Emma Victoria boiler

Hi guys, looking for some advice on grade of copper to use, some research throws up conflicting opinions on what grades are suitable, dire warnings about other grades etc..

Price is a considerable factor, Macc Models for instance list C101 and C106, the latter being about 50% more in price.

I obviously don't want to spend more than I have to but also want to get it right.

Bill D.

Generally for boiler work you need oxygen free grades of copper which are C103 & C106. If you use a grade that is not oxygen free there is a risk that the heat from soldering can make the oxygen boil and that causes fine cracks in teh copper known as oxygen embrittlement.

Have a read of CuP alloys site, parent material explains it

J

Despite the above a lot of the ME suppliers only sell C101 !!

Bill D.

hi bill,

C101 has been used for many years for silver soldering with propane/gas blowlamps/paraffin blowlamps. it is NOT suitable for use with TIG welding, and probably the reference in the excellent CuPalloy's link from Jason is in respect of use with oxy-acetylene?

i agree with Jason that C106 is preferable. i dont know quite what you mean re Macc Model's pricing as in my experience all Joe's copper boiler material is C106 and is what ive used from him for quite a few years and quite a few boilers, with i might add excellent service from Joe with my sometimes odd sizes and requirements.

check what grade copper your club boiler inspector requires.

cheers,

julian

Edited By julian atkins on 04/03/2015 23:56:09

Hydrogen embrittlement of copper can be caused by any gas flame be it oxy-acetylene or propane /air. If the burner gets too close to the work the oxygen in the copper is converted to steam which causes the cracking.

You will see when these conditions prevail because the copper will shine like a mirror.

Work outside the blue zone of your flame.

If you are experiencing difficulty in obtaining oxygen free copper ask a professional boiler maker for your requirements.

Regards

Keith

Oops, just noticed my reply seems to have disappeared into the ether.

Looks like C106 is the one to use then, this will be my first loco boiler, (my first loco anything actually) I am apprehensive enough without risking messing it up with wrong material.

Julian, I was not questioning Macc prices, just highlighting the difference between C101 & 106. I have been using Joe for some years now, his prices are keen, good range, good website and the last few orders have been received by return.

If C106 is the correct grade for boiler work I was a bit surprised to see several ME suppliers only advertising C101. Not all copper will be for boilers I suppose but the majority would surely.

Still Joe supplies the correct grade so that is where I will be going.

Thanks to all for advice.

Bill D

Bill, what will you use for the super heater flue? It is listed as 22mm which is suspiciously like plumbing pipe.

I have been advised to use 7/8" steam pipe,the same as the small fire tubes.

Going to see the club boiler inspector soon and show all the bits before sticking them together.

My first boiler too. Shame we don't live nearer to each other.

John

To add to what Julian has stated about copper grade, indeed the tube Joe at Macc models sells is deoxygenated but unless things have changed recently the plate isn't, so you cant tig one to the other. I know because I tried, and can still hear the awful cracking noised as it cooled in my head! And there's nothing diabolical about using plumbing pipe either! (don't lets start that debate again, but people have and do use it with no ill effect).

Hi John, I have not actually started the boiler yet, (bought the boiler tube though) I like to try and think ahead to sort any questions banging around in my head and as a bit of light relief from some of the more time consuming jobs, doing the valve gear at the mo) I did wonder about the 22mm tube, my immediate thought was it was at odds with all the imperial stuff, having said that I have not yet researched it so would be interested in other peoples thoughts.

Fizzy, Joe does now sell C106 Oxygen free copper. This is what started off my query on correct grade as the, eg, 2.5mm C101 is £35, C106 £54.

Bill D.