Minnie boiler stays

I have taken on the task of finishing a 1" model of Minnie. The boiler has been assembled and silver soldered apart from the firebox stays. Reading the Len Mason book I get the impression that the stays are soft soldered, but I am sure that I have read that boiler inspectors now look for these to be silver soldered. Can anyone guide me as to current practice, as if I soft solder them, silver soldering will no longer be an option.

Mike

Yes silver solder them, a lot of people would probably not use the threaded stays now but instead just place 1/8" copper rivits into the holes and solder them in place (NOT forming a head on the outside)

The four corner ones would be hollow to accept the hornplate fixings

J

Edited By JasonB on 06/09/2013 18:23:16

Have you done a fair bit of boiler work before? If so then you will have no problems. If not then i would consider the threaded stays as the easier option.

If your boiler is completely finished ie backhead and foundation ring etc already fitted, silver soldering the stays may not be a simple task for someone with limited experience.

The stays would normally be silver soldered before the backhead and foundation ring are fitted.

There is no reason why anyone should fail a threaded boiler stay. Many people are still using them especially in the smaller gauges.

Edited By jason moore 1 on 07/09/2013 08:55:06

Thanks to the Jasons for their replies, I think I will go for the updated design, As the boiler was completed apart from the firebox stays when I took on the job silver soldering inside the firebox will be fiddly but I know a magician with a welding torch who is willing to do the job.

Mike