Search found 245 matches
- Fri Sep 18, 2020 10:41 am
- Forum: Sales and Trade
- Topic: WANTED: Boiler for 16' Steam Launch
- Replies: 3
- Views: 6226
Re: WANTED: Boiler for 16' Steam Launch
Given that you're an SBA member now, give Kevin Slater a call: as SBA President currently, AND owner of a boilermaking company, he has lots of contacts, and may be able to suggest something. Incidentally, I think his waiting list for new boilers runs to something like 2 years.
- Fri Aug 28, 2020 8:52 am
- Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
- Topic: Electrically fired Boilers?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 8271
Re: Electrically fired Boilers?
There's nothing wrong with being slightly bonkers: steam involves eccentrics everywhere! Conventional domestic immersion heaters are not designed to take any significant pressure, and I don't know what would happen if they were subjected to it. However, if you ran one through a 1:1 isolation transfo...
- Wed Aug 12, 2020 7:17 am
- Forum: General Steamboat stuff
- Topic: Counter-clockwise Drill bits
- Replies: 22
- Views: 13889
Re: Counter-clockwise Drill bits
Going back to the original posting and request, drill-service.co.uk do a range of specialist drill bits including left-handers. I'm doubtful whether they'll have reduced shank versions, and some lathe or grinder work may be called for if you really need that, though a reducing adapter may be easier,...
- Wed Jul 22, 2020 5:24 pm
- Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
- Topic: Machinest Question
- Replies: 15
- Views: 9586
Re: Machinest Question
Don't try and use hand taps for this: they may fatigue and break off with that many to do. As Bart says, though, with a machine tap, which will probably have spiral flutes, it's a doddle. Getting the tap etc. properly at right angles to the work piece is harder (for some reason) than with a hand tap...
- Sat Jul 18, 2020 4:02 pm
- Forum: General Steamboat stuff
- Topic: Flying a (steaming) kite
- Replies: 41
- Views: 25292
Re: Flying a (steaming) kite
In my view, go with Swagelok Fittings, very reliable fittings. Agreed. Anyone who has done one of the approved swagelok courses on their fittings ought to agree as well. They are a form of compression fitting though, so is there some let-out clause for using them in boilers? There probably ought to...
- Fri Jun 19, 2020 3:29 pm
- Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
- Topic: Viability of brazing a tubesheet?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 8794
Re: Viability of brazing a tubesheet?
I haven't done it myself, but model locomotive builders often use brazing for their boilers, and they tell me that getting everything hot enough is really rather difficult, even on boilers for the smaller models. I've done a fair bit of vacuum brazing of industrial pieceparts, and that makes a lovel...
- Tue Dec 31, 2019 10:43 am
- Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
- Topic: VFT tube leak
- Replies: 54
- Views: 52091
Re: VFT tube leak
Don't be afraid to experiment. But don't go blowing yourself up! Surely the second half of that line can be reversed when politicians are the experimenters? Willingale Tubes are possibly the main suppliers of finished boiler tubes in the UK, and they go to great lengths with their tube bending syst...
- Thu Dec 19, 2019 11:18 am
- Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
- Topic: VFT tube leak
- Replies: 54
- Views: 52091
Re: VFT tube leak
Wicksteeds (https://wicksteed.com/wicksteed-products/tube-expanders/) make a big range of tube expanders, and while they aren't cheap, you only normally need one for a boiler, and compared with the cost of a new boiler they're not expensive at all. There must be a comparable manufacturer in the US w...
- Fri Nov 15, 2019 9:57 am
- Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
- Topic: Cylinder Sleeves
- Replies: 5
- Views: 5923
Re: Cylinder Sleeves
With aluminium it is SOMETIMES possible to convert its surface into a hard anodised layer, which is wear resistant and can be suitable as a cylinder surface, but not all grades of alloy will allow good strong anodising, and in any case finding someone to do it properly may be more difficult and expe...
- Sat Sep 14, 2019 2:16 pm
- Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
- Topic: And Now for the Twin
- Replies: 159
- Views: 413904
Re: And Now for the Twin
Now you've got all those stresses to either get rid of or live with. I recommend marinading the welded unit in something which will produce a thin organic film on the steel, having dissolved a bit of grease beforehand. Something around a 4% v/v solution of methanol in pure water would do. If need be...