Sealant or gasket material

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

beam engine

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

I have now got to the stage with Stewart Hart's beam engine to do a final assembly and test it on compressed air. I am asking the experts here what they would suggest to use on the joints that need to be gas tight. I have checked in the workshop and found tubes of both " Red and Golden Hermetite", also a tube of "Red Hylotyte" ( which I assume is a clone of the Hermetite ). I also have a tin of "Boss White" in my plumbing kit. Does anyone here have a preference, or would they suggest something else?

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

If I remember rightly Boss White was rated for steam plumbing

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

I would use blue hylomar and brown paper or for thicker gaskets cornflake box. Mainly as I have it ! Golden hermetite is from memory like the hylomar. Both are nonsetting so easy to part if the need arises ! Noel.

[Jim NicParticipant @jimnic]

I run my engines on air without any seal between joints. I would suggest you also do this for the initial runnings so that if a strip down is required you don't have the problem of cleaning gasket gack off the faces. You may also be lucky and find that the engine doesn't leak air at the relatively low pessures you will hopefully need and you can leave it gasket free.

Jim

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Like Jim I test run all my engines without gaskets, piston rings/packing or gland packing. Once happy with how they run they get painted and if I feel like sealing surfaces which I don't always then I tend to use a liquid silicon gasket as it does not add any noticeable thickness to the joints and throw the alignment out. You could get away with DIY silicon or a small tube of auto gasket from the likes of Halfords or e-bay.

Although there is nothing to really leak out when air running you can find a bit of oil works it's way out of any slight gaps after a while.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Jason please don’t use diy silicone it’s full of acid, use automotive gasket silicone it’s chemistry is different no corrosive elements.

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