David,

Those are great memories to have. Thanks for sharing those with us.

-Ron

Heat one of the components with a torch to right below red hot, it will expand and break the seal. The copper tubes attached can handle a few thousand degrees. Also, if the boiler is built with the correct malleable material, a good rap with a hammer shouldn't Hurt anything.

Exhausting up the stack should be done with a nozzle to increase velocity, the little steam cars did that to maximize the effectiveness. Traction engines and locomotives did this as well. How big? What shape? I think only R&D would answer that.

Ron

Big fire = go fast.

All kidding aside, this is an interesting project and I too would be interested in the code.

-Ron

I have a little experience with your proposed project. :D You don't clarify if the 32" height is the boiler and firebox or not. I'm guessing the boiler as suggested is probably too small. It would run a 3X4 single cylinder double acting or a Stuart 6A, but both of those engines are really too small....

Apology for so long in responding. That is very nice work on your boiler, I must commend you for your ability and patience in soldering. The pipe that is in your pic, if any water goes over the top it does not look like there is a way for it to return to the center drum and will assuredly exit throu...

Quote: "I've given a small bit of thought to making the initial fit much looser. Perhaps .01" per inch of tube diameter or more." Not sure I would go that much. I know the Stanley folks are always paranoid about their holes getting stretched too far :).. They say they can roll in about three times b...

Quote: "Ron, I'm dazzled by the wall thickness of that central tube. Looks like you were planning on using it for a scuba tank. I'm sure it would pass a hydro test to a thousand pounds or so. And hurrah for 7018. Almost makes a welder of me (Not!)." Yeah, that's a whopper isn't it? Haha Well, in the...

Dietrich, This is how I chamfer bevel holes on inside for welding. That is a single flute chamfer countersink tool welded to an old wrench socket, then the extension is put in an electric drill. Also, Three different types of welding were used MIG. TIG and ARC. The ARC welder worked the best with go...

Dietrich, This is how I did mine: I added a steam dome of sorts and let it protrude down in the centerdrum and it extends below where the generating coils exit. So the upper steam head is really a ring shape. This boiler with a 300 thousand BTU kerosene burner will make steam from cold in about one ...