Stirlingengineforum.com

What made the stirling engine so attractive to me was I could make one with my grandson. My skill level and equipment are primative, but we made a working engine. If the pop can, tea candle stirling engine is the model T then what is the model A? What could I possibly expect to make without machine tools and a machinist background? I would also want something with a little power. A real working engine people might expect to get some work out of using a kerosene or alcohol burner. My vote is for approchtechies gamma engine http://youtu.be/joUCcJhBm8U. It has RPM and torque. Power piston is an inner tube diaphram. The displacer is also the reginerator and only made of steel wool and screen. The cyclinder is a steel water bottle. Items available to all, and no machining necessary. The only thing I would change is the crank shaft http://youtu.be/KFV0yoW82iA . I like this guys fly wheel timing for simplicity. I can see from You Tube that I am not the only one getting those steel crank shafts square. So does anyone else have any candidates for the best and simple engine?

I have to agree that is probably the best non-machined engine that produces a little power.
I have tried building a few of these with reasonable success. They are not too difficult to
build, although the stainless steel wool can be hard to get hold of.

To get the stainless steel wool, go to a painting and decorating shop, the stuff in the supermarket has soap in it. Ian S C