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http://www.instructables.com/id/DeskTop-Steam-Boiler/
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.
Step 2: Boiler-1
First you will need a small soup can and a drill bit just slightly smaller then the tubing you plan to use. In this step we will drill 2 holes into the soup can to empty its contents (pick a can of something like broth or tomato paste to make emptying easier). The 2 holes in the end of the can will serve to hold a small section of tubing which will act as our sight glass to see the water level in the tank. Make sure your tubing slides into these holes quite tightly as it needs to be airtight. TIP - flushing hot water into one hole will help move the contents out a little easier...especially if its thick expired tomato paste like I used.
http://www.instructables.com/id/DeskTop-Steam-Boiler/
Step 3: Boiler-2
Once you have the contents of your can removed you will drill the 3rd hole to work as the filling hole. I chose to use a small brass fitting and matching plug to make opening and closing the boiler easy. Once you drill this 3rd hole you want to make sure the inside of the can is as clean as possible as this is the last time you will have easy access to the inside. After sizing my hole to my fitting I gave both the brass fitting and hole a light sanding to rough up the surface to make soldering easy. Screw the fitting into the can and apply a small amount of flux to keep the joint from oxidizing. Heat the thicker brass fitting and then the can until you can easily flow the solder into the seam. Once again all joints must be air tight so take your time and do a clean job. Once the soldering is compete clean any remaining flux from the can. The only solder I had at the time was silver solder (expensive) and general electronics solder (60/40 mix). While the silver solder is nice I don't plan on drinking from this machine I used the leaded electronics solder which worked very well on this small job.
Step 4: Boiler-3
At this stage you can cut a small section of tubing and feed it into the sight glass holes. Clean up any remaining glue reside from the can as we will be starting the boiler housing in the next step. You can also check the boiler for its "air-tightness" buy installing the fill plug, putting one end of the fuel tubing into the sight glass hole, plugging the other with your finger and blowing into the free end of the tubing.
http://www.instructables.com/id/DeskTop-Steam-Boiler/
http://www.instructables.com/id/DeskTop-Steam-Boiler/
http://www.instructables.com/id/DeskTop-Steam-Boiler/
http://www.instructables.com/id/DeskTop-Steam-Boiler/
http://www.instructables.com/id/DeskTop-Steam-Boiler/
http://www.instructables.com/id/DeskTop-Steam-Boiler/
Related Instructables
http://www.instructables.com/id/DeskTop-Steam-Boiler/
Comments
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Apr 7, 2011. 12:00 PM REPLY
wakojako says:
This is really clever but could you post a video by any chance?
jelmer2209 says:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5bx_mxtjgw
http://www.instructables.com/id/DeskTop-Steam-Boiler/