fireman31
ArboristSite Member
I've cut some steel for my OWB today. I've been collecting parts for 2 years now. Should I post pics and progress notes or would you all be bored with yet another home made boiler?
I cut steel for my boiler today
- Thread starter fireman31
- Start date
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beerman6
Addicted to ArboristSite
:monkey: should I post pics?????
What kinda question is that?
What kinda question is that?
fireman31
ArboristSite Member
A legitimate one. Just because I'm excited about my project doesn't mean anybody else is. I don't want to bore anybody!
I've been away a while... good to see that this place hasn't changed!!
Pics tomorrow
Locoweed
ArboristSite Guru
If they aren't interested, they don't have to look. Post away for those of us that are interested!
Rookie1
Addicted to ArboristSite
:agree2: If I dont like it I wont look or post reply. I do that with alot of threads. But Im already interested in this one. Bring it on. To me its a pain to take pics while doing a project so I appreciate others when they show them.
nametrux
ArboristSite Member
Pics
Yes Post the pics. The more the better, even post your mistakes. People can learn from your F Us and might save them from making the same.
Yes Post the pics. The more the better, even post your mistakes. People can learn from your F Us and might save them from making the same.
We want pics for sure. If you can make it we want to see it... I'm finding it a real education being on this forum.
AIM
Addicted to ArboristSite
Post away man. I'd love to see what your building. I'd also like to hear some of your opinions as to why your doing this or that.
I built my own and although I do love it I think it's far from perfect. I want to build another next year but I'm not exactly sure what changes to make.
I built my own and although I do love it I think it's far from perfect. I want to build another next year but I'm not exactly sure what changes to make.
nametrux
ArboristSite Member
fireman31
ArboristSite Member
today's progress
Well you asked for pics of mistakes and all so here you go:
In keeping with your request the first one is of my first mistake. I'm sure it will be the first of many.
The first pic shows the oval cutout isn't centered in the end. Purely an appearance thing but I'll see it every time I go to fill it.
The second shows the outer jacket from the other end. The tank I got was twice as long as I needed so I had to cut it in half. I'm reminded how nice a tractor with a loader is, I'm currently without. I'll be cutting a 20 inch slice off of the remaining part to cap the open end. The scrap piece is slightly larger diameter than the end I'm using. When it was originally made one section was fitted inside the other rather than butted together. The piece that's left over after I cut the slice off the end will be used for a fish tank for my aquaponics system.
The third shows the former resident of the tank. The warmth of the boiler will come too late for him though.
The fourth shows the tank I'll be using for my burner box. It's quite thick walled and will hopefully last a long time.
The fifth show the edge detail of the tank shown in the fourth. This one is welded at the edges rather than crimped and welded as the thinner walled tanks are.
This is loosely based on plans I got from DEB Design.
Any thoughts on the use of firebrick and or a grate in the burner box?
I'm installing a "smoke director" that will cause the heat and smoke to make almost 2 full passes of the firebox before going out the flue.
Any thoughts on putting "crossover pipes" above the director?(to avoid direct flame contact)
The plans call for a water jacketed door to prevent warping and to make the door no hotter than the water temp rather than possibly glowing red hot.
Any thoughts on the water jacketed door?
I'm planning on an aquastat controlled fan for boiler water temp control. Think this one is big enough? http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_1036725_1036725
I've got hopes that this unit will heat my garage, my house and a small green house. If not I guess I'll have to build another one!!
I'd have gotten much more done today but I got sucked into helping a friend of my wife's move. The friend didn't answer her phone all morning then decided at 1:30 that she wasn't moving until Saturday. This would have been the 4th time I'd helped her and the 7th time my wife would have helped. Talk about abusing the privilege!! If she does decide to move on Saturday she'll be doing it herself without benefit of me my wife or my truck!!
Well you asked for pics of mistakes and all so here you go:
In keeping with your request the first one is of my first mistake. I'm sure it will be the first of many.
The first pic shows the oval cutout isn't centered in the end. Purely an appearance thing but I'll see it every time I go to fill it.
The second shows the outer jacket from the other end. The tank I got was twice as long as I needed so I had to cut it in half. I'm reminded how nice a tractor with a loader is, I'm currently without. I'll be cutting a 20 inch slice off of the remaining part to cap the open end. The scrap piece is slightly larger diameter than the end I'm using. When it was originally made one section was fitted inside the other rather than butted together. The piece that's left over after I cut the slice off the end will be used for a fish tank for my aquaponics system.
The third shows the former resident of the tank. The warmth of the boiler will come too late for him though.
The fourth shows the tank I'll be using for my burner box. It's quite thick walled and will hopefully last a long time.
The fifth show the edge detail of the tank shown in the fourth. This one is welded at the edges rather than crimped and welded as the thinner walled tanks are.
This is loosely based on plans I got from DEB Design.
Any thoughts on the use of firebrick and or a grate in the burner box?
I'm installing a "smoke director" that will cause the heat and smoke to make almost 2 full passes of the firebox before going out the flue.
Any thoughts on putting "crossover pipes" above the director?(to avoid direct flame contact)
The plans call for a water jacketed door to prevent warping and to make the door no hotter than the water temp rather than possibly glowing red hot.
Any thoughts on the water jacketed door?
I'm planning on an aquastat controlled fan for boiler water temp control. Think this one is big enough? http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_1036725_1036725
I've got hopes that this unit will heat my garage, my house and a small green house. If not I guess I'll have to build another one!!
I'd have gotten much more done today but I got sucked into helping a friend of my wife's move. The friend didn't answer her phone all morning then decided at 1:30 that she wasn't moving until Saturday. This would have been the 4th time I'd helped her and the 7th time my wife would have helped. Talk about abusing the privilege!! If she does decide to move on Saturday she'll be doing it herself without benefit of me my wife or my truck!!
Metals406
Granfodder Runningsaw
Good idea for using that old tank!
What kind of snake is that? Cool looking slithering fella.
What kind of snake is that? Cool looking slithering fella.
fireman31
ArboristSite Member
Not sure how he and another smaller one got in there but I just about beat myself to death on the tank walls trying to get away from him before I realized he was dead!!
Metals406
Granfodder Runningsaw
LOL! Is it poisonous? We don't have poisonous snakes in these parts... Is it a blue racer?
fireman31
ArboristSite Member
Thanks for the kind words on the tank!
As for the kind of snake he is... he's the best kind...THE DEAD KIND!!
Just kidding I've got nothing against the fellas with no shoulders just as long as I see them before I get right on top of them.
AIM
Addicted to ArboristSite
I would do the water filled door for sure. They are a pain to make and require something more than just a torch and welder but definitely worth it.
By something more than a torch and welder I mean that you will probably either enlist the help of a machinist or at least have access to the equipment. To get a half decent seal you'll want to be fairly close on tolerances and want to watch out for warping it when welding it up. Figuring out the hinges and locking mechanism can be tricky but you'll be glad you did it.
The door will reclaim a bit of heat energy plus will never warp.
By something more than a torch and welder I mean that you will probably either enlist the help of a machinist or at least have access to the equipment. To get a half decent seal you'll want to be fairly close on tolerances and want to watch out for warping it when welding it up. Figuring out the hinges and locking mechanism can be tricky but you'll be glad you did it.
The door will reclaim a bit of heat energy plus will never warp.
Please post lots of pics because I am planning to build one soon my plans were to use a propane tank for the burn box and a old fuel tank for the water jacket still thinking of a safe way to put the plasma cutter to the tanks without making dwight jibblets!!
AIM
Addicted to ArboristSite
Don't fret the propane. Take the valves out and let it sit a week and you'll be fine. It'll still smell like propane but it's just the stuff they put in it to give it that smell.
As for the old fuel tank be careful if gas was in it recently. Fuel oil/diesel no big deal though.
A word of caution about OLD fuel tanks. Welding up a GOOD seam with pitted steel can be difficult. Try to get a newer tank even if it costs a couple hundred bucks. The time your gonna have in this project is pretty big so protect yourself from wasting WEEKS.
