Boiler on eBay

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RogerV
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Boiler on eBay

Post by RogerV »

This boiler is now on eBay. It obviously wasn't designed for marine use, but it might be adapted.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/360427811382?ss ... 1438.l2649

I contacted the seller, and he says it was designed to support a 2 -3 hp engine, and that the safety valve could be reset from 100 psi to 125.

I didn't ask about ASME, but I kind of doubt it.

--Roger
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Re: Boiler on eBay

Post by JonRiley56 »

Does anyone know where this guy might be sourcing his injectors ? I sent him a note asking, but he would not disclose his source. I believe they are from the UK but I am not sure.
RogerV
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Re: Boiler on eBay

Post by RogerV »

JonRiley56 wrote:Does anyone know where this guy might be sourcing his injectors ? I sent him a note asking, but he would not disclose his source. I believe they are from the UK but I am not sure.

I should go back and re-read the listing, but I'm almost sure he said the injectors came from the UK. His eBay store says he builds boilers and engines, so I wonder if he takes orders. He also has several clips on You-Tube, one of which is a demonstration of "rolling in" boiler tubes. I still don't understand it!
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Re: Boiler on eBay

Post by mtnman »

Here's one source for small injectors. They get $250 for the economy 5/16 injector. http://www.superscale.biz/Superscale2/Index.html

For more ideas google 7 1/2" live steam you'll fing lots of helpful info although it's all about railroading but steam is steam.
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Re: Boiler on eBay

Post by fredrosse »

Looking at the boiler from just a few pictures on e-bay I see several violations of the ASME rules. That is somewhat understandable, as the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code books cost several thousand $$, so most amature builders would not have the rules. Then learning the rules so you can design a boiler to the Code is a big investment of labor (time), probably hundreds of hours. Fortunately as part of my job I get paid to study the Code and make calculations reguarding technical aspects of boiler design and modifications, etc, but I am certianly no expert in boiler design.

These boilers on ebay may be OK, but it is somewhat "pot luck" with amature boiler design/fabrication.
87gn@tahoe

Re: Boiler on eBay

Post by 87gn@tahoe »

The injector is a model engineering piece. I think my father has one lying around. The safety looks like one off of an air compressor.

With no mention of stay tubes, I would be nervous of exceeding 100 lbs. I don't like the idea of having fittings threaded directly into the boiler shell either. With advances in technology, I think weld-o-lets are the way to go. The welds look a bit suspect to me too, but hard to tell without better pictures, and perhaps a destructive test of one.

Not to nitpick anymore here, but the gauge glass looks like it is mounted very low, and with the level of the water shewing in the glass, lower still.

For $3,500 I think one could find, or build, a better, safer example. Even if it meant making the pieces and having a competent welder button it up.

Though, maybe I'm just paranoid. Buying a potential bomb someone else built makes me nervous. Especially someone I have never met, without a code endorsement on the pressure vessel, over the internet to boot! EDIT- That was not meant to say that all non-code boilers are dangerous, more meant to say that a stamp is a BIG plus when buying second-hand, especially when build quality is in question
Last edited by 87gn@tahoe on Mon Feb 20, 2012 6:02 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Boiler on eBay

Post by artemis »

RogerV wrote:This boiler is now on eBay. It obviously wasn't designed for marine use, but it might be adapted.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/360427811382?ss ... 1438.l2649

I contacted the seller, and he says it was designed to support a 2 -3 hp engine, and that the safety valve could be reset from 100 psi to 125.

I didn't ask about ASME, but I kind of doubt it.

--Roger
And the only way to reset a safety valve dependably (and legally) is by a certified shop. And if it's not rated for steam, have him substitute one that is . The injector is indeed from the firm in the UK, but I would ask for the model number and verify it has enough capacity. Also I'd ask for the material and thickness of the tube sheets and the shell. If it's not 3/8" for the shell, it is not safe for fittings threaded into the shell (number of threads fully engaged by the fitting and shell). The price is OK, but I question the overall safety especially when you consider the number of expansions from water to steam AND the temperature of the water (338F at 115psia) Don't ask me to sit next to it :!: :shock:
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http://www.steamboating.org
RogerV
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Re: Boiler on eBay

Post by RogerV »

artemis wrote:
RogerV wrote:This boiler is now on eBay. It obviously wasn't designed for marine use, but it might be adapted.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/360427811382?ss ... 1438.l2649

I contacted the seller, and he says it was designed to support a 2 -3 hp engine, and that the safety valve could be reset from 100 psi to 125.

I didn't ask about ASME, but I kind of doubt it.

--Roger
And the only way to reset a safety valve dependably (and legally) is by a certified shop. And if it's not rated for steam, have him substitute one that is . The injector is indeed from the firm in the UK, but I would ask for the model number and verify it has enough capacity. Also I'd ask for the material and thickness of the tube sheets and the shell. If it's not 3/8" for the shell, it is not safe for fittings threaded into the shell (number of threads fully engaged by the fitting and shell). The price is OK, but I question the overall safety especially when you consider the number of expansions from water to steam AND the temperature of the water (338F at 115psia) Don't ask me to sit next to it :!: :shock:
I need to be more careful with words. When I went back and looked, what the seller actually said was "I can add a pop off valve set at 125."

And what better way is there for guys like me to learn from guys like you than to present examples like this for your opinions? :mrgreen:

At least this guy is close enough that it would be possible to drive up and see him if it ever came to that.
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