Unique Setup for a McCabe Flanger

ted101 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 17, 2012 5:24 pm **Posts:** 79

The PRR T1 Trust posted a picture of forming their throat sheet on a McCabe Flanger. I was impressed with the setup. Can anyone explain exactly what is going on here? I have never seen this much support for anything being flanged.

jayrod · **Posted:** Thu Dec 16, 2021 4:07 pm

My guess: Looks like they have a jig suspended from a chain fall so they can rotate the sheet around the head of the flanger.

Dennis Storzek · **Posted:** Thu Dec 16, 2021 4:34 pm

... With the pivot point established in the frame that holds the sheet.

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:13 pm

Is that cold flanging?

Bob Milhaupt steamy · **Joined:** Sun Jul 22, 2018 2:03 pm **Posts:** 65

In the last 10 or so years, the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) cold-flange both a front tube-sheet patch and a firebox corner patch. No heat was applied during the flanging process.

Yes, the T-1 group is likely using thicker boiler plate on account of a higher MAWP, so the McCabe will have to work a bit harder than IRM experienced. During one of those jobs at IRM, I vaguely recall Tom Schneider (Steam Department Curator) stating that the McCabe is capable of flanging 3/4" boiler plate.

mldeets · **Joined:** Thu Aug 05, 2010 2:06 am **Posts:** 411

I haven't done anything patently dumb in the last week so I'll take a SWAG at the picture. It looks to me like they have set up a way to keep the radius of the area being flanged constant rather than having only to rely on markings on the sheet. The opinion is worth only what you've paid for it & I have no personal interest (beyond curiosity) in the project.......mld