Do you like gadgets?

[stevej37]

Yesterday I unboxed my new Stirling Hot Air Engine.
Filled the alcohol lamp up and lit it.



It took about 2-3 minutes to start running and then it was going super fast....it was just a blur.
After about a minute of running, the glass globe that gets heated blew off the end and went across two rooms and hit the baseboard in a carpeted other room. After I extinguished the lamp, I went to pick-up the glass globe.....it had already melted/burned into the carpet about a half inch. (time for new carpet in that room anyway)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DS1NLXQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

[MBAtarga]

I love gadgets. Pretty ironic - just last week I watched a "How It's Made" episode where they showed a manufacturer of those Stirling Engines and their construction!

[stevej37]

^^^ The instructions said to slowly twist the globe on...to get it over the rubber o-rings.
I thought I would make it slide on easier by lightly wetting the o-rings first. (which caused them to lose their grip while it was running.)

I'm just glad I wasn't standing down-range when it happened.

[porsche930dude]

Yea that one seems to be flawed because you cant lower the fuel can and regulate the flame away from the bulb.

[aschen]

Had one of these on my desk for years, hot coffee will get it going pretty fast

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by porsche930dude

Yea that one seems to be flawed because you cant lower the fuel can and regulate the flame away from the bulb.

That's the way it's designed....it's either not running, or running like a 'bat out of hell'

There is no 'variable speed' on this one.

[GH85Carrera]

When I was a kid, I got a great gift for Christmas on year. It was Heathkit little box that I had to solder the components together on a board, and in the end I had a box that had several different little various colored LED lights that would blink on and off. That was all, just blinking lights. Like in the background of all TV shows with computers. Just a bunch of blinking lights. All my buddies thought it was cool as well.

[URY914]

When I was a kid my brother (8 years older) had one of those stationary steam engines. Fill it with water, light the fire with a solid cube of fuel and wait for the wheel to turn. I loved that thing even though I only say it run maybe twice.

[craigster59]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

When I was a kid, I got a great gift for Christmas on year. It was Heathkit little box that I had to solder the components together on a board, and in the end I had a box that had several different little various colored LED lights that would blink on and off. That was all, just blinking lights. Like in the background of all TV shows with computers. Just a bunch of blinking lights. All my buddies thought it was cool as well.

I got one of these Radio Shack "65 In One" kits for Christmas. You could make all kinds of stuff by bending the springs and attaching wires,

Lie Detector, alarms, Morse Code, etc. It was really cool. But still today I have trouble wiring a 3 way light switch. Go figure...

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by stevej37

It took about 2-3 minutes to start running and then it was going super fast....it was just a blur.
After about a minute of running, the glass globe that gets heated blew off the end and went across two rooms and hit the baseboard in a carpeted other room. After I extinguished the lamp, I went to pick-up the glass globe.....it had already melted/burned into the carpet about a half inch. (time for new carpet in that room anyway)

Your CarShield warranty claim has been declined.

[stevej37]

^^^ lol

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by URY914

When I was a kid my brother (8 years older) had one of those stationary steam engines. Fill it with water, light the fire with a solid cube of fuel and wait for the wheel to turn. I loved that thing even though I only say it run maybe twice.

My older brother had one also...I think his ran on Sterno fuel.

[Steve Carlton]

Sterno is good drinking. We call it "Squeeze."

[stevej37]

^^^ Ok, I give...What is it?

[devodave]

Originally Posted by craigster59

I got one of these Radio Shack "65 In One" kits for Christmas. You could make all kinds of stuff by bending the springs and attaching wires,

Lie Detector, alarms, Morse Code, etc. It was really cool. But still today I have trouble wiring a 3 way light switch. Go figure...

I had one of those too! Loved that Christmas present!

Had these through the years as well.






I was born a bit too late for this one!


That explains why even today, I still have a fondness for tools, gadgets, and equipment! Will be building (or more accurately, putting together modules) a music streamer using IanCanada modules and a Class D amplifier using IcePower modules. I also have 2 vintage metal lathes, a vintage Bridgeport mill, and a Powermatic drill press that need my attention once winter is over an home projects are done.

[MBAtarga]

Originally Posted by craigster59

I got one of these Radio Shack "65 In One" kits for Christmas. You could make all kinds of stuff by bending the springs and attaching wires,

Lie Detector, alarms, Morse Code, etc. It was really cool. But still today I have trouble wiring a 3 way light switch. Go figure...

I had one too and that product got me on my way to being an Electrical Engineer.

[stevej37]

And who can forget the Chemistry Sets that were available as kids learning gifts.

Toy stores are entirely different now.

[Steve Carlton]

Christmas morning was always exciting in my home- wondering what new Mainway toys were under the tree!

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by stevej37

And who can forget the Chemistry Sets that were available as kids learning gifts.

Toy stores are entirely different now.

I was able to make black powder with the kits I had.

[stevej37]

All I remember making was something that stank the whole house up....and smoked like crazy.