0:47 Oh, seeing that red Mamod funnel induced a 1975 flashback… I had the (then) smallest single engine, but then got the tractor model…! Lucky me, it made me read up on “real” steam engines at the local library - and hours of prepping, running and cleaning the damn thing… Then I became a full time studio musician, but unlike you, no steam made later in life. Thanks for sharing so much knowledge and experience!
Keith, also worth noting is that meths now is far inferior to that we used to get. It tends to burn with an orange flame and soot up the inside of the firebox. (Soot being an insulator and giving these little burners a harder time at getting their heat to the water before it is wasted out the chimney) Lengthening and splaying the wick will certainly do the job, but switching to a higher purity alcohol will give you a superior result with less wick stick out and the old familiar hotter, almost invisible blue flame. (Infact I wonder if part of the issue with meths as a fuel for us is that they WANT it to have an obvious flame for safety) Of course - meths is argueably easier to pick up at the hardware store as it is stocked for its other uses besides a fuel, and I understand the convenience. Warm Regards, Pete.
0:47 Oh, seeing that red Mamod funnel induced a 1975 flashback… I had the (then) smallest single engine, but then got the tractor model…! Lucky me, it made me read up on “real” steam engines at the local library - and hours of prepping, running and cleaning the damn thing…
Then I became a full time studio musician, but unlike you, no steam made later in life. Thanks for sharing so much knowledge and experience!
Thank You for sharing this very informative video with us.
You also stay safe and extremely healthy!
Keith, also worth noting is that meths now is far inferior to that we used to get. It tends to burn with an orange flame and soot up the inside of the firebox. (Soot being an insulator and giving these little burners a harder time at getting their heat to the water before it is wasted out the chimney)
Lengthening and splaying the wick will certainly do the job, but switching to a higher purity alcohol will give you a superior result with less wick stick out and the old familiar hotter, almost invisible blue flame. (Infact I wonder if part of the issue with meths as a fuel for us is that they WANT it to have an obvious flame for safety)
Of course - meths is argueably easier to pick up at the hardware store as it is stocked for its other uses besides a fuel, and I understand the convenience.
Warm Regards, Pete.
very nice job, where do you find these fiberglass wicks?
Ebay.
too bad they don't make a candle snuffer big enough to snuff out those burners / I am surprise the middle hole doesn't spout a flame
They blow out quite easily ......