[Steam-engine] Hard water

[Richard Strobel]

Thanks Terry..rain water makes sense and I do have several downspouts that I 
could put plastic drums under.

  I still have plans to put a water softener in the shed as I can't even 
wash the rigs w/o leaving some deposits on them.  Take a look at the base of 
my trees after the sprinklers do their thing:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/482243657/482244846XJDTtj

  But water softeners are pretty expensive and you've given me an 
alternative, problem being at this time of years, it truly might be HARD 
water, i.e. ice:-)).

   For the initial cleaning out the water deposits, I've heard of a chemical 
(?) that cleans out household water heaters.  One pours it in and leaves for 
the weekend and then does a good flush.  Anyone familiar with that product? 
I would say there's a max of 1/4" of mineral deposits on top of the lower 
tube sheet..tubes have at the max, 1/8".

  Just for fun, I've installed various hand valves for flushing,  Temp 
gauge, couple pressure's gauges to plug the holes, handvalve on top for 
bleeding air and such.

  Re: the fusible plug..work hardening much change the melting point of the 
lead fuse...interesting

again, thanks much Terry

RickinMt.








> Rick we collect rain water for the boilers here. I do believe they still 
> treat
> it, acid rain you know. I was told that the reason you change the fusable 
> plug
> is from the heating the plug goes through some work harding in the lead 
> area
> and may not melt out if needed. I found that out at steam school and was
> talking to a engine owner last week. He told me he is planning on changing 
> his
> plug every other year.
> Terry
>
> Richard Strobel 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.
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