DeskTop Steam Boiler

This is an instructable for my small sized steam boiler.  I wanted a solid boiler that I could use to run small steam engines, turbines or in this case a "steamfuser" which is a heated aluminum container that lets a scented liquid vaporize and be carried into the air with the rising steam...there are store bought units that will do this much more safely with flicking lights and scent infused paper, but lets be honest, fire, steam, copper and brass win hands down.

The unit was built entirely in my apartment with a hand drill and a rotary tool.  I used a small soup can for the boiler and some various hardware store fittings to plumb the system.  If your looking to make a little, attractive looking boiler to steampunk up your place read on!

Step 1 Parts

The main parts you'll need for this build can be changed wildly depending on your available materials.  I picked up most of my parts from my local hardware store and a couple items from a hobby shop.  The main things you need are a soup can for the boiler body, some heat resistant tubing to carry the steam around (I used model airplane fuel line), and a little bit of sheet metal to form the boiler housing (I used brass sheet) and some 1/4" copper tube to make a few connection points and the heating coil.  A torch and solder are also needed to make a few connections...the one pictured is massive and while it did work I used a small handheld one for most of the connections.

Note : The vinyl tubing picture DOES NOT work which I soon found out.  Silicone is the way to go for the high heat resistance.

Comments

[Falkenzz]

I do hope that base wasn't made out of wood...

[Falkenzz]

I think this creation calls for some random gears to be glued onto the side!

[longwinters]

I certainly like your project, but I must confess there is not nearly enough potential for injury or death.

When I saw the steam coming out I thought of a superheated fuel reheating the boiler and the excess being used for a mantel lamp or stove, in other words put fuel in the boiler and use half to heat it, and the other half to cook or produce light.( never mind the fact that that defeats the purpose of driving a turbine.)

Come on isn't the idea of flaming fuel and metal shards blowing in all directions more exciting than just scalding water and shards?

This concept can be seen in the pop can stoves that heat their own fuel and burn quite well on alcohol.

Your soldering seems quite talented so why not but in a smoke stack up the middle and get rid of the wandering flames, maybe a peice of 1/2 copper.

Don't ya just love after the fact advise? Thanks for posting I love these types of projects.

[wreckedangle]

This might be a dumb question, but how much water is recommended in the can?

[Confounded Machine]

Never a dumb question.

I usually fill the can about half way and shut the unit down when its nearing the bottom of the slight "glass". Filling it more then half will just lead to a longer boil time...no damage is going to ensue if you fill er up, might just get some water coming thru the steam lines if you reach a rapid boil and possibly a smaller area for a good head of steam to build.

[Trooper555]

I still dont understand what is the tube on the side of the boiler for? is it really nessasary? i still love this design, I'm just curious.

[Confounded Machine]

The tube on the side of the boiler is a makeshift sight glass that lets you see the water level of the boiler.

Thanks for the kind words :).

[Trooper555]

Thanks! I hope you make more Instructables.

[cramsey2]

How much did it cost for all the materials?

[Confounded Machine]

Going off memory it had to be right around $50 assuming you buy everything pictured.

[kingbirdy]

so has anyone built any kind of "add-on" to theirs? It seems like it should be more than possible with the modular nature of the system.

[dbanbery]

I think its a hydraulic valve or microbore central heating valve

[viktorg]

I have now also build my boiler and it works fine, but it is only the boiler that is ready for now. =)

I have used a solder that is for 235 degreas Celcius, and I hope this is enough?

I haven´t tried the boiler at full capacity jet because I dont want to do this inhouse. I have used a "saftyvalue" that is orginaly used on Wilesco toy steam engines. I have built it with my multi-knife, and mini-burner when I had all the tools in the boat.. but it worked well. :)

[sam D]

This is a great instructable. I like the 50psi test method - very handy.

A question - what was the wattage of the electrical soldering iron that you mention please?

[Confounded Machine]

Many thanks!

I actually only used a butane torch for the soldering work on this boiler. The soldering station pictured in the background of the parts photograph is one I use for electronic work and its the weller WESD51.

[Baronrc]

i love this little boiler! I have been thinking of building a basic steam engine for my son, a little father-and-son project. I was thinking of a wheel/turbine that's rotated by a jet of pressurized steam. I think your boiler is perfect for my needs.

[ducktape3618]

wow! i like this. it's very simpel! i think i am gonna make this.

[Confounded Machine]

Many thanks, my goal was to keep is simple for everyone to construct.

[x-tian]

Rubber tubes mostly don't like fire, so you might want to put a small copper tube between the boiler and the rubber, to keep it out of the flames.

[Confounded Machine]

Actually the tubing is silicon tubing which can handle much higher temperatures then rubber or vinyl tubing can. However a length of copper tubing would probably look better at the expensive of being a little more difficult to connect.

[techno guy]

Where can I get alcohol to use as fuel? Can I get it at a store because I will not buy online.

[ducktape3618]

you can buy it at the super market.

[ImageMaker]

You can buy the 91% rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) from the store, if you prefer the grocery store or pharmacy over the hardware store. It's not quite as clean burning as denatured ethanol or methanol (HEET), but at around $2 for a quart bottle, it's inexpensive and does work. Like those lighter alcohols, it will burn without a wick, but you'll get a cleaner, more concentrated flame if you build a burner with a piece of cotton clothesline or similar for a wick.

[jgraznak]

I use gas line anti-freeze/water remover sold in the US under the brandname of HEET, in my backpacking beer can stoves. Under $1 a bottle on sale, nearly pure methol alcohol. Easy to find, easy pour bottles, cheap and clean burning.

[drahcus]

Most hardware stores carry denatured alcohol that burns well enough. I've used it to run jet turbines before.

[mazzas]

I'm guessing that a Sterno can would work nicely.

[_Scratch_]

Try acetone, almost burned down my house with it, but it burns clean and with a nice, small and hot flame.

[compgeek86]

I wonder if using a little hobo stove like this one:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Cool-Little-Miniature-Stove!/
would make for a more controlled heat source without too much complexity?

[mac77]

you can put several pieces of fishing line through the pipe until it is in tight and then bend the pipe. if the fishing line does not come out easy you can heat the pipe and melt it out.

[famos_amos]

what size copper tubing did you use for this part, it dosnt look like 1/4"

[Confounded Machine]

All the copper tubing is indeed 1/4". The valve was simply the smallest valve I could find at the hardware store, they sell them with all sorts of connection options and connection angles but a simple inline valve that accepts copper pipe at both ends should work (the one used).

[~teknoarsonist~]

Thanks! Great Instructable, very informative! (even the comments!) I tried my hand at this, and the first time i used too much heat and caught the lining on fire. second time worked like a charm! :) i would also suggest, that when removing the contents, i used a punch to make a second hole and inserted a basketball filler attachment and used a bike pump to "blast" the contents out. it worked a LOT faster than letting it drip, i would also suggest trying a compressor if you have access to one.

[Confounded Machine]

Thank-you for the reply! Glad to see you gave it a whirl, the pump idea sounds good as well. I went with the fill and shake till your arm falls off method which seems far less effective then your blast method ;).

[famos_amos]

what kind of valve is that?

[Steelsmith1]

While electronis solder will work fine, I have found one of the easiest paste fluxes to make things like this easy is Tinning Paste Flux, I used Oatey brand on a number of things. There is regular and water soluble, and I have used both. Regular seems a little better to me. Basically a zinc chloride paste with solder granules in it. I got it at WalMart for the regular.

[HumaKaVoola]

I was just wondering, could you do the whole project with brass tubing instead of using the model airplane fuel line?

Thanks for sharing your great build with us all!

[Confounded Machine]

Thank-you for the kind words,
I dont see any reason why you couldn't use metal tubing for the whole setup. I just used the silicone tube to make the project a little more simple.

[Default117]

Great idea and interesting build. I may try this myself. I'd hate to be a killjoy but I did however, notice a few hiccups. As you mentioned in the video, the tube pops off when the valve is shut off. Perhaps a three-way valve would remedy this? Second is the boiler container. To prevent corrosion, most cans (including soda cans and cans for canned food) contain an epoxy lining, usually bisphenol A or polyethylene terephthalate. It goes without saying that some pretty nasty stuff could result from burning it.

[Confounded Machine]

Thanks!
The tube will only pop off if the pressure exceeds 50psi which is WAY more then you'd need to run a small steam engine or turbine, during normal pressure (10-20psi) all tubes remain attached ;).

I completely agree with you on the can lining subject. During soldering I noticed some nasty fumes coming from the can into my fume extraction system, however during boiling the water inside keeps the can around 100C and I havent noticed any of the epoxy burning off.

[kleinjahr]

Full steam ahead!! Watt a nice build. Glad you thought of safety blowoff.
Might be useful to work out a condensate return. hmmmm
For various burner and turbine plans check out the PM Shopnotes 1905-1930. Whistles too. wooohoooo.