Suppliers of Copper Boilers

[Dennis RaynerParticipant @dennisrayner52782]

[Dennis RaynerParticipant @dennisrayner52782]

I am building a 7¼” gauge Hunslet to the Reeves Elidir design. I have reached the stage where I need to consider procuring the boiler and have got my first quote – £3,850 !!!!!!!. That is about 50% of the value of the finished loco. In the last 2 weeks I have emailed 3 other suppliers asking for price and delivery and have not received a single reply!

 

Can anyone advise me of suppliers of such a boiler that I might contact, particularly if they have any experience of their work,

 

Many thanks 

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Southernboilerworks for a start, but you are not going to find it cheap anywhere.

[GoCreateParticipant @gocreate]

Dennis

Would you consider a steel boiler, this might be a cheaper option for a boiler this big. My 3″ scale Allchin steel boiler cost me £700 several yeras ago so I recon maybe £1000 today. It’s worth shopping around, at the time I got quotes ranging from £700 to £1500.

 

The company I bought my boiler from currently offer a 7-1/4″ Bagnall boiler for around £600. (may not be latest price). They may be able to help you with your requirements.

 

You would need to check what the boiler dimensions will be as compared to a copper boiler. In my case the boiler barrel was a little bigger than the copper equivalent.

 

Nigel

 

I just noticed the 7-1/4 Bagnall boiler price list is 2001 so will be a lot more now.

Edited By tractionengine42 on 25/07/2010 05:15:44

[Dennis RaynerParticipant @dennisrayner52782]

Nigel

 

I could certainly look into the possibilty of a steel boiler but I start with the same problem as the copper boiler – I don’t know who makes them.

 

For starters, who made your one?

 

Dennnis

[Stewart HartParticipant @stewarthart90345]

Have you tried maccsteam http://www.maccsteam.com/

 

Why not build your own I’m just completing my first boiler build like you I was going to buy a commercial boiler but found the prices too high for my wallet, the guys at my model club encouraged, and helped me to build my own, all up I reckon it would have cost me about £500 for a boiler that the trade would charge £1500.

 

Stew 

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Helen at Western Steam did the copper boiler for my 2″ Fowler.

 

http://www.westernsteam.co.uk/

 

Don’t know what your thoughts are on welded copper but the people that Maxitrak use are supposed to be able to make welded copper boilers cheaper than silver soldered due to the saving in SS and not having to flange the plates.

 

http://www.steam-technology.co.uk/process.htm

 

As for steel Boilers then Bell Boilers or Tony Baldwin are both worth a try.

 

Jason

[GoCreateParticipant @gocreate]

Hi Dennis

I am not sure I should promote any specific supplier on the forum. If you send me a message (click message member) I will give you my suppliers details.

 

Nigel

[Dennis RaynerParticipant @dennisrayner52782]

I’ve now got quotes from 3 boilermakers and the spread on price is no more than 10%. I spoke to Maxitrak about welded copper and he said the price for welded copper was about the same as for conventional silver soldered – perhaps I should have gone to steam-technology direct? Maxitrack also said the only way to get the price down was to have it made in steel. I have no experience/understanding of running a steel boiler but have 30 years experience of running a self -made copper boiler in Boxhill – no problems.

 

Would a steel boiler be suitable for use on a small private garden railway with only occasional use and perhaps no use at all during 4 winter months?  

[GoCreateParticipant @gocreate]

Hi Dennis

Just wondering if you received my reply to your message? and if so if it was any help.

Nigel

[WearyParticipant @weary]

I can’t see that you lose anything by trying steam-technology directly. 

They have received unsolicited positive reviews on another forum.

[Dennis RaynerParticipant @dennisrayner52782]

Hi Nigel,

 

I was about to post that I hadn’t received your message but I’ve just seen the box called My Messages (1). (Sorry, I’m new to this forum) Your reply is very useful and I shall follow it up. Out of interest, I’ve just got 2 quotes for a silver soldered copper boiler which knock about £1,000 of the original quote. Still a lot of money.

 

Dennis

[James BParticipant @jamesb]

Hi All,

 

On the topic of Boilers, I’d like to ask a question… Having been into Model Engineering previously, and picking it up again after a while, it seems to be generally accepted now that you have your boilers made by an outside company.

 

Previously, it was much more the case that you made your own – I will be doing so when I get to that stage on my Clayton wagon. If you can make the rest of a loco or traction engine, you can certainly cope with a boiler (in my opinion).

 

Aside from steel boilers (I am aware of the restrictions requiring coded welders for steel) my question is, is there a reason why we do not typically build our own copper boilers any more? Is it for insurance reasons?? Or is it that I am mis reading the trend?

 

I’d be interested to hear other opinions on this.

 

James

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

I think that you are misreading the trend. But the bigger they are the more difficult to do without previous experience. Talk to fellow club members and your boiler inspector before starting. There is a lot of experience out there. Make sure your heating kit is up to size.

[Dennis RaynerParticipant @dennisrayner52782]

Hi James,

 

As I said in an earlier post, I have made one silver-soldered copper boiler about 30 years ago and it;s still going strong – so why don’t I consider building this one?

 

1. It’s very much bigger.  (The previous one was more like a 3½” gauge loco.) I don’t have a hearth/ pickling tank etc for this sort of size.

 

2. The previous boiler used a seamless copper tube and the outer firebox was made by cutting and extending this tube. This boiler is made by bending 4mm copper (I don’t have any bending rolls) and a castellated joint along the bottom. I think I’d prefer to leave that to someone who’s used to it.

 

3. Materials – how much (very expensive) copper and silver solder to buy? The professionals have all this stuff in stock.

 

4. For the previous boiler, I joined the local college on a welding course to gain access to oxy-acetylene kit to do the stays. – another thing I have to organise if I want to build it myself. Also, much more expensive if I make a mistake!!

 

I was hoping to find a supplier at about £2K – shocked when it came out double. I wonder how much of the additional cost is down to the need to document and comply?

 

Dennis 

 

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