Vertical Boiler Fittings

Thanks Jason.

Well, back at it, then. No other option!

Will probably grind back that overhang first, as per advice offered elsewhere.

Edited By gary.a.ayres on 11/07/2018 07:28:05

You will find that once red hot, adding a bit of fresh silver solder will help the existing lump to melt.

Neil

Hi Neil -

Useful to know; thanks.

I'll grind it back first, then bear in mind what you say when I'm silver soldering.

gary

Well, for reasons which I can't quite figure out I had a struggle with my torches but somehow managed to get the joint looking good.

I *think* the boiler may now be intact but am unable to test it as I sheared off the end of my pressure gauge adaptor when I was tightening it! I'll have to make another one but am going away for a couple of weeks on Saturday so it may have to wait until I get back.

Frustration...!

At last!

Successful hydro test today! The boiler is now sorted.

Away for a couple of weeks then on to the next step, which I understand should be another hydraulic test at 1.5 WP with all fittings in situ.

Many thanks for your fantastic help so far - it is truly appreciated.

Following an initial cleanup with files, Scotch-Brite and steel wool:

gary

Hi -

progress has been slow as I've been away and the hot weather has distracted me from the workshop.

However, I have just taken the black paint off all my fittings with acetone in favour of an all-brass look, and have made a start with Loctite threadlocker. My first experience with the stuff, but it does inspire confidence I have to say.

One slight issue faces me before I can go on to the second hydro test: way back when I was silver soldering in my bushes, I left brass blanking plugs (connected by a steel strip) in the two water gauge bushes in an attempt to keep them parallel. In my inexperience I didn't realise that the brass would be prone to melt, but the plug in the top bush did so. I had to drill it out and for reasons I can't now remember I ended up having to drill and tap it 5/16 instead of 1/4. I then made a threaded sleeve to reduce it back down to 1/4. This seemed ok, but tonight the sleeve sheared when I was trying it out. The upshot is that I'll have to make another one. I'm not overly worried about this as I'm pretty sure that with the Loctite it will be fine, but it's all more time of course...

Will keep chipping away and will post significant developments.

BTW you guys have been very kind and I'd like to return the courtesy by reading some more of your threads about your own work. It doesn't seem too easy to search for threads by author (am I missing something?), so if any of you would like to post a link here to your own favourite threads or just name them so I can search for them I'd be very grateful.

Cheers,

gary

You may be better with a Loctite pipe joint sealer rather than a thread locker, if nothing else it will be easier to take fittings off at a later date rather than risk leaving part in the threaded bush.

Thanks Jason.

It's Loctite 2400 'threadlocker' that I'm using. On the packet it says 'designed for the locking of threaded components which require disassembly with standard hand tools'.

Do you feel that a pipe joint sealer would still be better?

gary

Gary

Loctite 5770 is what you need

**LINK**

Pete

Edited By Doubletop on 08/08/2018 11:39:22

Thanks Pete - will look into this.

gary

Hi again Jason and Pete -

Loctite 5770 appears to be pretty much unavailable in the UK as far as I can see.

However, Loctite 577 does seem to be available. Here it is:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Loctite-Thread-Sealant-Strength-Genuine/dp/B00XLPMOPK

It looks the same to me - maybe they just knocked the 0 off the end of the number...

Do you think this is the one?

Don't want to harrass you with silly or obvious questions but I'd rather make sure that I'm on the right track at this point than muck things up later.

Thanks,

gary

Edited By gary.a.ayres on 08/08/2018 23:29:58

Edited By gary.a.ayres on 08/08/2018 23:31:31

Gary

Loctite 577 is nothing at all like 5770 I'm afraid. Just check the spec sheets. If Amazon UK doesn't have it Amazon.com does.

These days you should always look for alternative offshore suppliers regardless of where they are in the world. You'd be surprised what difference there is on pricing regardless of any shipping and duty that may be incurred. I'm in NZ but buy my stuff from UK, Aus, China and the US. Unfortunately for NZ suppliers they are generally at the end of the list when it comes to value added goods.

Pete

Pete -

great advice on sourcing materials. I need to go wider!

Meanwhile, I noticed that in another thread you recommend Loctite 592 and in the same thread someone else suggests 574.

How do you feel these compare with 5770?

Am happy to order 5770 from the USA but before doing so would value your opinion on this.

Many thanks,

gary

Grant

I could not be considered a loctite expert, by any stretch. The numbering system appears chaotic so assuming anything with a similar number will be a similar product will be incorrect. As you have also found some products appear to be available in some locations but not in others. Some products referenced by you guys in the UK aren't available in here NZ. At one point I was of the opinion that the same product had different numbers in different locations.

You are looking for a product to seal a fitting into a bush in your boiler so a pipe thread sealant would seem appropriate. 567 is/was generally used but it is low strength and 592 looks like it is a replacment for 567. However, I stumbled across 5770 recently and it is medium strength and fittings stay where you put them without the need for a back nut. Its high temp and high pressure. The tube I have says “for use with steam” (or something similar, my tube is on loan) so it would seem the most appropriate.

Again, I suggest reading the spec sheets. They are all in a similar style so comparisons can be made although detailed analysis can turn out to be a bit confusing.

Pete

Pete -

very grateful to you for taking the time to help me with this - it's much appreciated and very helpful.

Glad it's not just me who finds the Loctite numbering system 'challenging'!

From what you have said I'll most likely order a tube of 5770 from the USA.

Many thanks,

gary

Or an alternative that is available in the UK? This stuff may be a possibility.

Thank you Sir!

Worth considering.

I'm also quite tempted by this, which I noticed was recommended on another forum...