Not enough hot air...

Having just completed my very first steam engine (see

and

for shameless plug) I need to think about something to run it before I get started on a boiler? I have used an air line and was delighted when it sprang into life (with a helping flick of the finger) but have had a suggestion about using an airbrush compressor and hose (changing the inlet to suit)

I have found this **LINK** and this **LINK** but am not sure if they would be suitable?

Also not sure if they will be a bit noisy and it would be better to buy one with a reservoir?

Thanks

Chris

They are noisy, have a read of this thread

**LINK**

Ahh - thanks

As I am a diver, I might make something up and use a compressed gas cylinder - but think I will be have to be careful with the pressure (normal cylinder is 232 bar or 3300 psi+) so I will have to stick a diving regulator on it but the intermediate pressure for that is around 12 bar which is 170+ psi...

...or perhaps I should bite the bullet and cough up for a small compressor with tank and put up with the noise when I run it to recharge the tank, but they are not cheap as the thread mentions (at least for the quiet ones)

Chris

Edited By Chris Parsons on 16/05/2013 09:13:03

You proberbly don't need more than about 30psi, and it should run on a lot less. I find with my S9 Stuart Turner that it's not the lack of pressure, but the lack of volume of air. My home built workshop compessor will barely keep up. I tried a 12V compressor, it might be OK on a small engine. Ian S C

Hi Chris,

Congratulations on finishing your first engine. It's quite satisfying when the first one runs. I finished a very similar one last year. Here it is running on a car foot pump.

Another shameless plug

Or make a very simple boiler out of a piece of 1.5" diameter copper or brass tube with ends soldered in and sat over a methylated spirits burner. Fill it with boiling water from the kettle and it does not take long to raise enough steam for a small engine.