R. D. 6, Trenton, Missouri
It is a well known fact that a boiler in constant use and with
good care will last a lot longer than a boiler used a short time
each year and then left without special care.
Our hobby steam engines will not last long if our boilers are
destroyed by carelessness.
There are different ways of protecting the inside of the boiler.
In my long experience with steam boilers I have had good results by
using powdered graphite and steam cylinder oil. About one half
pound of graphite and about one quart of steam cylinder oil poured
into the boiler when cold, above the water line. The cylinder oil
and graphite are not mixed before putting into the boiler. This
quantity to be used for a 20hp. boiler. This should be done once a
week or whenever a boiler is washed. This process has given me good
results in my 40 years experience with boilers.
Graphite in a boiler has a mechanical action, not chemical, and
it really gets behind the scale and sticks to the plates which
gives you the protection needed.
The U. S. Graphite Company, Saginaw, Mich., sells a boiler
graphite at a very reasonable price.
Another method of preventing corrosion is to use an oil spray on
the inside of the boiler. Remove wash out plates and plugs and have
the boiler thoroughly dry. The spray method can only be used when
the boiler is not to be used for a considerable time.
There will be steam engine men who disagree with me on the
practice of using oil in a boiler, but experience is generally a
pretty good test.
