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Finally got a stubborn flange to seal on a 24-inch steam line
Had a flange on a steam line at the plant that just would not seal right... tried the usual gasket and torque pattern. On a hunch, I cleaned the mating surfaces with a wire wheel on a grinder, then used a thin coat of high-temp copper spray on the new gasket. Bolted it down to 120 foot-pounds in the right order and it held pressure on the first hydro test. Anyone else have a go-to trick for finicky flanges?
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rivera.henry12d ago
Read an old maintenance manual that swore by using a machinist's blue on the flange face to check for high spots. You scrape it down until you get full contact. That copper spray trick is a good one for filling tiny scratches.
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ruby_lane13d ago
Cleaning with a wire wheel is a solid move. I've seen guys skip that step and fight leaks all day. Do you ever use a dye penetrant to check the surface after you clean it?
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