Topic: simple steam engine

[rooster77777]

  Well I set to work cast iron turned piston, tapped into, yes a 7 inch nail as a con rod. The pistons such a good a fit in the tube that it makes a popping noise when withdrawn with the other end of the tube blocked with my thumb.
I turned another bit of cast iron to block the closed end this could be soldered in.
The square end would also form a pivot and some sort of valve to let the steam in as it swings from side to side.

Steam inlet drillings would seem to be quite critical or are any other ideas for valves ??

Sorry about the photos must wipe the oil off the camera next time.
 

[rooster77777]

Hi
       I was looking round for something to make a cylinder and the only thing anything like was a cuni tube used in upmarket plumbing, all steel tubes were corroded inside. Quickly set about making a piston will be drilling it soon for a con rod.
This is my best attempt with the best piece of tube I could find. Think cuni has very little expansion.
The piston is cast iron (easy to machine).

Cheers

[rooster77777]

 
I have been looking for a long time for a really simple steam engine project one that almost anyone could build,
The danger of exploding boilers would seem to be a difficulty. As making a reasonable piston cylinder fit.
Surely a coiled flash boiler would be safer. My lathe work would have to improve to make a decent piston cylinder fit.
I note that proper engines use piston rings.
The web pages on put-put boats are interesting ,an engine on similar lines ?