saddle tank made of copper?

would it be taboo to make a saddle tank for a 5" loco out of copper? I hate soldering and can easily tig the inside if I use cu.

In my view there is no reason why you can't use Copper for the saddle tank ...

The only things ?I can think of against it are :-

a/ The cost

b/ Copper is a lot softer than brass (or steel) so will mark and dent a lot easier.

Dave

If you access to tig why not make it from stainless??

Bri

I hate stainless even more - its a right sod to cut etc

hiya just a thort if you have to buy the material mayby you dont but what about using brass and tig welding that i saw sum brass that had been tig'ed the other day at my welders i use and it looked great, atleast if you knock it it should not dent so easy

Edited By michael burton 1 on 03/07/2012 18:39:15

Ive yet to see a nice tig weld in propper brass....the high zinc content makes it spit and boil like a pig as the zink boils off, your welder must have had some low zinc stuff...anyone know where I can buy it?

A 5"g saddle tank in copper needs a 2nd loan from the bank. will dent easily and if you are painting it a shame such a waste of money, I tend to use steel for the ones I have made and line it inside with the materials vintage bike restorers use in there petrol tanks. once spray painted is reasonably ding proof and looks good.

Anyway steel was the the original material used to make these tanks.
Good Luck

Bob