Just wondering what product you all are using to seal boiler wash out plugs & how successful they are.
Looking for a product that does not harden to concrete.

DBH

Why not just use regular automotive, Permatex, anti-seize compound? It comes in a large jar with a brush.

First of all. I assume you are talking about tapered threads. Rectorseal has a high temperature sealant with PTFE. Teflon tape works as well.

For the square thread plugs you need a good copper gasket and some anti seize on the threads.

Graphite powder mixed with valve oil to form a paste.

dave

Slic-tite works good. It hardens, but not as hard as concrete. Gasoila doesn't work.

The best sealant is excellent condition threads on both the plug and the sheet.

A traditional sealant is fine flake graphite and steam oil mixed to a consistency of a paste. I think the primary function is that this reduces the friction of the threads allowing the plug and sheet to be run together harder or maybe it actually fills the holes. A problem with this is that the graphite will fill the root of the threads after a while so careful cleaning of the threads is necessary each time the plug is reinstalled.

A good quality non-hardening steam rated pipe dope works well because, well, it is for sealing threads. It is essential that the threads be clean before assembly of the joint. And of course be sure the threads are in good condition.

Thanks for all the Info. We may try the graphite & valve oil. Just have to weigh our options.

DBH

We switched from a pipe sealant and Teflon tape to steam oil and graphite a few years ago and have never looked back.

Taylor

If there's anybody on this list not making a good cleaning and inspection of the threads an integral part of the washout procedure, now is the time to put it in. It didn't occur to me that anybody might not be doing that. Also please do remember to breathe..........

dave

Yep Dave, always clean the threads on the plug & the boiler. We are using brass plugs because we had leaking problems with steel ones. We machined the plugs in our machine shop.

Dave Huffman

We just put plugs in our engines a couple weeks back. Someone mentioned using brass plugs and I believe they are superior to using steel since the threads are softer. At both steam railroads I've worked for, we made a point to keep the plugs wrapped in a towel and to replace them in the same holes they came out of.

As everyone has mentioned, clean the threads on the plug and then wrap it a couple of times with thread tape. We also use some Key-Tite to help make the seal. Just smear a little over the tape once they've been wrapped. You might also take a tap to clean the threads on the boiler if you want to get extra grit out.

I'm interested in the graphite and valve oil, I might try that on one of the easy to reach plugs, but we have enough Key-Tite to last 10 years.

John, we numbered all our plugs & have a container with numbered holes for each plug. There is a there is a line drawing with all the plugs listed. This has worked well for us.

Dave Huffman

Plugs machined from STEAM BRONZE ( not brass) show better service than steel plugs because bronze expands more than the steel boiler sheets they are installed into, Not because they have softer threads to be deforemed when installed too tight.

You are correct Gary, I will have to check, ours may be bronze but they sure look like brass.
DBH