Steam+Boat+Workshop

=The Workshop=

This Steam Boat Workshop complements the **Oceans display,** currently in the Allen Centre.

=Making Putt-putt Boats= A full set of illustrated instructions for making these boats is available [|here]. [|Boiler pattern] [|Hull template]

We have adapted the instructions to make the boats easier for the students to build. Our instructions are here.


 * [[image:P1080486-2.JPG width="334" height="189"]] || [[image:P1080498-1.JPG]] ||

Stage 1: Making the boiler.
The boiler is made from an aluminium can with the top and bottom removed. The piece of aluminium is folded, taped and carefully measured, before trimming to size and bending over the edges.
 * [[image:P1080594-1.JPG caption="Sanding the can"]] || [[image:P1080599-1.JPG caption="Measuring the folded can"]] ||
 * [[image:P1080601-1.JPG caption="Cutting along the lines"]] || [[image:P1080598-1.JPG caption="Completing the cut"]] ||
 * [[image:P1080603-1.JPG caption="Folding and creasing the edges"]] || [[image:P1080604-1.JPG caption="Folding over and pounding the edges"]] ||

Two flexible drinking straws are inserted to shape the boiler before sealing the folded sections with Araldite. A complete seal is necessary, to prevent any steam escaping later. Students spread Araldite between all the layers of aluminium forming the envelope. The boilers were left overnight to harden.
 * [[image:P1080531-1.JPG width="343" height="219" caption="Measuring the straws"]] || [[image:P1080536-1.JPG width="343" height="218" caption="Inserting the straws to shape the boiler"]] ||
 * [[image:P1080539-2.JPG width="339" height="221" caption="Mixing the Araldite to smear between the folds"]] || [[image:P1080542-1.JPG width="344" height="217" caption="Boilers drying overnight"]] ||

Stage 2: Sealing the boiler and making the hull
The straws were trimmed, sanded and inserted into the boiler. Two pom-pom wedges were rolled in Araldite and pushed into the remaining gaps with a toothpick. The straws were sealed between themselves and the boiler and again left to dry overnight. The pattern of the hull was cut out from a milk carton and scored, stapled and sealed with hot glue at the bow.
 * [[image:P1080556-1.JPG caption="Positioning the straws"]] || [[image:P1080551-1.JPG caption="Rolling the pom-poms in Araldite"]] ||
 * [[image:P1080552-1.JPG caption="Poking in the wedges and sealing in the straws"]] || [[image:P1080560-2.JPG caption="Cutting the hull from a milk carton"]] ||
 * [[image:P1080554-1.JPG caption="Scoring the hull pattern"]] || [[image:P1080558-1.JPG caption="Folding and stapling the hull"]] ||

Stage 3: Mounting the boiler in the hull
The straws were pushed through a precut hole in the bottom of the boat and taped in place ready for gluing. The boiler was positioned and taped so that its end sat 2 inches above the floor of the boat. Both the the straws and the boiler were glued in position using hot glue.The bow was sealed with hot glue. The candle holder was prepared and a 1cm piece of birthday candle was screwed into the hole at the end of the holder.


 * [[image:P1080565-1.JPG width="329" height="209"]] || [[image:P1080564-1.JPG]] ||
 * [[image:P1080568-1.JPG]] || [[image:P1080571-1.JPG]] ||

Stage 4: Priming the engine. It's ready to go!
The engine was primed by pouring water into one straw until it came out of the other. Fingers were placed over the straws and the boat was given a good shake to splash water into the boiler. The all the water was shaken out. Next the jets were primed by putting water into the straws only, held in by fingers and the boat was placed in the water. The candle-holder was positioned so the flame was about halfway along the boiler and ...... **SUCCESS!** The boats began putt-putting around.
 * [[image:P1080582-1.JPG width="320" height="220"]] || [[image:P1080579-1.JPG]] ||
 * [[image:P1080586-1.JPG]] || [[image:P1080592-2.JPG width="331" height="223"]] ||