Putt-putt+boat+instructions

=Instructions for building a putt-putt boat.= Use these instructions together with the photographs from the Steam Boat Workshop. Other useful step-by-step photographs are [|here].



__Materials:__
1 litre milk carton, unfolded, with the top and bottom cut off. Aluminium drink can with the top and bottom cut off. 2 flexible drinking straws. A narrow length of metal with a small hole drilled at one end, bent as required for the candle-holder. 1cm piece of birthday candle. A tube of two-mix Araldite and some cardboard scraps for mixing it on. A small piece of sandpaper. 2 tiny pom-poms or wads of material. A few toothpicks. A few small scraps of aluminium can.

__The Boiler body:__

 * [|Boiler pattern]**

1. Cut the top and bottom off an aliminium drink can. Be careful not to crease the can.

2. Sand the silver side. This will help the glue stick.

3. Fold the can in half so it is about 103mm long.

4. Crease the fold by holding a ruler flat on top and pounding it firmly once with your hand. Tape the other end together.

5. Mark out 2 lines 25mm apart. Mark out 2 lines 6mm out further from these.

6. Cut along the outside lines.

7. Using the sharp edge of a ruler, fold along the inside lines.

8. Use a ball-point pen to draw a line firmly 3 times across the fold. This will sharpen the fold.

9. Fold the folds flat using a ruler and apply a firm even pressure. Hold the ruler flat and pound firmly twice on each fold. Don't rub the aluminium or pound to hard - it may cause cracks.

__Preparing the straws:__
1. Using a pencil to start off a gap, insert the straws(long ends) part way into the boiler. Holding the straws evenly together, push them all the way in.

2. Mix the epoxy. Using a thin strip of aluminium, apply the epoxy in between the folds of the boiler, all the way to the ends. Try not to get any on the straws.

3.Harden the epoxy overnight. Pull out the straws. Cut the short end of the straws 35mm from the bendy part. Make a mark 10mm in from the bendy part. Cut the long end of the straws 25mm from the end. Lightly sand around the short ends.

4. Mix up some epoxy and coat the short ends of the straws to the 10mm mark. Push the straws into the boiler up to the 10mm mark.

5. Coat 2 small pom-poms or wads of material with epoxy. Push them into the gaps either side of the straws - in about 10mm. Using aluminium strips and a toothpick, push the epoxy into the gaps and around the straws at the boiler edge until sealed. Try not to get epoxy on the bendy part of the straw. Harden overnight.

__Testing the boiler:__
1. Test the boiler by sealing the end of one straw with your finger and blowing hard into the other straw.

2. Seal any leaks found (look for air bubbles).

__Building the boat:__

 * [|Hull pattern]**

1. Make the body of the boat using the pattern cut out from a folded-out 1 litre milk carton. Staple the folded edges and the bow.

2. Push the straws through the hole in the bottom of the boat. The side of the boiler with the flaps should be on top. The end of the boiler should sit 2" above the floor of the boat.(use masking tape to hold the straws and boiler in place).

3. Fix into place with hot glue and seal the hole around the straws with glue. Be careful not to burn holes in the straws. Seal the bow with hot glue.

__Getting it going:__
1. Prime the engine. This will need to be done when you first use the boat, or if it hasn't been used for a few weeks. Pour water into one straw until it comes out of the other. Hold your fingers over both straws and shake the boat in all directions. This will splash some water into the boiler. Then shake out all the water. You only need to make the boiler damp - too much water and it will not go.

2. Prime the jets. This puts water into the straws only. Pour water into one straw until it comes out of the other. Hold your finger over the straws and place in the water.

3. Prepare the candle-holder by gently screwing a 1cm piece of birthday candle into the hole at the end of the holder. Place the candle-holder so the flame is about halfway along the boiler.

4. Your boat should soon begin putt-putting around.