Selkirk Heat Fab Saf-T Pipe Adj. Elbows
Posted: Fri. Dec. 07, 2012 7:49 pm
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...
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...