Stuart Beam

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Thinking of purchasing the Stuart beam engine kit for a 1st project.

They do 2, one large and a smaller one. It's the smaller of the 2 (the one with the 7 inch flywheel)

This one (someone has documented their construction.) **LINK**

Opinions please.

Nick

Believe it or not, I haven't built a steam engine in over 45 years and I ended up with (most of the parts of) this kit. So whether I want it to be or not, it will be my first "steam kit" - when I can find time.

However, the thread Stuart Victoria - a Beginners Tale, is both pertinent and extremely well written from the beginners standpoint and most of the parts and therefore the techniques are the same as the Stuart Beam engine. The website you point at shows some of the stages of construction but no real techniques without which the beginner is going to be lost.

graham.

I did it as my second engine, the first being a 10V. As graham says Allan's thread is worth a read and it would also be worth getting hold of the small booklet about building the beam which describes how to machine the major parts.

J.

Cheers for the replies guy's.!

Yes, I am familiar with Allan's thread. - Very good in both description and the end product. The Victoria (due to Allan's thread) is also a contender.

Along with this. :- **LINK** Yes I know it's considerably bigger. But does 'look' reasonably straightforward. Just bigger. Like a Stuart 10H on steroids. 

A builders notes here. **LINK**

Nick

Edited By Nick_G on 28/04/2014 19:17:24

If you have a suitably sized machine and deep enough pockets, bigger is probably easier. All my steam engines have been small and yes it's very fiddly carving a crosshead out of cast iron when it's only 1/2" or so long.

Neil