steam line insulation ideas?

[Harlock]

I need to wrap some 5/16 steam lines in insulation, what's your favorite method for both actual working heat retention and scale looking goodness?

On another engine I have the builder used string and then spray painted the string with flat black after tightly winding it.

Some kind of insulation like 1/8" KaowooI could be cut into strips and wound around, and then covered over with tape and painted, if the tape were resistant to heat and occasional water splashes...

This is for the steam feed line for a Keim Pump. It runs from the cab to the smokebox area so it's long enough that it will help the slobbering quite a bit to insulate the line...

Best,

-Mike

[Harlock]

An interesting insulating tape: https://www.amazon.com/QWORK-Insulation ... 08R6RQR6C/

If the adhesive is as resistant to water/steam/heat as it says it is....cut into thinner strips and wrap.

[Harold_V]

I'm having more than a little trouble with the idea that it can withstand the heat from steam. Do they make mention of any maximum temperature limits? If it isn't at least 350°F I'd suggest it won't work.

H

[NP317]

I use woven fiber tapes:

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/insul ... ness~1-16/

Cut into narrow strips it is easily spiral-wrapped around small steam piping, and tied off at the start and finish with thin copper wire.
Painted black it looks good too.
RussN

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[10KPete]

That's not a back head, it's a bloomin' work of art!!!
But then, what else would be expected from you.
All the best,
Pete

[Charles T. McCullough]

I have heard of people using flat cotton shoe-string (tennis shoes/sneakers) as an insulating wrap for small pipes.

[NP317]

Pete:
Thanks! And it is really good to see you posting again. I hope you are doing well.
Hopefully we can get together again in the future. It's been a long time since my last motorcycle adventure to Marrowstone.
RussN

[ccvstmr]

I have heard of people using flat cotton shoe-string (tennis shoes/sneakers) as an insulating wrap for small pipes.

Charles...shoe laces are a good substitute for piping insulation. One has to wonder how much "insulating quality" a layer of shoe lace material might provide. Still, if it reduces condensation (even a little bit)...that's some benefit.

There's a name for the stuff (when buying shoe lace material in bulk)...but that name escapes me. Have seen shoe laces sold in lengths up to 75". Quite frankly, long-er pieces of material are difficult to work with. In my case, I started by supergluing the end the lace material to the piping and held that in place until the glue set. Continued the spiral wrap from there and glued the other end. Note...the material does tend to "bunch up" when wrapping fittings or fitting hex ends. Carl B.

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[Bill Shields]

ceramic fiber rope

mcmaster carr sells it

1/8" diameter is the smallest

3M also sells 'ceramic fiber sleeving'

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/c/advance ... -sleeving/

[Gra2472]

I like cotton twill tape from Amazon for $10 a roll.
https://www.amazon.com/Cotton-Ribbon-He ... 141&sr=8-4

[Rich_Carlstedt]

At the risk of being called a party pooper , I don't understand the painting in black ?
The wrapping we had in the boiler room I worked at years ago had white rope/string ( cotton to my knowledge)
and the more recent Die shop used White fiberglass wrap for installation on hot dies
Be aware that 'black" dissipates heat 8 times faster than "white"
You will never find a white radiator in a car
and if you are trying to reduce condensation, you may be adding to it.
Rich

[makinsmoke]

And white is the color of asbestos…