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Puma
surfing when I can
Registered: 10/08/09
Posts: 319
Loc: BC
Last seen: 4 months, 3 days
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Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker 3
#11304231 - 10/23/09 02:37 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Hey shroomers!
My neighbor and I just built a kickass pressure cooker. I'm totally stoked. She's a monster. Here she is during testing:
Sadly, my camera ran out of batteries just before we painted it black. Paint dries faster on a warm surface, so we painted the PC as it was cooling from its test run. It looks slick with the new paintjob, so I will post new photos soon.
Okay... the basic stats:
Using my rough measurements of 14x40 inches, using the formula for the volume of a cylinder, this thing holds about 110 quarts, over 100 litres. That's a lot of filter patch bags to knock up with LC!
That's also about double what the largest All American PC holds.
NOTE: you need to scrub the inside of any propane tank!!! It stinks like old rotten cheese in there.
This monster PC cost me under 200$, which includes all materials (mostly from the scrap metal yard -- an amazing resource for many areas of mycology) and a wage of $20/hr to my friend who has a machine shop in his backyard. To keep costs down, I was there to do the grunt work, like grinding down bolts and painting, as well as making decisions about extra safety features (I wanted them all).
The machine shop was in a trailer next to his house, powered by 220 volt cord buried in his yard.
Here's the shop:
Okay, so let's back up a little. I'm a noob. I once grew shrooms in high school; I've been busy ever since, and now, in my early 30's, I'm getting back to it.
Wanting to get back into shroom-growing, I had to make a decision: invite contamination by trying the many dubious "teks" that claim to avoid using a PC, or, find a way to acquire one.
I want to grow bulk, and wanted a PC that could handle volume. The largest AA PC only handles about 50 qts.
Over an evening of moonshine with my friend, we decided to go for double that volume: 100 or bust.
I want to acknowledge a previously successful build of a PC using a beer keg, as detailed here: [url=keg tek]https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/10891050/page/9[/url].
Although that tek worked, a beer keg is only required to handle the lower pressure that it takes to contain C02. Beer kegs are thinner than a propane tank, and thus, much more dangerous. Propane tanks are not only larger, but built of thicker steel, to handle hundreds of PSI.
We started with a tank that looked like this: (with the nozzle removed, and the rim set in place but not yet welded).
Taken a few days later, here's a pic of the top, with the rim welded in place, an O-ring groove lathed into the rim, a matching O-ring set into the groove, and finally, a metal plate -- the lid -- lathed into a nice circle, and drilled with eight 5/16" holes, to match the threaded holes sunken into the rim (got all that?!).
Note: I had to grind down the bolts and round off the ends on a grinder, so that they bit enough thread to apply pressure to the O-ring (and thus seal the PC).
SAFETY FIRST:
I don't want to blow a hole in my roof when I start using this beast at home. So, in addition to the pressure gauge (taken second-hand from the lid of a wrecked All American PC I found in the local scrap-metal yard aluminum bin), I wanted two things: (1) an automatic, adjustable pressure-release valve, and (2) a manual pressure-release valve.
The manual valve (left, above) was easy. It cost $15 at a local automotive hardware store ("Okay! I'll go. On my motorbike, through the rain. Be back in 10 minutes."). We used a tapered pipe fitter's tap to sink the threaded hole, wrapped Teflon tape around the threads of the valve, and sunk it into the lid. Essentially, I flick a switch, and it starts bleeding pressure.
On the right is the beauty that we machined ourselves. It is a valve that is triggered by pressure. The "seal" -- which is never a complete seal, but allows pressure to dribble out, or gush out, depending on A) the pressure, and B) the valve setting -- is an inverted cone of metal resting in a hole. The cone can be lifted by pressure in the tank, to release pressure. By stacking washers as weights, or removing them, I can adjust the pressure it takes to release steam. On the test run, I determined that by stacking 2 washers on the valve lid post, I could maintain about 17 PSI with the propane burner turned way down.
Empty, with 4 litres of water, it took less than 15 minutes to reach 15 PSI. It'll take more heat to raise pressure with a full load of substrate bags, of course. But we were previously considering insulating the tank, and now I know that this is unnecessary. It absorbs heat like a mofo!
The adjustable pressure release valve is simple, but takes a skilled machinist to make. In my town, a mainstream metal shop charges $80/hr and won't let you hang out next to the welder. It really takes knowing someone, or having the skills and tools to DIY, to get this done. If you live in a city and don't know this person, move out to the sticks now. In a year, you'll know him -- he's out there!
I'm lucky to know a skilled metal-worker.
It took surprisingly little flame to heat, so we decided that we should make it electric. We'll get a 220-volt burner off a stove from the scrap yard (projected cost=less than $5), plus a few pounds of electrical cable at $1.50/lb. I'll add those photos when the conversion is made.
The biggest danger with this thing is it's top-heavy structure. If it were knocked over, the top of the adjustable pressure-release valve would fall off, and it would start gushing out super-hot steam, capable of melting flesh, and doing huge damage to a house.
Here she is, during testing (same as first photo):
So, it's gotta be kept upright. That'll be taken into account when designing the electric burner and stand....
Well, there you have it... a propane-tank converted into a massive bulk-quantity PC, in my neighbor's backyard, for under $200. I look forward to hearing what you folks think.
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Edited by Puma (10/29/09 02:30 PM)
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HaRo On KoRn
inmortal
Registered: 08/19/09
Posts: 1,270
Loc: West Coast
Last seen: 9 years, 9 months
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Re: Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker [Re: Puma]
#11304266 - 10/23/09 02:49 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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wanna help me make a potatoe gun capable of breaking the sound barrier and making one hell of a sonic boom?????????????????
all the plans and measurments are in my head just help me make my piston and chamber with that lath
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Rustifer
prestige worldwide
Registered: 04/10/05
Posts: 7,071
Loc: Central Texas
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Re: Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker [Re: Puma]
#11304280 - 10/23/09 03:01 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Holy shit.
Nice job man.
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nastos
secret secretions
Registered: 06/15/09
Posts: 7,371
Last seen: 5 years, 9 months
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Re: Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker [Re: Rustifer]
#11304301 - 10/23/09 03:16 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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that thing is kinda scary... but seems like u know wat ur doing... so good job .... i think.
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just me
Friend
Registered: 07/01/07
Posts: 9,745
Loc: IL/MO/FL/TX/HI/OR
Last seen: 4 years, 9 months
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Re: Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker [Re: Puma]
#11304326 - 10/23/09 03:32 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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how are you loading the pressure cooker? have you done a run with glass in it yet? a trivot for the bottom? awesome ass valve!!!
-------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -pEaCeLoVeGoDbLeSs- "The Downfall of Mankind; is Believing He Has Limitations."
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TLW
Stranger
Registered: 05/11/07
Posts: 111
Loc: Why?
Last seen: 12 years, 18 days
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Re: Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker [Re: just me]
#11304377 - 10/23/09 03:57 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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All of that just to make a rubber sealed pressure cooker?
No offense or anything but, while this is cool and you seem to have taken extra care to be as safe as possible, any pressure cooker is dangerous and I sure hope no children are ANYWHERE near that beast.
With that in mind, that thing is so impractical looking. Where are you going to put it when you're not using it? You must have a huge house, and you must be growing mushrooms full time to warrant such a large pressure cooker. How do you get stuff in and out of the pressure cooker?
Grats though.
-------------------- ...Because pirates always win! None of the pictures that are in my gallery, are mine. They were found using google image. This is all fake.
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badman
Registered: 06/14/06
Posts: 4,039
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Re: Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker [Re: TLW]
#11304434 - 10/23/09 04:38 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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That looks really good, i like the insulation idea alot.
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veda_sticks
Cultivator
Registered: 07/29/07
Posts: 14,191
Loc: UK
Last seen: 4 years, 2 months
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Re: Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker [Re: TLW]
#11304491 - 10/23/09 05:43 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
TLW said: All of that just to make a rubber sealed pressure cooker?
No offense or anything but, while this is cool and you seem to have taken extra care to be as safe as possible, any pressure cooker is dangerous and I sure hope no children are ANYWHERE near that beast.
With that in mind, that thing is so impractical looking. Where are you going to put it when you're not using it? You must have a huge house, and you must be growing mushrooms full time to warrant such a large pressure cooker. How do you get stuff in and out of the pressure cooker?
Grats though.
most likely outside, or in the garage?
some people have several AA pressure cookers, soemtimes upto 4
-------------------- PF TEK - writeup by EvilMushroom666 Lets Grow Mushrooms - RogerRabbit & RoadKills website with sample videos plus the full PF TEK video series. Alot of great information - BUY THE DVD Cakes can and will pin! - So you think cakes suck for pins. Your wrong Franks Simple Coir/Verm Tek Franks Proper Pasturisation Tek Franks Spawning To Bulk - Monotub Professor Pinheads RTV Injection Port Tek Foo Mans No Soak WBS Prep Tek
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Herbal_Elixer
Strangerest
Registered: 05/05/09
Posts: 1,841
Loc: Reykjavik
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Re: Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker [Re: TLW]
#11304519 - 10/23/09 06:02 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
TLW said: All of that just to make a rubber sealed pressure cooker?
No offense or anything but, while this is cool and you seem to have taken extra care to be as safe as possible, any pressure cooker is dangerous and I sure hope no children are ANYWHERE near that beast.
With that in mind, that thing is so impractical looking. Where are you going to put it when you're not using it? You must have a huge house, and you must be growing mushrooms full time to warrant such a large pressure cooker. How do you get stuff in and out of the pressure cooker?
Grats though.
I would run that with confidence... no offense, safety first and all.. hell I even have 4 kids, but people have lost site of the fact that people used to be self sufficient like this. And with planning these things are very possible to acheive. Weighted relief valve.. I think.. that will pop off before anything else does.
Secondly, I would kill to have one that size, I'd throw a short pipe axle, two wheels, and a handle and lug that thing all around my yard. Which the OP may consider to add for stability.
8 Bolts around the top: unbolt, fill, rebolt.. nice. I have a Snap On cordless impact that would knock that out in 2 secs..
I like it.. I think this one and the guy who did the keg one are the best home made jobbies I have seen so far.
OP:
Any ideas on removeable inner racks or anything yet?
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cloudsaregathering
pasturbater
Registered: 08/08/09
Posts: 1,283
Loc: ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha
Last seen: 1 month, 7 days
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Re: Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker [Re: Herbal_Elixer]
#11304547 - 10/23/09 06:17 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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pretty sweet dude...
-------------------- "the root of the problem has been isolated"
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stonesun
Sclerotia Aficionado
Registered: 05/22/09
Posts: 5,444
Loc: 64º08'00"N 21º56'00"W
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Re: Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker [Re: Puma]
#11304769 - 10/23/09 07:52 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Puma said:
Here's the shop:
Gotta love it! Awesome
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WildRover
On and off again
Registered: 09/11/06
Posts: 115
Loc: SE USA
Last seen: 11 years, 10 months
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Re: Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker [Re: stonesun]
#11304932 - 10/23/09 08:36 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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You are dedicated.
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truskool
WTF?? FTW!!
Registered: 06/28/09
Posts: 11,194
Loc: Over the rainbow
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Re: Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker [Re: WildRover]
#11304936 - 10/23/09 08:37 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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That shit is dope
-------------------- Ask AMU for the best mycology advice out there Roll it While I troll it. I don't mean to boast, but dam if I don't brag.
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Ransom
Better than most
Registered: 08/01/09
Posts: 72
Last seen: 8 years, 8 months
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Re: Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker [Re: truskool]
#11305020 - 10/23/09 08:56 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Heh, damn this looks like more than a hobby. More like someone decided to quit there job.
Good work.
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truskool
WTF?? FTW!!
Registered: 06/28/09
Posts: 11,194
Loc: Over the rainbow
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Re: Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker [Re: Ransom]
#11305031 - 10/23/09 09:00 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Ransom said: Heh, damn this looks like more than a hobby. More like someone decided to quit there job.
Good work.
thats how us canadians roll
-------------------- Ask AMU for the best mycology advice out there Roll it While I troll it. I don't mean to boast, but dam if I don't brag.
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dstark
Manifesting Minds
Registered: 02/27/08
Posts: 4,144
Last seen: 7 months, 30 days
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Re: Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker [Re: truskool]
#11305070 - 10/23/09 09:11 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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That is fucking A-M-A-Z-I-N-G-! Puma to the president :P
Would love to see the results of jars that were PCed in this monsta...
-------------------- What is a mind, if not something to be messed with? What is consciousness, if not a state to be altered? ~I Feelat Home~
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bigboi86
Overclocker
Registered: 06/16/09
Posts: 1,267
Loc: South East
Last seen: 11 years, 8 months
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Re: Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker [Re: dstark]
#11305073 - 10/23/09 09:14 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Goddamn son. I would have made it shorter and wider though.. lol..
Nice job though, I love custom fabrication.
-------------------- Anybody want to buy my shirt?
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Roadkill
Retired Shroomery Mod
Registered: 12/11/01
Posts: 22,674
Loc: Montana
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Re: Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker [Re: Puma]
#11305184 - 10/23/09 09:45 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Scary...
and I have over 25 years experience working on Boilers and Pressure Vessels.
good luck!~
tc
-------------------- Laterz, Road Who the hell you callin crazy? You wouldn't know what crazy was if Charles Manson was eating froot loops on your front porch! Brainiac said: PM the names with on there names, that means they have mushrooms for sale.
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Agent 47
Registered: 03/31/08
Posts: 631
Loc: Western PA
Last seen: 5 years, 4 months
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Re: Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker [Re: bigboi86]
#11305210 - 10/23/09 09:52 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Neat pressure cooker, I love how the machine shop was well organized!
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LeopardMan
Constantly changing
Registered: 09/21/09
Posts: 5,467
Loc: A tree house
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Re: Home-made, high-volume Pressure Cooker [Re: Puma]
#11305325 - 10/23/09 10:30 AM (14 years, 5 months ago) |
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Now you only need an elevator to put your jars in (and to take them out). Impressive.
-------------------- You have to die a few times before you can really live. -Charles Bukowski-
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