Firing with Coal and Ash Pan question

[JonRiley56]

Thanks Bart !

Hope you had a good holiday. The way the boiler was built is with iron square stock that fits into notches cut into a plate welded to the side of the mud drum (I think). It makes it easy to take out individual bars and replace them when needed.

I guess I could weld up a replacement grate that has "tabs" on it that would allow it to fit in the existing notches, but my only access is though the firebox door. I think I would have to make 3 or 4 smaller pieces to get them in there.

If I am able to find Stainless Steel Mesh of a heavy enough gauge with a small enough opening would it accomplish the same thing ? My welding is UUuUUUUUUUUglYYYYYYYYY

[Lopez Mike]

Any chance that they are in there upside down? They need to be closer together, of course, but I've never seen them wider at the top.

Mike

[JonRiley56]

Hi Mike,

They are actually iron bar stock so they are square. If I flip them I get the same configuration. I guess I could go with a deep Channel iron......... My trig is kinda rusty, I am not sure what size I would need to get a 1/2" gap at the top if the bottoms are 3" apart.

1/2"
V V ------- ?
3"

jon

[barts]

Hi Mike,

They are actually iron bar stock so they are square. If I flip them I get the same configuration. I guess I could go with a deep Channel iron......... My trig is kinda rusty, I am not sure what size I would need to get a 1/2" gap at the top if the bottoms are 3" apart.

1/2"
V V ------- ?
3"

jon

Are the bars 3" apart on centerline?
If so, that means the distance between
legs needs to be 2.5"; this is C below:

Code: Select all

  |\
A|  \  C
  |    \
  |      \
  -------
     B

Note A & B are actually the same size.

Our friend Pythagoras told us that

C^2 = A^2 + B^2; since A and B are the same:

C^2 = 2A^2

or A = C/ 1.717, or 1.45"

Use 1.5" angle.

- Bart

[marinesteam]

90 degrees. Am I right?





It's a Pythagoras joke!

Ken

[barts]

The only Pythagorean joke I remember has a punch line like

"The squaw of the Hippopotamus is equal to the squaws of the other two hides."

you can fill in the rest yourself...

[JonRiley56]

Thanks Bart !

I am assuming regular run of the mill angle iron will be ok ? Having my coals and embers stay up on the grate is going to make it much easier to tast the marshmellows for Smores..............My daughter and I capped off the season sitting in the boat in the driveway making smores over the dying fire.....a good time was had by all.

jon

BTW - in the spirit of a PSA - I find the extra large marshmellow to be a little overpowering. It is hard to get get the inside nice and warm iwthout overtoasting the outside, and you run the risk of eviscerating the marshmello when you slide it off the fork. You are then left with a substantial hunk o mellow that you have to eat b4 you can start the next one. I will have difficulty fitting into my Lime green speedo if I continue this habit. Moral of the story - Stick with the regular size........bigger is not always better...... (insert inappropriate remark here )

[Oilking]

All through this thread the line from The Creamation of Sam Magee"then I burrowed a hole in the glowing coal, and stuffed in Sam Magee." keeps comming back.

Now twice cooked marsh mellows:
1. toast to a golden brown crust
2. cool slightly and remove crust and eat
3. repeat step 1 with what remains on the fork or willow stick
4. repeat step 2.

With the big ones you might get thrice cooked!

Dave

[JonRiley56]

I like it................in these difficult economic times you need to get as much mileage out of a marshmello as you can.......... I have also seen some folks actually put the "set up" (technical term for Graham Cracker with Hershey Chocolate on it) in a spot close to the fire to condition the chocolate to accept the toasted glory of the marshmallo.

As far as the cremation goes, I can think of a group of folks down DC way that arent doing a whole lot of good for the common man........maybe I'll start a charter service.

jon

marshmello/mallo/mellow deliberately used interchangably so as not to offend anyone......or conversely, to offend everyone.

[Oilking]

Jon
You may rethink the charter service? A few lines on, " I was sick with dread, but bravely said, I'll just take a peek inside. I guess he's cooked so it's time I looked, and the door I opened wide. And there sat Sam looking cool and calm in the heart of the furnace roar. And he wore a smile you could see a mile, and he said please close the door. It's fine in here and I greatly fear you'll let in the cold and the storm. Since I left Plum Tree down in Tennesse it's the first time I"ve been warm!"

Yet maybe thawing things out might help to get something done?

Good steaming in the New Year
Dave