Post by CTGull on May 30, 2020 13:53:47 GMT -5
HERE IS THE LATEST VERSION, 3.5 YEARS LATER. LATEST STEAM TRAP
Nearly 5 years ago I built my steam generator from a Mr. Coffee Cappuccino machine. I paid $20 for it on sale at Target, normally $30. I threw out everything except for the basic machine, attached 3 feet of 1/2" automotive fuel line and a ball inflation needle with (2) hose clamps. It works, but it tends to put too much water in the joint, the water boils inside the machine and some tends to get blown out with the steam. It has some adjustment but it's pretty much full on or no steam, with a very small band of reduced steam. Full on puts way too much water in the joint. It's very difficult to get it adjusted as low as possible but still have some steam coming out.
Recently I've read about adding a steam trap, which catches the water that is pushed thru the line, and only allows dry steam to pass thru the hose to the guitar. Dry steam will reduce finish blushing, and saturating & possibly distorting the wood with from the clamping pressure of the neck jig.
I had saved a few salsa jars. They're glass with a metal top and seemed great to put stain or chemicals in. In this case hot water & steam. So I went to the local hardware store in search of the fittings I thought I needed. Which I couldn't find. So I worked with their local expert and we came up with a few brass pipe fittings that would work.
The 1/2" fuel line has a 1/4" ID, so I need a 1/4" barb fitting. in screwed into a square 1/8" NPT street elbow. The square version is needed to have flat surface to clamp against for the jar top. The male part of the elbow goes thru the jar lide and uses a 1/4"NPT to 1/8"NPT bushing to provide the tightening force. A 3/8" flat washer is on the inside and outside of the jar to take up the space since a tapered thread can only be tightened so much. I made the holes in the jar lid with a 1/2" step drill, taped at the 13/32" (.406") step. The step drill made perfect size burr free holes.
I assembled it to figure out how to orient the fittings and hoses, since they will need to be rigid. Then I took it all apart and added clear silicone calk between every layer. And left it to cure over night. I made a couple pieces of 2x4 with a 3-3/8" diameter hole cut & sanded into them, to hold the jar in place. They nest in the pocket in the base of the machine.
This morning I put water it the machine and fired it up. It worked as expected. Dry steam, probably 90% of the water stayed in the jar. The only slight problem is there was a small steam leak around the input hose/fittings. I'm thinking I didn't tighten the hose clamp enough, which I did later after everything cooled down.
The steam feels cool from 4" away, but is quite hot an inch or so away. I'm hoping it's not too dry. I wonder if the 40-50 year old hide glue needs more moisture to loosen, especially between the face of the heel and the side of the guitar. Do I need to redesign it with a bypass switch to allow wet steam thru? I have another identical cappuccino machine that I haven't tested. I found it at Goodwill for $4! Do I set that up and have it ready to use if needed? Or tee off the input line with a valve to get wet steam if needed? I guess I'll have to try it to know.
Figuring the length of hose required.
The step drill. Using the Stew Mac guitar vise to hold the lid.
The tools.
Assembled.
First test. I ran it for about 10 minutes. It didn't explode!
Stored on the shelf next to the hot hide glue pot.
Nearly 5 years ago I built my steam generator from a Mr. Coffee Cappuccino machine. I paid $20 for it on sale at Target, normally $30. I threw out everything except for the basic machine, attached 3 feet of 1/2" automotive fuel line and a ball inflation needle with (2) hose clamps. It works, but it tends to put too much water in the joint, the water boils inside the machine and some tends to get blown out with the steam. It has some adjustment but it's pretty much full on or no steam, with a very small band of reduced steam. Full on puts way too much water in the joint. It's very difficult to get it adjusted as low as possible but still have some steam coming out.
Recently I've read about adding a steam trap, which catches the water that is pushed thru the line, and only allows dry steam to pass thru the hose to the guitar. Dry steam will reduce finish blushing, and saturating & possibly distorting the wood with from the clamping pressure of the neck jig.
I had saved a few salsa jars. They're glass with a metal top and seemed great to put stain or chemicals in. In this case hot water & steam. So I went to the local hardware store in search of the fittings I thought I needed. Which I couldn't find. So I worked with their local expert and we came up with a few brass pipe fittings that would work.
The 1/2" fuel line has a 1/4" ID, so I need a 1/4" barb fitting. in screwed into a square 1/8" NPT street elbow. The square version is needed to have flat surface to clamp against for the jar top. The male part of the elbow goes thru the jar lide and uses a 1/4"NPT to 1/8"NPT bushing to provide the tightening force. A 3/8" flat washer is on the inside and outside of the jar to take up the space since a tapered thread can only be tightened so much. I made the holes in the jar lid with a 1/2" step drill, taped at the 13/32" (.406") step. The step drill made perfect size burr free holes.
I assembled it to figure out how to orient the fittings and hoses, since they will need to be rigid. Then I took it all apart and added clear silicone calk between every layer. And left it to cure over night. I made a couple pieces of 2x4 with a 3-3/8" diameter hole cut & sanded into them, to hold the jar in place. They nest in the pocket in the base of the machine.
This morning I put water it the machine and fired it up. It worked as expected. Dry steam, probably 90% of the water stayed in the jar. The only slight problem is there was a small steam leak around the input hose/fittings. I'm thinking I didn't tighten the hose clamp enough, which I did later after everything cooled down.
The steam feels cool from 4" away, but is quite hot an inch or so away. I'm hoping it's not too dry. I wonder if the 40-50 year old hide glue needs more moisture to loosen, especially between the face of the heel and the side of the guitar. Do I need to redesign it with a bypass switch to allow wet steam thru? I have another identical cappuccino machine that I haven't tested. I found it at Goodwill for $4! Do I set that up and have it ready to use if needed? Or tee off the input line with a valve to get wet steam if needed? I guess I'll have to try it to know.
Figuring the length of hose required.
The step drill. Using the Stew Mac guitar vise to hold the lid.
The tools.
Assembled.
First test. I ran it for about 10 minutes. It didn't explode!
Stored on the shelf next to the hot hide glue pot.
