Boiler plate specification

This forum is dedicated to the Live Steam Hobbyist Community.

Moderators: cbrew, Harold_V

Glenn Brooks
Posts: 2930
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 1:39 pm
Location: Woodinville, Washington

Boiler plate specification

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Anybody know the current ASME boilerplate material specification for hobby boilers, up to 14” tube diameter, rated at 150psi.

I assume ASME 516 grade 65??

Thanks,
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....
hoppercar
Posts: 616
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2018 4:09 pm

Re: Boiler plate specification

Post by hoppercar »

Or. A106b
Curtis_F
Posts: 848
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2003 10:14 am
Location: Reedley, Ca. 93274
Contact:

Re: Boiler plate specification

Post by Curtis_F »

Pretty much any ASME SA material.
Pipes: SA-106
Plate: SA-36, SA-285C, SA-516, etc.
As all A-36 plate is also spec'd for SA-36, that's the most common and lowest priced material you can get.

The SA-285C is easier to form and requires closer stay bolt spacing, and SA-516 is hard to form but stay bolts can be much further apart.
25+ Years of SolidWorks experience...now I feel old.
"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink."
"Winning an argument on the internet is like winning the Special Olympics."
www.facebook.com/HillcrestShops
Glenn Brooks
Posts: 2930
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 1:39 pm
Location: Woodinville, Washington

Re: Boiler plate specification

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Thanks,guys, very useful info!

Quick followup: do all of the above comments apply to code boilers?


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....
User avatar
cbrew
Posts: 3161
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2003 12:17 pm
Location: Vancouver Wa

Re: Boiler plate specification

Post by cbrew »

Glenn, the washington state code calls out all the options. at least i remember seeing it
If it is not live steam. its not worth it.
User avatar
NP317
Posts: 4557
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2014 2:57 pm
Location: Northern Oregon, USA

Re: Boiler plate specification

Post by NP317 »

Glenn Brooks wrote: Thu Dec 01, 2022 11:02 pm Thanks,guys, very useful info!

Quick followup: do all of the above comments apply to code boilers?

Glenn
For Washington State, their Hobby Boiler "code" is less stringent than ASME codes.
All States may very.
RussN
Curtis_F
Posts: 848
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2003 10:14 am
Location: Reedley, Ca. 93274
Contact:

Re: Boiler plate specification

Post by Curtis_F »

Glenn Brooks wrote: Thu Dec 01, 2022 11:02 pm Quick followup: do all of the above comments apply to code boilers?
Glenn,
All of the materials I listed meet ASME code (ASME BPVC Section 1) for Power Boilers.

A good reference and very practical guide for boilers and their materials are the Australian Miniature Boiler Safety Committee Code. https://www.aals.asn.au/standards/

It's based on the ASME code, but they've also included sections on copper and duplex (stainless) steel boilers.

Cheers,
Curtis F.
25+ Years of SolidWorks experience...now I feel old.
"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink."
"Winning an argument on the internet is like winning the Special Olympics."
www.facebook.com/HillcrestShops
Glenn Brooks
Posts: 2930
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 1:39 pm
Location: Woodinville, Washington

Re: Boiler plate specification

Post by Glenn Brooks »

Thanks Curtis! Good to know. I used to be up on all this stuff. But it’s been years, so relearning almost all of it…

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....
joe.joseph
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat May 09, 2020 9:54 pm

Re: Boiler plate specification

Post by joe.joseph »

Materials used in boiler construction

Boiler Plates --Mild Steel ASTM A285 -Grades A, B, C.
Copper Tubes --ASTM B-75 type K or L.
Welding Electrodes E6010, E6011, E6012, E7015, E7016, E7017
Stay Bolts --Mild Steel ASTM 285 -Grades A, B, C.
Bolts --Mild Steel ASTM 285 -Grades A, B, C.

Barrel should be made from quality steel tube or pipe approved for pressure vessel
construction and should comply with ASTM-A285-57T for hot-finish seamless or welded steel tubes or
an acceptable equal.

The flat plates should be steel that complies with ASTM-A285-57T or be 1030 or less steel.

The tube plates are to be a minimum thickness of 3/8" (three-eighths inch).
The minimum ligament allowed between tubes, 1" (one inch) in diameter or less, is 1/4" (onequarter
inch). In boilers under 6" diameter, when using tubes that are silver soldered in, the ligament (the
spacing between tubes measured o.d. to o.d.) should be a minimum of 5/32" (five thirty-seconds inch).
The back head plate, in boilers greater than 6" (six inches) diameter, should be a minimum of
3/8" (three-eighths inch) thick. In boilers that are 6" or less diameter, the back head plate should be a
minimum of 1/4" (one-quarter inch) thick.

Steel tubes used for flues should be seamless or welded steel that complies with ASTM A53 or
equal and should be 18 gauge for tubes up to 3/4" (three-quarters inch) outside diameter; over 3/4"
(three-quarters inch) outside diameter should be 16 gauge.
Copper tubes should be hard-drawn copper tube, type K or L tubes are to be rolled in, the ends should be
annealed before rolling.
Joe

Member: Northeast Ohio Live Steamers
Ridge Live Steamers
Marty_Knox
Posts: 1724
Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2003 6:50 pm
Location: Michigan, USA

Re: Boiler plate specification

Post by Marty_Knox »

Good Luck finding 285 these days. Most common PVQ plate currently is SA516-gr70. Current pipe spec is SA106B for seamless pipe.
joe.joseph
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat May 09, 2020 9:54 pm

Re: Boiler plate specification

Post by joe.joseph »

Good to know, it's been quite some time since I did any work on my boiler.
Joe

Member: Northeast Ohio Live Steamers
Ridge Live Steamers
User avatar
Fender
Posts: 3084
Joined: Wed May 02, 2007 8:33 pm
Location: Chattanooga TN

Re: Boiler plate specification

Post by Fender »

I’ve never heard of round bar stock being available in 285. A-36 hot rolled is most commonly used, but 1018 cold-rolled is sometimes used.
Dan Watson
Chattanooga, TN
Post Reply