Fitting a replacement tube sheet in a home boiler repair showed me a gap in my knowledge

I had to cut and roll the new sheet to match the old shell, and sealing the perimeter was trickier than I thought. Using a pneumatic roller helped, but I'm not totally happy with the edge finish. What's the best way to ensure a tight seal on rolled joints without over-compressing the metal? I've heard mixed things about gasket compounds versus full penetration welds.

3 comments

3 Comments

joseph8452d ago

For home boilers, full penetration welds are key for a tight seal. sanchez.pat's gasket paste with tacks might not hold under pressure changes. Weld slowly with cooling breaks to avoid bending the metal.

shaneross21h ago

Does that middle ground even hold long term though.

sanchez.pat2d ago

Saw a video where a guy used high temp copper gasket paste on rolled tube sheet edges. He applied a thin bead before rolling. Said it filled minor gaps without needing crazy pressure. But he still did a light tack weld every few inches after. Seems like a middle ground. Full welds can warp thin sheets if you're not careful.