New toy!

"Pearson Hurst" (phurst) 09/29/2016 at 14:24 • Filed to: stirling, stirling engine, desktop toys, external combustion, external combustion engine, sunnytech

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Because I’m a giant dork who likes engines, and needs constant amusement at my desk, I got myself a new toy. It’s a teeny, tiny little Stirling external combustion engine. This one is from China, but is extremely well made. Everything is nicely machined and/or stamped, with a mirror polished metal base. The flywheel is nicely balanced, and even uses a real bearing. It’s satisfyingly heavy, and works perfectly. It’s great fun to watch, and the beautifully mechanical tick-tick-tick of it running is somehow oddly soothing. It comes with a tiny little burner for rubbing alcohol, but any flame would do, like one of those little tea light candles. The burner even has a little tiny magnet on the bottom so it stays put. Big thumbs up to Sunnytech on this thing.

'Wägen, EPA LOL > Pearson Hurst 09/29/2016 at 14:29

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I was just talking about Stirling engines with someone at work yesterday! Really want one of these for my own desk.

Tapas > Pearson Hurst 09/29/2016 at 14:30

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That’s pretty sweet!!

Tripper > Pearson Hurst 09/29/2016 at 14:30

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I need that, where’d ya get it?

Pearson Hurst > Tripper 09/29/2016 at 14:31

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HGSG7V0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Pearson Hurst 09/29/2016 at 14:33

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*immediately goes on Amazon*

Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer > Pearson Hurst 09/29/2016 at 14:39

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Even better: Set this baby on top of your coffee cup and the heat from the mug will run it:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008JOKO1O/ref=s9_acsd_hps_bw_c_x_1

Pearson Hurst > Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer 09/29/2016 at 14:41

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But I like an excuse to play with fire at my desk...

Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer > Pearson Hurst 09/29/2016 at 14:42

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Valid point, however methinks myself and a lot of others would get fired for having an open flame at our desks.... ;-)

TysMagic > Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer 09/29/2016 at 15:33

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adding this to the christmas list of things I don’t need but must have

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Pearson Hurst 09/29/2016 at 15:38

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I will need to confiscate that.

AfromanGTO > Pearson Hurst 09/29/2016 at 15:42

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That’s pretty cool!

Berang > Pearson Hurst 09/29/2016 at 16:20

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I have some old Weeden and Wilesco steam engines, but haven’t fired them up in a while.

Pearson Hurst > Berang 09/29/2016 at 16:29

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Break those suckers out and get them going!

Long Live the Longdoor > Pearson Hurst 09/29/2016 at 21:56

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That’s super cool! I never would have thought to look up a desktop engine to play with... down the internet rabbit hole I go.

septentriones > Pearson Hurst 09/29/2016 at 22:21

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Stirling engines are a lot of fun! Part of a thermodynamics course I took involved making one in the school’s machine shop (some castings were provided for some of the parts that we needed to clean up). I have it sitting on shelf next to me! I’d have to go dig up the spreadsheet with the data gathered but I remember getting north of 800 rpm out of mine (the sound is amazing).

EDIT: (not on the shelf anymore but on the desk so I could take a picture)

Pearson Hurst > septentriones 09/29/2016 at 22:53

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Sweet! Wish I could say I built mine.

random001 > Pearson Hurst 09/30/2016 at 05:39

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Heh, sweet.

notsomethingstructural > Pearson Hurst 09/30/2016 at 12:48

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This is very cool.