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Death Of The Most Well Intentioned Header Ever Constructed

New England SteamWorks
New England SteamWorks Member Posts: 1,472
in Strictly Steam
Remember this oldie but goodie:



You can just sense how much effort and thought went into building what was intended to be a beautiful, perfect header. But the devil, as they say, is in the details. All that work and in the end: No Mas...

It didn't help that the boiler he chose was wildly oversized.

Which finally corroded through. We almost felt bad dismantling that header. And it sure was heavy...
New England SteamWorks
Service, Installation, & Restoration of Steam Heating Systems
newenglandsteamworks.com
ethicalpaulTinman

Comments

  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,119
    New pics?
    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 13,454
    Nice!! Really nice!
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 4,667
    Oh dear
    1 pipe Peerless 63-03L in Cedar Grove, NJ, coal > oil > NG
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 10,580
    Looks great.

    But the old header; other than the equalizer on the wrong end of the header, what else was lacking?
    Would there still be enough swing of threaded joints with the 90's on the drops even with the welded stubs.
    Just curious, thanks.
  • New England SteamWorks
    New England SteamWorks Member Posts: 1,472
    JUGHNE said:

    other than the equalizer on the wrong end of the header...

    ...other than the trailer hitch being on the front of the car...

    Lol. Not insignificant details!
    New England SteamWorks
    Service, Installation, & Restoration of Steam Heating Systems
    newenglandsteamworks.com
    Tinman
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 10,580
    But the welded components are not such a big sin?
  • New England SteamWorks
    New England SteamWorks Member Posts: 1,472
    JUGHNE said:

    But the welded components are not such a big sin?

    No, because it's not all welded. The two inches risers have threaded fittings, and that's your swing .

    New England SteamWorks
    Service, Installation, & Restoration of Steam Heating Systems
    newenglandsteamworks.com
    Tinman
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 10,580
    That is what I thought, just don't weld everything.
    Thanks for the reply.
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,541
    Great looking install!
  • gfrbrookline
    gfrbrookline Member Posts: 727
    Another work of art drop header.
  • nicholas bonham-carter
    nicholas bonham-carter Member Posts: 8,573
    The original header didn’t look too old.
    Would you ever reuse the old fittings, if they were not completely rusted together?—NBC
  • New England SteamWorks
    New England SteamWorks Member Posts: 1,472
    nicholas bonham-carter said:

    The original header didn’t look too old.

    Would you ever reuse the old fittings, if they were not completely rusted together?—NBC

    We would not. Probably okay to do so, -but a perception issue. Our customer is paying for a new boiler, and so new they shall have.
    New England SteamWorks
    Service, Installation, & Restoration of Steam Heating Systems
    newenglandsteamworks.com
    Grallert
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 5,030
    Beautiful work.
  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,119
    Ryan, have you switched to Peerless since the W/M debacle?
    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 1,443
    Always good to see a job well done. Excellent.
    Thanks for sharing.
  • New England SteamWorks
    New England SteamWorks Member Posts: 1,472
    Ironman said:

    Ryan, have you switched to Peerless since the W/M debacle?

    Yes. Completely.

    WM insisted that one riser would work just fine, but I had my doubts. And then along came @ethicalpaul and his awesome video and I no longer have any doubts at all.

    It's always been amazing how the banging goes away after we install, and of course we always assumed it was our headers. But @ethicalpaul sure added confirmation!
    New England SteamWorks
    Service, Installation, & Restoration of Steam Heating Systems
    newenglandsteamworks.com
    Ironmanratioethicalpaul
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 4,667
    Thanks @New England SteamWorks !

    But to be fair to WM, my boiler is a Dunkirk style and I have heard it really doesn't like single riser. I believe that the WM engineers have thoroughly tested their smaller boilers with a single supply and it must have proved OK.

    I think I'm going to buy one in the next year and when I do I'll put the glass on it and share the results, but I bet it will be fine.

    Also, they relented and now provide two tappings anyway, no?
    1 pipe Peerless 63-03L in Cedar Grove, NJ, coal > oil > NG
  • New England SteamWorks
    New England SteamWorks Member Posts: 1,472
    Even though your video @ethicalpaul is the greatest thing ever, I wouldn't get too carried away. Get two risers on your next boiler!

    And yes, WM relented, but it will be next season before the one-tapper inventory is cleared out.

    P.S. I sent you a PM.
    New England SteamWorks
    Service, Installation, & Restoration of Steam Heating Systems
    newenglandsteamworks.com
    ethicalpaul
  • JohnNY
    JohnNY Member Posts: 3,150
    That first header. I'm equal parts impressed and horrified.
    Contact John "JohnNY" Cataneo, NYC Master Plumber, Lic 1784
    Consulting
    Plumbing in NYC or in NJ.
    Take his class.
    New England SteamWorks
  • mikeg2015
    mikeg2015 Member Posts: 1,187
    ethicalpaul said:

    Thanks @New England SteamWorks !

    But to be fair to WM, my boiler is a Dunkirk style and I have heard it really doesn't like single riser. I believe that the WM engineers have thoroughly tested their smaller boilers with a single supply and it must have proved OK.

    I think I'm going to buy one in the next year and when I do I'll put the glass on it and share the results, but I bet it will be fine.

    Also, they relented and now provide two tappings anyway, no?

    You assume too much. Bean counter management, investors, and parents companies run things these days, not engineers.

    Probably works ok if it’s skimmed perfectly, and run over probably 0.5psi to keep the velocity down.
    New England SteamWorks
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 4,667
    Valid point. I thought of what I’m going to do: install both supplies, but with a full port valve on one of them to experiment with
    1 pipe Peerless 63-03L in Cedar Grove, NJ, coal > oil > NG
    New England SteamWorks
  • Danny Scully
    Danny Scully Member Posts: 1,399
    Better yet, install a valve on both risers and now you have king valves @ethicalpaul.
    New England SteamWorks1Matthiasethicalpaul
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 4,667
    I like it!
    1 pipe Peerless 63-03L in Cedar Grove, NJ, coal > oil > NG

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