Hello, I need some advice. I have started to build a small stirling engine and it requires a 16mm glass test tube, I have several but they are too long so the question is how do I shorten them, they are 'Pyrex' glass which is heat resistant. I have thought about a piece of string soaked in meths and lit then plunged into cold water, would this work? Thanks in advance, Pat

I have a Stirling Engine friend in Belgium who, with his school class builds Stirling Engines each year (he's a school teacher), his method is to(gently) grip the tube in the lathe chuck, and use a Dremel with a diamond cut off wheel, run the lathe slowly, and drip water on the area being cut.

The last time I cut a test tube, I made a wooden V block to rotate the tube on, and scored the tube with a glasiers diamond glass cutter.

Ian S C

That model is one of the 'Rider Erikson' type of Stirling engine. Came as a real shock to me that the 'Erikson' was the same Erikson who designed the 'Monitor' used in the US Civil war and had a loco in the Rainhill loco trials. Quite a stunningly versatile engineer.

Regards,

Richard.

Good work Pat, if you have any troubles with your motor,bring them along, and we'll try and sort them out.

Ian S C