Boiler gauges & boiler parts

Steve Minnich

Hello - As some you may know, I’ve been retired for 5-6 years now and I’m becoming more limited. I just finished upgrading our water main and it almost killed me. It was a simple job yet too much for me now.
I had planned to go back to college, but I squashed that because I would attack it like everything else I do. It would take up too much time and energy to meet my expectations.
I think keeping it simple would my best bet now. Reading, listening to music, and working with my hands while seated comfortably at one of the benches in my shop.
I want to make things from scrap boiler parts, ideally gauges, old valves, and other things like that. My problem is that I don’t have access to these things anymore. Would anyone be willing to set aside some things that’ you’d normally toss out and send then my way? I’d pay for shipping of course, but would need to see the items first. I still have lots of pipe, fittings, and flanges; but don’t have anything to trick out a boiler lamp or some other contraption.
Thank you! I’d be thrilled to put these items to use rather than seeing them trashed.

GGross

If I get anything interesting I will let you know but shipping can be a real killer these days. Looks really nice!

Steve Minnich

Thank you!

Mad Dog_2

Your talent and artistry are outstanding, Steve. If we come across anything interesting we will send your way. Mad Dog

EBEBRATT-Ed

Since I am not working much at all I don't run across stuff much but if I do its yours if you want it.

If that's the water main you just re piped in the pictures you're still putting most people to shame.

Steve Minnich

Thanks guys! I appreciate it. Yep that’s my work. I had everything piped before I turned the water off at the street. That left me with just a couple feet of pipe and some fittings for the changeover. Water was off for about an hour total.

mattmia2

i wonder if sweating it would be easier than wrestling with the propress?

Steve Minnich

I can solder with the best of them. I only switched to ProPress the last 3 years of my career. There’s a reason I went the way I did.

retiredguy

Soldering and brazing copper to make the job look professional is an "art" that I was able to master, ProPress is not. Your work looks very professional and worth the camera shot.

GGross

i've seen some hacks install propress and it won't look even 10% as nice as the work Steve shows here. there is definitely a skill to using propress, its just entirely different skills than soldering, the pipe work itself is an art of sorts and you can tell Steve has mastered it, the connection method is only secondary.

mattmia2

i was just thinking that a torch and solder is easier to handle than a propress tool if you have limited strength.

Steve Minnich

@mattmia2 My hands shake and my arms jerk. On a really good day, I can still solder. 99% of my jobs were soldered.

Steve Minnich

@mattmia2 - I pre-piped as much as I could before heading to the job site. It was just more efficient. This one is from 2017. After this one, had two jobs left before I got out of the field. I bought a Ridgid ProPress tool for those two. They were the only two in my career where I didn’t solder. Once I retired, I used mostly press. The photo you see on heatinghelp’s website is a picture of my own system. There are pros and cons of each.

Steve Minnich

About 25 - 30 years ago, I learned how to solder like that by seeing Jeffrey “HeatBoy” Young’s work and asking lots of questions. To this day, I still use the same solder and flux he recommended. I learned so much from so many here.

ChrisJ

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1898682#Comment_1898682

I've noticed that with my dad also…..

He can get stuff done, but he's not steady like he used to be.

Steve Minnich

I was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s 5 years ago. Shortly thereafter, the Dx changed to Multiple System Atrophy which is less than ideal. I do my best to do whatever I’m able.

ChrisJ

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1898694#Comment_1898694

That's all anyone can do, doing what you can with what you've got, and most importantly, trying to be happy.

Steve Minnich

That’s the way I approach it. I stay locked in the moment.

Dyingtofly

Steve, thanks for that personal note about your health situation, it's quite inspiring. 5 years ago I had to have my hip removed due to a catastrophic failure of a 1-year old mechanical hip. It cannot be repaired, so I remain 'hipless'. Long story shortened, I continued to work for the mechanical contracting & engineering firm I had been with for decades, finally retiring after 34-years with them. A few weeks later I took a part-time position with a company I used to do a lot of business with. I work 3 days a week estimating and proposing boiler venting for commercial & industrial applications. "Why" some people ask, well because I love the whole HVAC industry, I love to learn and I really enjoy working with people. At 71, I'm just not ready to "retire". It sounds to me like you're the same way, ready to accept the challenges we face. My hat is off to you! Thanks for that personal highlight!

Isn't this a great industry and career!?

Evan0307

We had the original boiler in the house for 100 years. When it finally developed a gas leak and I was forced to replace it I couldn’t bear to throw it all out. I still have my gauges and the boiler door. I should have you make me something with the parts!

Intplm.

@Steve Minnich I'm semi-retired. Working only in the warmer months. I'm glad you mentioned this. I often come across stuff that I see get thrown out and wish there was a better place for it rather than the trash. Next time I see something, I will be in touch.👍️

Steve Minnich

@Intplm. That would be great. Thank you!