How To Make A Steam Engine With Pictures

Note that for this paint can (and the other one you’ll use), you’ll want to ensure that the can contained only latex-based paint and that it has been thoroughly washed with soap and water before use.

These ventilation holes should ideally be about 2⁄5 inch (1. 0 cm) in diameter.

The skewer and dowel rod will act as the “piston” when the engine is running. To make the motion of the piston easier to see, you might want to attach a small paper “flag” to the top. [2] X Research source

You can speed up the burning process by using a hair dryer to blow through the ventilation holes.

Also, be sure that the steam is able to escape from the upper “boiler”. If the piston becomes stuck for some reason, pressure can build up inside the small can. In a worst case scenario, this can cause the can to explode, which can be very dangerous.