Wood cladding for boiler

[charlie fParticipant @charlief]

I am at the stage to thermal clad my 3" vertical boiler On top of this I plan to use some wooden strips secured with brass bands. how thick should I make the strips. I was thinking 1/16 0r 3/32 x 1/4.. Is this about right.

[charlie fParticipant @charlief]

[Martin Field 1Participant @martinfield1]

Charles, that would be and look ideal. I'd go for the thicker of the two just for strength. Mahogany traditionally. You can get t from model shops as strip or sheet to rip down on your mini circular saw. What my old boss would call a brass bound b***ery box!

Martin

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Charles,

1/32" x 1/4" or 20g brass bands will be fine on a 3" diameter boiler, I also use 1/32" or 1/16" cork sheet as used for model railway underlay makes good insulation. the standard approach and size for 3 1/2"gauge locomotives . Mantua models sells 1/16 mahogany sheet, ideal for cutting into 1/4" wide strips

Regards Ray

Edited By Ray Wood 2 on 11/09/2018 18:19:25

[Martin Field 1Participant @martinfield1]

For the brass bands, yes, but I was referring to the wood strips.

Martin

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

I have used 1mm x 5mm planks in the past and I have used 2mm x 5mm. There are no rules but just be aware that the thicker the staves the wider the gap will appear on the outside. I have used mahogany and even pine, again just what you think looks good. I have never bothered with additional insulation underneath the staves as it makes for a much bulkier boiler and isn't really necessary in a model boiler, which usually has bare open ends anyway.

[Tim RoweParticipant @timrowe83142]

There is no need to have gaps on the outside if you bevel the edges of each stave like you would with planking. I prefer to use slightly thicker because it is a bit more robust for handling and later clamping with the brass band. It also gives a little bit of a sanding allowance which can be useful if there is slight misalignment or variations in thickness.

I agree with Richard about leaving out the insulation on a small boiler.

Tim

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

As Tim rightly says the staves can be chamfered to close the gaps, as indeed real life installations are, however I have not thought the gaps have been unsightly enough to merit the work on any of the model boilers I have done.

 

Edited By Richard Simpson on 16/12/2018 10:27:02

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