Search found 150 matches

by Steam Captain
Mon Feb 22, 2021 7:49 am
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Metal packing vs. stuffing box
Replies: 13
Views: 7423

Re: Metal packing vs. stuffing box

So, Many use teflon now, but "both" variants are used after all - chord and machined rings. I have experience with both from gasoline blowlamps (They either have what seems to be cotton chord packings or (I suspect) asbestos rings. Are the machined rings squeezed like the chord stuffings or are they...
by Steam Captain
Fri Feb 19, 2021 8:14 pm
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Metal packing vs. stuffing box
Replies: 13
Views: 7423

Re: Metal packing vs. stuffing box

So, I gather metal packing is more fore the non-private-sized engines. Well for sure some designs look very complex and consist of quite some pieces.

Good to know stuffing glands do the trick. But I guess they do swallow a lot of energy due to the friction, or?
by Steam Captain
Wed Feb 17, 2021 11:22 am
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Metal packing vs. stuffing box
Replies: 13
Views: 7423

Metal packing vs. stuffing box

I've found an interesting online article about the "Paxman-Lentz steam engine". https://www.paxmanhistory.org.uk/paxlentz.htm It explains in detail the working principle of the metal ring packing you can find in big steam engines. They are like piston rings around the piston rod and held in place by...
by Steam Captain
Wed Feb 17, 2021 10:51 am
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Theory question: Pressure/temperature limits
Replies: 28
Views: 13274

Re: Theory question: Pressure/temperature limits

I actually got sick from stick welding. It was nasty. Like heavy cramps, nausea and smelling the metal in the nose for days. Strange enough, the more I weld, the less it affects me. But whenever there was a break of at least 2-3 months, it hit hard the first time I weld again. FINALLY, I've come to ...
by Steam Captain
Tue Feb 16, 2021 12:59 pm
Forum: Technical - non Engines and Boilers
Topic: Steam Atomizing Burner
Replies: 12
Views: 10694

Re: Steam Atomizing Burner

I really love the design. Boiling free stuff is a neat idea. Here in the land of poets and inventors, getting free frying oil or engine oil is getting harder and harder, as folks get money for recycling it (which is good for the economy/people and environment. But not for my secret plans :D ) Btw I ...
by Steam Captain
Tue Feb 16, 2021 12:30 pm
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Theory question: Pressure/temperature limits
Replies: 28
Views: 13274

Re: Theory question: Pressure/temperature limits

I am still amazed by the occurrence. There was a massive metal fire on a scrap yard in the port of a city I lived in in the past and half the city was carpeted with "poker room thick" smoke. It was advised to shut the windows and not to run around outside. (If you ever got welding fever, you know me...
by Steam Captain
Sat Feb 13, 2021 2:02 pm
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Theory question: Pressure/temperature limits
Replies: 28
Views: 13274

Re: Theory question: Pressure/temperature limits

Yes, for the boiler tubes to have burned, they must have gotten meltingly hot so to speak. I've burned steel like that in my forge when I began forging, but the metal must already be glowing almost white. That shouldn't be possible in a boiler, even if the tubes are empty. But if they reached red ho...
by Steam Captain
Fri Feb 12, 2021 11:45 am
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Barn find
Replies: 5
Views: 3166

Re: Barn find

Interesting the stepped Stevenson gear. The gear is used for the rough setup and the governor provides for the fine-tuning.
by Steam Captain
Fri Feb 12, 2021 5:37 am
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Theory question: Pressure/temperature limits
Replies: 28
Views: 13274

Re: Theory question: Pressure/temperature limits

Bart, your poetic words put pictures of link gears and glistening spring waters in my mind. I have literally never heard of a superheater ending up being a metal fire. That's some chemical reaction. It reminds me of a german experimental locomotive. As is tradition in Germany :D , it was over-engine...
by Steam Captain
Thu Feb 11, 2021 12:23 pm
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Theory question: Pressure/temperature limits
Replies: 28
Views: 13274

Theory question: Pressure/temperature limits

Hello, Doing the never-ending researches, I've been wondering how much pressure and temperature a reciprocating steam engine could actually work with. I remember watching the Jay Leno's Garage videos about his White, Doble and Stanley steamers and I was actually surprised how much pressure/temperatu...