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Selkirk Heat Fab Saf-T Pipe Adj. Elbows

Posted: Fri. Dec. 07, 2012 7:49 pm
by DJ54
Has anyone else used the Selkirk, Heat Fab Saf-T Pipe adjustable elbows..?? Have you had issues with them..??

I've had 3 of them come apart, and haven't even fired the stove yet. Granted, I will take the blame for the first one. Just not enough hands at the time, and the pipe got away from me. And yes, there is a sticker on the inside of the pipe, that says anything more then swiveling 10º, and the el may come apart.

The other two..., one simply from the weight of the 24" upright and top el, to make the turn into the outlet pipe came apart. I was able to bump it back together with my hand.

Once I had everything set, it looked that the stove was a bit out of square with the wall. I measured, and it was 3/4" out of square. I scooched the stove a bit, and got it square. Looked up, and the top el had come apart on the outside radius. Another bump with the flat of my hand, and it popped back together. Both el's are about as close to a 90º as I could get, by eyeball.

Within a split second, I decided I cannot trust these elbow's. Just a nice little puff from the stove in my mind could pop the joint apart. I did order a non-adjustable Saf-T pipe elbow for the top turn. I just wanted the heavy gauge pipe in this set up. The 24" straight is great. You have to look close to see the laser weld.

In my mass confusion of trying to do 6 things at two places when time allows, I completely forgot about the cast elbow I'd found in the bottom of the stove a couple weeks before. So that will eliminate a steel el coming out of the stove.

Don't want to do any brand bashing here, just want others to be aware of this product... They are NOT cheap..!! I wrote a letter to them, but doubt it will get me much satisfaction...

Just kinda' breaks my heart I have nearly $150.00 in three elbows, that are now worth about a half cent in scrap... :( Coulda' used that money elsewhere in the new shop...

Re: Selkirk Heat Fab Saf-T Pipe Adj. Elbows

Posted: Fri. Dec. 07, 2012 9:42 pm
by Keepaeyeonit
Welcome DJ54 I don't use elbows but I would advise against using adjustable ones, the ones you had fall apart without being used just imagine having a good puffback
and the pipe flying across the room :shock:,use good pipe with solid elbows and three screws per joint makes you :D but if you need a bastard angle maybe try a corrugated one,heat and bend to the right angle,just a thought .Keepaeyeonit

Re: Selkirk Heat Fab Saf-T Pipe Adj. Elbows

Posted: Sat. Dec. 08, 2012 7:45 am
by DJ54
Exactly the point of me posting this... I've been familiar with burning coal since the late 50's, either in the coal furnace for the house, or stoves, and later a coal furnace in my old shop. NEVER had an elbow come apart like this. And for what they cost, ( like $47.00 ea.) I THOUGHT I was buying a quality American made product.

And yes, my first thought was of a puff back, and blowing th pipe apart when I may not be in the shop.

The el's match the 22 ga. pipe, the heaviest I could find. No snap together seam, laser welded pipe. El's, and pipe even come predrilled, and screws included.

I did get a email notice that my non-adj. elbow was shipped yesterday,and should arrive today..!! :) Looks like a good job for Monday, being it is supposed to be raining here.

Re: Selkirk Heat Fab Saf-T Pipe Adj. Elbows

Posted: Sat. Dec. 08, 2012 8:12 am
by Keepaeyeonit
DJ54,glad to see you got good stuff and trying to find quality american made products is getting harder and harder to do the bottom line and thats $$$ for the upper ones in the food chain,I work for a large gear manufacture in Cleveland and some of the stuff we ship(just get it out the door so we can put it on the books) will make you sick :( ,the quality and the pride in the work we do is rapidly going down hill due to just get it out the door when we got a new President for our plant he told us in a meeting we don't ship product we ship dollars!we do the best we can with what we are given and that seems to be the new way of doing business .Keepaeyeonit

Re: Selkirk Heat Fab Saf-T Pipe Adj. Elbows

Posted: Sat. Dec. 08, 2012 8:40 am
by Lightning
I got black stove pipe from this company online last year. The seams are welded and the pipe is very rigid. I used solid 90 degree angles. I think its 24 gauge. I thought the price was good too. I especially like the adjustable lengths of straight pipe since no cutting was needed. Very sturdy pipe :)

Re: Selkirk Heat Fab Saf-T Pipe Adj. Elbows

Posted: Sat. Dec. 08, 2012 9:20 am
by titleist1
i hated trying to cut the pipe with hand shears so here is an fyi trick on cutting the straight pipe for those that haven't discovered it yet. I picked it up from a guy that used it for aluminum soffitt.

i keep an old blade around for my old miter saw and install it so it runs backwards and use this to cut the straight pipe sections. slow and easy through the pipe, throws a good bit of sparks, file down the edges and its good to go. :idea:

Re: Selkirk Heat Fab Saf-T Pipe Adj. Elbows

Posted: Sat. Dec. 08, 2012 10:01 am
by Dennis
titleist1 wrote:i hated trying to cut the pipe with hand shears so here is an fyi trick on cutting the straight pipe for those that haven't discovered it yet. I picked it up from a guy that used it for aluminum soffitt.

i keep an old blade around for my old miter saw and install it so it runs backwards and use this to cut the straight pipe sections. slow and easy through the pipe, throws a good bit of sparks, file down the edges and its good to go. :idea:
Same here,everytime I used shears it semed the cuts were croked or couldn't get the seams to go togather.Now I use a 4-1/2" cutting wheel " 1/8 thick blade" and clean the edges and perfect cut everytime.

Re: Selkirk Heat Fab Saf-T Pipe Adj. Elbows

Posted: Sun. Dec. 09, 2012 12:21 pm
by carlherrnstein
I used shears and a large hose clamp as a strait edge.

Re: Selkirk Heat Fab Saf-T Pipe Adj. Elbows

Posted: Sun. Dec. 09, 2012 6:02 pm
by McGiever
For better prices and super fast delivery I like buying from North Line Express ...

heatfab-stove-pipe

Re: Selkirk Heat Fab Saf-T Pipe Adj. Elbows

Posted: Sun. Dec. 09, 2012 9:16 pm
by DJ54
I did order the non-adj from North Line. Ordered it the day after Thanksgiving, and received it yesterday.

Their online store said they had 2 in stock. After a week of no notice of shipment, I called them. The girl said they sent an email two days before saying it was a special order item, and it would be 14 business days before it would be shipped. I checked my email folders, both inbox, and deleted file, and no email to that effect.

I guess a week earlier than expected after calling them is better than nothing. If I do order from them again, I will definitely drop a dime, and call the order in, to make sure when I can expect shipment.