Build Your Own Steam Engine – Part 2

By J. Arless Jenkins
Published on September 1, 1969

Continued from “Build Your Own Steam Engine – Part 1.”

Creating a cylinder

As low pressure steam is very dense, the tolerance of a steam engine can be very loose compared to an internal combustion engine. Therefore, the wet sleeve of a large internal combustion engine is ideally suited to make a steam engine cylinder. As a rule, very little machining is required to make the transformation to steam engine use. Generally, this sleeve has to be cut off slightly lengthwise, but usually the wall is thick enough to stand any welding that may need to be done.

The piston that was used in these sleeves is usually of close enough tolerance. Even the piston rings are good, as are required, for the dense low pressure steam. The piston will, however, need to be cut to the desired length, which is usually in the bottom ring groove. Then the piston will need to be placed in the lathe chuck and center bored to the correct size to fit the piston rod.

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