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| Wallace |
Making Wicks lastThis evening I gave my SE1 a run. Well tried, but the wicks burnt off
In the discussion on the Making the meths in wick burners last it seems having the wick tight helps. The wick I used was candle wick. I think I mentioned I packed in 8 bits in another thread, but it's not, it's 6 I filled boiler with boiling water. And put the burner it, that I had actually packed with 7 bits. I didn't splay them out, unlike I did with my MM1. The boiler didn't even get to operating pressure, before I looked in the firebox, and the last wick was fully out, middle was glowing, the first was lightly burning. The only difference from before was one extra wick in each holder, so real tight, and I didn't splay them out. Anyone have any ideas, before I waste more 
I've repacked it with 6 this time. I'm thinking it was too tight, and perhaps couldn't draw up the meths. But will also splay them out. Not trying it tonight, dead tired from diving most of the day. Just hoping someone has some advice Cheers |
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| Lewis |
this is funny baecuase i put 3 peieces of thin wick into my mm1 wick burner and there not tiht together and they burn the meths fine and last for several runs | ||||
| Wallace |
Cheers Lewis Hmm, maybe it was too tight? If it didn't absorb meths, then the cotton will burn, rather than meths vapour. So your's are sitting in pretty loose? ie, if you tipped it upside down, would they fall out? Mine had to be twisted in. 6 pieces at about 3mm wide each? |
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| Lewis |
aye they would fall out and they are thin pieces
for all we know it may be different types of wick being used
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| Wallace |
Ok, thanks Lewis
Here's my MM1 burner. Probably done about 6 runs? In the second pic I splayed them out a little to show them better. 
Got me beat. I mean just the other day I ran the 3 wick burner with wick that almost fit neatly in the wick holders, and it sucked the meths up real quick, than ran dry, and burnt the wicks off. |
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| Lewis |
you need some gaps between the wicks so air can get down
if you ca wait 10 min ill do a pic of mine ok |
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| Wallace |
Cheers mate, that'd be a great help
I should still be here. Bout to fall asleep at the keyboard 
I thought you wouldn't want a gap that goes down to the meths? |
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| Lewis |
works ok for me | ||||
| Lewis |
here you go mate
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| Wallace |
That's it 
Thanks heaps for that Lewis. I'll give it a try. I can't beleive that's all you use and it last for ages. I'm using candle wick, cotton. So I'll see how it goes. Might take 2 bits out of mine. Cheers mate |
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| Lewis |
no probs maye
it even works on mine with 1 piece of wick
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| Mamodman123 |
That wick is far too loose Lewis! | ||||
| Lewis |
thats how you want it | ||||
| Mamodman123 |
It's not Lewis! Maybe loose but not 3 strands of string
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| Lewis |
yes but it works for me perfectly and will run the mm1 for ages ona full tank | ||||
| Mamodman123 |
Thats a 1 wick burner though Lewis, might be ok for that but for a 3 wick burner it wouldn't be suitable |
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| Lewis |
well then you will need more but i find it works ok for me
also helps if you soak the wick in meths when it is put into the burner |
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| Mamodman123 |
They will do Lewis! but in a 3 wick loco burner, the wicks would be too high! It wouldn't even fit under the boiler  Although it is/should be ok for a MM1 burner as you know 
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| Wallace |
I just looked at mine, and cut it back to 4 wicks in each holder. They sit comfortably in it, not real tight.
I put them in that tight today it was like packing an old muzzle loader rifle
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| Mamodman123 |
So you have them comfortably in the holders? |
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| Lewis |
i still think my method is ok | ||||
| Wallace |
Yeah mate. Tip it upside down, and they don't fall out, but start to come loose if you shake it. So should be a good test. Will probably run out of meths quicker though
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| Mamodman123 |
Not on a loco or a 3 wick burner Lewis! If the loco ever fell over your method would be a total disaster! There would be a huge fireball! |
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| Lewis |
yes well
its ok for mm1s i suppose |
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| Mamodman123 |
Yep looks fine for that! Although Oldstuff had a MM1 burner last for 50 minutes, maybe he can tell us his secret?
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| Lewis |
what wick size do you use mm i use as you see small thin pieces all bundled together | ||||
| Mamodman123 |
when i last used a wick burner I used cotton wool! I would personally have the wick just sitting in the burner so it can't move or allow meths to spill if for any reason it got tipped on its side. |
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| Lewis |
oh ok
cotton wool
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| Mamodman123 |
I'm not ssying thats the best thing to use Lewis! But I found that it worked ok if you don't have any proper wick! http://s67.photobucket.com/albums...ion=view¤t=IMG00035.flv Cotton wool, flames are controlled and it lasts! |
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| Lewis |
they look pretty good really may try that sometime | ||||
| Mamodman123 |
It's cheap and a good substitute for wick Soaks it up a bit easier too!
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| Lewis |
aye i can see there purple | ||||
| Mamodman123 |
Any wick should be purple! Or at least darker! The Bowman wick and burners have a more controlled flame! which leads to longer lasting burners, but slower running engines! |
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| Lewis |
aye
what were the original wick made from |
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| Mamodman123 |
Asbestos to stop them from burning! |
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| Lewis |
shame you can t get | ||||
| Mamodman123 |
I have some, but I don't really want to use it. You can get asbestos, just look in your school roof! It will be packed full of the stuff
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| Lewis |
ok
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| Mamodman123 |
Although if you start ripping it apart and the fibres start floating you are in trouble
I wouldn't rip it out your school roof
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| Lewis |
no ill fip it out the walls
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| Mamodman123 |
and end up with something nasty 
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| Lewis |
aye i know what that stuff can do to you
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| Mamodman123 |
Yup! stay clear! |
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| Chris |
Can't you get wick made from fiberglass or something similar? | ||||
| Mamodman123 |
Chas has some ceramic wick, i'm going to sample it soon
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| Lewis |
tell us if it is anygood | ||||
| James |
I have some wick 
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| Lewis |
aye but i want to know what the aspesstos stuff is like | ||||
| MooseMan |
Can't remember who gave me the tip (was it Roly), but I bought an old fashioned string mop head - hey presto, lifetime supply of wick!
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| Mamodman123 |
Does it burn well Mooseman?
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| MooseMan |
Absolutely fine - I usually use a double thickness (just fold a strand in half and twist), and I use them in absolutely everything, from my SELs to the Bowman locos and everything inbetween. Works every bit as well as dedicated cotton wick, and it's a damn sight cheaper!
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| James |
Hold on, I just had an idea
My longwools are due to be sheared next weekend in time for showing, and they have like strands of wool in like dreadlocks that would be the right diameter of a wick burner. Just wondering if I could get them, clean them, and use them as wick Certainly worth a try!
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| MooseMan |
Worth a go - it'll be interesting because if I remember correctly wool itself doesn't absorb liquid like cotton. Any wicking action would be through the many strands of hair. |
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| James |
No idea mate, but owt for nowt and I'm in there!
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| MooseMan |
Rasta wigs???
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| James |
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| Sandman |
LOL LOL
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| Wallace |
I remember that, great idea. Would you beleive that no supermarket here has them
Only antibacterial ones, with super duper absorbent material
Going to try a hardware store |
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| James |
Super duper LMAO!
I could buy one and send it over if you want mate? |
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| Wallace |
Thanks mate, but I should be able to find one, surely.
I'm thinking a hardware store should have em. I mean all I want is not antibacterial, and %100 cotton |
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| oldstuff |
You're right Mooseman, it was Roly. Glad to learn you've enjoyed success with it. If you're on a tight budget, you can cut and roll-your-own wicks from 100% cotton clothes that were destined for the trash. I've been doing just that for a few weeks now and it works quite well. |
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| oldstuff |
short wick...maybe 1 mm peeking over the top, burner overfilled...I've
not been able to repeat that performance, but I did get 40 or more minutes a couple times.
If I were to try for duration again, I'd look into tighter-fitting wicks- that might restrict fuel consumption some.
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| mc_mc |
I read this thread about making wick and saw this in Tesco:
At only 87 pence too! I cut two one inch pieces off and used them in my burner, as soon as they were inserted they went a nice purple colour (they are very absorbent). Lit them and they performed well maybe burnt away a little bit but for the price I'm not complaining. Excellent tip guys. |
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| SPOKESMAN |
Thats a lot of wicks and a lot of steamings!!
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| jim-gainsborosteam |
thats a very clever idea, well done to you for thinking of that |