<P>494 will be getting a new jacket this season. Display will be outside for the immediate future. Long term plans call for sheltered display. My question is: Is it better to seal the seams of the new jacket with silicone or similar material to prevent moisture entering or is it better not to on the theory that less sealing promotes air flow? Asbestos is gone and will be replaced with styrofoam or possibly pressure treated. Thanks.<br>




wrj494@aol.com

<P>have you considered not putting back on a jacket? With the boiler painted basic black, 99%+ people will be satisified - (can't please everyone). No worries about traping mosture - and - easy assess if required for future restoration test, etc.<br>




lundquist@sdrm.org

<P>Not replaceing the jacketing does provide an easy soulution. If you do replace it, you just need to have someting under it to serv as a spacer. Wood will work, but it too will rot. Another option that I have heard about is to use PVC pipe cut in half. It will not ro and will not trap moisture against the boiler. As long as there is plenty of room for air to circulate under the jacketing, I would not worry about trying to make it water tight, it will be a losing battle. Drain holes along the bottom of the jacketing will allow any water that gets in to drain out.<br>




amjm@indra.com

<P>All good points. Just make sure that whatever you use does not absorb water and hold it against the boiler shell. Spacers can be a fair distance apart and still look fine from the outside, but you might use a heavier gauge of sheet metal for the jacket in that case than the original (meaning what you removed).<br>




rdgoldfede@ao;.com