Gauge glass blowdowns

[ukjimoo]

Hi all

On my recently finished traction engine, i have a gauge glass assembly which i bought from Blackgates. Its the simple type with just a blowdown valve.
I bought it to save myself some time and i think it cost a fair few quids too.
I know wish i had made one myself because when i open the blowdown, steam makes its way along the thread of the handle and bites my fingers. This is due to the absence of any form of gland.
I think i will have to try and rework it incorporating some type of gland but wonder if it may be wiser to just start from scratch
Has anyone else had this problem and found a solution to it?

Thanks in advance for any help
Jim

[John Lee]

Wear a glove; its advisable around hot bits anyway. Add some pfte tape around the threads to seal them up a bit, or quite a lot, or indeed do both.

Water gauges as bought do not usually have gland packing, you could make one with, but it could be a rather clumsy fitting depending on scale.

Do the same to your blowdown valve(s) too.

Regards,

John

[Shawki Shlemon]

May be a little bit out of line but it would be advisable to be captive as well so it can not be completely removed, for safety reasons .Now in OZ this is a requirement .

[ron]

Hi Jim
The Stuart Turner gauge columns have a plug valve on the blowdown which if it's lapped in and adjusted properly works well, but you still need to wear a glove or use a bit of rag unless you have asbestos fingers!
Ron

[ukjimoo]

Thanks Guys

I tried some ptfe tape and it worked a treat. I still like the idea of the gloves though, especially in the event of the glass breaking.
The only gloves that spring to mind are leather welding / engineering / garding gloves but i think these would all be too clumsey around small controls. Can anyone recommend a type of glove?

Jim

[greasemonkey]

Get yourself a pair of TIG welders gloves. They are made from thin supple leather.

Andy

[John Lee]

Or RAF type pilots gloves, you can feel through them and they fit snugly, but save a burn or two