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[Kmot]

For anyone who knows:

When constructing a copper boiler, is it recommended to use the same thickness material for the end caps as the thickness of the boiler body?

Or is it a non critical issue?

I have 3" diameter Type L copper pipe which is .090" nominal thickness. I can get copper sheet in 14 gauge at .095" or 16 gauge at .065". The thicker the copper the harder to work it into some domed caps. I was hoping I could just use the 16 gauge for the end caps.

Thanks!

[sunworksco]

As a person working in boilers for years, I myself would use the same thickness bulkheads as the copper tube.
You can always machine some mandrels and heat the thicker copper sheet, then compress the mandrels tight in a hydraulic press, made from an inexpensive jack.
Giovanni

[Kmot]

Thanks for the advice John. :)

[gondolier88]

If you can't find the same thickness then dish the ends outwards which is the strongest form of boiler end caps, and stay it with a decent size (at least 5/32") bronze stay.

Greg

[Circlip]

Don't go searching too hard Kmot, you've allready got some material the same thickness as the tube? It's called "The Tube" (Slit and flatten a piece). On the "Other" forum in the books section, there's a freebie download of Hariss's Bible, that's the one everyone should be following for the pressure calcs.

  Regards  Ian.

  Oooooooooooops, nearly forgot, ANNEAL regularly, saves tears (The crying ones)

[gamma]

Hi kmot...nice to see you here too   

Sergio

[Kmot]

Thank you all,  for the replies. Re: cutting off a piece of tube and slitting, etc. Nope, sorry Ian, that would end up making a very short boiler! 

Anyway, per most advice I have placed an order for a piece of .093" sheet. (I was wrong about it being .095).

I have Stan Bray's book and I intended to make a domed hardwood form, and pound the annealed piece of sheet over it. Re-annealing as I work it. However, I very much like the idea of sunworksco about making a mandrel and using a hydraulic bottle jack. I will have to think about that some more.

Hi Sergio!