Aquarium pumps may not do the job; not enough pressure. Air brush compressors will run most small engines but may cycle frequently depending upon the size of the engine and the size of the air receiver. I know guys who use the mini to fill an air tank of some sort so they can run quite a while….

Pete

Many auto parts stores sell air tanks to transport air to locations without compressors. Anywhere from about 2 gallons to 5 gallons size.

Air brushes are very nice to have when painting models.

Pete

Auto parts stores also sell small compressors for inflating car wheels.

Hi Mark,

I too use an air brush compressor for running my small oscillators. If your oscillator has little friction they don't need much pressure to run. For a simple to make low-pressure boiler see here.

Thor

There are two ttypes of airbrush compressor, the piston type which produces high pressure but low volume and the diaphragm type which produces larger volume but lower pressure.

This second type is better for small engines.

On my Reeves Master engine, I made an inlet 'manifold' using a schrader tyre valve body as the inlet connector, silver soldered into a brass block. It runs well off a compressor, but will also run (less evenly!) using a bicycle pump .

Martin

I have a small medical compressor(30psi) that works well on small steam engines, it won't handle a Stuart Turner S9, double acting 1 1/2" x ! 1/2". For a quick test run I have a 5L garden spray pump, and that will run any of my little wobblers.

Being a cheapskate I've used a car tyre foot pump with a plastic lemonade bottle as receiver to turn a small engine. Make two nozzles to fit through the bottle cap and connect between pump and engine with aquarium tubing. Cheap and cheerful and you get a real sense of how much work you have to do to keep a even small engine running.

I've not managed to burst a bottle yet. Blood vessels yes – exercise isn't my thing!

Dave