Building a Boiler for a 3 1/2" Gauge Locomotive

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sbwhart:
StewThanks

David/Tim/Graham/Jack

Jack

I will be doing a hydrostatic test myself before I submit the boiler to the inspector, the reason I havn't done the test is the gauges I have are of unknown quality (they followed me home) and I don't know if they are working correctly, so I could end up testing at far too high a pressure and cause damage to the boiler, the club inspector is going to test them against his calibrated gauge which I'm waiting for him to do this before I do the test.

If you are going to source your own material for a boiler jmake shure its of the correct thickness with the correct fastor of safety for the working pressure of the boiler and that any tube is of seamless type.

Cheers

Bernd:
Stew,

Very nice build and write up.

I'd like to add something of interest here at this point since it's time to check the boiler for leaks. I don't mean to hi-jack the thread, so I'll make it short.

A net search,some past reading, and having been a memember of a live steam club, has got me to understand what goes into testing a pressure vessel. There are acutally two tests. The so called "hydrostactic" test can't be preformed at home, or maybe it can. Reason I say this is because a hdrostaic test has the pressure vessel in a tank of water. The pressure vessel is then brought up to whatever the pressure it needs to be and the displacement of the water is shown on a gauge. For more info on this go and do a wikipedia search on hydrostact test.

The other test is, I believe just called, a static test where the pressure vessel is filled with a fluid and checked for leaks. I couldn't find anything in Wiki for that.

If this subject is going to get carried on beyound Stews build here, please start another thread to disscuss the merits of this subject.

Now I return you to Stew's boiler build.

Carry on Stew. :ddb:

Bernd

Brass_Machine:
Nice job Stew. Great write up too!

:headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

Eric

NickG:
Excellent Stew :ddb:
Bernd,

I believe the only tests required or our Boilers are hydraulic test - (correct me if I'm wrong Stew) water pumped into boiler to 1.5 times working pressure (probably around 120psi for Stew's) it's got to hold that for a set amount of time which a certain permissible drop in pressure. Then there's the steam test, really to check all fittings and mainly that the safety valves can release sufficient steam such that the pressure won't rise a certain amount over working pressure with the blower fully on.

I think these are done every year, the boiler has to come out of the frames every 4 years (not 100% sure on that, think it's changed recently.)

Cheers,

Nick

madjackghengis:
Hi Stew, thanks for clearing that up for me, I've read about such testing of boilers for decades, but never had to deal with such a thing myself, in my own line. I think your boiler looks like it should hold up very well to all the tests, I can't say I've ever seen a better job on structural soldering, and your log shows all the work you've done along the way to make sure everything is in its proper place. I'm really looking forward to the day you show the video of it steaming, and driving an engine. You have truly done a "definitive build, particularly having had the problem with door/fitting interferance, and the remaking of the parts that caused problems. The refit and moving of the mounts and such clearing the door yet keeping a decent looking set up, not too crowded with clutter. Fingers are crossed for this test :poke: mad jack

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