Kinetic Steam Works

Edwardian Ball & KSW: January 20-21, 2012

JMJ — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:26:21 +0000

2011 KSW Roll Out! November 12th, Noon to 10PM.

JMJ — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 06:17:43 +0000

Kinetic Steam Works’ annual Roll Out event is coming up! Saturday, November 12th, from Noon to 10PM, come celebrate this autumnal steamy spectacular with us. There will be plenty of cottony cloud soft steam, food, beer/wine, a silent auction, mechanical entertainments mammoth and bijou, craft vendors, and a magnificent musical lineup including Lord Loves A Working Man, Beso Negro, Sour Mash Hug Band, Shovelman, and others. Kinetic art and attractions include several wood fired steam engines including all 9-tons of “Hortense,” KSW’s lovingly restored 1923 traction engine, the Pumpkin Guillotine returns, steam powered abominable snow cones, Jon Sarriugarte & Kyrsten Mate’s “Serpent Twins,” Justin Gray’s jet-turbine powered “Robot Charlie,” Ben Cowden’s “Gathering” and “A Gentle Tugand,” and much more. We invite you to come on down and celebrate, you’ll be supporting Kinetic Steam Works, a unique nonprofit organization. $10 to $100 sliding scale. Kids under 12 get in free (they must be accompanied by an adult), the family rate is $20. Location Info: 2525 Mandela Parkway, Oakland, CA, 94607.

Hortense rehab, hot and heavy (well, heavy anyway)

Troye Welch — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 04:53:31 +0000

Travis, Nick and Justin working on Hortense

Everything about steam is heavy and Hortense is no exception. Here it takes teamwork to tear the working gear down so that the eccentric and strap for the Woolf valve gear (for variable steam cutoff –analogous to a “throttle”) can be built up and turned down. We hope to have her up and running for the 2012 Rollout. Come join us on Wednesday nights to get in on the action!

The Best Show – Harvest Spectacular 2011 (July 1-3)

Troye Welch — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 04:30:12 +0000

Sparks shoot from the stack of the 110 horsepower Best steam traction engine (Photo by Troye Welch)

While some of the weekend was spent in 100 degree sweltering heat, the group did get some time to cool off and enjoy some of the sights and sounds. Here, the Best traction engine is facing off with Pappy, throwing sparks (sawdust thrown into a stoked, raging firebox) to the night sky

KSW goes back to Chico for Threshing Bee

Troye Welch — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:30:27 +0000

Pappy wows the crowd again at Chico 2011

KSW had a relatively relaxing weekend at Patrick Ranch for the June 2011 Threshing Bee. This was the first time we had run Pappy since we re-poured the main (babbitt) bearings and replaced the main crank shaft, so we were taking it easy while they broke in.

KSW at Maker Faire! May 21st-22nd.

JMJ — Mon, 16 May 2011 21:21:57 +0000

Photo by Scott Beale / Laughing Squid, CC license. ”Maker Faire” banner is the property of Maker Faire.

Yes, it’s that time of year! Maker Faire is upon us once again. Come for the steam geekery, stay for the steam turbine and strawberry scented steam filled churros. We’ll be there running our steam driven line-shaft, 7-tons of Buffalo Springfield Steam Roller (c. 1924), a true classic in steam technology, and of course KSW’s own “Hortense” will be on the scene! Saturday – May 21st, 2011 from 10am – 8pm / Sunday – May 22nd, 2011 from 10am – 6pm. TICKETS & INFO. Location details are HERE.

Getting ready for the next big thing

Troye Welch — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:54:08 +0000

We decided we needed a half shaft to speed up the RPMs to get this old belt-driven centrifugal pump of Dick’s to work well enough with Stephen’s sculpture for Thursday’s event

KSW to perform at the Railroad Revival Tour

Troye Welch — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:39:21 +0000

KSW will join Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, and Old Crow Medicine Show in Oakland next Thursday, April 21st for the kickoff of their sold-out tour. Steam and awesome music! What could be better?

KSW Hosts Obscura Day

Troye Welch — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 05:00:31 +0000

Some of the throng that descended upon 2525 over the weekend

A good time was had by all as free Hendrick’s Gin and cocktails was dispensed along with a good dose of steam theory and a hands on demonstration of boiler, engine, water pump and water sculpture (not shown here) 9 April 2011

KSW makes a strong showing at Roots of Motive Power

Troye Welch — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 05:22:17 +0000

Aubrey and John lubricate the governor before startup

KSW members made up a third of the 2011 Roots of Motive Power Steam Engineering and Operating Safety Class, which was bursting at the seams with new faces and enthusiasm. Here, Aubrey and John Selfridge prepare an engine for its first steamup in a while.