Boiler fire box insulation, mica???

Casinojunkie

I have an old American Standard Boiler.
Below the burner there is insulation, I beleive it to be mica pellets.
Is this what is there or what else could it be? They are dark and shinny.
I beleive I am loosing some from the bottom of this boiler and would like to replace this material. Where can one buy this and should I pour some new into the fire box?
Thanks for your replys.
Dallas

Josh_10

That is old school my friend! I would replace it with a blanket of Kaowool.

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Joe_76

Are you sure that it is not vermiculite? I know of other places on industrial boilers that vermiculite or a substance that is similar was used.

mtfallsmikey

Vermiculite, Mica were staples back in the day

We used to use the circular combustion chambers that were modular..in pieces that had to have metal straps put around them to hold them together, then pour the Vermiculite or Mica around them. With the proper nozzle/draft, these boilers were very quiet running.

Big Ed

Old School

Back filling was insulation but served more as a suport for the chamber...I perfered to back fill with the old chamber and fill the extra space with the mica stuff.Always capped the top too... Would last for ever it it were kept dry...


Any way as far as replacing ....Leave it alone . Way too old for handeling...In a American standard wet base boiler insulation is not all that needed.....


On another note..... Hovering near $3 per gallon would you drivea 53 Buick Roadmaster for everyday commuting ?

Sure you up graded the burner with a Beckett .............25 years ago...

Lurkin' Murkin'

Open to the floor...

We always backfilled and capped around the chamber, just like Ed said - but I read somewhere it is not advised to do. But unless someone purposely dumped this stuff under the burner (to absorb oil), how is it pouring out the chamber area to the floor? Big leak, bad seal, affects combustion / draft?

EBEBRATT-Ed

It's probably vermiculite which may contain some small amount of asbestoes. It was widely used. Don't know about mica.


Ed

Casinojunkie

The base of my old American Stamdard Boiler is siting on a base that has a band around it about 4-5" high that is rusting away. Small amounts of insulationis leaking out.
Wish to add more to chamber but don't know what and where to buy it. Thanks for the replys

Casinojunkie

Where would a person buy Koawool???