[Steam-engine] Hard water & soft plug

[Andy glines]

You're welcome.  As Jeff pointed out, you will want to
get an ASME plug.  I bought 1" plugs for $43 ea from a
local supplier.  Cici Engineering

--- Richard Strobel <Richard_Strobel7 at msn.com> wrote:

> Thank you Andy..you explained it well!!!
> 
> RickinMt.
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Andy glines" <pioneersop96 at yahoo.com>
> To: "Steam-engine mailing list"
> <steam-engine at lists.stationary-engine.com>
> Sent: Monday, October 31, 2005 7:21 AM
> Subject: Re: [Steam-engine] Hard water & soft plug
> 
> 
> > 
> > 
> > --- Richard Strobel <Richard_Strobel7 at msn.com>
> wrote:
> > 
> > >   Howdy all;
> > > Well the boiler inspector should be out sometime
> > > this week and am ready for 
> > > him.  Can't wait!!!  The fusible plug came out
> > > easily and with a little 
> > > blasting it cleaned up nicely.  Looks like 1"
> npt. 
> > > Not allowed to reuse 
> > > this, right?..if so why is that and do they need
> to
> > > be changed at an 
> > > interval?
> > > 
> > >   Out here in the sticks, we have pretty hard
> water.
> > > What is the accepted 
> > > method for treating this water to reduce mineral
> > > deposits, scale and such?
> > > 
> > > Thanks in anticipation!!
> > > 
> > > RickinMt. 
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Steam-engine mailing list
> > >
> >
>
http://www.stationary-engine.com/mailman/listinfo/steam-engine
> > > 
> > The bronze plug should be filled with pure Tin
> which
> > has a melting point of around 450 degrees F.  The
> > problem with old plugs is that the Tin oxidizes as
> a
> > result of being exposed to the extreme heat of the
> > fire.  What you end up with is a plug filled with
> Tin
> > oxide instead of Tin.  The melting point of Tin
> Oxide
> > is well in excess of 1000 degrees F meaning it
> won't
> > work.  There is no way to prevent the oxidization
> of
> > the Tin so we change the plug regularly.  For most
> of
> > us hobby guys every other year is a good schedule.
> 
> > Frequency will depend on how much you fire your
> > boiler.  We have known about this problem for a
> very
> > long time.  The Steam Boat Inspection Service
> (later
> > Coast Gaurd) requiring that soft plugs be renewed
> in
> > steam ship boilers every 6 months around the time
> of
> > WWI.  Bruce Babcock wrote an excellent article in
> > Steam Traction on this subject a couple of years
> ago. 
> > Maybe someone here can help us find it.  
> > You have already gotten some suggestions on your
> > water.  Rain water is a good idea.  Pond water can
> > work good as well.  You don't want water from
> spring
> > fed pond because the spring is the same as your
> well
> > water.  Look at the runnoff into the pond.  I
> would
> > think you want one in a grassy field.
> > 
> > Andy Glines
> > Evansville, IN


Andy Glines
Evansville, IN


		
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