Sched 40 pipe

[tailshaft56]

Just bought a 4 ft section of schedule 40 pipe. It's only .096 wall thicknes seems alitle thin when compared to Bob Reedy's boiler plans. me thinks the GREENHORN just had a twelve dollar lesson in the school of hard knocks. Looks like the proper thickness is about .560. Guess I'll use achunk to build a grinder stand.

[gwrdriver]

The steel in a model boiler shouldn't be under 1/4" no matter what, and 5/16" is even better. This isn't for strength, the .096 would have enough strength, but to provide for corrosion allowance.

[Harold_V]

Dennis,

I think you would be wise to return to your supplier and ask them to make good on your purchase. Schedule 40 pipe has a greater wall thickness than that unless the piece you purchased is only ½" pipe. Going out on a limb, assuming you're speaking of 8" schedule 40 pipe, wall thickness would be .322". The largest pipe I can find in my reference that would have near the wall you speak of (.096") is 4", and it is what is called 5S pipe. Schedule 40 4" pipe has a wall of .237".

Run of the mill pipe is not likely to meet specs for boilers, so you may wish to give that some thought, too. There are specific metals that are designated, made and certified for boiler construction. That's not to say that run of the mill items won't work, but they are not certified to do so. You may be putting your safety at risk with common pipe.

Harold

[Curtis_F]

What you have there is #12 gauge thin wall pipe. (.096 is the lower tolerance thickness for #12 gauge) You could use it for your boiler...but you're going to have LOTS and LOTS of stays.

If the purchase order says SCH40, definatly take it back.

What I use as a quick reference guide to standard metal sizes is the on-line catalog from PDM Steel. It's very complete in it's contents.

http://www.pdmsteel.com/


Cheers,

Curtis F.

[Bill_Gardei]

Dennis:

This is what 8" schedule 40 looks like...



Also, in a locomotive, weight is a good thing. Heavier is
better.

BG

[PeterCraymer]

When laying out a boiler using sch40 where does one need to locate the seam? Does it matter? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/confused.gif"%20alt="[/img]

[cbrew]

You really should be using seamless pipe,
am i right guys?
Chris

[PeterCraymer]

I think it was also Bob Reedy in Live Steam magazine who published a table on his mogul regarding tensile and pressure on butt,lap and seamless pipe and if memory serves either welded variety was good to well over 1200psi. maybe?

[gwrdriver]

I have never known any design, or respected designer or builder, to specifiy anything other than seamless pipe for a model boiler, when pipe is called for, for either steel or copper boilers. Of course pipe isn't always called for, as in the case of a rolled barrel, and then people don't always use what's specified. Persoanlly I don't know enough about the design and qualities of steel pipe to take a position on whether welded is just as good for the purpose as seamless. Those who have taught me about steel boilers (primarily Paul Brien - Jesse) have never used anything but seamless boiler grade pipe and firebox grade plate.

[Bill_Gardei]

Peter:

The real answer is ... put the seam where you won't be drilling
or boring any openings in the pipe in or close to the seam.
(The pipe I'm using is not seamless.)

Bill

[PeterCraymer]

Bill, Marty, Jesse, anyone wish to comment?? Bill's pic clearly shows a seam, so he and I may be in the same boat and should know before going any further. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/tongue.gif"%20alt="[/img]

[Bill_Gardei]

Peter:

Yes my pipe has a seam. And yes I will be using it for
my boiler.

BG