Putting steam pipes through brass sheets

[Peter VennParticipant @petervenn53369]

I have currently got to the stage where I need to put pipes through the front cab windsheet and therefore holes have to to be drilled. If the hole is drilled big enough to accept a union through it then it’s going to be bigger than is required for the pipe and may look ugly but if the union is soldered on after the pipe is put through an appropriately sized hole the pipe is going to be attached forever to that sheet of brass.
Is there an answer to this or do we just have to accept that our holes are going to be bigger than is cosmetically desirable?

Comments would be appreciated. Thank you.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Use a bulkhead fitting ? Noel.

[Peter VennParticipant @petervenn53369]

Yes, I was considering making a small round flanged pipe the right diameter to be a sliding fit for the copper pipe to go through held onto the bulkhead with 3 or 4 14 BA screws so that it can be removed in the union pulled through the larger hole. I guess that is probably the best way for neatness.

[Peter VennParticipant @petervenn53369]

Thanks for your response by the way

[Brian Baker 2Participant @brianbaker2]

Greetings Peter,  It is a problem to run pipes through bulkheads without having an overlarge hole, but you might with a bit of reorganising arrange for the pipes to come through the edge of the bulkhead close to the boiler so as to only need a pipe sized notch for the pipe.

Worth a try.

Regards

Brian B

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

What sort of pressure are you talking about  and temperature?  If the pipes were cold water feed, then the Enot type fitting have either copper olives or ‘O’ ring seals. the ‘O’ ring type are removable, the olive type not so.

Bob

[Peter VennParticipant @petervenn53369]

Hi both

full steam pressure at 80 psi I am afraid Bob.

I have seen that done Brian but in this particular case the manifold is the other side of the front cab sheet and very close to it so there isn’t room to get the pipes to come down in a z bend.
I think I will stick with my idea about making a flanged type bulkhead fitting.
Thanks again
Peter

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