Had a lot of problems lately so time in the workshop has been curtailed for a while.
Next on the list is a means of firing the boiler.
TC's article suggests using Meta (solid fuel) in a custom burner tray.
Simple and easy to make and something I might try later on if I can source the tablets - (HELP PLEASE?) any help on this would be appreciated.
I would really like a rectangular ceramic burner/lpg system, but cannot afford this now.
The only other alternative is a spirit fired system with wick type burners.
Much good information and ideas gleaned from books by Stan Bray, K.N. Harris and the really old re-print booklet by G L Pearce.
I managed to locate a source of fat - candle wicks and the larger - flat (former Aladdin paraffin heater and paraffin - lamp) wick in our local ironmongers - at very good prices.
Armed with a few lengths of each type, I decided to fabricate a spirit burner.
The burner/tank is an amalgum of ideas illustrated in those books, including a modest heat - sink/finning
I silver soldered this from lengths of brass and copper tube and made a little tank - tilted slightly to keep a feed dribbling through the delivery pipe - which is cross-slit at the base of each burner using a slitting disc in my Dremel.
I made "hats" for the burner tubes, slotted to take the paraffin wicks.
I test fired the burners with meths and surgical spirit (too oily I found out!!)
The burner worked o.k. but the wicks didn't seem to trim well to provide a clean flame.
Whilst trawling the net for help, I found a reference to loco spirit burners for O and 1 gauge (American), using porous refractory material as a plug - type wick in the burner tubes.
Thermalite block as a suitable material came to mind. Light, not too crumbly and easy to cut and shape.
A trip to our local builders' yard and an explanation to a bemused foreman, and I was presented with a giant block to work on.
It cut very easily with a carpenter's saw, and I mounted an off - cut on the cross slide, supported by the tailstock drill against a "trephine" made from copper tubing to fit inside the burner tube. Teeth simply filed across the edges.
Now all I have to do is file a semi - circular step in the bottom of each "plug" and cut to length.
Will post more after further experimentation - I think it ought to work!!