technology Steam Engines

[deadprofile 1,123]

This past month has filled me up with a great deal of knowledge, and I have now decided that I want to operate (and eventually own) a  steam engine.  I know the extreme basics of steam mechanics but I am hoping to gain more information through books (yey Lindsay publications) and a steam engine class I will be taking next summer near Fargo North Dakota.  With my husband collecting tools to start a small scale foundry setup, his lathe, shaper, and other machining tools, I eventually hope to create small scale steam engines from scratch (but that's like 10 years down the road).

 

The problem I see with this new dream of mine is how little I know.  I did not grow up going the threshing shows and having the opportunity to see and experience a world that is gone, but since meeting my husband 3 years ago, I feel like my mind has been blown away by the amount of knowledge I cannot yet grasp.  I am a complete noob in this realm, and I know in order for me to do anything that I desire to do, to need to increase what I understand.  Don't get me wrong, I HAVE learned a great deal, but comparing what I know of the world to the world I never knew even existed until a few years ago is light years of distance. 

 

So why am i writing all this?  I want to find other bronies who participate, know about, and in general have more knowledge about REAL (not steampunk stuff) steam engines, threshing machines, machining, foundry, blacksmith, tractors, engines,  and even CNC! I really want to learn so I can eventually create. This is a massive, mind breaking, undertaking I want to get myself into, but other than my husband, I have no friends that understand any of this (sounds similar to my brony experience) and really are not interested in helping me. So I am reaching out to you guys, and where this topic will go.

[repsol rave 2,963]

i know a lot about steam engines.

why you ask? because i have one! even tough it's just a miniature steam machine, it still works the same as a full size one.

steam engines are pretty basic if you compare them to modern day motors. especially the fuel injection engines and "kruishoofdtweeslagmotoren" 

[deadprofile 1,123]

did you make your mini? Making miniatures is what I eventually want to do (hence helping my husband with his foundry).  I really want to make a 1/3 scale Case 110, or something strange like those Avery's where everything is a bit flip-flopped (the boiler sits on top of all the gizmos).  I don't know much about engines at all, except with steam engines i do know :Check the water, check the water, and check the water....so I guess  i know just enough not to let one blow up at least .....

 

 

Oh I should mention, I have operated a mini steam engine (did it just this last weekend, i think it was a Case 65 model) and a full size, but just enough to know the steering wheel will tucker me out trying to turn a 'sharp' corner....

Edited September 5, 2013 by Treble Bolt

[RazzyJam 1,519]

Steam engines (and all engines in general) are bad ass! My great grandfather used to own and opperate a Steam shovel, and every now and then I visit the tractor show that is about 45 minutes down the road from me. I own my own tractor, and a number of engines. While I am not 100% familiar with steam mechanics, I am familiar with engines in general and a few advanced mechanical principles. Steam engines are pretty easy to do as well. 

 

let me know how I can help! Id be happy to do some research for you or help with design or anything you need. 

[repsol rave 2,963]

well, i built the most of mine anyway. some parts i had to order, since i have no access to a smelting oven. but i made the rest myself.

i kinda had to, since it was a school project

anyway, i created a miniature stuart. i have some pics but they are minus the boiler. (since that one leaked and i had to throw it away )

 

pics in spoiler below

 

 

[PonyBoy15 428]

Engines are such a wonderful piece of engineering! I know quite a bit about internal combustion engines, and refrigeration compressors but not too much about steam engines. I'm assuming its almost the same principle? 

[repsol rave 2,963]

Engines are such a wonderful piece of engineering! I know quite a bit about internal combustion engines, and refrigeration compressors but not too much about steam engines. I'm assuming its almost the same principle? 

well, it has a few things in common.

though steam mechanics are pretty diffrent then combustion and just air mechanics. steam has a lot diffrent compression and stuff. 

but if you look at the (very) big picture, i guess you could say you are right

[Rayalicious 435]

Hmm I did use the concept of the steam engine to run both of the turrets on my prototype robot, and also i did a huge actual steam engine like it runs completely and it's not as professional as@@repsol rave,'s but still i used some stuff mostly scrap i could find, ofc i did some plans before Vid in the Spoiler (btw it's 3 years old)

 

 

the channel is no longer running

 

And here are the pic of my robot which i built last year :3

 

 

Edited September 5, 2013 by rayray

[Scootalove 10,692]

I've always wondered about steam engines, I never really had a miniature steam engine when I was little. So I really should get some.

[deadprofile 1,123]

Awesome! I am not only one here that is into old time mechanics!  Well, the first thing I am doing right now is reading my way through the Essential Steam Power Library  starting with Steam Engine Design. I also have a Model Engine-Making: In Theory and Practice .  This past weekend I was up at the Rollag Threshing show (WMSTR) for the second time and man, it just blew my mind.  I will be posting video's on my youtube of their 600HP Snow Engine, and a plethora of steam engines running.  I also participated in their non-ferrous foundry and made myself an aluminium keyring. 

[Fhaolan 4,494]

Get those Lindsay books while you can. Dave closed down Lindsay some time last year, so they're not being published anymore.
 
As for your own steam engine, take a look at this site. It's a bit of an eyechart, but it's got a lot of beginner engines to build before you get *too* ambitious.  http://www.john-tom.com/html/ElmersEngines.html

 

I've got a model traction engine somewhere, it's kinda cute. I wonder if it still runs....

[deadprofile 1,123]

Lindsay shut down in February.    I own these books, and we have almost all we desire from Lindsay Pub.  Though Astragal Press is still going and a they and a few other pub. companies have picked up what lindsay hasn't sold yet, so once they are gone, they are gone.

 

That website looks very informative, thanks Fhaolan!

 

My biggest fear/conundrum with my ambitions is the MATH....I mean I can do basic algebra (as if I remember anything from high school and I went to a Bible college, so their math classes were easy peasy).   But just skimming though these books, there is so much MATH

[Rayalicious 435]

 

 

i have some pics but they are minus the boiler. (since that one leaked and i had to throw it away )

i always had trouble with the boiler... these thing are too dangerous anyway, and I almost burnt myself running the first tests on the thing, though i would recommend using A/C gas ( not sure what's its called), instead of the whole boiler and steam.

[deadprofile 1,123]

i always had trouble with the boiler... these thing are too dangerous anyway, and I almost burnt myself running the first tests on the thing, though i would recommend using A/C gas ( not sure what's its called), instead of the whole boiler and steam.

are you talking about oxy-acetylene gas? 

 

I do mainly MIG welding, but because I can weld, I can make the boiler as sealed as possible (no steam/water/air leaks), I have heard that can be a problem.  I also do blacksmithing, so heat, steam, and fire I know very intimately (by learning the hard way ) 

[repsol rave 2,963]

 

 

I do mainly MIG welding, but because I can weld, I can make the boiler as sealed as possible

one tip: check every weld 600 times... or more.

i welded my boiler TIG, and it started leaking at a middle seam. (is that what it's called in english?)

anyway, it really needs to be strong  

[Rayalicious 435]

@@Treble Bolt,

Not sure if noticeable but the boiler is pretty much an old fire extinguisher XD, I had to salvage stuff because getting myself a new boiler or even make one would be pretty expensive.

And i was talking about freon gas(not for welding but for pressure) to replace the whole boiler since its cold XD

[repsol rave 2,963]

i was talking about freon gas

this is just my process operational brain working, but isn't freon gas tagged as illegal since it has like insane greenhouse gasses mixed into it?

correct me if i'm wrong tough. (gas i'm thinking about is freon 12 i think...)

Edited September 5, 2013 by repsol rave

[deadprofile 1,123]

ahh i see now.  All the boilers I've every seen are either wood or coal (I'm not talking about modern ones which are natural gas or fuel oil).  Never heard of one using freon...our refrigerator is one that has uses that (it's a very old one). 

 

i welded my boiler TIG, and it started leaking at a middle seam. (is that what it's called in english?)

 

 

TIG is basically aluminium welding in my eyes.  MIG is what is mainly done at factories and is currently the most common form of welding.  We have an industrial Miller Welder (my husband is a welder for his profession), so what we have will do a lot for creating a boiler.  However, I am planning to make a cast boiler when our foundary is up and running.  We do cast iron welding as well, so repairs will no problem in that area.

this is just my process operational brain working, but isn't freon gas tagged as illegal since it has like insane greenhouse gasses mixed into it?

correct me if i'm wrong tough. (gas i'm thinking about is freon 12 i think...)

 

Freon is still used.  A lot of meat lockers in our area use it to cool their freezers.  I work at one that uses ammonia for cooling, which is rare to see.  You cannot buy household appliances with freon in it, and companies cannot market anything that uses freon.  Once out fridge dies, we have to buy a new one, because you cannot legally get a freon appliance fixed (in our area at least).  It's illegal for consumers and product makers, but for large operating facilities, it is still allowed (though there's probably a lot of red tape)

Edited September 5, 2013 by Treble Bolt

[repsol rave 2,963]

@@Treble Bolt,

oh wow, i'm pretty jelly of the equipment at your disposal right now

a professional MIG/MAG machine? owning one of those would be a dream come true! i had to do all the welding at school for my boiler.

all i have at home is a big old klunky elektrode welding machine... (i think the correct english term for that is MMA welding?)

[deadprofile 1,123]

@@Treble Bolt,

oh wow, i'm pretty jelly of the equipment at your disposal right now

a professional MIG/MAG machine? owning one of those would be a dream come true! i had to do all the welding at school for my boiler.

all i have at home is a big old klunky elektrode welding machine... (i think the correct english term for that is MMA welding?)

 

You are talking about stick welding, and if it's AC/DC welder, you are way better off with that than just an AC stick welder. 

It's really my husband who's jelly (lol).  We are both pretty young (I'm 22, he's 21), but we already have acquired so many tools it's brain boggling @.@ .  My husband is a metal genius, and has been collecting and expanding his inventory and knowledge since he was little (about 12 according to his parents)....The only problem we face now is getting the money to put a building up that will hold everything neatly.  Currently we are using an old chicken house, an unused grain bin, and a simple pole shed for storage.

[Rayalicious 435]

 

 

this is just my process operational brain working, but isn't freon gas tagged as illegal since it has like insane greenhouse gasses mixed into it?

Hmm in my country I don't think it's banned, I mean common it's just refrigerant gas, I think it's pretty much legal here.Since all the A/Cs here require this gas XD

[repsol rave 2,963]

Hmm in my country I don't think it's banned, I mean common it's just refrigerant gas, I think it's pretty much legal here.Since all the A/Cs here require this gas XD

well, it used to be commonly used as a refrigerant gas, because the i stays cold and is pretty cheap to create. but it is pretty damn bad for for the environment.

i have no idea about the amerikan laws around gasses like that, but the european laws banned that stuff a while ago.

(i only know this because i had to learn it for my VCA exam ) 

Edited September 5, 2013 by repsol rave

[Katana 298]

Hey, so I'm not sure if my interests intersect with this thread at all, but...is anyone specifically referring to train engines when they say steam engines? Or, just the engine component itself?

I have a vague fascination with trains, but that might be a very seperate interest itself.

[RazzyJam 1,519]

Hey, so I'm not sure if my interests intersect with this thread at all, but...is anyone specifically referring to train engines when they say steam engines? Or, just the engine component itself?

I have a vague fascination with trains, but that might be a very seperate interest itself.

I think we are just talking about steam Engines in general, but there has been talk about trains and tractors as well. 

I think the main goal of this thread is to just build a steam engine though. 

 

Speaking of steam engines, the one at Disney World <3

[I used to be a stranger 7,994]

I've actually considered if it was possible to make an aircraft-grade steam turbine.

 

Turbines have a high degree of thermodynamic efficiency and operate independently of external pressure, while generating a reliable high-torque and high-speed output, which are all extremely desirable characteristics in aircraft power-plants. In addition, extra water demands could be alleviated by having air-cooled condensers, making use of the large amount of airflow over the craft's body.

 

The only problem is that I have no idea what could be used as heat source for such a system. A friend of mine proposed a thermal nuclear reactor, but I thought that was a little outlandish. I'm thinking modernized steampunk, not NERVA here...

Edited September 6, 2013 by NASSY