Let me introduce myself. I have been lurking here for about a month reviewing the boiler builds and like a few things about the people. Not least is the large Australian population familiar with the AMBSC codes.
I now have two stationary engines under my belt and have no formal training so have a lot of skills to gain yet (I, like many here am ex-service - Royal Australian Infantry. Regular for my first career and still an active reservist) Which leads to my problem. I have visited two clubs and had a pretty warm welcome - I was really well treated in Melbourne at Easter with a full tour around the facilities with my younger son (if you want a warm welcome, just bring an interested young kid) My only time for the hobby is irregular nights and I feel I would have little time at the moment to contribute to a club - priority is getting the kids through high school.
I have decided to try my first boiler by opening up to comment. Plans are drawn from the Harris book with mods to get the fittings in.
??? how do I get a picture in here ???
reconciling the Harris drawing with the AMBSC code, i need to drop four of the tubes to get bushes into the top tube plate for the safety valve and steam pipe. The reason is that the code specifies 9mm for the bush and 3mm for the web in the tube plate. I therefore have to drop two edge tubes and move the centre out a bi to get the necessary web. is this normal?
I can fit the other bushes into the side wall utilising the extra space provided by the flat side of the hex tube layout.
I plan on separating the two top bushes by 120 deg and creating 'buttresses' in the smokebox shape to improve the flat area on top for the fittings.
All sizes as per code, just waiting for stuff to turn up from Melbourne.
If the copper doesn't turn up this week, i will start on the fittings. Not done these before, so have been culling this site for approaches. is any one able to point me at a set of drawings for fittings suitable for this size boiler? (valves, pump, and watertube).
look forward to any feed back you can provide - first how to get a picture up so I can post the plans.
Dave
View attachment Multitube plan 1.pdf
I now have two stationary engines under my belt and have no formal training so have a lot of skills to gain yet (I, like many here am ex-service - Royal Australian Infantry. Regular for my first career and still an active reservist) Which leads to my problem. I have visited two clubs and had a pretty warm welcome - I was really well treated in Melbourne at Easter with a full tour around the facilities with my younger son (if you want a warm welcome, just bring an interested young kid) My only time for the hobby is irregular nights and I feel I would have little time at the moment to contribute to a club - priority is getting the kids through high school.
I have decided to try my first boiler by opening up to comment. Plans are drawn from the Harris book with mods to get the fittings in.
??? how do I get a picture in here ???
reconciling the Harris drawing with the AMBSC code, i need to drop four of the tubes to get bushes into the top tube plate for the safety valve and steam pipe. The reason is that the code specifies 9mm for the bush and 3mm for the web in the tube plate. I therefore have to drop two edge tubes and move the centre out a bi to get the necessary web. is this normal?
I can fit the other bushes into the side wall utilising the extra space provided by the flat side of the hex tube layout.
I plan on separating the two top bushes by 120 deg and creating 'buttresses' in the smokebox shape to improve the flat area on top for the fittings.
All sizes as per code, just waiting for stuff to turn up from Melbourne.
If the copper doesn't turn up this week, i will start on the fittings. Not done these before, so have been culling this site for approaches. is any one able to point me at a set of drawings for fittings suitable for this size boiler? (valves, pump, and watertube).
look forward to any feed back you can provide - first how to get a picture up so I can post the plans.
Dave
View attachment Multitube plan 1.pdf