I would be more concerned with the surrounding material integrity if the Teflon is 'outgassing' ... a significant component being elemental fluorine.

.

The local hardware store has the thicker yellow Teflon tape for gas pipe. A steam plant that I worked at 40 years ago used the heck out of nickel anti-seize on threaded joints and gaskets. Each boiler had 44 hand hole gaskets that we had to renew every year, it made it a lot easier than when we used oil and graphite on the gaskets. I wouldn't use the soft Teflon sheet gasket material to make steam flange gaskets. A water hammer event will blow them out from between the flanges. I guess there was learning curve after they outlawed asbestos.

Tom Hamilton

Had experience trying to use that Harbor Freight type Teflon tape last summer while trying to seal a small leak. Truly a lesson in futility. Was under the impression good Teflon tape was ok to use just keep it off the first 1/8" or so of the starting threads to avoid the stringy thing from happening? We used it years ago on steam and air lines and do not recall having troubles with it. In industry we used it in places on hydraulic lines but not much as most fittings did not need that kind of application. Mostly on pipe fitting transitional type applications. But that was many years ago too. Think a lot of people have had trouble with the tape because of the cheap thin stuff which is useless for sure as Kelly mentions.

The anti seize brush on dope I did not like as it worked for anti seize but often did not seal stubborn connections. Would love to find the dope that did both well. Bet Harbor Freight sells some of that too. Not trying to pick on HF, but I think when buying materials for industrial use one might want to shop else where for some things.

Congrats on the progress on the #28, need to sneak up there this spring/summer. Will call first if off season. Regards, John.

Regards, John.

Harbor Freight is a very useful place to make projects happen by providing cheap things you only need to use for a bit to get through a job. Long term, not so much.... but why pay SnapOn prices for a wrench you have to cut the handle off and whack with a hammer to get that one lousy bolt loose in that hard to reach corner?

There are graphite based pipe joint compounds that also do a good job of anti-seizing out there through McMaster and no doubt from other sources as well. Good quality teflon tape is also available, but be prepared to pay what it costs for the quality you need. For air piping, teflon based pipe dope like Rector Seal works well.

Agree Dave on HF tools. Heck I just bought big wrenches 15/16 through 2" and did not buy what I would of liked too. As often as I use those bigger wrenches the quality I got should work fine. Not the cheapest but certainly not snap on or Armstrong USA. I need to order some of the pipe dope you mention. Like the wrenches I may not need it often but when I do I want it to work. Seldom had to do a pipe joint twice for leaks, but this last summer I was getting pissed off because the over extending of my body in weird positions. Not to mention the dirty grimy area. Next to last FRA inspection and we wanted no leaks period and was running out of time and patience. Nothing critical but frustrating as all get out. Felt kind of inept after two trys and still leaking joints. 45-50 lbs of air pressure, shouldn't of been so hard to fix! Quality tape matters!

How you coming with that 2-6-2? Would like to hear the dirty details sometime.

Regards, John.

Blowdown valves were packed up today for a trip to Colorado and rebuilding

Another Update:
https://www.facebook.com/northshorescen ... 0627936984

Check valves have been reinstalled


This is my new project, wire wheeling the super heater tubes in preparation for hydro testing

What is the bypass line around the check valve body for?

That bypass line is probably a heater line, to allow a little steam into the delivery pipe and keep the whole works from freezing. That engine ran/runs in Minnesota, don'tcha know.

Howard P.

New tongue & groove on the fireman's side of the cab

Cab has been painted, throttle re-installed and new windows painted and in place:
https://www.facebook.com/northshorescen ... 7989717914