Scraps and Solder Become an Engine

The_Paso_Kid · Nov 15, 2016

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]

bwal74 · Dec 12, 2016

Hi,

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

Ben

Blogwitch · Dec 13, 2016

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

The_Paso_Kid · Dec 14, 2016

Here is the link to the December 1950 issue of Popular Science magazine on Google books website. It is copyrighted material, otherwise I would have posted copy of the plans here.

The article is on pages 196 and 197.

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

bwal74 · Dec 15, 2016

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.

The_Paso_Kid · Dec 15, 2016

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.

IceFyre13th · Dec 16, 2016

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...............

lathe nut · Dec 16, 2016

how do you save it to file

The_Paso_Kid · Dec 17, 2016

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.

IceFyre13th · Dec 19, 2016

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.

IceFyre13th · Dec 20, 2016

Finished the model (see updated picture above), now on to the 2D plans

IceFyre13th · Dec 22, 2016

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

IceFyre13th · Dec 23, 2016

Got the attachment to work, added to the above post

lathe nut · Dec 23, 2016

Ice Fyre, thanks man for the time to do that and then to share with us, sure is neat, hope to build one real soon, thanks again for sharing, you a good man, Joe

Aerostar55 · Apr 27, 2023

The_Paso_Kid said:
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.

IceFyre13th said:

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

Click to expand...

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

The_Paso_Kid said:
[ame]

View attachment 85329

Aerostar55 · Apr 27, 2023

Seems to run great

Aerostar55 · Mar 19, 2024

The_Paso_Kid said:
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.

bwal74 said:
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.

Aerostar55 · Mar 19, 2024

Seems to run fine. The cool trick of this engine is the rotary type valve.

Aerostar55 · Mar 19, 2024

IceFyre13th said:
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.

Aerostar55 · Mar 19, 2024

Aerostar55 said:
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.

Scraps and Solder Become an Engine

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