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Pipe Confusion

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klal
klal Member Posts: 26
in Strictly Steam
This is likely a simple question, but I'm confused nonetheless. I'm looking to repipe a section of a steam riser (1-1/4) from the radiator to the main. Sites like supplyhouse.com clearly label some (but not all) fittings as "Black Cast Iron Steam" for instance, but Home Depot and Lowes have "Black Iron", "Black Steel" and "Black Malleable Iron." I'm sure there is a difference, but I'm clearly not aware of it.

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  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,324
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    Not really much difference in material, perhaps, although malleable iron is not the same thing as cast at all. But... usually a significant difference in quality of the fitting, particularly the threads.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • klal
    klal Member Posts: 26
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    What should I steer clear of then, which is the best option? Or are you referring more to the manufacturer? Supplyhouse.com carries mostly Ward for their domestic fittings.
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,324
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    Go with Supply House
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • klal
    klal Member Posts: 26
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    I'll likely get the fittings from Supplyhouse.com and the longer run (10 ft) of pipe from Home Depot. The black steel piping from Home Depot is rated for natural gas and air supply lines and has a max PSI of 1200, that would work well enough then?
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 4,861
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    klal said:

    I'll likely get the fittings from Supplyhouse.com and the longer run (10 ft) of pipe from Home Depot. The black steel piping from Home Depot is rated for natural gas and air supply lines and has a max PSI of 1200, that would work well enough then?

    Are you threading this pipe? Might want to consider American made. Blackman, Ferguson. More $ much better quality when threading!
  • retiredguy
    retiredguy Member Posts: 907
    edited October 2020
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    What ever you do do not buy the foreign made "crap", buy only the "made in the USA" brands. Most of the foreign stuff is garbage. I can tell you about the horror stories from using foreign fittings.
  • klal
    klal Member Posts: 26
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    Two questions, first would this fitting work for steam (it does not say steam specifically anywhere). I am using it for the above referenced return to the main:

    https://www.supplyhouse.com/Ward-FBUN1-1-4-1-1-4-Black-Union

    And is there any real difference between the following reducers:

    https://www.supplyhouse.com/Ward-FBCO1-1-4X1-1-1-4-x-1-Black-Coupling

    and

    https://www.supplyhouse.com/Ward-FCIRE1-1-4x1-1-1-4-x-1-Black-Cast-Iron-Steam-Reducer-459000-p
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,704
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    Answer #1: Yes
    Answer #2: One is malleable iron and one is cast iron. I'd buy the cheaper (malleable) one.
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
    STEVEusaPA

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