Now this is what we call a payoff! A few weeks ago we showed you the first part of a Hand Tool Restoration project involving a small upright steam engine restoration. That part was mostly getting the thing knocked apart, seeing what would be involved to bring it back, and cleaning all the rust, grime, and garbage off of it. THIS video is the reassembly, fabrication, and artistry of getting it all back together and working properly and it is a gearhead’s trip to the zen garden.
These small upright steam engines were a great thing for small businesses, factories, etc. They made enough guts to power belt driven lines and work stations. They were not “portable” but they were also not titanic like so many of the other engines of the day were.
There’s some amazing brass work here along with plenty of machining of brass and other materials to upgrade or re-create parts and pieces that simply are not able to be bought anymore.
This is far beyond a paint job to make it look nice. Watching it work (on compressed air) at the end is totally great.
