steam fittings

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

Hi guys, do i need to have a washer/gasket on a boiler fitting or just some liquid gasket type of stuff (Hylomar?)

On the other hand is it permissable to use a washer/gasket to assist orientation of a fitting.

Bill D.

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

[Paul LousickParticipant @paullousick59116]

What type of boiler fitting ? Bolted flange, Taper thread, Parallel thread with flange, ?? (photo always helps)

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Most of the suppliers of boiler fittings also sell soft copper washers in various thicknesses which are what is generally used to get the orientation of small parallel threaded fittings where you want them

[Paul LousickParticipant @paullousick59116]

If copper washers are hard, soften them by heating to a dull red and quench in water (different to steel which hardens)

[Nigel BennettParticipant @nigelbennett69913]

Loctite 542.

Occasionally I have had to have a fitting tighten fully into its correct orientation and it has been a case either making the fitting so it does just that (by skimming the joining face on the fitting), or else turning up a washer of the correct thickness. You have to work the thickness out (or how much to skim off) by using the thread pitch and "angle the fitting needs to turn" formula.

Say you have a 32TPI fitting; if you tighten it fully and it ends up 230 degrees beyond where you want;

You would need a thickness of 1/32" * 230/360 = 0.020" near enough.

I make my special thickness washers out of something fairly hard (usually bronze) and shove in Loctite 542 as well.

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

Yes sorry I should have been more explicit, for the orientation issue screwed fittings such as a manifold or water gauge connection, the general question of gaskets is any boiler fittings screwed or flanged, from answers I guess a screwed one use copper washer, flanged – gasket material and/or sealant?

Bill D.

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

Nigel uses the same techniques I use regarding Loctite 542 and the skimmed washers. I'm not quite the engineer he is, so I just usually pick the closest oversized one and skim it down on emery cloth. I do the calculation to select the washer though, I'm not all guesswork.

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

Thanks guys, does anybody use Hylomar or similar?

Bill D.

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

I don't, but apparently the hylomar blue is good up to 250C. I've had such good results with the loctite I'll stick with that.

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

Thanks Jon.

Bill D.

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