Project:SteamRollerSkate

A hybrid steam engine/steamroller/rollerskate built around a victorian style boot.

Features

• Mill-style steam engine
  • Boiler and furnace live inside the boot, with a hinged grille on the heel providing access to the furnace.
  • Furnace fuelled by hexamine tablet
  • Furnace and boiler made of two tin cans brazed together.
  • If possible, enclose assembly in a slightly larger can with rockwool nested between the two to protect the boot from the heat. If there's no room for a larger can, just stuff the boot with rockwool.
    • For combined thermal, protective and flame-retardant properties, nomex racing socks might be ideal (and cheap) insulation.

• Combine water inlet with close-fitted weighted cap as safety valve?

• Moving parts live outside the boot.

• Front wheel will be a single roller, connected by forks to the chassis.
  • Ideally would attach the fork to chassis with a skate-style "truck".
  • Failing that, allow the forks to turn freely and feed a central spoke through the upper of the boot to a steering wheel.

• Back wheels would be fixed to a central shaft and driven by the mill.

• Add a whistle (such as this one) which can be activated by pulling on laces?

Progress

I've also picked a likely engine design (mounted upside down). The bulk of that is about 5" tall which is a good fit to the outside of the boot I ordered (I think).

The boots arrived, but the colour isn't as described and is a bit off-theme for what I have in mind. More importantly, while a bean tin *just* fits, it makes for a rather "fat ankle" and a bigger boot size would be better. However, the boot isn't essential at this stage and I think I should just proceed with making (most if not all of) an Elmer's #32 for now and keep an eye out for a cheap and suitable boot in the meantime.

The Next Step...

Pick up the necessary brass/steel/aluminium stock needed to build the engine, and start getting to grips with machining.