How to make a steam engine?

Make a half-circle of holes along the lid's perimeter. Eventually, you'll burn coals inside this paint can to provide the heat for your steam engine. If these coals don't have a steady supply of oxygen, they won't be able to burn well. Allow ventilation by drilling or punching a series of holes in a half-circle pattern along edge of the can's lid. read more

The point of this project was really to see how cheaply and easily a miniature steam engine could be built. I built this engine in one day and for under $10 in materials so I think it's safe to call it a success. This engine is 7.2cm (2.8") tall. Some Things to Note: First off I should state that this steam engine is only a steam engine. read more

The engine had low compression because of bad rings, but beggars can't be choosers, so I used it anyway. If you decide to make one, try to find an engine with good compression. I later found out that with bad rings the engine would run fine but the steam would slip past the rings and condense in the crankcase and push the oil out. read more