CALKING FLUES.
Q. In case the boiler flues become leaky, can they be tightened?
A. Yes, by the use of a tool called an “expander,” which is generally kept in stock by the boiler manufacturer.
Prosser’s Spring Expander.
Q. Can an unskilled person expand and tighten the flues of his boiler without the aid of an expert or boiler maker?
A. Yes, if he is careful and follows these instructions, viz:
First clean the ends of the flues and flue sheet of all dirt, soot and cinders, and place the expander within the leaky flue, being careful to have the shoulder of the tool well against the head and end of flue. Now, with a light hammer drive in the taper expanding pin and after two or three blows of the hammer, jar the pin out, turn the expander a little and drive in pin as before, removing the pin and turning expander again until a full turn has been made.
Great care must be taken in expanding flues not to expand them so hard as to stretch or enlarge the hole containing flue in the flue sheet, thereby loosening the adjoining flue. After all the loose flues have been carefully expanded, take the beading tool and place the long or guide end within the flue, then with the aid of a light hammer the ends of flues can be gradually beaded or calked against the flue sheet, rendering them perfectly tight. With a little practice, a careful man can do a neat job of calking, thereby avoiding loss of time and expense in being obliged to call a boiler maker. An expander and calking tools should be among the tools of every engineer, as many little leaks that may occur in a steam boiler, although they may not be dangerous, give it a bad appearance and should be calked and stopped by the engineer.