After a very successful three days at the Greatest Gathering, with much interest shown in the Smokebox Door assembly that we had displayed on a pallet, once it was back at Sheffield, some minor adjustments needed to be calculated, before welding of the ring into the Smokebox Wrapper, can take place to the height of the hinge blocks to accomodate laging material in the groove of the smokebox ring. Originally, asbestos lagging rope would have been used, but clearly this is unacceptable in the modern world, so fibre glass lagging rope is now used. A small sample (12") was obtained from the manufacturers, cut into 4 pieces and the door lowered into it to find the depression made. The hinge height was adjusted with appropriately sized washers. The calculations done, a full 30m coil of the rope has been purchased. CTL Seal will manufacture a specially shaped pair of shims to enable the hinges to be seated correctly once they are riveted in place on the door.
Showing the door placed on top of the sample lagging rope, using strong magnets attached to a hoist.
Photos by John Pearson
