jwkb23
Active Member
Posts: 18
|
Post by jwkb23 on Jan 20, 2013 10:02:46 GMT
Thanks Gents, With regards to getting one made its not that I think they are asking silly money I just don't have said money having read the post above I now have more questions ! So it is possible to have a copper welded boiler rather than silver soldered ? If this is the case would the welded boiler be to the same dimension etc but just welded or would it come under a new set of rules etc? Thank you all for your responses so far.
|
|
|
Post by ejparrott on Jan 20, 2013 12:00:46 GMT
Maxitrak do TIG welded copper boilers for their engines, but a lot of boiler inspectors don't like them. You have to know what you're doing, and you have to use the right material (Bushes are still silver soldered). What worried me was a promosional broucher from them which stated something about the need to check the inegrity of the welds at hydraulic test time. I really must find it again and quote it. We almost had a boiler from them for the club Netta, until we read that.
|
|
|
Post by alanstepney on Jan 20, 2013 15:25:28 GMT
Welding copper is not an option for most of us. Nor for the average welder. It requires specialised equipment and materials.
I have seen the Maxitrak boilers and was impressed with them. BUT, they appear to be built properly, by someone who knows what he is doing.)
For the rest of us, silver solder is the way to go. And, yes, it will be expensive.
|
|
jwkb23
Active Member
Posts: 18
|
Post by jwkb23 on Jan 20, 2013 21:04:26 GMT
Well I am quite fortunate to have a friend who is just passing doing his coding for TIG so I will ask him if he is able to do it.
|
|
chiptim
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 270
|
Post by chiptim on Jan 21, 2013 18:18:05 GMT
I believe Marco spent some considerable time perfecting his 'technique' for Tig welding copper boilers. That's not to say that your friend couldn't succeed only that it may not be so simple for the thicknesses of copper required?
I can only speak from my experience regarding silver soldering a boiler. I was well prepared and carried out extensive research and still my first boiler wasn't successful. Getting it right first time is a big ask in 7 1/4" gauge so I would recommend you try to join a club who have members willing to help you with the building if at all possible. There's no substitute for experience.
Tim
|
|
|
Post by alanstepney on Jan 21, 2013 20:09:45 GMT
I believe you have to use specific type of copper and a different gas to that usually used.
Before spending out or getting you friend involved, I would try to find out exactly what is required to see if he can do it or not.
|
|
|
Post by cplmickey on Jan 21, 2013 22:09:02 GMT
I hesitated to give my "advice" but have decided to stick my two-pennarth in now. If you have decided to build a Dart - and why not, it's a smashing engine - then sooner or later you will need a boiler. The design is copper as others have said and you would be well advised to stick with that as suggested earlier in the thread. However, you have a huge amount of work ahead of you and I would suggest that you don't worry too much about the boiler at the moment but crack on with the engineering.
Building a boiler is not difficult but it is something unique in engineering in my opinion. Lathes and mills are used for all sorts but boiler building is specific. With that in mind I would suggest that you don't spend lots of money on it until you're ready - really ready - and seriously consider joining a local club where you can get experienced guidance and probably some of the relevant tools and assistance.
Finally, although a ready made boiler is expensive there is a lot to think about if making your own. You will need formers if flanging your own plates which I personally find quite difficult to make and the cost of copper and silver solder plus the cost of gas etc will soon add up. Mistakes can be expensive so get that experienced engineer on side.
I wish you good luck, but don't get hung up on the boiler at this early stage.
|
|
RLWP
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 319
|
Post by RLWP on Jan 21, 2013 23:02:25 GMT
I would endorse what cplmickey has said. There is a lot of work you can do before getting to the boiler. As you do this, your skills and confidence increase. You could also be saving up while making other bits.
Join a club. I did, it was a fellow member who held my hand through my boiler build. They also brought along equipment, knowledge reassurance and humour.
Stick to the silver solder method - it is tried and tested, relatively idiot proof (as long as you learn to really clean parts) and it works. If you roll up with a MIG welded copper boiler, don't be surprised if a boiler inspector refuses to test it because of the unknown unknowns.
And as has been said, there is a lot more to making a boiler than sticking the parts together, like making them
I enjoyed my boiler build, it's a different thing to do, more of a craft really
Richard
|
|
jwkb23
Active Member
Posts: 18
|
Post by jwkb23 on Jan 22, 2013 19:43:11 GMT
Thanks everyone who has responded. I have taken the first step and am in the process of become a member at Llanelli. I guess the reason I was so concerned was I didn't want to pour a lot of time and effort in to a project that suddenly stops dead because I couldn't afford the boiler.
I'm off to get my casting and frame etc some time in the next month or two from Lynx models and will post some pictures when I do.
Cheers
|
|