Here is a list of all the postings gavin compton has made in our forums. Click on a thread name to jump to the thread.
Thread: firebox paint ? |
17/03/2016 10:20:45 |
I give them ago, repainting not a problem, it's the flaking that gets me having to clean it all off etc. Thanks Gavin |
16/03/2016 23:22:12 |
Yes I used a tin of high temp paint that claims to handle 650c yet every firing paint flakes off. |
16/03/2016 21:23:48 |
Hi All
what would people recommend for a good paint for a coal fire firebox ?? paint i used last just greys up and flakes off??
thanks Gavin |
Thread: Wood for boilers |
29/02/2016 19:19:58 |
Posted by fizzy on 29/02/2016 19:18:19:
go look at bnq range of special wood edging, they do what you will need i never thought of that ! thanks Gavin |
29/02/2016 19:14:22 |
Hi all does anyone know where i can buy ready made wood lagging planks for my boiler?? i have not got stuff to cut my own so need to buy ready made.
thanks gavin Edited By gavin compton on 29/02/2016 19:19:22 |
Thread: vertial boiler water feed problems |
29/02/2016 11:13:10 |
Hi all Ok I tried again and boiler primed again.so I blocked water inlet with rubber tube.once boiler got 10-15psi I can remove the water plug and boiler won't prime. Any ideas? I also noted the check valve does not have a spring in. I believed from some drawings I seen that there should be?. Any advice? Thanks Gavin. PS what a good safety valve? My simple spring and ball one works but fails on shut off lol |
26/02/2016 16:57:55 |
hi all checked the clack valve it didnt rattle so opened it up dumped it in sonic cleaner put it back togeather now its rattling away. also pump wasnt rattling either so did the same ,so now i got 2 rattles ready to be reinstalled. would it be best to add a shut off inline while it all apart ??
thanks Gavin Edited By gavin compton on 26/02/2016 17:04:17 |
26/02/2016 09:00:35 |
HI thanks for the reply. the boiler does "prime" it self you can hear the water feed "sucking" when tank almost emety. i be removing the boiler clack valve today to be checking it and the pump too. think i might order some more pipe and a inline 1/4 turn valve as well. thanks Gavin |
26/02/2016 08:32:55 |
Hi, thanks for the reply. the top of the tank is level with the bottom of the boiler. i have a 90C clack valve on the boiler (new valve) with 5/32" pipe to a brand new hand pump (https://maccmodels.co.uk/live-steam-fittings/water-hand-pumps/3-8-ram-5-32-pipe-free-standing-hand-water-pump-front-pipe-fitti.html to tank via 5/32" pipe again. from pump out put to clack valve is about 3" rise. so yea im at a lost. thanks Gavin |
25/02/2016 19:33:31 |
hi all bit of a werid problem (for me) i have a water tank plumbed to a little hand force water pump then to boiler with a check valve boiler fitting. i tryed steaming the boiler and found it almost impossable to raise pressure.i then noticed the water tank drained without me pumping it !!. so i blanked off the check valve and drained some water off and in 5mins or so i had the safety valve popping. so my question is should there be a shutoff valve in between boiler and pump ??? or am i doing something wrong ??
thanks gavin |
Thread: steam engine |
06/02/2016 17:47:57 |
Hi Jason its the engine that i been rebuilding think the problem is i did the slide valve up tight on rod i will give it slack and try again in few days time when i return home. thanks thats pic of the valve chest |
06/02/2016 14:09:59 |
Hi all
i trying to set up the valve timing (slide plate) with a reverser 2 forward 2 reverse and neutral. my first and main problem is non stop air from exhaust no matter where slide plate is. i tried pressure up to 100psi. i can make the piston move oneway only at very high pressures (80+ psi) i run out of air before it can then make piston return (double action piston). ATM piston is not connected to rest of model so the no binding involved and piston move my hand nice and smooth. any help in this is very very much welcome.
Gavin |
Thread: coal sizes |
03/02/2016 23:35:25 |
Thanks again for the advice, I drawn the grate in CAD ready to take to local engineering place he thinks depending on the drawings that a 10mm thick SS 316 grate cut as 3mm bars with 5/32 air gap should only cost £20-25 to water jet. So depending on price I either drill and bolt as you said or get one made. I let you know. Gavin |
03/02/2016 19:59:24 |
Thanks for reply. Few more questions if you will, what's best way to make the grate? I was thinking of just drilling and bolting all together or braising it up other than that maybe getting one water jetted?
Thanks Gavin |
Thread: Engine rebuild |
02/02/2016 13:31:08 |
tell me about it. it took more hours than i care to remember to carfully remove it all ,i would like to say i got 100% of it....... but it passed a unforseen drop from bench to floor i bent one of the legs but it all stayed togeather. note to self stop dropping things! lol i just waiting for the paint to harden then i can do the (hopefully) last rebuild. pictures will be uploaded later today Gavin |
01/02/2016 17:55:51 |
Hi all, well it been awhile since I last updated on the rebuild. I had a major set back in that a pipe from front cylinder drain was leaking badly so I decided to seal it the problem was two fold first the pipe solder wasn't "sticking" to the cylinder body, so it was just sitting in place,secondly the home made tap wouldn't seal so I decided to replace the tap with small globe valve and new pipes. The problem well turns out it was all soft soldered so soon as I got enough heat to solder the pipe it all came undone! So took me a few days to clean up all parts and silver solder it all back together then replaced the drains and finally finish off the cylinder. I also machined the new flywheel painted and ready to fit. I will upload some photos after work tomorrow Gavin |
Thread: coal sizes |
31/01/2016 21:51:04 |
Posted by julian atkins on 31/01/2016 21:34:51: hi gavin, for the size of your boiler i would use 3mm stainless strip with 5/32" gaps in between. i would buy anthracite beans to start with. if you are very lucky you will get old stock from 'Tower' that is soft anthracite. i wouldnt buy grains, but if you want to try some ive 3/4 ton of anthracite grains. cheers, julian Edited By julian atkins on 31/01/2016 21:35:28
3/4 ton ! that's a lot of coal. could I ask why you wouldn't buy grains ? .by looks of things it looking like either would work but it depends on the boiler?. gavin |
31/01/2016 15:39:42 |
thanks all for replys what size air gap and firebars would you recommend for grains ??? thanks all gavin |
31/01/2016 13:43:09 |
ok thanks i notice there are all sorts of "sizes" Eg beans,grains etc but so far i not found any info to as what they are in terms of mm,cm etc. i was thinking of making the grate with 5-6mm gap so say if firedoor is 40mm long 30mm high would beans fit ?
thanks Gavin |
31/01/2016 12:11:20 |
Hi all i got my self a vertial coal fired boiler ,only missing the grate so i need to make one but my question is coal what size coal can/should be used in a firebox roughly 108mm dia 100mm high (bottom of grate to firetubes) its a 29 tube at 8mm each boiler is 250mm long all copper with phos bronse bushes. hopfully that enought info to help thanks Gavin |
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