For the return to service of Sumpter Valley #19, we are looking for steam pipe wrap for the various lines in the cab. The old wrap was about 2" wide and originally white in color. It appears to be a woven fiberglass material and likely came in a roll. I think this is pretty common stuff on steam locomotives, but have never had to purchase any. McMaster Carr has an exhaust pipe wrap that appears to be similar, but is pricey. Can anyone point me in the right direction for this product and source.

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Thank you very much for the prompt reply. It looks like what we need!!

Another good source is:
http://www.firesleeveandtape.com/high-temperature-heat-flame-fire-resistant-woven-fiberglass-plain-bolt-hole-ladder-tape.html

The industrial grade fiberglass woven tape spec sheet & price list:
http://www.firesleeveandtape.com/AB-Thermal-catalog-T-FG-W-I.pdf

"Offered in Plain and Drop Warp (also known as Bolt-Hole or LadderTape™). Drop Warp tape has lengthwise yarns missing from the center of the tape to allow fasteners to pass through the tape for assembly onto access doors, etc. This is also called a Ladder or Bolthole tape." ...which is what we used for the smokebox door gasket on 4-6-2 S.P. 2472. The gaps in the center of the drop-warp tape allowed it to be passed over the smokebox door hold-down studs.

Their regular tape worked well as spiral-wrapped pipe insulation. Tie it down with baling wire at the ends. There are also high-temp thick "paints" (mastics) designed to seal and insulate spiral-wrapped pipe tape for additional insulation and waterproofing. Just be sure it will easily withstand steam temp (380F-400F typically).

They also supply tadpole-cross-section tape for high-temp door gaskets etc.

- Doug Debs

Mcmaster carr has a device that is for wirewrapping wire around hoses or actually a wire hose clamp. It wraps two wires about .5" apart around the hose or insulation tightenes it and then bends the ends over and then they are snipped. The two loose ends are tucked down so they do not snag on anything like your overalls. If you are looking for appearance as well as performance then this handy gadget will work wonderfully. Sorry I don't have a part number nor page number. Try looking for wire hose wrap. Also use stainless wire so that it doesn't rust away. We spaced the wraps about 18" apart, maybe 24" in some cases.

Would a HVAC grade product work in this sort of application? I'm thinking something like the pipe wrap offered by Air Handler, but I'm unsure if it would be able to withstand the heat...

If in doubt about heat tolerance, try baking a piece in a very hot home oven at 450F to 500F for at least several hours. Stay around the house while baking, and keep the kitchen window open, so that you can turn off the oven if the sample chars and sets off the smoke detectors! Keep a piece unbaked so you can compare to the baked piece.

- Doug Debs

[quote="daylight4449"]Would a HVAC grade product work in this sort of application? I'm thinking something like the pipe wrap offered by Air Handler, but I'm unsure if it would be able to withstand the heat...[/quote]


I wouldn't use it for the same reason you don't use house insulation around the boiler shell. You want a product that will perform beyond the temperature range you will see in service. There are products for this application and I would use them.