Supporting > Boilers

I have a dumb question about boiler material

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loggerhogger:
I notice that a lot of people are building small boilers out of copper tube. I was wondering if brass would also be a suitable material for a boiler shell. If not, why?

cncjunior:
Hey,

The thing about brass is that the zinc is leached out when used in a boiler.  It is called dezincification and weakens the metal to the point where it will crack and fail.  Best to use copper.  Steel with copper tubes is a possibility though not as heat conductive as copper.

Daniel

10KPete:
The 'dumb' question is the one you don't ask!!   :slap:

Pete

Jasonb:
Its Ok for very small boilers that won't be running at high pressures say below 30psi and not getting a lot of use. Most of the "toy" steam models like Mamod have used brass boilers for years.

J

K.B.C:

--- Quote from: Jasonb on January 21, 2016, 07:36:56 am ---Its Ok for very small boilers that won't be running at high pressures say below 30psi and not getting a lot of use. Most of the "toy" steam models like Mamod have used brass boilers for years.

J

--- End quote ---

Hi Jason,

I am sorry but I must contradict you, it's not O.K. to build a brass boiler.
The reason that Mamod and others who make the "Toy Boilers" is that they know tha quality and grade  of the brass tube used and people seing them think that they can use brass tube that may have come from a scrap yard or any other source and the quality is unknown, this type of brass tube are the ones that can cause trouble Dezincification and leaching.
In the U.K. anybody presenting a brass boiler of unknow quality will have a refusal to test from an appointed Inspector.

However if somebody wishes to make a brass boiler and use it within the confines of their own space that is entirelly up to them.

George.

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