Garden Railway Forum

Hi,

A friend asked how well Nichrome mesh would work in what was a ceramic burner. I had made small burners using mesh so I had a go altering some larger ceramic burners. The result:

https://youtu.be/bh8XV9ClJ6g

Take care.

Tony.

Tony the vid was very interesting, and shows that mesh "could" be used, but it now leave a lot of questions unanswered, viability and longevity of the mesh, it "looks" like it can produce sufficient controllable heat, but can it, but the big one for me is safety, could burn through the mesh and what would the outcome be.
All these questions should not detract from a "test well done" and some credible video footage

Hi Jimmy,

I was only playing; as I have made small 12 mm or less diameter burners using mesh some of which are 15 years old and have had plenty of use and all my poker burners made over the last 10 years are covered with mesh. All that seems to happen is that the mesh blackens, Nichrome is possibly the answer, other meshes I have tried stainless steel and bronze have rotted after use. Nichrome is a high temperature material I believe it was used as the elements on electric fires.

I just thought I would see if larger burners would work the possibility of making lower burners to give extra water capacity on vertical boiler model locomotives being a possibility.

Take care.

Tony.

Hello again Jimmy,

I looked up Nichrome.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nichrome

Quite interesting?

Take care.

Tony.

Tony, many thanks for the follow up, and a very interesting read on Nichrome, a very useful metal, and as you say could be perfect for burners.