Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

The Jenson heater blanket was a no-go, too long - so I got some 120w heater cartridges but she isn't making enough steam with the two installed.  The tank & sight glass fittings have been giving me fits too.  Seems when I had to re-solder the lower fitting back on, I compromised the front of the tank's seam.  That took like 3~4 tries to get the front seam sealed and not having the bottom sight glass fitting fall out on me.  Before my last try, when the bottom sight glass fitting came off, I did throw the darn thing in the waste basket.  I was so pissed at myself.  After a smoke break I decided to try it one more time... best I can tell no water/steam coming out around the front of the tank.

So the 120w heater cartridges.  There is almost enough steam made to get her to go, its right on the edge I think.  I used some flex metal stripping that I had to wrap around the two cartridges but I am thinking it isn't working enough to spread out the heat (I did think to myself that it looked dodgy).  @komet163b suggest baling wire in another thread, so I am going to get some from Lowes.  Some of that wire that is for hanging very heavy items (like large mirrors), perhaps I can get a good wrap and it will form a nice fit under the tank (and on the iron plate).

If the baling wire doesn't work I am pretty sure I will kick it over my back yard's fence and say a number of curse words.