The Home Machinist!

Iam replumbing a few 1/2” nipples and lengths of steam pipe on my 12” ga Ottaway. The old nipples exiting the smokebox are bronze- which I have little hope of finding new, and they sheared off when I removed the valve, etc.

So, what are the current best materials for replacing fittings and steam pipe? I’ve heard black iron is not what it used to be... bronze no longer available, etc.

Also maybe stainless couplings are available from a commercial fishing supply I used to frequent. Are stainless nipples suitable?

Thanks
Glenn

What material and thickness is your boiler?

If it is steel, heavy duty (Schedule 80) steel nipples are what is used in full-size practice.

Black iron pipe is fine - just buy it from an industrial supplier rather than the local hardware store. Schedule 80 is used to the first stop valve and Schedule 40 can be used after that.

If your boiler is copper, I am sure you can still get bronze fittings in 1/2 inch but it may take some digging.

Thanks Diane

Boiler is 3/8’’ steel. I’ll scout around for an industrial supply house.

Glenn

You may be able to get them from suppliers like McMasters Carr. I have never had any issues with the quality of their pipe fittings. If you have any commercial plumbing suppliers locally they should have them as well.

If there is room for a hex nipple I personally prefer them over plain threaded nipples for both tightening and removal.

Rob

Glenn Brooks wrote:Thanks Diane

Boiler is 3/8’’ steel. I’ll scout around for an industrial supply house.

Glenn

Schedule 80 pipe nipples in black iron are readily available from McMaster-Carr and are of good quality. Incidentally, McMaster also has brass nipples in schedule 80.