Kitebuilder.com

KiteSquid

To properly set dyes on Nylon and Polyester they need to be subjected to moist heat (immersed in an atmosphere of steam) for 1 hour or more depending on the chemistry of the dyes and the fabric. I want to scale up my steamer as I have some projects that I want to do that are bigger than my current steamer can accommodate.

My current steamer is made from 6’ length of 8” galvanized stove pipe. It will rust over the years but it was inexpensive to construct. I also steam at atmospheric pressure, but if I could go to 2 or 3 atmospheres it would make the colors more vibrant and cut the time down. If I go to pressure the chamber needs to be SAFE (see comments below)

I would like to make a chamber that is at least 4’x 4’ square and 8’ tall. Also if it is expandable and reconfigurable that would be nice...... I know that the smaller the chamber is the less steam I need to produce, but a LARGE chamber would be quite nice!!!!!!!!!

Construction Considerations

Safety: I don’t want to get burned so I would prefer that the outside of the structure stay close to room temperature.

Cost: The materials should be inexpensive as every dollar spent on it’s construction and operation is one less dollar I can spend on kite parts. FREE is good, so if any of you know where I can go dumpster diving to find some of these parts, let me know!!!!!!!

Ease of use: The material should be able to be cut with the tools I have on hand, a table saw, circular saw, router, etc. I do not own a welder but I may have access to one.

Durability: I don’t want to have to replace it every year, so long lasting materials are paramount. It has to be able to withstand moisture and heat that the steam will subject it to.

Non Reactive Materials: It needs to be made out of materials that will not react with the dyes. Aluminum parts are not aloud.

Nice to have features:

Easy to break down and setup. I may want to transport it some day, or to change the size of it.

Possible materials:

I am trying to think of materials that are readily available in most areas of the country....

PVC Pipe or other plastic sheeting or pipe: I don’t know how plastics will handle the heat over time... Will I end up with an expensive piece of modern art????? Do any of you have any experience with PVC pipe and Steam? I have seen on the web where boat builders will steam wooden slats in lengths of PVC pipe.

Stainless Steel: It is Non Reactive, but EXPENSIVE. But if it is Stainless I could have it designed to be a pressure vessel, but this takes licensing as a boiler, pressure testing and assembly by a certified welder so the cost goes WAY up!!!!! Do any of you work at a hospital that has an LARGE Sterilizer that they don’t need anymore??????

Closed Cell Foam (Styrofoam) I called Dow chemical and they said that I cannot subject Styrofoam to greater than 165 F repetitively as it will break down, but 2” thick foam is at the BORG with a R10 value and it is reasonably structurally sound, but should be protected as it dents easily. It works easily with hand and power tools.

Fiberglass.... I’m still thinking about this one.

Wood: Wood is easy to work but does not handle moisture and heat well.... but the inside of most saunas are wooden. I don’t like the porosity of wood as I don’t want it to absorb the dyes, but I could finish the wood with some type of coating that would handle high temperature & moisture environment of steam.

Galvanized Sheet Steel: or just make another out of larger diameter duct or rectangular duct work......

Any comments????????
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked

Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

saF · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 10:29 am Post subject:

Squid, what are you currently using to generate the steam? Does this need to be part of the chamber or can it be separate and attached via a hose or pipe?

You have me thinking...

How would a plywood box, lined with galvanized sheet metal, work? Something that can be taken apart to be transported and stored... Might be a little hard to make it air-tight and able to hold a higher pressure.

Hmm... the gears are turning..... Rolling Eyes

saF
_________________
Scott Ferguson
Cornwall, Prince Edward Island
Canada

kitepoor · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 11:50 am Post subject:

You are talking about the same basic thing that the guys who build bent wood rockers, snow shoes, and wooden boats use to steam their material in preperation to bend. I would check the wood sites. My Wood Bending Handbook spends more time on the wood and very little time on the chest, other than to point out that you must have a safety valve.

I would be looking at really large pvc tubes 12-18 inches with glue on threaded cleanouts. It is fairly easy to mount a pressure gage (used to pretest a waste system), and possibly a water heater pop off valve in pvc. (I think)

One guy built a steamer for the Boys Scouts, but he was an engineer with a big commercial machanical contracter here. He think he brought cool stuff home from work for the project, with blessing, because it was for the scouts.

The last drawing I recall had something like a tea kettle with a cobbled lid with flexible tubing that hooked onto the steam chamber.

Know any wooden boat builders that bend their own?
_________________
Randy
a kite a nice thing
kite in the air a beautiful thing
kites to share the coolest thing

saF · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:04 pm Post subject:

KiteSquid · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:25 pm Post subject:

Spence602 · Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 475 Location: USA TX Houston

How about finding a discarded hot water heater and using the inner steel tank (with a bonded glass liner)?

I also found this at http://www.artistresource.org/market.htm:

KiteSquid · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:57 pm Post subject:

KiteSquid · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 1:24 pm Post subject:

What will this cost???

Steam Chamber:

5 sheets of 3/4"exterior grade plywood at $24 per sheet

box of stainless screws

Stainless hinges

stainless latches (or I may try to figure out how to use Velcro)

Possiably some insulation

Router bits to cut the Tounge and grove joints

Tube of Silicone Caulk

3 or more Easy to read thermometers

Steam Generator:

length of steel pipe for body of steam generator

2 water heater elements

Switch, box and wire to run electrical

pipe to run steam into chamber

Deflector to spread steam

install a 220V outlet in the KiteCavern

Install Sink in KiteCavren
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked

Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

saF · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 1:40 pm Post subject:

kitepoor · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 1:54 pm Post subject:

Or visit Harrisonburg...
Why tongue and groove joints? You adhesive will do most of the work.
Insulation... Check with your local big flat roof aplicator, they sometimes give away white bead board in 6"x4'x8' sizes. The guy here said it is cheaper for him to bring it back to the shop and give it away than pay land fill, and besides you get to do something useful with it.
Why stainless steel screws? your fasteners are not on the wet side...
Is there a known ratio for cubic feet of chamber to amount of steam?
How about a turkey cooker for heat, besides then you could do reallllllly cook a tasty turkey, they come in propane, and now electric...
Can you roll your work between layers of something to keep the dye from going from layer to layer? I imagine a layer of quilt batting on boths sides of plastic sheeting. Then you could use a small chamber
_________________
Randy
a kite a nice thing
kite in the air a beautiful thing
kites to share the coolest thing