Tube Expanding

[denis M]

Having had to re-tube my Winson Baldwin steel boiler after the tubes leaked, 4 years in use, I have decided, when I get the boiler back from being welded up, to fit Copper tubes.

I know there are arguments for using or not using Copper but I have decided to go that way.

My question is that as I have never used a tube expander before is there anyone who has that could share any does or dont's.

Denis

[ettingtonliam]

stupid question, but do you actually have a tube expander to fit the tubes? I had no success with the taper type pulled in with a big draw bolt, but had reasonable success once i made a roller type expander. Let me know if you need details, I may still have a copy of the article i used to make mine. I drove the expander in the firbox end with a 3/8" drive socket, a long universal jointed extension bar through the firehole and a ratchet handle.

Richard

[goldstar31]

I'm not into tubes being the wrong shape and deaf but the classic expansion tool is nothing more than a collection of the right size of ball bearings.



N

[houstonceng]

Jun 29, 2010 18:07:58 GMT goldstar31 said:

I'm not into tubes being the wrong shape and deaf but the classic expansion tool is nothing more than a collection of the right size of ball bearings.
N

Actually, as Richard said, Rollers NOT Ball-bearings.

As it's a Steel Boiler, the idea is to deform the tube evenly into the (usually) steel tube-plate holes, not to create a swaged ridge as in "anti-drop out tubes" for later silver soldering in copper boilers.

[goldstar31]

Ferrees Musical Instrument Repair Tools and books.

Of course, the old loco builders and repairers never used solder or balls or rollers.

I recall exactly my father doing just that in--- January 1947. It was the day that i finally scotched any daft idea to become a blacksmith like him. He'd smashed his thumb under a tube, was admitted to hospital- found 'something else' and there were screens around a group of men caught in a colliery mis-fire and their guts were riddled with shale.
To some of us, such things remain sharp and as vivid as yesterday.
Sorry to argue! Remember all the old railway apprentices are dead or retired now.

Norman

[denis M]

Yes I am awaiting delivery of an expander from Wicksteeds.

Denis

[steam4ian]

G'day Denis

I have heard of tubes being expanded by a rubber stopper type thing. By compressing the stopper lengthwise it expands in girth and expands in the tube.

Regards
Ian

[goldstar31]

Jun 30, 2010 8:12:19 GMT steam4ian said:

G'day Denis

I have heard of tubes being expanded by a rubber stopper type thing. By compressing the stopper lengthwise it expands in girth and expands in the tube.

Regards
Ian

Of course, this is only a development of the rawlpug which was only a development of the wooden wedge which was wetted which was only a development of what nature was doing by using water, freezing it and all that sort of jazz.

And so we have the sugar industry and the supply and demand for boilers which came from the old Lancashire boilers and locomtive ones.

This, I can say, is Rocket science. George Stephenson 'Rocket' that is.

Really??? and that.

Yawns and waits for matron to change last night's incontinence pads.

N

[ettingtonliam]

Jun 29, 2010 21:09:28 GMT goldstar31 said:

Of course, the old loco builders and repairers never used solder or balls or rollers.


Norman

To be honest I have no idea how George Stephenson expanded the tubes in 'Rocket', but I suspect that large hammers had a key role, followed by generous doses of oatmeal into the boiler, which was probably sufficient for the pressure of the time.I also don't know when the roller tube expander was invented, but it was certainly in common useage by the begining of the 20th century, both in original manufacture and in repair shops.

Richard

[goldstar31]

Take one tin of beans- remove contents. Wash out tin- cut through the 'rim' and examine.

You have a negative torroidal seam which to use the words of the Prophet- hasn't a bit of oatmeal, solder or my damp incontinence pads anywhere near.

One does go deaf making them- but I did say that already.

The old name was 'boiler makers' disease' if you'll pardon (eh) my comments.

N

[weldsol]

Richard Dudgeon (1820-99), born in Haddingtonshire, Scotland, was distinguished as a machinist, inventor of the hydraulic jack and boiler-tube expander.
So says Google

Paul

[ewal]

Copper tubes are a good move they should outlast the steel boiler. I expand using a socket set with extension handle. here is a photo of me in action.

E.W.

Attachments:

[goldstar31]

Gentlemen,
Forgive me but I am getting confused. I was assuming putting in boiler tubes 'dry' without any brazing, welding or whatever. I was assuming that 'in the field' or the real world they were replaced with nothing more than a set of home made hammers and dollies.
Which, if my history is correct is what the Ancient Eygptians were doing in the days of Tut.
Actually, things haven't changed in some instances. Brake pipes in steel or cunifer are still swaged with single and double flares and fitted 'dry' whilst sheet metal is still stretched and shrunk with often little more than a leather bag filled with sand. Now the addition of metal filler is being included. That flaring has only one useful purpose and that is to hold the tubes temporarily prior to soldering.

N

[alanstepney]

I dont know about ancient Egypt, I'm not that old.

However, the normal tube expanders have been around for at least the past 70 years and probably much longer.


They comprise a cylindrical holder which houses several rollers, and inside these is a tapered shaft, so that the shaft presses the rollers outwards, where they bear upon the tube, thus expanding it.

You can make them. There was at least one article in Model Engineer about doing so. However, it is far easier, quicker and ultimately cheaper to buy them.

[ettingtonliam]

Jun 30, 2010 20:44:55 GMT goldstar31 said:

Gentlemen,
Forgive me but I am getting confused. I was assuming putting in boiler tubes 'dry' without any brazing, welding or whatever. I was assuming that 'in the field' or the real world they were replaced with nothing more than a set of home made hammers and dollies.

N

Norman
You are quite right, we are talking about putting boiler tubes in dry. Generally 'in the real world' they are (and have been for many years) expanded using a roller tool, which is the most convenient and most effective. You can use a taper drift, which is what GS probably used, but its difficult to get a good swing on a big hammer in small fireboxes or smokeboxes.

Richard