www.evocationcoffee.com: artisan roaster with passion for great coffee

Boiler Insulation Where To Buy

Postby CSME9 on Sun Jan 18, 2009 12:58 pm

While looking at some internal pictures of the new Brewtus III on HB yesterday, i noticed the insulated boiler material.
Where can i obtain a similar ( or recommend a better ) SAFE easy to find insulation, do it yourself material for an Isomac TEA .

Thanks, WS
CSME9
 
Posts: 69
Joined: Jun 02, 2005
Location: EL Paso, Tx.

Postby HB on Sun Jan 18, 2009 1:05 pm

From the FAQs, see More on boiler insulation. Ian did a particularly neat job:

Image
FDA Approved 1/2" Extreme Temperature Silicone Rubber
Dan Kehn
User avatar
HB
 
Posts: 12672
Joined: Apr 29, 2005
Location: Cary, NC

Postby JohnB. on Sun Jan 18, 2009 1:10 pm

$151.00 for a 24"X24" sheet?? I'd pay a visit to Lowes & check out the foil backed pipe insulation.
LMWDP 267
User avatar
JohnB.
 
Posts: 1257
Joined: Feb 14, 2008
Location: northeastern Ct.

Postby HB on Sun Jan 18, 2009 1:20 pm

Indeed, the melamine foam is considerably less expensive, as Brad's table from the same thread shows:

Image
Dan Kehn
User avatar
HB
 
Posts: 12672
Joined: Apr 29, 2005
Location: Cary, NC

Postby mhoy on Sun Jan 18, 2009 1:57 pm

The melamine is inexpensive and easy to work with. Someone commented that the stuff is used in the Mr.Clean Magic eraser.

Here is a thread with Elektra examples.

Mark
User avatar
mhoy
 
Posts: 1094
Joined: Jan 09, 2008
Location: Sunnyvale, CA

Postby espressme on Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:13 pm

And here is another solution from another thread:
H-B thread more..
Izzo Alex boiler insulation
I haven't insulated and am just passing on the info.
Cheers
-Richard
richard penney LMWDP #090,
User avatar
espressme
 
Posts: 1346
Joined: May 31, 2006
Location: Menomonie,WI

Postby CSME9 on Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:29 pm

Think i am going to use the Melamine Foam McCaster Part 86145K21. Looks like a good compromise.

Thanks, WS
CSME9
 
Posts: 69
Joined: Jun 02, 2005
Location: EL Paso, Tx.

Postby floydo on Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:04 pm

My search was to insulate a steam boiler. After looking at various hard to acquire foam and foil combination materials that would handle the temperatures, I found polyester batting at the local fabric store in various thicknesses, as well as a inner foil laminated thin version that was used to make hot mitts. This material is good to >300deg F per McMaster and other references, and is VERY inexpensive, albeit a bit fluffy, and had very good insulative properties. There are no toxic particles or debris from it. The first time I used it, there was a little heating smell (some volatiles boiled off), but since works great no odors, etc. Heating duty cycle of the boiler was considerably reduced. I used a combo of the mitt insulation and 1/4" layered material. The lifetime supply (you have to buy it in wide widths) cost about $5 for about 10X as much as needed.
Anyway, it ended up being a very simple solution, and was able to conform to various shapes due to the plumbing irregularities. :)
Cheers,
Floyd
Image
floydo
 
Posts: 27
Joined: Nov 18, 2006
Location: Seattle

Postby beatstanfurd on Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:14 pm

Anyone tried radiant barriers for insulating the boiler? Reflectix is one brand that is carried by big box stores. I'm assuming the instructions they have on their site for insulating water heaters can be easily modified for boiler application.

water heater application instructions
User avatar
beatstanfurd
 
Posts: 54
Joined: Jan 13, 2009
Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Postby cafeIKE on Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:55 pm

I've used it for tests and it stands up well enough.

I'm just not comfortable with loose bits of conductive material inside a box with lots of exposed high current capable connectors.
User avatar
cafeIKE
 
Posts: 2905
Joined: Jun 27, 2006
Location: Woodland Hills, CA

Next

Return to Espresso Machines