Glr vertical boiler

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Posted by Stub Mandrel on 30/12/2012 21:34:24:

As LBSC's legendary "Boss White" appears not to be available any more, I use PTFE tape.

Neil

Hi Neil,

Boss White is still widely available, I'd be surprised if Plumb Center don't have it but, Homebase certainly do,

Best regards

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 30/12/2012 22:40:01

Edited By Terryd on 30/12/2012 22:41:10

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I use loctite pipe seal, it contains teflon, the number has slipped my mind, 5**, it's white, and non retaining, does the job of teflon tape, but better. Ian S C

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

Thanks guys for info on thread sealing.

Martin, thanks for reply, noticed on my thread I was not specific enough, what I should have said was firebox and foundation ring.

As regards removing tubes my first thought was to get a hacksaw blade down and cut through solder but they are at an angle making it impossible to get a clear safe cut.

I think I will try getting a fine flame down the two tubes and hope it loosens the solder without dislodging the rest.

Talk about baptism of fire!

I am learning the hard way that doing a simple single joint is fairly easy providing the basic rules are applied, but seqential soldering brings a whole host of additional problems. Much the same as I found when I first started lathework a couple of years ago (after a gap of about 50 years from my apprenticeship) sticking a piece of bar in the chuck and turning was almost second nature even after all that time but what I had forgotten was planning the right sequence to make sure you did not get to the stage where you could not actually hold the job for the final operation.

All about experience of course, I have found in life that the more you learn the more you realise how little you know.

Dunc how are you getting on with yours?

Bill D.

[HomeUseParticipant @homeuse]

Boss White is still available (as is a Blue version [potable]) from builders/plumbers merchants

[DismalduncParticipant @dismaldunc]

Hi Chaps, thanks agiain for allthe advice, Adams boiler/engine setup looks the business. So I've at least made a start.. Here is the tubes and firebox from the bottom (the fact that it has no firebox door may seem a little odd, but seeing as its going to be gas fired and it was my first attempt I thought I would follow the sdvice in the wee book and just mage a "dummy" door).

Here is the foundation ring which has couple of bits where the solder has not flowed correctly (i think it did flow but the gap was too large, so it did "tin" both edged but fell through the hole. I have since given the side a bit of a tap and will try again when my solder/bigger burner arrives from cup).

I made rings of solder for the tubes and cut little lengths for the rim. You can see the small ridges to stop the tubes falling through. I had to put them on the inside as did not leave enough lenght to fit through the plate (whoops!) this means the water section will be about 3mm shorter than it should be.

and finally the top tube plate waiting to be soldered when the solder arrives (i've run out) you can see where some solder I applied by had went into a tube and ran its full length (a waste of expensive metal)

Edited By Dismaldunc on 31/12/2012 15:44:02

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

Looks good Dunc, you are at about the same stage as mine but with a bit more success than me at the moment by the looks of it.

Bill D.

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Well blow me down Terry, I had never seen it and assumed it was some sort of lead compound, and long banned!

£4.99 for a lifetime supply, and suitable for steam up to 7 bar – over 100psi.

Neil

[DismalduncParticipant @dismaldunc]

Aargh! Trying to solder the top tube plate , put loads of flux, solder rings around and the tubes and short lengths of solder tucked in the flux all around the outside. I made a little hutch in the brazing hearth ,heated it from the outside a till all the solder melted and disappeared. The tubes all look fine but half of the circumference of the outside is not sealed, so I fluxed it again and tried again but still the same result….. Help !!!!

[DismalduncParticipant @dismaldunc]

well I think I've got to the bottom of why this is suddenly a lot harder….. owing to me having the typing skills of a baby elephant wearing boxing gloves I ordered 449 solder instead of 455 not only does it melt at a higher temp, it also costs more I. hearby award myself the "Order of Numpty class 1" (bows and retires)

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

Hi Dunc. I had the same problems with the firebox and foundation ring, erratic melting, mine not due to different solder though (455) just erratic skills I think.

One thing I am still trying to get used to is the time it takes for the solder to melt, just as I am beginning to think it never will, it suddenly goes.

Getting to your stage in next day or so.

Bill D.

[Philip NichollsParticipant @philipnicholls59756]

hello all.

I just got my kit yesterday which i intend to start soon. it will also be my first boiler and i have found this topic very useful

i had one thought though and thought i would run it past you. with the top gun metal casting it is hard to machine in the lathe with the raised flanges. i wondered if it would be better to turn the casting in the lathe to get a good finish and then solder new flanges on

[Author]

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