Prepiped 3" drop header

EzzyT

Prepiped the 3" drop header for tomorrow's steamer repipe

Tinman

Are the nipples on the drops 6" in length?
Can that vary?
What is the purpose of the ball valves? Isolation, I assume?

EzzyT

Stephen those are 3"x12" nipples on the drop/risers and will have another 3"x12" nipples with the union in between them. Yes they can vary but wouldn't suggest no let less then 24" in total from the top of the boiler. The ball valves (king valves) along with the return valve purposes are for when performing the annual boiler service they are shut and fire the boiler to buildup about 5 psi and use the pressure in the boiler to flush out the mud and rust out of the bottom of the boiler

Tinman

Thanks EzzyT - one more question.
Is the union on the horizontal header necessary?

EzzyT

No it's not, I put it there otherwise the header would've been to cumbersome to handle all in one piece

EzzyT

I'll post more pictures and info when I'm done with the repipe

Tinman

Cool. Thank you. I have one in a few weeks where I'm going to use a drop header. Spent 4 hours in steam books this afternoon. It's amazing all of the subtle differences I saw in various resources.

EzzyT

Oh cool I'm sure the piping set up will be just as neat and clean as your hot water boilers. Its amazing what the dead men came up with not that much to work with. Have read any of the literature on the vapor systems?

Tinman

Just a little so far. Focusing on basic one pipe now. The light is starting to come on : ).

I saw a reference to Gerry Gill pdf's on another thread. Can someone tell me where to find those? I know there's a ton of information and videos on his website but I didn't see any pdf's.

Fred

Stephen Minnich said:

Just a little so far. Focusing on basic one pipe now. The light is starting to come on : ).

I saw a reference to Gerry Gill pdf's on another thread. Can someone tell me where to find those? I know there's a ton of information and videos on his website but I didn't see any pdf's.

It is available in the Store. It is a PDF that gives the capacity of various vents, both main and radiator as well as pipe, by diameter. It costs $10.00 and that money goes to charity. It's called "Balancing a Steam System, Using a Venting Capacity Chart. "

EzzyT

Stephen you can find it under the link system helper-steam-air venting

SWEI

Anyone know if Gerry has added the Big Mouth traps to the PDF?

Fred

I don't think so yet but the B&J Big Mouth vents at 3.6 CFM and the B&J Vari-Vent Vents at up to 2.5 CFM

EDIT: The Big Mouth is 3.6 CFM, not 3.5

Danny Scully

@EzzyT, you ever think about mounting termination flanges and starting from there?

Paul S_3

Nice drop header as always @EzzyT

EzzyT

Danny the unions or flanges are the last part of the header piping to be installed to start from them wouldn't make any sense

EzzyT

Thanks Paul

Danny Scully

@EzzyT, I'm thinking about building the header onsite, where they would be the first part of the header. Clearly your method works, I was just thinking out loud. Looking forward to the completion pictures.

EzzyT

Oh I hear yeah, 99% of the time when I'm piping the header either at the shop or on the job it's all done on the vise then carried over and connected via unions or flanges

New England SteamWorks

Sweet. I always enjoy seeing a "before" pic if you wouldn't mind when you go back. Looking forward to finished pics as well.

ChrisJ

Stephen Minnich said:

Cool. Thank you. I have one in a few weeks where I'm going to use a drop header. Spent 4 hours in steam books this afternoon. It's amazing all of the subtle differences I saw in various resources.

I've spent two weeks trying to figure out how to run the duct work in my attic, with the help of two very knowledgeable people and I still don't know what I want.

At least steam pipes are small and fit!

Duct work seems like trying to fit 2 pounds of baloney in a 1 pound bag. Extra points if you know where that's from.


@EzzyT Beautiful work as always.

Hap_Hazzard

ChrisJ said:

2 pounds of baloney in a 1 pound bag.

Wow. That's as old as I am. ;-)

EzzyT

Before pictures

EzzyT

Thanks Chris
First day repiped the boiler and about 80' of wet returns.
Going back next week to finish up by cleaning up the mains venting, Vxt water feeder, stage firing set up, skim and combustion Analysis

Paul S_3

nice job....really nice job @EzzyT .....where do you get your loop hangers from? i cant find those particular ones ....just clevis style

EzzyT

Thanks @Paul S. Carpenter and Paterson plus all the supply houses I deal with carry them

Fred

Wow! looks Great!

New England SteamWorks

Terrific work @EzzyT ! That will make for a very happy homeowner.

EzzyT

Thanks, @RI_SteamWorks, yeah the home owner is thrilled how everything has come out so far.

KC_Jones

I know winter is getting closer when the boiler porn ramps up on the wall. Awesome work!

EzzyT

Thanks @KC_Jones

New England SteamWorks

You and @Dave0176 both have some real nice headers up right now. Tough to pick a winner with such nice work. But I did find one glaring difference :




So, Ezzy, I am here to help!

1-1/2" Niple Rack
2" Nipple Rack

Anyone ever finds a line on larger nipple racks, I am all ears.

ChrisJ

Uhoh, he's calling someone out on a Homer bucket.

New England SteamWorks

Not calling out! Just trying to have a little fun and be helpful at the same time. The larger nipple racks are not the easiest to source...

ChrisJ

5 gallon buckets are the ultimate multitool

They carry your tools
They carry your nipples
They carry your a** during lunch
They work as a portable toilet
They are a good stool
They drain your boilers
They catch your leaks

I'm sure I forgot 20 things.

Oh, they also carry joint compound fairly decent too.

Hap_Hazzard

They roll pretty well too. This summer I had some work to do up on my roof, so I put all the tools I needed in a bucket and hauled it up by a rope after I'd climbed up the ladder. As I was trying to hook the lifeline up to my safety harness, I kicked it over and watched it roll down the roof, scattering tools, nails and screws as it went, and crashing onto the driveway a few feet from my car.

Dave0176

The nipple racks are awesome, or as some guys around here call them, "bunny boxes" lol, I got 1/2-3/4, 1-1/4, 1-1/2, and 2" the rest of the stuff goes into the 4 gallon milk crates. I have about 8 of them for the fittings. AFAIK I never seen anything larger then 2" for nipples.

EzzyT

I have them up to 11/4" I'll have to pick up the 11/2" and 2"

Dave0176

I think I got them at Amazon @EzzyT

Tinman

I got mine from Porter Pipe and Supply. Great company. Great inventory. Great personnel. Great service.

Yeah. I like'm.

EzzyT

Thanks @Dave0176 and @Stephen Minnich