The Steamboating Forum

Hi I recently picked up a steam gauge, I'm taking a chance on it not sure if it will even work, it is missing the glass, does anyone know what type of glass I should replace it with? thanks!

lighthousekeeper,

Borosilicate glass (pyrex) - a redline can make it easier to see the water level.

I like GreatGlas - they ship to Canada.
http://www.greatglas.com/

http://www.greatglas.com/SightGlassRedline.htm

-CB

Did you mean a gauge glass (shows boiler water level) or pressure gauge (shows steam pressure)?

If the former, go for the red-line glass. If the latter, I'd probably use scratch resistant polycarbonate (Lexan) since you can cut it easily enough and if the Bourdon tube inside lets go, the glass won't scatter all over.

- Bart

I meant pressure gauge, but the info on the sight glass is great, I should order a back up for my sight glass just in case, thanks

Usually just straight mineral glass as far as I know. Thin, probably around 2mm.

Look up "Carter's clock glass". His son now operates it and he can cut all size diameters, thicknesses with bevels if desired. Just send him the bezel and he can install the new crystal.

Update
I did a quick search on them for the heck of it after I posted, seems they have some pretty unfavorable on line reviews now. So try them at your own risk. I used them a few times a couple of years ago and it went okay.

-Ron

2mm glass is sometimes referred to as "picture glass", any glazier will be able to cut it to a paper or card template.

Lighthousekeeper,

As for the cover glass you can use plexy glass and saw it out on a band saw leaving the protective film on so it doesn't get scratched in the process. All the gauge covers I encountered in the Navy were plastic of some sort mainly for the fact that if the Bourdon tube failed a chunk of plastic popped off instead of shards of flying glass. Many newer gauges are made to vent out the back in such an event but the on older ones with a solid case everything is going to be coming out the front.

I hope that when you said that you are " taking a chance on it, not sure it will even work" means that you will have it tested against a reliable standard before you use it. I had a couple of gauges tested and tagged with dated calibration stickers at certified shop for $30 each. Well worth the cost to be sure.

Seam On Steam Often

Dave

Oilking wrote:I hope that when you said that you are " taking a chance on it, not sure it will even work" means that you will have it tested against a reliable standard before you use it. I had a couple of gauges tested and tagged with dated calibration stickers at certified shop for $30 each. Well worth the cost to be sure.

I like to run with a new modern gauge and an antique gauge. Let's me check while I'm operating that a gauge isn't lying.

-CB

Mike R is correct, 2mm glass is normal and almost any glazier can cut it, I know this because I am a glazier by trade and many cannot cut glass anymore, but any glass shop can do it. nowadays the glass is mostly heat strengthened or tempered in construction so glaziers do not cut alot of glass...I have often thought I could make some money by advertising in the steamboat mags and cutting pressure gauge glass and water tube glass as I also have glass tubing cutters.