Smokebox front ring for Tich ???

Hi ...

I am slowly getting closer to completing my large boilered Tich ... but I am not sure about the following as it is not mentioned in LSBC Tich book

I am not clear what is the best way to fix the front brass smokebox door ring in place.

Is it OK to use soft solder paste to fix it in place ... or do I need to silver solder it and thus cause the copper tube to be annealed??

I don't really fancy using rivets ( and sealant) as I know that I will get some of the rivets out of line and mess up the looks!

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Cheers Mike

You could use unslotted round head screws with the nuts inside, quite a common way to do it on traction engines

Mike,

Soft solder is definitely out because the smokebox gets really hot.

I am assuming it is the 3 1/2" gauge version? I have heard one or two descriptions suggesting it is a push fit and or held with screws or rivets.

It is fairly common practice on locos of this size to make the door ring as a tight push fit into the smokebox tube. It can then be removed and refitted easily to allow access to the pipework. Since it has to be turned to a reasonably good fit anyway, this is probably the simplest method.

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From LBSC instructions for 'Netta'

Mike - just checked the Rob Roy book and it suggests a 'nice hand push fit'. It says that it is nice to be able to remove the whole ring and door to allow better access for tube sweeping and suggests you turn the outside of the ring very carefully to give the desired fit.

Phil H

It does actually say "tight push fit" in the Tich book, page 179, though it is perhaps not clear that no other fixing is required.

My large boiler tich - the front ring is just a push-in. I did it in my bench vice, blocks of wood, and slowly pressed it in, lots of measuring to ensure that it was going in straight.

It hasn't moved since the 1980s, doubt if it will now!

If you want the security of rivets, place them with the heads inside the smokebox and lightly countersink on the outside. With a bit of filing they won't be visible so alignment doesn't matter too much.