Boiler Lagging-wood strip sanding jig

[clifforddward]

Finally got a chance to complete the lagging on the Topaz boiler.  First photo shows lagging partially complete and shows the Kaowool insulation mentioned by Sandy in his post above....this should provide plenty of heat protection for the pear wood strips. 

Double sided tape was wrapped over the Kaowool as a means to hold the pre-finished wood strips prior to installation of brass boiler bands.  Seems to do a nice job of holding everything in place during construction.

I used a tung oil marine finish product from Waterlox here in the states on the wood...good penetration and with the included drying agents a good hard finish is obtained.  I plan to use the same finish on the rest of Topaz.  Time will tell how it holds up.

Regards,
Cliff

[crash93]

Hi cliff where is your steam takeoff to the engine mine is via the chimney is yours via the steam dome?

Peter

[clifforddward]

Hi Peter:
Yes, my steam line for the engine comes out from the base of the chimney...actually the superheater coil is at the base of the smokebox area, then a fitting at the base of the chimney for the engine steam take off line to connect to.....I think this is standard MH&B practice for the Topaz boiler.  I had the steam take off line disconnected in order to make it easier to install the wood lagging.
Regards,
Cliff

[crash93]

Thanks for that , I could not see the pipe, I'm not a fan of it, but Brian assured me that was the way he had always done them. how old is your topaz kit? and your boiler looks really good must start mine at some point.

peter

[clifforddward]

I bought my Topaz second hand in unstarted condition....an abandoned project from the original purchaser shortly after he bought the kit new from MH&B....which was around August or September 2007 I think.

Regards,
Cliff

[crash93]

I was about to buy one when they changed some of the timber to ply But I spotted one un started on ebay and got it for very little less engine and boiler. as I had an engine i just ordered a boiler and tanks, I also got hold of an Opel the same way un touched and had the engine so ordered a boiler for that as well must start that one as well as soon as the present projects are finished

peter

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's.....Cliff ...that is a very nice snap of your lagged Topaz boiler ...& I see the Monahan boiler in the distance

I have posted a question to Nick [Monahan] & hope to resolve my quandry....regards

[Monahan Steam Models Inc.]

Hi Derek,

We have not had the mentioned discoloration issues with the sealer or the wood that we currently use for our boiler lagging. With that said, we are seeing an internal chimney temp on average between 400-500 degrees F during operation. Neither the paint nor the lagging seem to be suffering from the heat. A similar trial and error process we used to locate a durable sealer for the lagging was used for locating a durable paint. We tried about 30 different manufacturers for the paint before arriving at the one we use now. All the other paint manufacturers promised us to have a durable paint but in the end they all failed.

I don't remember off the top of my head, what the brand name is for the sealer that we currently use for the lagging, and unfortunately I am not at the shop currently so I can not look simply look at the label either. I do agree however that certain wood and sealer combinations will react differently to different environments and through trial and error finding the right balance can be achieved.

Regards,

Nick

[GreeboTheCat]

I was about to buy one when they changed some of the timber to ply But I spotted one un started on ebay and got it for very little less engine and boiler. as I had an engine i just ordered a boiler and tanks, I also got hold of an Opel the same way un touched and had the engine so ordered a boiler for that as well must start that one as well as soon as the present projects are finished

peter

I feel like saying "you lucky b****r",    I've been browsing Ebay for months now and not seen a single kit that interested me. What's your secret? Am I looking in the wrong place? 

Greebo

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's & thanks Nick for the comments.....HOWEVER Moritz asked why anyone would wooden lag a gas tank........so talking on line as we do .......

Here is the experiment ...with two layers of woven glass self adhesive webbing to the gas tank & then trialed with the same 5 x1 Ramin timber planks & secured with Sandy's THICK ca glue

Appears to hold OK....so will progress with Decoys boiler  in due course

Oh BTW...if anyone needs an empty disposable gas tank with partial wooden lagging....cheaper to make one yourself than to post this from OZ 

[Monahan Steam Models Inc.]

The gas tank looks really good Derek!

Great Job!

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's ...after a few weeks of    & ...have finally added the 5 x1 Ramin timber planks & secured with Sandy's THICK ca glue  lagging to the boiler ...WITH two layers of glass mesh as the first insulation

The new boiler bands will be L shaped to hide the ..... mess ...but we are still progressing...regards Derek

[Eddy Matthews]

How are you going to roll "L" shaped bands to fit around the boiler Derek?

Regards
Eddy

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's..... ...machine them from bronze hollow bar Eddy