Elmer's "Tiny"

[EricB]

I needed a diversion today so I started building an Elmer's Tiny engine. Of course I read the plans then commenced deviating from them. It calls for 3/4" stock turned mostly into swarf, so I started with 1/2" stock. I'll attach the 3/4" feature after I part off the column. I made the curved areas turning against files.

After turning it was onto the mill to cut the flats and drill some of the holes. After setting up and using the rotary table I remembered I have index blocks too. I guess I just like turning handwheels.

Then back on the lathe to make the crank bearing and the locating pin for drilling the steam pasages once I get to that point.

Eric

[paul gough]

Pleasing to see a miniature engine build on miniature equipment. Would you be able to tell me if there is a publication/s of all of Elmer’s engines. There are a couple I have seen images of that I might like to build and am not aware of how many designs he did? Regards, Paul.

[cwelkie]

A digital copy of Elmer's Engines can be purchased here:

https://digitekbooks.com/books/engineering/mechanical/product/25-elmer-s-engines/category_pathway-39

The table of contents includes 52 different engines.

[cheepo45]

There is a free PDF download of the entire Elmer's Engines book here:   https://www.myheap.com/images/stories/Metalworking/Resources/downloads/ElmersEngines_byElmerVerburg.pdf
 Enjoy!
 Scott

[EricB]

Pleasing to see a miniature engine build on miniature equipment. Would you be able to tell me if there is a publication/s of all of Elmer’s engines.

I do enjoy working with the miniature machines. I don't have the space otherwise.

I remember reading on one of the sites (http://www.john-tom.com I think) that Elmer placed all of his designs in the public domain before he died. I downloaded his book and other designs from there but the site appears to be down now.

Cut and squared stock for the cylinder today.

Edit: Later I bored the cylinder and machined the mounting side for the pivot pin.

Eric

[paul gough]

Thank you very much for the information that allows access. I tried ‘my heap.com and was successful in accessing the engines, but being a book person I will try to track down a copy. Regards,Paul.

[mklotz]

Thank you very much for the information that allows access. I tried ‘my heap.com and was successful in accessing the engines, but being a book person I will try to track down a copy. Regards,Paul.

You're not going to like the prices for the book. $224 here...

https://www.ebay.com/p/12038706299

$248 here....

https://www.amazon.com/Elmers-Engines-Elmer-Verburg/dp/096216710X

[EricB]

Thank you very much for the information that allows access. I tried ‘my heap.com and was successful in accessing the engines, but being a book person I will try to track down a copy. Regards,Paul.

You're not going to like the prices for the book. $224 here...

https://www.ebay.com/p/12038706299

$248 here....

https://www.amazon.com/Elmers-Engines-Elmer-Verburg/dp/096216710X

OUCH!

[paul gough]

That’s a rather exceptional price for a compendium of model engine designs! I can’t help but wonder why this book is so expensive, as all prices for books are generally in US dollars the price for one delivered here in Australia would be in the region of $500 to $600. Not justifiable given there are only a few designs that are of interest to me, so will have to use the free copy off the internet. I am extremely grateful for cheapo45’s directing to the website. Regards, Paul.

[Krypto]

The reason it's so expensive is because it's been out-of-print for a long time and a few old men want it.  The typical "selling" price for a hard copy is $150 which is still really high. I think I bid one up to $80 last year but I can't find that auction anymore...

It's unfortunate when Modeltec magazine crashed and burned that all their IP seems to have disappeared.  I'm sure somebody bought it at the bankruptcy auction and it would be nice to see legitimate reprints of the build articles and Elmer's stuff.  Of course, it's a smaller market than it seems so maybe even a small print run would totally saturate the market.

[EricB]

I guess I can't complain to much about the book price. I paid about $130 for the Minnie traction engine book and I'll probably never build it.

More cylinder work today. Made the pivot pin to be soldered into the cylinder. Since the hole penetrates the bore, Elmer said use a close fitting aluminum pin in the bore when soldering, "The solder will not stick to the aluminum." I was a bit skeptical but I gave it a try and it worked as described. The flux got into the cylinder but not the solder. I was trying to second guess him. Who'd have thought?

I also made the flywheel, the crank disk, and the base for the column. All three are slightly too thick at this point. I need to finish the cutoff sides to the final dimensions.

Eric

[EricB]

One last part today, I made the piston.

Eric

[RReid]

Coming along great, Eric.

[Tin Falcon]

Nice i really need to finish mine

[cheepo45]

Nice work!
I have built several of Elmer's engines and find them quite enjoyable.
Most of them are pretty easy, and don't use much material.
They are a nice break between the I.C. engines that take several years to build.
 Scott