Some months ago I spent days combing the internet for information about where to purchase a wood fired steam engine and found that nothing but models and toys were available. I was told by many people that real, working, useful ones had been federally regulated out of existance. Has any one here been able to find a source for new,usefully sized, wood or coal fueled, steam engines?

-- Ann Fisher (zyax55b@prodigy.com), December 09, 1998

Answers

I dunno about new engines. Portland, Indiana, has a Steam Fair at the Jay Co. fairgrounds every August. It's something to behold. From old steam threshers and steam tractors, down to fractional h.p. hobby models, both commercial and homemade. A lot of I/C engines are also shown off at this Fair. When everything is running at once it sounds like some fantastic orchestra (score by C, Haos, conducted by R. Andom.) Great to hear. Quite pleasant actually.

I believe Steam Fairs are held in many parts of the country during the year. Keep your eye on the smaller country newspapers. This might be an opportunity---

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), December 09, 1998.

Ann, In the back of my Lehmans paper catalog there is an ad from a company called *Sensible Steam* Consultants. I have no direct experience with this company but they have a paper catalog and a video catalog. (417) 336-2869 in Branson, Mo. Bugbite

-- Bugbite (Bugbite@kfalls.net), December 09, 1998.

Finding NEW ones will be difficult for the same reason that a new wood stove, compliant with EPA regs, costs about half a leg, and a few fingers. The required burn temps will be just short of prohibitive. Find some old ones, rework them, and wait for the EPA to become toothles. ( I CAN dream, can't I??)

Chuck

-- Chuck a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), December 09, 1998.

Steam powered electrical generator? Hmmmm....

I would look at the library. Surely there are older books from the early 1900's which discuss the process of building a steam powered engine, probably for a car.

Also, you might look at books about significant inventions. I almost bought one at a church fair which has the most significant inventions of the past 200 years. I was thinking my son was too young for it, but now I'm thinking it might become really valuable in about 13 months.

Especially if I need to build a steam engine, cotton gin, or something else that has gone out of vogue.

My wife still has her great grandmother's pedal powered Singer sewing machine. Just a new belt to work. In fact, she used to sew dresses on it because I bought her an electric model.

Glen Austin

-- Glen Austin (gdaustin@aol.com), December 10, 1998.

Hubby says to try http://www.steamlaunch.com/ Dig through their site, he says they have boilers and engines there. Bobbi +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Civilization is the process of setting man free from men." -- Ayn Rand -- +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Y2k? http://www.buzzbyte.com/ Got water? Got Beans? Take the Y2k Preparation Quiz!

-- Bobbi (volfnat@northweb.com), December 10, 1998.

Ann, web search using Tiny Power. He will send you a video and catalog. I suggest you talk with him personally as steam power is _way more complex that it appears on the surface, and _way more expensive. A set up to generate 8-16kW is going to run above $15k. A used contractor's 15kW generator can be found for under $1k. The big expense for a new steam engine is all the milling and assembly required. The second largest expense is the pressure tank. I was told that keeping a working head of steam requires _a lot_ more wood than I was considering - to the point that it would require one person working full time just on gathering and preparing the wood. Much better to go to a steam fair, check them out, then decide if you still want one. One last point he made was that operating a steam engine is much more complex than the layman assumes, and that the pressure tank is like a bomb if not handled right.

-- Mitchell Barnes (spanda@inreach.com), December 10, 1998.

Oh, I doubt its as bad as running a still. ;) At least you aren't boiling something that releases an explosive vapor!

And who needs 15kw? A two or three hp engine would produce about 2.5 kw. Course water power is easier if you have a creek ...

-- Paul Davis (davisp1953@yahoo.com), December 10, 1998.

http://x1.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=320000744&CONTEXT= 889075027.2041249962&hitnum=12

This is a very handy generator FAQ.

-- Mitchell Barnes (spanda@inreach.com), December 11, 1998.