[Steam-engine] Hard water & soft plug

[Richard Strobel]

Ok Jeff thanks...it's a small boat anchor :-))

Inspector is scheduled for Thursday..if he doesn't mind, I'll take pix's.

RickinMt.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "JEFF LUND" <lundmachineworks at yahoo.com>
To: "Steam-engine mailing list" <steam-engine at lists.stationary-engine.com>
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2005 11:04 AM
Subject: Re: [Steam-engine] Hard water & soft plug


> If your  fusible plug does not say "ASME" on it it can
> not be used. 
> 
> 
> 
> --- Andy glines <pioneersop96 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> > 
> > 
> > --- 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
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
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> 
> 
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