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Learning how to build Lotus Seven replicas...together!
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PostPosted: April 18, 2016, 3:09 pm 
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Joined: January 10, 2008, 4:47 pm
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Location: Massachusetts
Stick around, but remember you're asking other people to put in effort when you ask questions. We don't mind, but want to see you put effort in at your end.

Since you're good at going several directions at once, consider what you can do locally to learn about steam engines in addition to help you get here. The main library in your city may have some good information. Steam engines pre-date the internet. Actually ask a librarian for help - maybe no one has talked to them recently and they may be lonely. :rofl:

Pre World War II almost any city and town in America of any size would have had a place that built steam engines. They for sure did not ship them places by FEDEX. That's a cool aspect of this project "locost engine building with hand tools". Many steam engines were built before standard threads, nuts or wrenches... :shock:

You may have some tourist attractions in your state that have steam engines, hopefully running ones. Go see them. Maybe they have summer jobs.

Google "Kentucky live steam". "Live seam" is the name for the hobby of building model steam engines and is what you have once you get a boiler going. "live steam" - be careful!

There is a website "kentuckysteam.org".

Start with a single expansion motor. Double and triple expansion are like building different engines because all the parts are different. You can always add the extra cylinders later. That's a nice thing about this hobby - you can really hack together engines. They were not built in billion dollar factories.

What kind of tools do you have access to? Without a milling machine, it starts to get a lot more difficult. Paying someone to do the work gets expensive, much more than just building a nice locost with a junkyard engine.

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PostPosted: April 18, 2016, 4:16 pm 
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Joined: November 11, 2013, 2:11 pm
Posts: 97
Location: Frankfort, KY(for now)
I have a access to a welder, angle grinder, hand drill, and drill press. I have a friend that works for drash, and they have all type of lathes and cncs. So getting things machined is no problem. He told his boss what I was doing and was delighted to hear it. As far as casting the engine, im going back to my boy scout days and building a deep in ground fire. I just need to find a crucible, 1/4 steel plate, a small blower, and pipe for an air hose.


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PostPosted: April 18, 2016, 4:53 pm 
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Joined: December 16, 2015, 5:31 pm
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Before anything else you need to go to the steam automobile club of America and read every single page of the forum. You will learn a ton. Many many people have worked on steam power and there is a treasure trove of steam power knowledge there.


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PostPosted: April 18, 2016, 7:39 pm 
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Joined: July 17, 2015, 1:56 am
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Location: Morrisville, PA
I would love to see a Doble style Locost but after reading this entire post..

Attachment:
double_facepalm1.png


As for the land speed record see: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a6 ... eam-power/

Building a "from scratch kit car" is challenging enough but in steam? It's a whole nother ball game. Watch Jay Leno on YouTube with his steam cars.

Drop the Tesla turbine. Its BS. Its nothing but an old experiment wrapped up in conspiracy and drown in snake oil.

And finally since your a young'n and i was too, Don't believe everything you read on the interwebs. It's a harsh mistress full of lies, deceit and [NWS PORN].

Build On! :cheers:


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PostPosted: April 19, 2016, 12:39 am 
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Joined: November 11, 2013, 2:11 pm
Posts: 97
Location: Frankfort, KY(for now)
Ive just realized some things. So I can say this, gentlemen, surprises are coming.


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PostPosted: April 22, 2016, 8:40 pm 
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Joined: November 11, 2013, 4:47 am
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Location: No. Nevada
If you are still intent on Steam power a small running unit will be informative and motivational.

Back when I was your age I recall seeing a home built steam car that used a modified 2-stroke outboard and VW trans.
It did run and drive, not certain how well since the venue was an auction that only required the cars to move under their own power.

I've also heard of guys converting air compressors to run as steam engines.

Reading is fundamental, but a little hands-on experience can help a lot with understanding what the books were trying to tell you.

I can also state from experience that deep burns are worse than broken bones or cuts/punctures, so be VERY careful.

"Zero emissions" is a fantasy outside of science fiction.

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PostPosted: April 23, 2016, 10:12 am 
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Joined: July 17, 2015, 1:56 am
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Location: Morrisville, PA
Good reads.

https://books.google.com/books?id=FyoDA ... 01&f=false

http://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hcc/20 ... 17411.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_car

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