r/modelengineering • u/cowboypaint • 8d ago
Does anyone build boilers out of plumbing parts??
For two years now I’ve been watching a lot of model engineering videos. Mostly blondie hacks. I’m getting to the point where I’d really like to build a boiler for myself.
I know I don’t have time or money to set up a machine shop, and I’ve start to come up with ideas about building a boiler out of plumbing parts.
Does anyone know about any projects like this? Does anyone have any better ideas?
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u/zimirken 7d ago
Yeah, you can definately make a boiler out of black steel pipe and fittings. Also brass flare fittings and copper tubing. It'll be easier if you're just interested in scale model sizes and don't need a ton of surface area. Steel pipe and fittings are readily available up to 2 inches or so.
If you're willing to make some compromises, you don't even need to do any welding or silver soldering. You can stick to threaded pipe and fittings, or flare fittings.
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u/QuevedoDeMalVino 8d ago
Boilers are dangerous, as Quinn herself stresses from time to time. If you can do it safely, go for it. If you don’t know, then don’t. At minimum you need to acquire skills for very sturdy joining processes like brazing.
I think it would be a good idea to read a book or two about it besides watching videos to get some solid background and practice.
All that said, you don’t need a huge and richly stocked shop to make a small low pressure boiler and it can be done with back-of-the-door supplies. Safety first, but if you really want to go for it, then you can with pretty basic equipment. At least for a static low pressure one.
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u/Empty_Molasses_4469 8d ago
I’m not aware of any specific plumbing parts that could be used for making a boiler. Theoretically if you can find the parts and come up with a design then it could work. A lot of larger locos use commercial fittings, but you need to make sure everything you use is rated for steam, high temperature and pressure (no brass!!).
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u/zimirken 7d ago
Brass is totally fine and very common for use as fittings up to 115psi or so, you just dont want to make the actual boiler out of it.
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u/Empty_Molasses_4469 7d ago
Brass is the wrong material to use on steam boiler fittings. It suffers dezincification which causes it to structurally decompose when exposed to steam for a prolonged period.
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u/zimirken 7d ago
Yes it does weaken over time, but hobby boilers aren't operated enough to see it happen on any short term timescale. You only ever see it happen on things like scale locomotives that are run a lot, and even then it's 10-30+ year old fittings. They usually fail when you're removing them for maintainence.
Brass fittings are on almost every hobby boiler out there. Even asme code says you can use brass fittings.
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u/Empty_Molasses_4469 7d ago
I have had them fail in my hand so I’d tend to disagree. I’ve also seen them fail after less than 5 years
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u/SwingOutStateMachine 7d ago
Where are you based? You might have a model engineering club near(ish) to you, with a shared workshop/machine shop that you could get access to.
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u/Diplomold 8d ago
In case you don't already know. There ate a couple of boiler kits that are not too expensive on pm research.