No welding shops in Manchester?

How about oxy-mapp?
Or would that risk cutting instead of welding?

The Oxy-Mapp setup was fine for the HX Tube. But that boiler, it's a huge heat sink so while your heating it up, to form a puddle to start brazing, it's just absorbing the heat. I've asked a few shops here, nobody's gotten back to me yet. Holiday's I suppose. I'll keep at it! I'll toss up some photos when it's all finished.

Quick followup on my Astoria machine. After calling around half a dozen welders in the area, and each telling me it's not something they do (not enough money in it for them), I got fed up and went to my local AirGas shop with the boiler. They were not surprised that nobody would step forward and fix the boiler as it falls into the "artisan" welding category. They were however helpful by suggesting silver brazing solder which I tried and used. They also gave me a card of a local (to me) "artisan" welder incase I get into a jam.

So far the silver solder had held up for about a week of continued use till I saw another pinhole leak. I drained the boiler, cleaned the area and hit it again with the silver solder. So far so good. Time will tell if this is a permanent repair or if whatever is in the weld decides to want to eat away at the silver brazing solder.

What frustrates me to no end is that I've emailed Astoria about this asking for a replacement boiler (on my dime) and I get absolutely no response.

While I've had it apart, I've decided to give the body a good painting, and a good excuse to use my HVLP sprayer. Along with rebuilding the steam and tea valves and replace the pump.

So that's it for now.

What frustrates me to no end is that I've emailed Astoria about this asking for a replacement boiler (on my dime) and I get absolutely no response.

Sometimes, email goes to a spam box and is never seen again.

General Espresso Equipment Corporation
7912 Industrial Village Road
Greensboro, NC 27409
Tel: 336-393-0224
Fax: 336-393-0295
Email: info(at)geec.com

I would think a new boiler is very pricey but ya never can tell what companies have in the "dusty corner" of their warehouse.

Thanks for that info.

I dont believe limescale results from a reaction to the brass or copper of the boiler or it's fittings. It is a result of moisture evaporating and leaving what doesn't evaporate. Calcium or other mineral "lime scale".

With regard to the boiler, I'd leave it until it becomes a problem. (noticeable steam leak, water on the counter) and take it to a professional then. And not just any professional, a guy who works with copper and brass and food manufacturing products. I hope you "know somebody" local. I do. Not something I would do myself. I fix espresso machines, I'm not a welder.

The fitting to the pump is easy, I'm sure you've already taken care of that. I've found that vinegar is less than ideal for removing these limescale deposits. I prefer something more aggressive and not to have to soak for so long. I've been using powdered ascorbic acid although I do prefer something yet stronger than that.
The ball component of the mating pieces can wear a groove at the sealing surface and need to be replaced. The boiler fitting mates with this ball fitting and can sometimes be "redressed" ie with a flat file and or a 45 deg countersink. However, this can also be overtightened and when that happens, this fitting splits and actually leaks more, the greater you tighten it.
Probably, this didn't get tightened and it is now.