Gary, The petticoat is like a funnel--so you have the right idea. It also makes the stack work as a venturi nozzle which creates the draft to draw the fire. I thought most Asters had petti-coats? My wife used to too.
Geoff Well JR May, >This Alisan Shay has two nozzles in the smoke box. Both end about 2/3 of the >distance from the smokebox floor to the smoke stack entrance. They are both >aimed (now that I altered the aim) directly toward the stack entrance. >Perhaps a small funnel at the entrance to the stack would enhance the draft? >Gary - Running trains over Terror Trestle in Eugene, Oregon >http://www.angelfire.com/or/trainguy >http://community.webshots.com/user/raltzenthor > >I tend to work with the full size stuff, so please bear with me on this as I >am not familiar with the small scales. Anyway, do these engines have >petti-coat pipes in the smoke box? I'm thinking that maybe the exhaust is >not traveling up the stack correctly. The petti coat pipe directs the >exhaust up the stack and generally fits almost down over the exhaust nozzle. >The exhaust then can not simply blow into the smoke box area, rather it is >directed up the stack and providing the draft needed by the fire. > >Just a thought. > >----- Original Message ----- >From: Gary <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 3:44 PM >Subject: Alisan Shay > > >> A couple of questions raised by Gordon Watson's observations and >> recommendations: >> >> I have already realigned the blower nozzle so that draft does occur >(nozzle >> used to be aimed at the smokebox wall). While I could make a new exhaust >> nozzle why not either (1) simply squeeze the nozzle to a smaller opening >> with pliers or (2) fill the nozzle with solder then re-drill rather than >> make an entirely new nozzle? >> >> I would think that a free flowing exhaust would be good. But Gordon has >> helped me reason that velocity of exhaust helps create needed draft. >> Therefore shrinking the opening would create more draft by increasing >> velocity of exhaust out the stack. As an observation, the fire in the >Alisan >> Shay seems to burn noticeably better when the piston exhaust is providing >> draft than when the fire has no blower or no exhaust. If I compare the >fire >> burn when using the blower, the fire is hotter when the blower is cracked >> than more open since the draft causes a more unsteady and more yellow >flame. >> The electric or battery powered Aster blower produces a nice fire, but the >> fire is a bit better with piston exhaust draft. The fire now has a nice >long >> blue flame for the stainless steel mesh wick, and shorter blue fires for >the >> standard asbestos string wicks. I have not yet tried the new fiberglass >> wicks I bought with some other gasket supplies. >> >> After wallpaper hanging today, I will experiment with the fire a bit more. >> >> PS Gordon: To write to sslivesteam chat list use "text only" format and >send >> to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> Gary - Wishing I was steaming trains over Terror Trestle in Eugene, Oregon >
