New (to Me) Axeman 260

Steve, as much as I'm a huge EFM fan, your boiler is really a piece of work! Man does that thing look bad Nice, REAL NICE

I like it.

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the nice comments. Especially coming from you EFM men!!! Just kidding, I had planned on a EFM 700 for a while but glad I got my Axeman.

Valter, I understand yours is an Axeman in new clothes with some tweeks. How do you like it?

Awesome Steve! That is a very substantial looking rig.

Steve, how about a photo or two of the steam header and piping as it is assembled ??

Greg L

And that L shaped thingy!

OK, its been 7 days,, where are the photos of your progress on the steam manifolds, piping and the coal bin???

Since I'm out flying, I have to get a feeling of 'accomplishment' via the internet..

So Steve,, and Ian.. how's the install project going???

Greg

Townsend wrote:Thanks guys, I really appreciate the nice comments. Especially coming from you EFM men!!! Just kidding, I had planned on a EFM 700 for a while but glad I got my Axeman.

Valter, I understand yours is an Axeman in new clothes with some tweeks. How do you like it?

4 stars leaving room for improvement on docs and confusing aquastat controls and maybe some room for improving puffback prevention.

Hello all, finally got some meaningful time away from work so I took a trip to the plumbing supply house. I went to FW Webb in Hartford Connecticut. Very nice people. Its like a candy store for steam heads in there! Rows and bins with all sorts of pipe fittings, pipe and various accouterments for the trade.

Here are some pics of the items I bought. Listen, AA Fireman was not kidding. Those four inch fittings ain't cheap! But, its all relative. Always has been,...probably always will be!

Getting started on the header tomorrow. I'll post pics of the piping in progress.

Anyone with or without steam piping experience, feel free to chime in with tips and/or know how.

I like Pro-Dope, but the Real Tuff you have is nice as well. You will need some 3' or 4' wrenches for those big fittings. Does the AA have a skim tapping?

I will be using the AA's 'low water cut off port' as my skim tapping port. I'm using an add on cut off to the sight glass ports for my low water cut off so it will free up that big port intended for the mechanical cut off. Its in a perfect spot too. I'm just going to use a 12 inch or so nipple and hang a bucket off it.

Yes, I have some big pipe wrenches thankfully.

Rob, glad you brought up the thread dope.

I'd like to ask all which brand they would they choose for sealing threads.

So far, its one for Pro-Dope.

I actually use a few wraps of teflon tape over the threads, than a coating of pipe dope over that. I like Pro-Dope because it doesn't separate, and if you knock the container over it doesn't leak all over.

Everyone has their favorites, I like "GRRIP" as well, but you better wear gloves!!! "Real Tuff" is a little more forgiving if you have to back something off a little for proper alignment. What does your steam guy like?

Townsend wrote:Yes, I have some big pipe wrenches thankfully.

Don't get carried away tightening this stuff with teflon tape and all the goop you've got it's not hard to crank that stuff down and distort the threads. You should have a few threads showing when all snugged up.
Wrap the tape clockwise looking at the pipe end and don't wrap it at the end, leave a thread or two showing. The teflon really is a lubricant, not a true sealant in this application.

coaledsweat wrote:You should have a few threads showing when all snugged up.

If the threads are cut correctly I think the rule is there should be about 3 threads showing when everything is "made up". In my experience, that varies widely with store-bought fittings and nipples.