mold...lol |
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That is awesome! Quoted:
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http://www.ar15.com/media/viewFile.html?i=63343 Don't know much about it...passed down through the family, guess it's 70 or 80 years old.....cast iron - copper - brass construction......steam whistle and pressure relief valve are functional...ran it a few years back on sterno... That is awesome! Thanks! It's pretty much just a book end now...maybe when the grandson gets a little older he'll have an interest in it.... In shop my project was a stem turbine that used a mayonnaise jar as a boiler...lol...they wouldn't allow that shit in school these days....thing turned like 25,000 rpm.... |
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Neat gadget!
There's an annual threshing bee in Huntley MT at harvest time. Dozens and dozens of old tractors. I've only been there once or twice in years past. There were 2 or 3 steamers there burning wood. They were steel mammoths belching smoke all the while crawling and clawing along! I found myself hypnotized by a single cylinder gas engine that was firing at a comically slow pace. (It's usually hotter than all get out during the event) They had it pumping water from a well. I don't know why, but it was really interesting if not amusing. Aside from the tractors they have a fully equipped blacksmith shop demonstrating forge work. I need to go back this year and actually learn something rather than just marvel at them. Trying to lug a youngin around in the heat got old fast though. 
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Quoted:
http://www.ar15.com/media/viewFile.html?i=63343 Don't know much about it...passed down through the family, guess it's 70 or 80 years old.....cast iron - copper - brass construction......steam whistle and pressure relief valve are functional...ran it a few years back on sterno... I have that exact model sitting three feet away from me. |
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Quoted:
Anyone else like to run these? This is my vintage Wilesco D6. Not sure when it was made but it was old and in rough shape when I bought it at a flea market about 15 years ago. The smokestack was missing, I replaced it with a copper tube (it's decorative anyway, doesn't actually do anything). Pretty basic, nothing fancy, won't win any beauty contests . . . http://www.fototime.com/%7BCDBF2D87-CAF8-47F1-8264-E44757664607%7D/origpict/wilesco042614.jpg I have it mounted to a wooden base with felt pads for feet, it does move around a little when it first kicks over with a good head of steam. After the rpm drops a bit and levels out it will sit still. It's been on a shelf gathering dust for awhile now, hadn't run it in years. But the last time my granddaughter (just turned 4) was here she showed an interest in it and I told her we would run it when I got more fuel. Bought a few boxes of Esbit tablets last week and gave it a shakedown run today to make sure it was going to perform when the time came. Three 4g hexamine tabs and 100ml of warm water, and the steam built up to a head in just a few minutes  http://youtu.be/5cMGjdALxkI
One day I will build my own boiler and steam cylinder from scratch. Yes, one day. When I get a few dozen of my other "one day I will" projects out of the way.
So, steam engines, post'em if you got'em . . . Had a similiar model when I was younger as well as 10 or so 'add on' pieces that you could connect to the sprocket next to the wheel via a metal 'string' and have the engine power it. My favorite was either a small drill press that you could actually get to drill small things or one called the dynamo that generated sparks. Mine was larger and had a thick piece glass riveted in the front so you could see the water. Of coarse when you're 10, you need more power. And more power equaled more esbrit and water - I got that thing so hot that it melted the metal and rivets around the glass and blew it probably 20 feet away when it gave. |
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Quoted:
Had a similiar model when I was younger as well as 10 or so 'add on' pieces that you could connect to the sprocket next to the wheel via a metal 'string' and have the engine power it. My favorite was either a small drill press that you could actually get to drill small things or one called the dynamo that generated sparks. Mine was larger and had a thick piece glass riveted in the front so you could see the water. Of coarse when you're 10, you need more power. And more power equaled more esbrit and water - I got that thing so hot that it melted the metal and rivets around the glass and blew it probably 20 feet away when it gave. Quoted:
Quoted:
Anyone else like to run these? This is my vintage Wilesco D6. Not sure when it was made but it was old and in rough shape when I bought it at a flea market about 15 years ago. The smokestack was missing, I replaced it with a copper tube (it's decorative anyway, doesn't actually do anything). Pretty basic, nothing fancy, won't win any beauty contests . . . http://www.fototime.com/%7BCDBF2D87-CAF8-47F1-8264-E44757664607%7D/origpict/wilesco042614.jpg I have it mounted to a wooden base with felt pads for feet, it does move around a little when it first kicks over with a good head of steam. After the rpm drops a bit and levels out it will sit still. It's been on a shelf gathering dust for awhile now, hadn't run it in years. But the last time my granddaughter (just turned 4) was here she showed an interest in it and I told her we would run it when I got more fuel. Bought a few boxes of Esbit tablets last week and gave it a shakedown run today to make sure it was going to perform when the time came. Three 4g hexamine tabs and 100ml of warm water, and the steam built up to a head in just a few minutes http://youtu.be/5cMGjdALxkI
One day I will build my own boiler and steam cylinder from scratch. Yes, one day. When I get a few dozen of my other "one day I will" projects out of the way.
So, steam engines, post'em if you got'em . . . Had a similiar model when I was younger as well as 10 or so 'add on' pieces that you could connect to the sprocket next to the wheel via a metal 'string' and have the engine power it. My favorite was either a small drill press that you could actually get to drill small things or one called the dynamo that generated sparks. Mine was larger and had a thick piece glass riveted in the front so you could see the water. Of coarse when you're 10, you need more power. And more power equaled more esbrit and water - I got that thing so hot that it melted the metal and rivets around the glass and blew it probably 20 feet away when it gave. 
This one predates the windowed models, so I have no indication of water level. So I try not to push it too hard as far as temp, pressure, and run time. |
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Here she be: http://www.ar15.com/media/viewFile.html?i=63360 I have the original burner somewhere. It's a rectangular metal piece that has three wicks and uses alcohol. Love the iron base on those, more substantial and authentic-looking that the stamped sheetmetal base on mine. |
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Check out this cute little bastard. http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/attachments/f19/105771d1398392215-small-herreshoff-mill-type-steam-engine-herroshoff-steam-engine..lester-s-001.jpg Some more pics here. Now that's a serious engine!
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Had a Mamod as a kid...
Used Esbit tablets for fuel. You can still buy them..made in England. http://www.mamod.co.uk |
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Yeah, I got yer model steam engine right here buddy........ Skip to 2:15
129mph model steam hydroplane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJBG7k3DIms Can't seem to embed.... |
| I have no ideal where all the models went after he passed away.http://fashionold.com/4ce14.jpg |
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Here she be: http://www.ar15.com/media/viewFile.html?i=63360 I have the original burner somewhere. It's a rectangular metal piece that has three wicks and uses alcohol. lol...pics or it didn't happen..lol Looks nice cleaned up! I've considered building one a little bigger for a radio controlled boat....there are kits available, but I wanted to try one from scratch....I always thought a large scale river boat or African Queen would be neat.... |
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Yeah, I got yer model steam engine right here buddy........ Skip to 2:15 129mph model steam hydroplane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJBG7k3DIms Can't seem to embed.... Yep....those tether boats are near a controlled explosion, pretty damn fast....I used to run every class from A to F hydro glow fuel boats....a little over 100mph... |
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Quoted: Yeah, I got yer model steam engine right here buddy........ Skip to 2:15 129mph model steam hydroplane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJBG7k3DIms Can't seem to embed.... |
| There is a group over in Port Orchard, WA that has several model railroad engines that are steam powered. They are about 10 feet long. They run them on a small scale rail line with cars that people can ride on. Pretty cool. I saw them at the model railroad exhibit at the Tacoma Museum a couple of years ago. |
