Coalpail.com Forum

Well this project just took a turn right straight down the shitter .... DAMN! DAMN! DAMN! DAMMMITTT!!!!!

My measurements were WRONG. Can't get more wrong!! Not one damn thing fits, except for the 3/4" fitting for the boiler drain. 1-1/2" is actually 1-1/4" .. WHAT THE *censored* IS THAT???

Gotta love plumbing - all measurements are in some secret code. UNBELIEVEABLE!! The I.D. of one pipe measures 1-7/16" ... so to me, that would mean 1-1/2" right? Since it's closer to that size??? NOPE!! WRONG!! That's too *censored* easy ...

To top it all off, I had to go to the Registry yesterday .... talk about getting your blood pressure up there!! Take a number, wait wait wait .... only to be told you need to fill out these 2 forms ...and take ANOTHER number!!! Are you SHITTIN me????

More money down the toilet to ship it all back. Of course, I burned all the boxes ... so had to piece together something out of scraps of cardboard using all my damn packing tape. I'll tell ya .... a plumber I am NOT!!!

I hear ya!!!
I'm working on my parts list to finally plumb the radiator in the kitchen. It looks nice sitting there...but doesn't provide any heat!

SMITTY wrote:Gotta love plumbing - all measurements are in some secret code.

Wish I had something magic to say that would help John, BUT--NOT--

The main issue with plumbing is the pipe thread thing, causes a lot of aggravation.

I know this is too late, but the pipe measurements are in that chart on page 2 of this thread.

Yea, some guy who disappeared all summer posted that.

According to that chart, a measurement of 1.4375 (1-7/16") ... which is closest to 1.315" on that chart = 1" pipe - STILL WRONG for my application.

Also, I have a plug that's not matching up to anything on that chart. I'm just going to use the drain valve off my air compressor, because I KNOW for a FACT that will fit.

Just re-ordered everything on my list at 1-1/4", except that funky backordered fitting, which I eliminated by using a 90° street L. Should be here tomorrow! We'll see ...

WHAT A ROYAL PAIN IN THE ASS!!

The chart is probably wrong, all in an effort to keep it a mystery!

What really sucks is my decision to go to 1-1/2" was the result of me over-analyzing & second-guessing myself. If I had just went with my gut, I'd have been all set ... and $40 richer ...

The main piping on the EFM is 1 1/2".....I think....

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ansi-steel-pipe ... d_305.html

That is the reference I have used in the past. Somewhere I have a book that talks about how to account for thread make-up, etc. I don't do enough work with threaded pipe to be fast with it, so I normally use copper (assuming the budget allows for it).

If you are unsure about stuff like this, feel free to ask.

Tapered pipe threads can be a PITA. A old machinist I worked with before I got out of trade school explained pipe threads to me, he said that they are like a cork in a tapered hole. This makes life easier when you are running pipe because the pipe starts easily into a fitting even if its a little misaligned.

To measure the size of a unknown internal pipe thread measure the bottom of the hole this will give you a rough idea of the size of the hole that was made for the pipe tap. The bottom is measured because the tap cuts threads AND it also takes the cylindrical hole and makes it a tapered hole so it will be closer to the original size at the bottom. Now that you have measured the size of the bottom of the hole you need to look at your tapered pipe thread chart you will need to remember that your measurement will be different but close to a drill size that is listed on the chart. http://engineersedge.com/manufacturing/pipe-tap-d ... -chart.htm . Another "trick" is to measure the thread in the hole but, this is by no means a way of defining pipe size because several sizes use the same number of threads per inch.

I hope this helps.

Thanks for the pointers guys.

Rob, I'm using copper.

I'm just going by the thread size (or what I THOUGHT was the thread size ... dammit! ) on the boiler itself to a copper fitting - female for the return and male for the supply.

1-1/4" should be more than enough to carry the BTU's from this thing. I see a "110" painted on the unit ... maybe meaning 110k btu's? Who knows ... but 1-1/4" is what I'm goin' with.
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SMITTY wrote:To top it all off I just wasted half the day driving around for supplies. NOBODY has ANY part of them. Not one damn thing!! No 1.5" copper .... no temp sensor ... nothing! This is the #1 reason I buy everything online.

Which is the #1 reason we can't find anything locally. First WalMart drove most of the local guys out of business, then Amazon finished the job. I know, I know -- I do the same thing. The well-stocked places around here are for the trade only, and usually won't sell to you unless you are licensed. I suppose that's so they don't get into hours of explaining to people like me what size pipe fittings I need. Only way I could do most plumbing, is if I could put the stuff together with duct tape.