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How to Almost Build an Engine With Only Parts From the Hardware Store [video]

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Re: How to Almost Build an Engine With Only Parts From the Hardware Store [video]

#11

Post by larrys »

noselasd wrote: post #8
larrys wrote: post #2

Well first he has certainly not taken safety into mind when doing this project. Look at the way he's dressed. (With no protection clothing or eyes or anything). Look at how close he comes to the gasoline. Look at how he's seated so he can't even get away quickly. Look how there is no protective shield. He doesn't even appear to have anyone else there in case of an emergency. He has enough intelligence and curiosity t…

I just watched it, what in particular seemed so dangerous it would warrant so much precaution ?

Aerosol can. Spark. Gasoline.

Re: How to Almost Build an Engine With Only Parts From the Hardware Store [video]

#12

Post by larrys »

KamiCrit wrote: post #9
larrys wrote: post #2

Well first he has certainly not taken safety into mind when doing this project. Look at the way he's dressed. (With no protection clothing or eyes or anything). Look at how close he comes to the gasoline. Look at how he's seated so he can't even get away quickly. Look how there is no protective shield. He doesn't even appear to have anyone else there in case of an emergency. He has enough intelligence and curiosity t…

Like a true armchair warrior, how many engines have your tried building?

I've purchased and I've operated expensive machinery and I've seen what happens when people don't take appropriate safety precautions.

He could have built an enclosure and put this on a table similar to what is used in lab experiments.

But please tell me what this has to do with whether I have personally tried to build, in particular, engines?

Re: How to Almost Build an Engine With Only Parts From the Hardware Store [video]

#13

Post by flomo »

SwellJoe wrote: post #5

It's kind of fascinating, to me, that internal combustion engines won the car war for so long. Electric motors are so much simpler to build, and so much more efficient from an energy usage perspective. I understand why electric lost out (energy storage, range of vehicle), but I think it could have gone a different way had there been just a couple of nudges in the electric direction at the right time. And, what a diff…

Small two-stroke engines used in lawn mowers and the like were incredibly simple. Perhaps a dozen parts for the entire engine. Of course, such things are now banned in California.

Re: How to Almost Build an Engine With Only Parts From the Hardware Store [video]

#14

Post by jevinskie »

larrys wrote: post #11
noselasd wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just watched it, what in particular seemed so dangerous it would warrant so much precaution ?

Aerosol can. Spark. Gasoline.

Yup, the gasoline splashes out of the bubble carb on every stroke!

Re: How to Almost Build an Engine With Only Parts From the Hardware Store [video]

#15

Post by neya »

larrys wrote: post #2

Well first he has certainly not taken safety into mind when doing this project. Look at the way he's dressed. (With no protection clothing or eyes or anything). Look at how close he comes to the gasoline. Look at how he's seated so he can't even get away quickly. Look how there is no protective shield. He doesn't even appear to have anyone else there in case of an emergency. He has enough intelligence and curiosity t…

Agreed...the whole thing looks scary at best!! One small mistake and it could cost his life!!!

Re: How to Almost Build an Engine With Only Parts From the Hardware Store [video]

#16

Post by jasonwatkinspdx »

SwellJoe wrote: post #5

It's kind of fascinating, to me, that internal combustion engines won the car war for so long. Electric motors are so much simpler to build, and so much more efficient from an energy usage perspective. I understand why electric lost out (energy storage, range of vehicle), but I think it could have gone a different way had there been just a couple of nudges in the electric direction at the right time. And, what a diff…

Yeah. It's worth noting that for engines in stationary devices like fabrication tools and machinery, electric totally won. So what made the difference with cars wasn't just the engines themselves, but rather the energy storage/distribution network. Now that we have batteries that are good enough at a cheap enough price, electric is gaining fast despite a lot of cultural opposition.

Re: How to Almost Build an Engine With Only Parts From the Hardware Store [video]

#17

Post by jessaustin »

larrys wrote: post #11
noselasd wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just watched it, what in particular seemed so dangerous it would warrant so much precaution ?

Aerosol can. Spark. Gasoline.

Meh. You folks should have misspent more of your youth burning shit down. Gasoline is highly flammable, but it doesn't light without a spark. Also, the small amount of gasoline he's got in his carb will only produce so much flame. I'm glad he appears to be running this outside. I probably would have worn safety glasses, but then I only have one eye.

Re: How to Almost Build an Engine With Only Parts From the Hardware Store [video]

#18

Post by robertskmiles »

archgoon wrote: post #10
sandfox wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And this is why he has done this and you haven't :-p Though seriously, when was HN ever about health and safety?

> Though seriously, when was HN ever about health and safety? The computer version of safety is called security. And HN cares a lot about computer security.

Security, and backups.

Re: How to Almost Build an Engine With Only Parts From the Hardware Store [video]

#19

Post by WalterBright »

DanBC wrote: post #7
SwellJoe wrote: post #5

It's kind of fascinating, to me, that internal combustion engines won the car war for so long. Electric motors are so much simpler to build, and so much more efficient from an energy usage perspective. I understand why electric lost out (energy storage, range of vehicle), but I think it could have gone a different way had there been just a couple of nudges in the electric direction at the right time. And, what a diff…

It's interesting that I can make a toy electric motor by with a battery, a magnet, and some wire. While some people do make tiny internal combustion engines the work involved in incredible. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLn7xG8vuPQ ) World's smallest V12 engine: ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3KdpzL3Hkk ) Making model IC Engine valves: ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nofj1CGSCM4 )

You don't even need a magnet. I made an electric motor as a kid out of nails, wire and a battery. It worked pretty good.

But, being a boy, I wanted it to work better. So I replaced the battery with a lamp cord and plugged it in. It promptly burst into flames. Awesome!

Re: How to Almost Build an Engine With Only Parts From the Hardware Store [video]

#20

Post by speeder »

WalterBright wrote: post #19
DanBC wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's interesting that I can make a toy electric motor by with a battery, a magnet, and some wire. While some people do make tiny internal combustion engines the work involved in incredible. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLn7xG8vuPQ ) World's smallest V12 engine: ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3KdpzL3Hkk ) Making model IC Engine valves: ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nofj1CGSCM4 )

You don't even need a magnet. I made an electric motor as a kid out of nails, wire and a battery. It worked pretty good. But, being a boy, I wanted it to work better. So I replaced the battery with a lamp cord and plugged it in. It promptly burst into flames. Awesome!

Once I plugged a toy race track to the outlet (in portuguese we call it "Autorama" I dunno the name in english), I knew enough of physics to expect it to burst in flame...

But instead the car got REALLY, REALLY, REALLY fast, shoot out of the track and smashed into the wall.

Of course, I happily put a second car on it, and changed the track so that the car does not end smashed, and indeed, I could launch cars all over the place. Also as the car raced, sparks came out of the contacts with the track.

Now that I am older and know even more physics, I have no fucking idea on how I made a DC motor work only forward with a AC current.

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