i am starting to make the bushings for the exterior boiler fittings. Just spent an hour looking at ASME code B31 but could not come up with an A number for the quality of steel for the raw slug. I will bore, thread, and put an exterior taper on it. Does anyone know what quality steel I should use?

naughty postcard pictures of nekked steamers?

Blackstaffe is one of my heros. I never met the man personally for I think he died about 1980. But other engineers and steamboat types still talk of him. How do you fasten the tubes to the drums? weld, swedge, pipe connectors. I never had much to do with water tube outfits so they are a mystery. Tub...

after welding a Vertical fire tube boiler, will it need to be stress relieved?

I am slowly building the single

boiler shells, holes, and bushings have been on my mind last 2 days. It turns out I do not need to drill large holes, I can get the welder to burn the holes. I then put a Thread o Lets on. I am working off SBA drawings and they machine a shoulder on their bushings and pop them in an oversize hole an...

good ideas all. thank you. I will use A106 pipe. Tube sheets are A516 and are now at machine shop. Annular hole saw seems to be the way to go thanks, remember cutting oil and slow slow slow

Hmm. thanks for insights. Mind presently occupied by trying to figure how to drill 1.5 inch holes in 2 foot dia gas pipe. A big drill bit and a portable magnetic drill press. This looks surprisingly like Deception Pass, Whidbey Island, WA state. what design is your engine? My other steamer has a Sco...

I do not have a hull yet. I was planning for a 26 foot standard lifeboat. nice and long and beamy and able to take the weight. tho some say 5 nhp is not enuf power to run it.

now that I am building a boiler for a 20 foot boat I am wondering if putting 1000 lbs of boiler and water 2 feet above the keel is stable. Other boats seem to do it. Generally I will be steaming in inland waters which has occasional blows to 2 foot waves. The weight of the boiler loads the boat down...