SBB's Boiler Build.
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 7:42 pm
Been trying to find something suitable for a boiler build for some time now, on the weekend I found this little beauty at a garage sale. Its a stainless 30 Gallon Pot / boiler that was once used by a cheese maker. The bloke wanted $100 for it, some haggling and I got it for $80. Ive stuck a 20L plastic cube in the photos to try and give and idea of size, it looks bigger in real life I think.
The plan is to weld a top into it using 2mm stainless plate, then flip it over so the top becomes the bottom, a fill port and 6 or 8 inch flange with one of Mac reducers is to be added to fit the Bubbler on. Legs and other goodies are still being thought about.
Ill be paying someone else to do the welding so want to be sure of a few things before I get underway with this project.
Ive never buggered around with stainless before and have never really read up on it a lot so have a few questions for the blokes who do know about it.
Q1 I can get a piece of 2mm 304 stainless for the job, is 304 suitable for a boiler or should I be using a better grade??
If I use any other grade that I can source locally I have to go thinner (1.6mm) , I want to keep the bottom as heavy as possible for both heat distribution and strength.
Q2 should I be stipulating that a certain grade of wire be used for the welding??
Im sure Ill come up with more questions before this is over, also anyone with suggestions or ideas that might be helpful with this build is welcome to toss them in.
The plan is to weld a top into it using 2mm stainless plate, then flip it over so the top becomes the bottom, a fill port and 6 or 8 inch flange with one of Mac reducers is to be added to fit the Bubbler on. Legs and other goodies are still being thought about.
Ill be paying someone else to do the welding so want to be sure of a few things before I get underway with this project.
Ive never buggered around with stainless before and have never really read up on it a lot so have a few questions for the blokes who do know about it.
Q1 I can get a piece of 2mm 304 stainless for the job, is 304 suitable for a boiler or should I be using a better grade??
If I use any other grade that I can source locally I have to go thinner (1.6mm) , I want to keep the bottom as heavy as possible for both heat distribution and strength.
Q2 should I be stipulating that a certain grade of wire be used for the welding??
Im sure Ill come up with more questions before this is over, also anyone with suggestions or ideas that might be helpful with this build is welcome to toss them in.