Brass for steel ?

[George_Race]

I am in the process of starting the Miser Stirling Engine. Is there any good reason that I must use steel where called for in the print? I am especially concerned about the cylinder and having rust form internally. What have a lot of humidity and temp change here in Michigan. Would brass work just as well for the cylinder? Or even copper?

Brass would be a lot easier for me to machine as well. With the graphite piston it would seem that brass would work equally well as cast iron or steel.

George

 

[kcmillin]

The Jan Ridders LTD stirling used a brass cylinder and graphite piston.
I have made a flame eater with the same config,

it should work.

Kel

 

[Tin Falcon]

George. Most of the time materials can be substituted out on model engines
the cylinder piston pair is more critical than say a fly wheel. bronze may be a better choice but do not think brass would be a problem.

 

[George_Race]

Thanks guys, I had the feeling that it would not be a problem to substitute metals for most of the parts. I would suspect that if this were a gas driven engine, with a lot of heating involved, the metal choices would be a lot more critical.
Thanks again for the replies,
George