Best heat shield material for small jobs?

[BrokenBiker]

I have a need to make a small curved heat shield so I can get a torch on a bleed nipple without melting pipes, slide pin covers and abs wiring that is fairly close to the nipple...

I have 3mm stainless, 3mm ally, an assortment of mild steel and some 15mm copper pipe I can slit open and flatten, but it's very thin.

I have enough of all materials to make something as big as possible and curved to reflect heat away from anything that needs to stay cool.

Which is best option? The bleed nipple is about half inch from the feed hose and maybe inch from abs wires, 2 inches from the slide pin area that has white grease in the rubber end cap and caliper will be in situ at the time, although with wheel removed there's a fair bit of torch swinging space.

I feel ally will be the best? But I am wary of whatever I use radiating heat behind so I was thinking maybe 2 bits tacked back to back with a bit of an air gap to try and prevent this?

 

[Maker]

Asbestos.

 

[Parm]

Metal is a conductor of heat so not the best choice for a heat shield

 

[Parm]

Asbestos.

It works !!

 

[Martin-Sy]

A plumbers mat is what I would use.
Stainless steel is fairly well down in thermal conductivity. Alloy and copper are highly conductive.

 

[dobbslc]

One of these with a wet towel behind it.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/rothenberger-soldering-mat-195mm-x-250mm/54910?ref=SFAppShare

 

[BrokenBiker]

One of these with a wet towel behind it.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/rothenberger-soldering-mat-195mm-x-250mm/54910?ref=SFAppShare

Not a bad idea

 

[voipio]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/FLASLD-Soldering-Protector-Pad-Temperature/dp/B0C59L6NJQ

A bit slow today ;-)

 

[indykid]

I've always just used a double layer of reasonable quality crinkled kitchen foil. Cheap, easy to mould and air is a fantastic insulator.

As long as you don't point the torch straight at it which will melt it (and don't douse it in plus gas where the large surface area will make it flash into a fireball) it keeps anything behind it perfectly adequately cool.

Unlike a plumbing mat, just throw it away when you're done.

 

[Parm]

I've always just used a double layer of reasonable quality crinkled kitchen foil. Cheap, easy to mould and air is a fantastic insulator.

As long as you don't point the torch straight at it which will melt it (and don't douse it in plus gas where the large surface area will make it flash into a fireball) it keeps anything behind it perfectly adequately cool.

Unlike a plumbing mat, just throw it away when you're done.

That sounds interesting. I’m gonna try that just for fun

 

[Robotstar5]

That sounds interesting. I’m gonna try that just for fun

The fireball bit?

 

[Parm]

The fireball bit?

I can do that too

 

[indykid]

The fireball bit?

I discovered the fireball bit with my head in an MX5 wheel arch and limited room for egress between the car and the house wall. Proceed with caution and pack spare pants!

 

[Ruffian]

tig finger flameproof material.

 

[dave h 2]

Alloy works despite what everyone says, all those useless ally heat shields on modern cars are so pointless

 

[Kram]

Thin alu sheet or foil on top of one of the previously mentioned items. I've not used them.

Car fibreglass exhaust wrap is also useful either as a extra layer or to wrap around any delicate items behind the heat shield, zip tie or mig wire tie it in place.

 

[Parm]

Some top tips being shared today, feels like I’m being educated in how to have more fun with fire near flammable stuff while adopting a variety of suggested control measures

Proper Elf n Safety going on this afternoon, what’s happened ?

 

[Blobber]

Don't forget brake fluid is very flammable

 

[Parm]

Don't forget brake fluid is very flammable

That’ll be a proper test of the suggested controls

 

[tom2207]

see tha crinkly alloy heat shield thats under engine bays and exhausts , and most of a range rover ,,, it works a treat ,,, wrap pipes etc in soaked rag , and work quick ,,, but , here s the tip ,,,, heat the nipple as hot as you can , give it a few sharp hits on the top with a hammer , cool the lot down , then give it a wiggle with a pair of vise grips and add acf5 or injector ex or a lube of your choice , all will be grand ,,, but dont be shy on the tap on the top , just face the fact that you will probably need a new bleed nipple ,,,, usually works the very best