Good supplier of water gauge glass? 1/2" O.D

This forum is dedicated to the Live Steam Hobbyist Community.

Moderators: cbrew, Harold_V

tomc
Posts: 375
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 7:04 pm
Location: Sw of the Windy City

Re: Good supplier of water gauge glass? 1/2" O.D

Post by tomc »

I may have used this company. T G Rankin Co.

http://www.tgrankin.com/component/optio ... /Itemid,1/
tom_at_srclry_com
A student of the Southend RGS!
User avatar
Harlock
Posts: 3833
Joined: Tue Jan 23, 2007 1:19 am
Contact:

Re: Good supplier of water gauge glass? 1/2" O.D

Post by Harlock »

Also try Essex Brass. They make glass gauges and gauge cocks, etc. for boilers.

http://www.essexbrass.com/essex.htm

They should be able to help you out.

They make the gauge glass assembly on the engine I'm currently restoring.
Live Steam Photography and more - gallery.mikemassee.com
Product Development and E-Commerce, Allen Models of Nevada
locoparts
Posts: 162
Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2003 3:50 pm
Location: Suffolk, Va
Contact:

Re: Good supplier of water gauge glass? 1/2" O.D

Post by locoparts »

You can also get 1/2" red line pyrex from Locoparts. We do not cut it, you have to need the specific lengths that we stock for our gauge glass assys. We have 2-7/8", 1-1/2" 4"/ 5". and 6" lengths. Call us at 757-255-2815. This way you are also directly supporting your steam loco vendors.

don
paralleler
Posts: 75
Joined: Tue Apr 18, 2017 11:22 am

Re: Good supplier of water gauge glass? 1/2" O.D

Post by paralleler »

How about .200" diameter? So far no luck with McMaster, LocoParts, Blackgates, Stuart, etc. PM Research has 3/16" O.D. which is a bit too small. I'm still searching while also checking with friends. Many thanks, Bruce
Attachments
"History Makes You Smart, Heritage Makes You Proud."
"History Makes You Smart, Heritage Makes You Proud."
Last edited by paralleler on Mon Feb 18, 2019 3:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Soot n' Cinders
Posts: 983
Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:24 pm
Location: Marietta, Georgia

Re: Good supplier of water gauge glass? 1/2" O.D

Post by Soot n' Cinders »

paralleler wrote: Mon Feb 18, 2019 12:17 pm How about .200" diameter? So far no luck with McMaster, LocoParts, Blackgates, Stuart, etc. PM Research has 3/16" O.D. which is a bit too small. I'm still searching while also checking with friends. Many thanks, Bruce
Try looking for metric tube then. 0.2” is kind of an odd size, but it’s almost exactly 5mm.
-Tristan

Projects
-2.5" scale Class A 20 Ton Shay

Steam Siphon: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/leavitt ... tive-works
paralleler
Posts: 75
Joined: Tue Apr 18, 2017 11:22 am

Re: Good supplier of water gauge glass? 1/2" O.D

Post by paralleler »

Hi Tristan,

Yep..., I started to get the same idea:
http://www.livesteammodels.co.uk/shop/i ... ry&path=61

Many thanks, Bruce
Last edited by paralleler on Mon Feb 18, 2019 3:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
paralleler
Posts: 75
Joined: Tue Apr 18, 2017 11:22 am

Re: Good supplier of water gauge glass? 1/2" O.D

Post by paralleler »

So the existing glass in the Stan James' Juliet was .200 inches in diameter. Turned out the drawing called for a 3/16" (.1875) so to cover our bases we've ordered both 3/16" and 5mm (.1968") replacement tubes. The 3/16" is coming from PM Research while the 5mm tube is coming from Live Steam Models in Great Britain.

Boy it's good to have friends. To Infinity & Beyond!
Attachments
The Stan James' Juliet
The Stan James' Juliet
Step By Step
Step By Step
User avatar
Bill Shields
Posts: 10464
Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:57 am
Location: 39.367, -75.765
Contact:

Re: Good supplier of water gauge glass? 1/2" O.D

Post by Bill Shields »

scratch around the glass with a dremel roto-wheel, crack it off...it will follow the scratch

wrap with some masking tape, chuck in a drill press or lathe chuck and polish the end square on silicon carbide cloth.

been doing this for 40 years....

need picture(s)???
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
paralleler
Posts: 75
Joined: Tue Apr 18, 2017 11:22 am

Re: Good supplier of water gauge glass? 1/2" O.D

Post by paralleler »

Bill, Thank you for the tips. Another friend is preparing a 1-3/4" x 5mm tube and I'll be sure to get notes from him too.
paralleler
Posts: 75
Joined: Tue Apr 18, 2017 11:22 am

Re: Good supplier of water gauge glass? 1/2" O.D

Post by paralleler »

My first experience with Live Steam Models of England appears to have gone well. They took PayPal, I didn't see an exorbitant processing fee for international banking, shipping/handling cost a bit more, and the order arrived in California within about seven days.

http://www.livesteammodels.co.uk/shop/
User avatar
Builder01
Posts: 726
Joined: Mon May 18, 2015 5:26 am
Location: Erie, PA

Re: Good supplier of water gauge glass? 1/2" O.D

Post by Builder01 »

With my interest being 1" scale steam locomotives, most of my supplies come from England. I too, am a very satisfied customer dealing with several vendors from the UK.
David
RET
Posts: 960
Joined: Wed Jun 07, 2006 8:36 am
Location: Toronto, Canada

Re: Good supplier of water gauge glass? 1/2" O.D

Post by RET »

Hi,

See if you can find a laboratory supply catalog on line. If you can, look for pipettes with the OD. you want. Many will even have graduation marks on the outside. Most pipettes will be low expansion borosilicate glass. Although it is quite unlikely, if you happen to get hold of tempered glass, it won't work.

To cut to length, use a 3 cornered file to make a mark on the outside of the tube, then put some spit on the mark. Bend the tube so the mark is on the outside. It will break cleanly at the mark. Note: In spite of what you might think, the spit is important. It works better than just plain water because the surface tension is lower.

Just one of the many simple things you learn when you work for a glass company for 30 years! I've posted this before, but I guess it doesn't hurt to do it again.

Richard Trounce.
Post Reply