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MycoUnderground
Enthusiast



Registered: 10/23/08
Posts: 467
Loc: Suburban CO
Last seen: 12 years, 6 months
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"Breaking in" new AA pressure cookers
#14181380 - 03/25/11 10:48 AM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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I just got my new AA921 No more tiny little Presto POS...
Anyway, I just got through reading the AA manual and doing some searching here on the Shroomery and both sources have stated that new AA's sometimes need to be used a few times and "broken in" for the metal-to-metal seal to work properly. I also found a few stories where someone's brand new AA leaked during the first couple of uses even with proper lubrication and such.
Would some of you AA owners out there recommend "breaking in" my AA by simply running it through a few cycles with nothing but water? I would rather avoid the worry of my pressure cooker leaking when it is full of grain jars and know that it is in good working condition the first time I actually load it up.
I don't see how it would be harmful to run the pressure cooker for a few cycles with just water, so really I am just curious to see what some experienced owners have to say about this.
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mikehauncho


Registered: 06/17/09
Posts: 567
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Re: "Breaking in" new AA pressure cookers *DELETED* [Re: MycoUnderground]
#14181446 - 03/25/11 11:02 AM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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Post deleted by mikehaunchoReason for deletion: LE
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TranscendingLife
I Don't Need a Life to Live



Registered: 06/09/10
Posts: 21,627
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Re: "Breaking in" new AA pressure cookers [Re: mikehauncho]
#14181467 - 03/25/11 11:06 AM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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It won't hurt, but..
I never "broke" mine in...Never had a problem w/ the seal either. Just make sure you have some EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) Around to lube up the metal to metal parts (I also do the top of where the wing nuts tighten to the lid)
-------------------- AMU: We Quickly Answer Questions Here "One must accept the probability of failure to experience the elation of success." - TranscendingLife “A man of genius makes no mistakes; his errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery.” - James Joyce
      How I Do EVERYTHING      "Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart…. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes."- Carl Jung "Anything that can be done chemically can be done by other means."- William S. Burroughs "You are as dead now as you will ever be" - Seth
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13shrooms
Lightning Shaman



Registered: 01/01/09
Posts: 26,719
Loc: IN ETHERS TORSION FIELD
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Im getting my AA 25X tomorrow! 
EVOO - on the need 2 get list 
Im not using my good cooking garlic EVOO for my sterilizer.
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A M U Click here ^ for the AMU forum VVV AMUs Free Active/Edible/Exotic Spore Print or Syringe or Edible Culture Trade Thread VVV "Man is the sex organ of the machine world" ~ Marshall McLuhan
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MycoUnderground
Enthusiast


Registered: 10/23/08
Posts: 467
Loc: Suburban CO
Last seen: 12 years, 6 months
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Re: "Breaking in" new AA pressure cookers [Re: 13shrooms]
#14215515 - 03/31/11 03:34 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Well I should have done a "break in." At 3 psi my AA921 started spewing steam from the sides where the handles are. It only got up to about 5 psi before I decided to take it of the stove for fear of it boiling dry.
I am just going to let it cool, open it, clean the mating surfaces and re-apply vaseline and run it again and see how that goes.
Anyone see any problems with using the same grain jars? They were in the PC for about 20 mintutes when I took if off the burner. I don't think it would be a problem, just wondering what some of you might have to say.
Perhaps we should recommend "breaking in" new AA pressure cookers to people before they load them up with jars.
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TranscendingLife
I Don't Need a Life to Live



Registered: 06/09/10
Posts: 21,627
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I never had a problem w/ my new AA. I got it, oiled it & rocked it out... maybe I'm lucky
-------------------- AMU: We Quickly Answer Questions Here "One must accept the probability of failure to experience the elation of success." - TranscendingLife “A man of genius makes no mistakes; his errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery.” - James Joyce
      How I Do EVERYTHING      "Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart…. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes."- Carl Jung "Anything that can be done chemically can be done by other means."- William S. Burroughs "You are as dead now as you will ever be" - Seth
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MycoUnderground
Enthusiast


Registered: 10/23/08
Posts: 467
Loc: Suburban CO
Last seen: 12 years, 6 months
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Maybe you were lucky. I'm certain I followed directions...but the manual does say this can happen.
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TranscendingLife
I Don't Need a Life to Live



Registered: 06/09/10
Posts: 21,627
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well, then, I got lucky. lol. At least the manual covers it. That way you know it's not screwed permanently...
-------------------- AMU: We Quickly Answer Questions Here "One must accept the probability of failure to experience the elation of success." - TranscendingLife “A man of genius makes no mistakes; his errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery.” - James Joyce
      How I Do EVERYTHING      "Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart…. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes."- Carl Jung "Anything that can be done chemically can be done by other means."- William S. Burroughs "You are as dead now as you will ever be" - Seth
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MycoUnderground
Enthusiast


Registered: 10/23/08
Posts: 467
Loc: Suburban CO
Last seen: 12 years, 6 months
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Alright I have tried to put it through 5 cycles and it has not improved.
During 2 of the runs it could only build to 7 psi before the pressure was equalized by escaping steam. During 3 other runs it only got to 3 psi because of so much steam escaping. The stove was on high and it sat at 3 psi for 20 minutes before I took it off.
Each time I cleaned off the mating surfaces and put a small amount of vaseline on them. Each time I made sure the lid was on as evenly as a could possible get it. To the naked eye it looked perfectly even. I tightened the nuts very very lightly on opposing sides simulataneusly till about an eighth to a quarter turn past snug.
I called their customer service, but it looks like they got friday afternoon off because noone answered even though it was during their business hours.
I don't know what to do. I guess will try it again after it cools off. I am losing my patience with this thing.
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TranscendingLife
I Don't Need a Life to Live



Registered: 06/09/10
Posts: 21,627
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Sounds defective. I would stop fucking with it for the weekend. Call monday morning, e-mail them the pictures & describe the problem thoroughly, as you did on here. They're a good company, and I bet they'll replace the unit &, hopefully, not charge you shipping for returning the original defective product...
-------------------- AMU: We Quickly Answer Questions Here "One must accept the probability of failure to experience the elation of success." - TranscendingLife “A man of genius makes no mistakes; his errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery.” - James Joyce
      How I Do EVERYTHING      "Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart…. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes."- Carl Jung "Anything that can be done chemically can be done by other means."- William S. Burroughs "You are as dead now as you will ever be" - Seth
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13shrooms
Lightning Shaman



Registered: 01/01/09
Posts: 26,719
Loc: IN ETHERS TORSION FIELD
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This is a first Ive ever heard of an AA not working perfectly, mine needs some parts but it will still work just fine.
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A M U Click here ^ for the AMU forum VVV AMUs Free Active/Edible/Exotic Spore Print or Syringe or Edible Culture Trade Thread VVV "Man is the sex organ of the machine world" ~ Marshall McLuhan
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shroomie_glen
RedHotPussyLiquor



Registered: 03/01/06 
Posts: 4,296
Loc: Narf Carolina
Last seen: 11 years, 4 months
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Re: "Breaking in" new AA pressure cookers [Re: 13shrooms]
#14224330 - 04/02/11 12:27 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Dude that is soooooo uncool. I got an AA off ebay, hella used and it worked more than adequately...... I would like to think that fresh from the box it would work flawlessly...... Definately contact the company and bitch like hell mon.... There is NO reason why they shouldnt replace or refurbish your sterilizer at least....
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No. No, man. Shit, no man. I believe you'd get your ass kicked sayin' somethin' like that man.
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Javadog
Continuing along



Registered: 05/03/10
Posts: 7,385
Loc: USA
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Re: "Breaking in" new AA pressure cookers [Re: shroomie_glen]
#14224473 - 04/02/11 01:13 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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I got a 925X off eBay for $200 and it has worked perfectly.
I thought that petroleum jelly was the recommended lube...
JD
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
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shroomie_glen
RedHotPussyLiquor



Registered: 03/01/06 
Posts: 4,296
Loc: Narf Carolina
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Re: "Breaking in" new AA pressure cookers [Re: Javadog]
#14225732 - 04/02/11 12:10 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Javadog said: I got a 925X off eBay for $200 and it has worked perfectly.
I thought that petroleum jelly was the recommended lube...
JD
Thats what I use... has always done me right... And it has been used in the lab in a pinch for ground glass joints....so
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No. No, man. Shit, no man. I believe you'd get your ass kicked sayin' somethin' like that man.
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quebus
Stranger

Registered: 05/01/10
Posts: 678
Last seen: 3 months, 24 days
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See my thread from today with a reply from the factory. There is a link therein with PICs of my PC spewing steam.
I am about to fire it up again with just water.
I also noticed that RR, in his vids, recommends leaving the weight off until steam has been coming out for 5 - 10 minutes, then dropping the weight on.
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 1 year, 12 days
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Quote:
MycoUnderground said: I tightened the nuts very very lightly on opposing sides simulataneusly till about an eighth to a quarter turn past snug.
How tight did that make them? They should be snugged up nice and tight, but not to the point you strain your wrists tightening them. I've never had one leak enough not to build pressure. There might be a bit of hissing for a time or two when brand new, but never enough leakage to fail to build up. It sounds like there's something in the mating surfaces preventing them from joining properly. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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quebus
Stranger

Registered: 05/01/10
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Last seen: 3 months, 24 days
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Re: "Breaking in" new AA pressure cookers [Re: quebus]
#14226868 - 04/02/11 04:07 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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My second attempt worked fine. Stayed at 15 PSI for 10 minutes. I turned my electric control to 5.5 (out of 10) to get the right amount of venting. Just follow the instructions I posted from the AA rep
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MycoUnderground
Enthusiast


Registered: 10/23/08
Posts: 467
Loc: Suburban CO
Last seen: 12 years, 6 months
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Re: "Breaking in" new AA pressure cookers [Re: RogerRabbit]
#14227888 - 04/02/11 07:28 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
RogerRabbit said:
Quote:
MycoUnderground said: I tightened the nuts very very lightly on opposing sides simulataneusly till about an eighth to a quarter turn past snug.
How tight did that make them? They should be snugged up nice and tight, but not to the point you strain your wrists tightening them. I've never had one leak enough not to build pressure. There might be a bit of hissing for a time or two when brand new, but never enough leakage to fail to build up. It sounds like there's something in the mating surfaces preventing them from joining properly. RR
By snug, I mean the point right where the nut touches the lid. I get all the nuts to this point with the lid leveled, then tighten opposing nuts maybe a 1/32 of a turn. (This is what I meant by lightly tightening.) I do this all the way around a few times until the nuts are about 1/3 of a turn past the snug point I just mentioned. At this time I can feel that I would have to start using some force to turn them. I have read in your posts about how to work an AA, and that a strong man shouldn't even use a quarter of his strength to turn the nuts, and I do my best to make sure I don't go past what feels like a quarter of my strength.
It leaks badly. The leaks are around the whole lid, the worst area being where the handles are. When pressure gets to about 3-4 psi, steam is literally spewing 3 feet out sideways.
Edited by MycoUnderground (04/02/11 08:35 PM)
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Fungal growth
Lootinint



Registered: 03/21/10
Posts: 3,641
Loc: under a rock in your yard
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that blows hard. mine also worked perfectly right out of the box. sounds like your tightening it properly. must be defective.....
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ProfessorPinHead
Trapped in the Archives....




Registered: 07/09/10
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Re: "Breaking in" new AA pressure cookers [Re: Fungal growth]
#14228562 - 04/02/11 09:55 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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I love my AA's .......
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