Topic: boiler lagging (Read 12980 times)

logoman · « **on:** February 21, 2009, 03:16:08 pm »

Most boilers are lagged with mahogany, and the Martin Howes & Bayliss boilers are lagged with a different lighter coloured wood.
What timber is appropriate or authentic for boiler lagging?

Proteus · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2009, 03:38:50 pm »

Its up to what you want MHB use Pear but have a sheet of ceramic blanket in between the planks and boiler, to protect the wood and keep heat in.

Proteus

bwmarks · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2009, 03:46:51 pm »

Is wood lagging really needed? Mine fell off and I don't know if I should replace it or not.

Proteus · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2009, 04:05:50 pm »

can save a bad burn ..

you just get a burn...

Proteus

Bunkerbarge · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2009, 04:12:59 pm »

...plus it's all wasted heat and therefore wasted gas which is also affecting the surrounding model, possibly leading to warping of structures etc. More of a problem in an enclosed model but I would definately say that lagging is essential.

John W E · « **Reply #5 on:** February 21, 2009, 04:13:24 pm »

hi there

Yes your lagging is required around your boiler and pipework - one of its main jobs is to increase the efficiency of the boiler and pipework - by slowing down the heat escape from your boiler into the atmosphere. So, if you do not have any lagging around your boiler/pipeworks you will be making your burner work extra hard, a lot more than it should do to maintain the same temperature and pressure in your boiler.

As a side note, on real ships in the olden days, when I was a lad serving me time, they used to use Asbestos on the main ship's boilers - it was in the form of a blanket - a bit like modern day loft insulation and they used to use chicken wire to hold it in place around the boiler. Over the top of the chicken wire they used to plaster a polyfilla/asbestos tape over the top. Over a period of time it used to go as hard as the hobs of hell.

Obviously they will use an alternative these days

but, I am sure that on a lot of vessels such as the Windermere Open Launches, they tend to use wood lagging around the boiler but I think this is mainly to cover up an asbestos lagging underneath the timber and also to make the boiler look pretty.

aye
john e
bluebird

logoman · « **Reply #6 on:** February 21, 2009, 04:28:39 pm »

I was thinking fo teak to match the decking,

John W E · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2009, 04:36:21 pm »

Hi there Logoman

Teak has a natural oil in it, so, a bit of experiment with heat - before you actual log your boiler with it, would be adviseable

hate to see the vapours from the teak oil burst into flames

very much doubt it, but, you never know in this world.

aye
john e
bluebird

logoman · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2009, 06:41:28 pm »

catch fire! that sounds a bit unlikely to me too.

Proteus · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2009, 07:50:29 pm »

Take it from some one who has actually lagged a boiler with teak it wont burst in to flames, it just changes colour as the wood dries , but will stain a bit , there are Prob more vapourse in the adhesives that we use and they are not a problem , most good steam loco suppliers such as Polly / Bruce eng or Maidston eng sell the material it is not dear and easy to use the 1/8 is what MHB uses and they normally use thin doublesided tape, the stuff without padding to hold it just a thin strip at each end untill plank over the top or put a brass wraper as in the Der sea Cadet, the tape will become useless the first time you fire and its just to hold the blanket while you plank,

Proteus

logoman · « **Reply #10 on:** February 22, 2009, 12:29:55 am »

The staining sounds a bit dissapointing, could it have been prevented by sealing it with something?

Proteus · « **Reply #11 on:** February 22, 2009, 12:48:25 am »

It may have been the oil in the wood did not like the amount of heat, most people tend to use mahogany or cherry , I was given a tip by Brian Martin put the wood in the oven for a bit to pr shrink it before fitting that way you don't get gaps opening up, I have see a lot of Topazes and they always seem to be stain free on the cladding, but they use ceramic matting 2mm thick.

just heat some up to test,

Proteus

http://www.pollymodelengineering.co.uk/
http://www.pollymodelengineering.co.uk/sections/bruce-engineering/materials.asp
Boiler Lagging
High temperature (1200 deg C) ceramic matting in 2mm or 3mm thickness, cut length to your requirement.

kno3 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2009, 01:27:04 am »

Walnut looks good on boiler too.

logoman · « **Reply #13 on:** February 22, 2009, 09:38:45 am »

Thanks for the advice Proteus, testing in the oven is definitely a good idea. I've bought some 10mm & 7mm planking from that seller on ebay.de.
The boiler I'm lagging is a Stuart SH4.

Kno3 - do you have any pictures of Walnut lagging? I love that timber, and I'll use it at some point.

kno3 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 22, 2009, 10:51:57 am »

Sure. This is my Wilesco engine (in an early stage, it's been modified since), but the wood is the same: walnut.

knoby · « **Reply #15 on:** February 22, 2009, 11:33:04 am »

yes, I love the look of the walnut, never would have thought to use that. But me thinks i found the wood for the new boiler
thankns kn03
glenn

kno3 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 22, 2009, 12:40:59 pm »

Which is?

knoby · « **Reply #17 on:** February 22, 2009, 12:46:41 pm »

which is this old thing once i have given it a overhaul. the boiler is from am old steam yacht that unfortunatley didnt survive a car crash, but ive peressure tested it & all seems fine.

knoby · « **Reply #18 on:** February 22, 2009, 12:49:02 pm »

opps helps if i add the photo (derrrrrrr). im going to post a thread on fitting the steam plant in this boat soon, but i am a little short on time at the moment so it may be a bit of a drawn out project
cheers Glenn

kno3 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 22, 2009, 01:45:46 pm »

The engine looks nice, but what happened to the boiler? Seems scorched?

knoby · « **Reply #20 on:** February 22, 2009, 02:01:56 pm »

the last inch of the boiler is a 'smoke box' that contains the super heater. this gets quite hot.the scorching is a combination of insufficient lagging, the oil running down the chimney, & old age. this boiler is at least 20 years old & has been fired many many times. also i just 'shoved the wood back on to take the pics so the planks are not necessarily in their original positions.
hopefully i will get it right with the re-furb & the problem will diminish.
Glenn

kno3 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 22, 2009, 02:26:10 pm »

I see, then it would be an idea to only lag the water-containing part of the boiler, not the smokebox.

steamboatmodel · « **Reply #22 on:** February 22, 2009, 04:38:33 pm »

I would use the insulating material under the lagging, and double insulate the smoke box.
Regards,
Gerald

logoman · « **Reply #23 on:** February 22, 2009, 04:48:47 pm »

The walnut is lovely, the mahogany I have on my boilers seems to dull very quickly, probably a result of the heat.
that restoration project looks good Knoby, looking forward to seeing more of that. I'd like to put some pictures of my own project up, but I had my camera stolen a few weeks back, and haven't brought myself to buy another yet.

knoby · « **Reply #24 on:** February 23, 2009, 11:55:38 pm »

Thanks Gerald, that was my thought too. I am going to start a thread on this boat soon, as i have read several threads on other projects & the 'mayhemers' comments are very useful in stopping mistakes I'm making.
Unfortunately i have another project on the go at the moment so i fear progress on the conversion will be a little slow, which makes me hesitant to start the thread.

this is the 'other project' ahhhhhhhhhh help!!!

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Author Topic: boiler lagging (Read 12980 times)

logoman

Proteus

bwmarks

Proteus

Bunkerbarge

logoman

logoman

Proteus

logoman

Proteus

kno3

logoman

kno3

knoby

kno3

knoby

knoby

kno3

knoby

kno3

steamboatmodel

logoman

knoby