AHHH! The conflicting opinons oh no. I am kinda liking the idea of some extra reinforcement though Ron. Would a length of 1/2" or even 5/8" steel rod threaded on the ends and bolted on both top and bottom fireside surfaces suffice for a stay bolt? I'd be willing to sacrifice a tube for safety. The stay would give me short, squat, tougher and safer little boiler. Defiantly something that I would like for my first one... Key word being "first"
Oh I was just referring to what my boiler has, I didn't build it, just what the builder installed. And probably because of the larger diameter. I think Wes mentioned the same thing. These stays are just solid 3/4" rod welded in on both ends. The tubes are welded in as well.
One thing I wish my boiler had was handholes, one on each side for cleaning and inspection.
You know I had looked at hand holes when I was first researching boilers and their construction. I never thought to mention them. I just planed on using one of the fittings for inspection with a mirror and a flashlight... or If I'm feeling nostalgic that particular day, an oil lantern.
Stopped by Steel Towne on my way home. I can now say I am the proud owner of a 13 1/2" length of 18" OD, 3/8" wall pipe.
That was $58.29 well spent...
I bought it a little over sized because both ends were plasma cut (they don't have a saw big enough) and it will require considerable grinding to get it to the 13 1/4" that I want.
They also have some 6" round stock... Might have to stop there again tomorrow and pick up my flywheel and the piece for my crankshaft.
If my girlfriend will let me borrow her camera I'll post a picture later tonight or tomorrow.
Just noticed that I got my quote for the tubes. $160.00 for the tubes themselves $185.00 for shipping the 99lbs of em with UPS, for the grand total of $345.00. I'm OK sending them a weeks worth of pay for 20 years of total awesomeness.
I got some boiler tubes from Anderson Tube also, fortunately they are only about 20 miles from my house. Summer 2010, SA178 Gr A 1" OD x 0.095 wall, 80 inch long, $10.00 each. If your shipping charges are due to oversize length, then Anderson can cut them for you. Trade their cutting charges for reduced shipping charge, perhaps that might be a bargain?
I cut my own tubes, and that was a pain, about 4 hours cutting, then mount in lathe to bevel and countersink the tube end, debur the OD, remove from lathe, chuck up the other tube end, bevel and countersink again, debur, unchuck, then on to the next tube. Anderson has the equipment to do this right, and the cost was not so much as I recall. Most of their customers order their tubes cut to length and prepped, as most of their customers are industrial/commercial maintenance people who could not afford the machine shop time that this would cost with hired labor.
Good idea Fred. I'll get a new quote for 55 13" tubes. That would also cut the weight down a small amount as there was still a 5" section that was just scrap from each 8 footer.
Keep the scraps too, you will always eventually use them, and you will have to pay for them anyway, as Anderson will never sell such short tubes.
"Keeping the scraps" maybe should be reconsidered. I have been doing that for many years, and sometimes it interferes with marital relationships. The farm implement wheels that form the basis for my sidewheels were bought in 1978, and I knew then exactly what I would use them for, 32 years later! Two marriages fighting with the spouse about how they should become driveway lawn ornaments.
If you havn't already, start looking on e-bay for the right size tube expander. New they are $100-$200, on e-bay I have found several for well under 10% of that price.
I have also made them, using a 1/2 inch socket extension cut to a taper with ordinary carbide tooling, drill rod for the rollers, roller cage made from pipe.
I got the new quote, $273.75 for the 55 cut at 13" Shipping was cut in half and the cost from Anderson only went up $13! (Good thinking Fred) I think I'll place an order in sometime mid May. Now I need to get the plates and have the holes for the tubes cut. My dad suggested I have them water jetted. How are they usually worked? And for sure I'll start watching eBay for an expander with savings like that. Off topic but one more question, where do you buy your valves Fred? I went to the hardware store today and found some bronze globe valves with a bronze on bronze seat and a pretty red hand wheel. Unfortunately they were only 125 SWP and were imports from Taiwan.
I am kinda liking the idea of some extra reinforcement though Ron. Would a length of 1/2" or even 5/8" steel rod threaded on the ends and bolted on both top and bottom fireside surfaces suffice for a stay bolt? I'd be willing to sacrifice a tube for safety. The stay would give me short, squat, tougher and safer little boiler. Defiantly something that I would like for my first one... Key word being "first" 
