1.5" Scale Boiler Manufacturers

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Mike Walsh
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Joined: Sun May 06, 2007 10:14 pm
Location: St. Louis, MO

1.5" Scale Boiler Manufacturers

Post by Mike Walsh »

Hello

I am wondering if folks can help generate a list of known boiler vendors.

It would help to indicate if they are taking custom work, or if they are strictly making proven designs/selling from stock.

I have a project that I will need a custom boiler, but might be able to make do with a modified off-the-shelf design. Not sure who is in the mod/custom game anymore other than Godshall.

Thanks,
Mike Walsh
Marty_Knox
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Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2003 6:50 pm
Location: Michigan, USA

Re: 1.5" Scale Boiler Manufacturers

Post by Marty_Knox »

I am still building boilers. I just shipped a 2.5" scale K-27 boiler that was ordered two years ago.
It went way over my initial estimate. That is why I announced recently that I will not accept custom orders.
I currently have 18 boilers to build for customers. 3 are replacements for existing boilers, the others are Allen or Little Engines boilers.
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Steven E. Kuhn
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Location: Joliet, Illinois

Re: 1.5" Scale Boiler Manufacturers

Post by Steven E. Kuhn »

Hi Mike, Marty has an excellent reputation. If you are looking for a custom boiler have you tried Ed Perry out in California? His number is 559-907-6075. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

Steven E. Kuhn
Berkman
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Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2017 7:55 pm

Re: 1.5" Scale Boiler Manufacturers

Post by Berkman »

Godshall, Marty, Ed perry, Duncan Herring, all provide boilers.
Not sure where Jessee Banning/ Bruno Platzer source their boilers or if they build them, but that's another option.
Bob Dean and Vance nickerson could also be potential boiler sources.
hoppercar
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Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2018 4:09 pm

Re: 1.5" Scale Boiler Manufacturers

Post by hoppercar »

Many people build there own boilers, correct materials a good welder, and patience........there's no trick to it
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Bill Shields
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Re: 1.5" Scale Boiler Manufacturers

Post by Bill Shields »

and experience....do not forget experience....
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
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NP317
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Re: 1.5" Scale Boiler Manufacturers

Post by NP317 »

I hope CBrew lets us know the total hours he has been welding on his new boiler.
RussN
Glenn Brooks
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Location: Woodinville, Washington

Re: 1.5" Scale Boiler Manufacturers

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Mike, before Covid hit, I did some serious research on boiler makers. Found three or four commercial boiler shops on line that were taking orders. None of which were hobby boilers. One company was in the Mid South area- Birmingham maybe... another was a non profit train museum of some sort in Maine. Third is the Straussburg RR in Pa. these guys were backlogged several years. So I considered them unreliable, as they had no idea when they could deliver.

Also, Rkcarguy on this forum works for a large steel fab shop in Bellingham. Delivers over one Million tons of steel/year. They have a dependable, full time, commercial boiler shop you could talk to.

The biggest hurdle to costing was they all required a set of drawings to provide an estimate. Still haven’t progressed that far. Back then the rule of thumb re: cost, was around $1500/stay bolt.

Materials cost has trippled since then, so I have no idea what costs are these days- or who is still doing work, except for Ryan. However there are plenty of boilers in industry, so it might pay to search around the commercial world.

Glenn
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum

Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge

Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
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cbrew
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Re: 1.5" Scale Boiler Manufacturers

Post by cbrew »

NP317 wrote: Wed Dec 15, 2021 9:54 pm I hope CBrew lets us know the total hours he has been welding on his new boiler.
RussN
Morning Russ,
I have not been tracking hours or total cost of materials i had the shell on hand.
the plate was just under 500 bucks early 2000 before covid kneecapped the prices.
copper on the other hand is just stupid $$ right now. paying 65 bucks a 20 foot stick locally for .625 OD K.

my time is grouped into learning and decompression time from work work.
I have had many eyes on this as i have been posting regularly on fb.

here is a couple progress pics...

I am down to the front sheet and hollow stays, then roll in the copper...

Keep in mind, I am no Marty Knox, but with careful thought joint prep and practice. it can be done
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If it is not live steam. its not worth it.
djjh87
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Re: 1.5" Scale Boiler Manufacturers

Post by djjh87 »

Nice work. That's encouraging for my up coming boiler welding. Thanks for sharing. Jim
No problems just solutions.
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NP317
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Location: Northern Oregon, USA

Re: 1.5" Scale Boiler Manufacturers

Post by NP317 »

ChrisB:
Thanks for sharing.
Nice work. Extensive efforts involved.
RussN
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cbrew
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Location: Vancouver Wa

Re: 1.5" Scale Boiler Manufacturers

Post by cbrew »

NP317 wrote: Thu Dec 16, 2021 2:42 pm ChrisB:
Thanks for sharing.
Nice work. Extensive efforts involved.
RussN
thanks Russ,
The welding is now complete.
the tubes will be going in next
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If it is not live steam. its not worth it.
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