[Steam-engine] Grates

[mark]

Many engineers around here, including myself, use pipe or tube grates. 
It's common to take old boiler tubes, smash the ends down with a sledge, 
then tack weld the ends together, usually in pairs. This makes nice air 
holes in the grates. It's a quick and very cost effective way to get 
grates in an engine. Don't be affraid to burn coal, we burn both wood 
and hot coal fires without problem. I've had the same set of tubegrates 
in my engine for 4 years now with no problems. It's true they wont' last 
the long (20-50 years) time cast grates will but they dont' cost nearly as 
much either.

Mark




On Wed, 27 Oct 2004, 
Jeff Smith wrote:

> Dan depending on the engine brand, Cattail foundary
> has new ones in stock.  Also, a friend of mine has
> heavy railroad track upside down with air hole torched
> in them and they have lasted for years.  I have even
> seen an engine with heavy walled pipe, but they only
> burned wood, coal would eat them into pieces.
> 
> Jeff Smith
> 
> --- Dan Donaldson <ddonaldson at tampatank.com> wrote:
> 
> >     Has anyone ever had to replace grates because
> > that were burned out or missing?  Can they be recast
> > by using another set as a pattern or can they be
> > fabricated out of steel?
> > 
> > Dan Donaldson
> > _______________________________________________
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