New (to Me) Axeman 260

Townsend · Post by **Townsend** » Thu. Dec. 29, 2011 10:15 am

Well, do you think my pipe re-pitching caused me a little extra work?

I can either try and take that nipple off and replaced with a smaller one, which would require going back in that awful crawl space with the spider clan, or cut and thread that where it stands.

I think I'm gonna try the later. Lots of rags to catch the oil and metal chipping. And lots of arm work out.

LsFarm · Post by **LsFarm** » Thu. Dec. 29, 2011 10:18 am

I'm a big fan of simple.. can you raise the radiator up on platforms?

Greg L

edit: they could be made to look really nice, routed out, moulded, decorative,, not the stack of 14"long 2x6's that I first thought of !!

GL

Townsend · Post by **Townsend** » Thu. Dec. 29, 2011 10:23 am

Actually, I don't think I can thread that low. The floor will get in the way of the threading head.

Townsend · Post by **Townsend** » Thu. Dec. 29, 2011 10:26 am

LsFarm wrote:I'm a big fan of simple.. can you raise the radiator up on platforms?

Greg L

edit: they could be made to look really nice, routed out, moulded, decorative,, not the stack of 14"long 2x6's that I first thought of !!

GL

Greg, that's what it may turn out to be! A stack of dimensioned lumber crammed underneath the rad!!!

Hey, I wonder if Coaledsweat is handy with a router and some nice cherry I have kicking around!

CapeCoaler · Post by **CapeCoaler** » Thu. Dec. 29, 2011 12:19 pm

Or unthread the other end...
And make adjustments on the bench...

Townsend · Post by **Townsend** » Thu. Dec. 29, 2011 2:32 pm

CC, that other end is in a 90 down that crawl space I spoke of. If I could get it out I'd just cut the pipe and rethread for proper length. Access is a real bear and I'd need someone in the crawl space with a wrench on the fitting and someone at the rad with a wrench. I'm solo today and maybe I'll let it wait till tomorrow.

Post by **Rob R.** » Sat. Dec. 31, 2011 8:17 am

You could always raise the radiator...a few 4" cement blocks would do the job.

All jokes aside, perhaps setting the radiator on a platform of some sort would be a good compromise.

Edit: I just noticed Greg already suggested the same thing.

Townsend wrote:I can either try and take that nipple off and replaced with a smaller one, which would require going back in that awful crawl space with the spider clan, or cut and thread that where it stands.

.

It's been two days, I'm starting to wonder if you are stuck in the crawl space.

Post by **coaledsweat** » Sat. Dec. 31, 2011 9:19 am

Rob R. wrote:It's been two days, I'm starting to wonder if you are stuck in the crawl space.

LOL It's very similar to King Tut's tomb. Just granite instead of sandstone.

CapeCoaler · Post by **CapeCoaler** » Sat. Dec. 31, 2011 10:21 am

Townsend wrote:CC, that other end is in a 90 down that crawl space I spoke of. If I could get it out I'd just cut the pipe and rethread for proper length. Access is a real bear and I'd need someone in the crawl space with a wrench on the fitting and someone at the rad with a wrench. I'm solo today and maybe I'll let it wait till tomorrow.

Teenagers...
Perfect use of a 16-17 year old...
It real easy job all ya gotta do is crawl down the basement at bit and hold a wrench tight...
Easiest $50 you'll make all year...

LsFarm · Post by **LsFarm** » Sun. Jan. 01, 2012 10:45 pm

So, was it a new nipple, a saw and rethread, or stilts for the radiator ??

Greg L

Townsend · Post by **Townsend** » Sun. Jan. 01, 2012 10:58 pm

Ok, well... contrary to popular belief, the reports of my death in the granite tomb have been greatly exaggerated. I have been very busy measuring, cutting and installing pipe. I here by give homage to the 'Dead Men' long since passed who did this great steam work for a living.

Here are some pics of the progress. I am not far away at all now. I've finished all the boiler and house piping, completing the Hartford Loop and the tie in to the return mains. Neat stuff. Also, boiler wiring is nearly complete. I have the automatic water feed installed, the timer, the aquatstat and the anthrastat. I just have to wire the low water cut off, which I am waiting for the hardware store to open on Monday so I can buy some longer brass nipples. I need clearance for the skim port (Which is the old 2 1/2 inch port where the old style low water cut off goes in.) I am now using the low water cut off that feeds off the sight glass ports.

Notice the beautiful old pressure gauge a good friend gave me as a Christmas present to celebrate the boiler install. It's really something. Back in the day when hand fired coal was the norm the gauges were designed to show negative pressure when the boiler went into vacuum, hence the boiling point would drop to below 212 degrees. The gauge helped a lot. It's huge and really looks nice down there. I have in order a smaller gauge that shows a much more accurate reading from zero to two pounds. I'll be mounting it on the left of the large old gauge. It'll kind of be like the second hand of a wrist watch! I'll be able to set my vaporstat more easily with it.

Behind the gauge assembly I have tucked in back a pressuretrol too, to have as a back up.

I'm also setting up for a hot water loop so that I can heat a mud room and a one car garage. I probably won't get to that this season but it will be set up in piping and wiring for then. Actually, I have most of the equipment, I picked up a Bell & Gossett series 100 pump this weekend as well as some flow check valves too. So, maybe sooner than later, we'll see.

I have the smoke pipe left, some small piping for the loop, the low water cut off and tying in that last rad to do tomorrow. Oh, I also have a friend coming over tomorrow AM to bring the coal bin downstairs and load it up with a ton of pea.

More pics to follow and light up is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon/evening. Can't wait!!!!!!!! I had the last week off and with the holidays it was rough but I have been literally working 12-14 hour days to get here.

See you soon!

Townsend · Post by **Townsend** » Sun. Jan. 01, 2012 11:02 pm

Gauge and Vaporstat

Oh, and the one and a half inch pipe I bought for the returns, I ended up with literally 7/8 of an inch left over!! My friend said it was good planning, I prefer to say I just lucked out!!!

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Sun. Jan. 01, 2012 11:20 pm

Very impressive set up there *Townsend*

Workmanship is to be commended also.

Your going to be like a kid on Christmas Eve till light up night comes...then is going to be like Christmas morning for you. Enjoy the Moments.

Post by **coaledsweat** » Sun. Jan. 01, 2012 11:20 pm

It looks like a Jules Verne time machine.

LsFarm · Post by **LsFarm** » Mon. Jan. 02, 2012 12:32 am

Steve, did you realize you'd become a steam system expert when we first talked about your Harman mark 1 and your Petit Godin??

VERY impressive work..

Greg L

New (to Me) Axeman 260

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