krapug1 wrote:Back to the original topic for a moement.What smoke generating system do you feel works better ??The smoke pellet system, or the later developed smoke fluid system ?Ken
Your original question was what worked better - Pellets or fluid? I thought you meant which of those worked better in a pill-type heater.
I've heard that the fluid heaters tend to burn out faster than pill-types. On the other hand, I think the fluid smokers produce better smoke. When I replace elements, I always use a pill-type, because it can use pills OR liquid. The difference in the amount of smoke isn't that big a deal to me.
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
That's right. Try putting 4 drops of smoke fluid on a non-pourus surface. It's a lot for a post war smoke unit to have to heat up. Especially at lower voltages. And due to capillary action, some of that fluid is going to slide off the heater and end up in the bowl where it will accumulate and make a mess that will eventually need to be cleaned out.
By only putting in 1 or 2 drops, you reduce the amount of wasted fluid and the heater can more easily and efficiently (ie-lower voltages) turn the fluid into vapor "smoke". You can always add more if you need it. But emptying out fluid because you put too much in is a hassle.
Jim
I have several post war steamers, and run pills and fluid in all of them, depending upon my mood. I was wrongly advised by a forum member to use 4 drops of smoke fluid in my post war steamers, and as a result, they didn't smoke very well. Too much fluid! Once I cut back to only 1 or 2 drops, the smoke output increased dramatically.
I have noticed that some of these steamers smoke better with fiberglass insulation underneath the heating element. I say "some" because I haven't converted them all.
There are many 1957-1969 locos that have liquid smoke requirements.
Any pill type smoker works fine with the liquids. The only difference is the temperature that the material melts at(pills are solid at room temp, liquid isn't... they're both liquid while smoking).
The initial several puffs are more intense with the pills, liquid in a pill smoker seems to last with better consistancy for most of our locos(726RR/671/736 especially).
Rob
I don't think it's a matter of what works better. The fact is that unless it is a 746 or 6557, it should be using a smoke pellet and only a smoke pellet. I personally have not noticed a difference between the original postwar pellet and the new commonly available pellet by Toy Trains Unlimited. I still struggle with the fact that people pour liquid down a postwar engine. Regardless of what the result is, it was designed for use with a solid.
I have had some postwar engines smoke well and others so-so. All of my modern equipment smokes well too. However, the $1,500 engines with the 3 smoke levels like on my Lionel 38095 N&W 611, have the capability to set smoke dectectors off. A fan driven smoke unit on "high" really gives the effect that your on the main line!
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