Proteus
Rather a bad accusation there.
If I was offerd a comecial Puffin or one made by a man in a shed the one made by the man in the shed would have to have something very special to stop me buying the comercial engine as you have to think long term for spares, and be a lot cheaper, as it would be a gamble.
I have been making custom model steam engines for boats for more years than I care to remember, and have them installed in model boats in many different countries, and never had a single complaint about quality or workmanship. In fact, last year, one of my long stroke oscillators was used as a direct replacement for a Gemini engine, where it outperformed it in every respect, steam consumption, power and ease of use.
I cannot say that everyone takes as much care as I do, but every engine I make is built to exacting tolerances and finish, with only the correct materials used for long life. The output shaft is bearing supported, not found on a lot of engines, and without it, results in early bearing failure on the front end, especially if they have an unsupported flywheel. Stainless steel for all rods and shafts, aluminium bronze for big ends, all stainless fasteners, top quality stainless steel ball races (at least 4 in every engine) all into a very compact and easy to control unit. Also supplied are spare rings, races and even stuffing gland materials, oh, and nearly forgot, spares of screws and fixings that are used on the engine, just in case you lose one on a Sunday whilst sailing. Also supplied is an installation and running guide to get the best out of the engine. Tell me if you get that sort of service from commercial makers.
My engines are not made down to a price, but well designed, powerful and easy to operate, and still only half the price of a commercial unit, as has been shown. That is of course dependent of the cost of raw materials, this year, they have risen dramatically, and at such a low price, the extra costs cannot be absorbed, so the price has to rise or fall accordingly.
I am not in direct competition with the main suppliers, and only produce in very limited quantity, not for massive profits, just to keep my workshop ticking over in consumables and tooling, and the love of making them.
Normally, you won't see them for sale, as they are usually sold before they are finished being made. During the build, I can also modify my engines to customers requirements, two of my last batch were made into horizontal units for paddle boats, how many of the commercial producers can do that?
So please, don't go tarring everyone with the same brush. I consider my engines far superior to the 'Puffins' of this world. They do the job efficiently, usually with a lot more power, and as I have said, I have never had a single complaint or fault reported.
Horizontal and vertical version of the same engine. The horizontal one cannot be stopped with fingers on just 5 PSI. Both designed to work on less than 30 PSI, preferably 25 PSI.
Mine with a Puffin. Mine has nearly double the stroke length, but not double the height. Slower revving, more power, doesn't wear out as quickly. It will easily power a 50" steam launch.
My own designed long stroke piston valve engine (plain bearings on this one). But could easily be converted to stainless needle roller.
Mine against a Hemmens V twin (Bunkerbarges').
This is a standard installation in a Krick Victoria with a Maccsteam boiler. A very powerful full plant for less than 600 squid.
Do you still think it's a gamble?
I don't, and I am positive all my previous customers don't either.
Just to answer a bit of Gregs initial question, if making them youself, inline luber with built in drain, about 25 squid, a nicely polished, manually emptied oil trap, about 25 to 30 squid, depending how large it is.
Bogs
BTW, next batch, hopefully sometime early next year, dependent on health and workload.
Author
Topic: 'Clyde' Oscillator, formerly Cheddar 'Puffin' (Read 23138 times)