6″ Vertical Boiler.Spearhead Superheater
by John
Some more progress on the 6″ vertical boiler. Not much to show, but here it is.
Actually, I have been wondering whether to continue with this blog as a “what I have done today” type diary, or whether to post less often, but when a significant milestone has been passed. Your feedback would be welcome on this decision.
The superheater is a copper item, which steam passes through, and is located in or just above the furnace. As a result the steam becomes hotter and drier and more energetic before it is passed through the engine or whatever it is being used for.
This is a lump of copper, 10mm thick which I have cut off a bar which I had in stock. It will be machined into the superheater spearhead.
The copper spearheads machines into shape. Copper is soft, but it grabs the cutters. Not nice to machine. Expert Stuart said that I should have used lubricant. Next time.
The sperheads are bronze brazed to copper pipes, but the difficult bit was bending the 1/4″ copper pipe to fit.
The spearhead is bronze brazed to the copper pipe. Tricky, but seemed to go OK. Don’t know yet whether the bronze join is steam tight.
The tricky bit is the 2 x 90º bends, really close to each other. Does anyone have any good method for doing this? I ended up with this result, but it is not pretty, and I am sure there must be a better method for creating the bends.
The silver soldered joins are yet to be done into the brass fittings shown. I ran out of time in the workshop.
This is getting exciting! I am not too far off firing up this boiler!
Then a visit to the boiler inspector.
johnsmachines 
Hi John
Really enjoying this project.
Very much looking forward to the final bits.
Hope to build one myself soon.
Cheers
John
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Not long to first firing John!
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Getting close now John, really look forward to these posts on the progress of your projects. Even though I can drop in for a look on the progress I know a lot of other people who are interested and follow your posts. The posts have also inspired me to get out in the workshop a lot more and get back on track with my project.
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Always appreciate your encouragement and advice Brendan. and your laser cutter!
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John there are probably lots of silent followers like me who are fascinated by your progress and learn much as you learn.
I certainly appreciate your blog greatly but would not want it to become a burden to you
Perhaps others can voice an opinion.
Cheers
Tim
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Thanks for feedback Tim.
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