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R3dstaffy
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Registered: 01/25/20
Posts: 115
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: Hobbyist]
#26508969 - 02/28/20 10:10 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Hobbyist said:
I haven't tried that. I'll do so.
I was concerned about that very thing which is why I was nervous to mess with the mating surfaces much at all.
I tested it and my petcock releases at about 26 pounds. Apparently the old hexagonal shaped metal safety release plug has a lead pellet inside that will melt at 28psi and release pressure. Since they don't make them anymore I'm gonna really hope that doesn't happen!
As an aside I looked up the melting point of lead and it appears to be above 600* and since I'm pretty sure the PC doesn't get that hot at 28psi, I'm a little confused.. 
Sounds like you and I have a very similar make/model Hobbyist. Thanks for the info re the lead ball I hadn’t read that anywhere. I have also read that the old petcock valve thread is the same as that of the hexagonal safety release valve and, that if the safety release valve ever needs replacing, you can just relocate the old petcock valve to that position and replace that with the new style, the All American Sterilizer 65 Control Valve which is the one used by some people in this thread.
Does yours look similar to the pictures I posted earlier?
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Hobbyist
Citizen


Registered: 08/15/10
Posts: 805
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: R3dstaffy]
#26509274 - 02/29/20 06:10 AM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Yup, same model. Runs like a champ!
Yeah, officially if you lose your hexagonal safety plug you're supposed to buy the tube and weight to convert it to the newer style of canner and use the petcock in the place where the hexagonal safety plug was.
Do you see bubbles around the metal to metal seal at pressure on yours?
-------------------- Everything i say is completely hypothetical...
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bodhisatta 
Smurf real estate agent


Registered: 04/30/13
Posts: 61,889
Loc: Milky way
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: Hobbyist]
#26509397 - 02/29/20 08:30 AM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Those melt plugs are not pure lead lol. They're manufactured to melt and burn out like a thermostat at a specific temperature less than that of molten lead.
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R3dstaffy
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Registered: 01/25/20
Posts: 115
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: Hobbyist]
#26509945 - 02/29/20 04:01 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Hobbyist said: Do you see bubbles around the metal to metal seal at pressure on yours?
To be honest, we haven’t used it yet. Still stocking up on a few items and gathering knowledge as first timers.
To do a trial run without jars etc, can you briefly run me through how you do things?
I was planning to place the trivet in the bottom of the base, add about 3 inches water, add a slither of olive oil or Vaseline to the inner beveled edge of the cooker base, seat the lid evenly on the base, check the gap and finger tighten each opposite wing nut in a clockwise pattern. Turn to high heat and open the petcock valve so it’s in the vertical position, bring the PC up to the boil. I should then let it vent off for 10 minutes, then close the petcock to pressurise, reduce heat and babysit the flame when it reaches around 16-18psi.
Run for desired time, shut heat off, allow the PC to cool for a few hours or overnight, the pressure gauge must reach zero. Place petcock valve in vertical position to let any remaining pressure out before loosening the wing nuts.
Sound all right?
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J. Jack Flash
stranger than ever.

Registered: 11/20/13
Posts: 1,500
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: R3dstaffy]
#26510384 - 02/29/20 08:41 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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looks like you done your homework. what i'll add, after the sterilizer cools, if all the seals are good, it will develop a heck of a vacuum. this can foul up the pressure gauge... if it has the pin at the zero position, which yours doesn't seem to have. looks like your needle is below zero at 0psig. worth keeping that in mind. anyway, when you break the seal on the petcock, it'll suck a bunch of ambient air in. i've had a fair number of jars, maybe four to six, suck mold spores in and turn green sitting unopened on the shelf for a couple weeks. i think it's advised to break that seal in front of the flow cabinet. if you don't have one, maybe wrap the intake with a paper towel soaked in disinfectant. i got my own ridiculous fix for this these days. working so far.
--------------------
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AyePlus
Stony Danza


Registered: 12/18/14
Posts: 3,393
Loc: Fairfield, Connecticut
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: J. Jack Flash] 1
#26510441 - 02/29/20 09:35 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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If you’re using a still air box its best to open the valve when pressure in the cooker drops to zero, you can unload it or just leave the stopcock open until you use them.
Edited by AyePlus (02/29/20 11:08 PM)
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R3dstaffy
💤



Registered: 01/25/20
Posts: 115
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: J. Jack Flash]
#26510464 - 02/29/20 10:00 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Ok thanks for the tips Jack. So am I correct in assuming that if I don’t wait for it to cool and prevent the vacuum, that is open the petcock at 0 pressure and let the remaining pressure equalise, I can then open the PC and remove jars/agar without fear of sucking in contams??
We don’t have a FH at this stage, only a SAB so hadn’t really planned on opening the lid I n there unless it’s an absolute must? Perhaps I missed that step...
Hobbyist:
So I got stuck into it today and did 2 test runs with my PC, but without the overnight cool down in between.
First run I hadn’t cleaned the seal edges and had a small but constant steam leak in one spot, with some intermittent bubbling from that spot only. I did lube the splayed edge though with olive oil and was particular about the gap and tightening it evenly. It did however hold the 17-20psi for 90mins without too much flame adjustment. I was relatively happy with that result.
Before the second run I lightly rubbed the seal splayed edges with 00 steel wool and 100% iso. I also gave it a quick rub with some 1000 grit wet and dry sandpaper and cleaned up with the iso. This time the leak was gone from that one spot and the pressure held at 18-20psi for 90mins no problem. Some very minor hissing here and there but all in all, the cleaned edges definitely made a difference for pressurisation.
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R3dstaffy
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Registered: 01/25/20
Posts: 115
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: AyePlus]
#26510474 - 02/29/20 10:07 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
AyePlus said: If you’re using a still air box its best to open the valve when the cooker cools to zero, you can unload it or just leave the stopcock open until you use them.
Ok thanks, so I think you answered my question above to Jack about when I can open the PC. But just so I understand, are you saying to open the petcock at 0 inside the SAB or can I just open the lid in the kitchen and transport the contents to the SAB later, when ready to work?
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AyePlus
Stony Danza


Registered: 12/18/14
Posts: 3,393
Loc: Fairfield, Connecticut
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: R3dstaffy]
#26510505 - 02/29/20 10:28 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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You can do either but I’d leave the lid on the cooker if I wasnt going to use them right then. The issues come more from the quick repressurization lots of air moving very fast pressure differential sucks it into the vacuum of the pc.
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R3dstaffy
💤



Registered: 01/25/20
Posts: 115
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: AyePlus]
#26510540 - 02/29/20 10:52 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
AyePlus said: You can do either but I’d leave the lid on the cooker if I wasnt going to use them right then. The issues come more from the quick repressurization lots of air moving very fast pressure differential sucks it into the vacuum of the pc.
Ok thanks again, all these tips give me confidence now that I have actually tested it 😁. So if I open the petcock valve at zero and let the pressure equalise, but leave the wing nuts tight on the lid and then move the PC down to my SAB in another room of the house, I can leave the PC there for a while until it cools and I’m ready to use it? I don’t necessarily need to remove the lid inside the SAB, but if/when I do it that way, I won’t need to worry so much about contamination?
Sorry if I sound repetitive, slow learner here. Thanks.
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AyePlus
Stony Danza


Registered: 12/18/14
Posts: 3,393
Loc: Fairfield, Connecticut
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: R3dstaffy] 1
#26510558 - 02/29/20 11:06 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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When the pressure is at zero there will be no pressure equalization but otherwise yes.
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R3dstaffy
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Registered: 01/25/20
Posts: 115
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: AyePlus]
#26510653 - 03/01/20 12:53 AM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Ok thx again, I was probably using wrong terminology, but as I noticed that when the gauge hit zero and I opened the valve on the test runs today, both times there was an obvious release of air/steam (for a good 30 seconds or more) and from that I just assumed it was the PC’s way of equalising the pressure inside/outside. Perhaps that extra pressure being released at zero, was just the inaccuracy of my gauge then? I watched a vid on AA site and they said the gauges can be plus or minus 2 psi.
I watched a vid of a guy using an AA steriliser in a lab type environment but he seems to be opening the petcock when the unit is still under pressure, then removing the contents to work with them immediately. I’m guessing he’s either doing it incorrectly or perhaps it’s because he’s not using for mycology purposes so using a different method altogether.
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Hobbyist
Citizen


Registered: 08/15/10
Posts: 805
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: R3dstaffy]
#26510723 - 03/01/20 02:50 AM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
R3dstaffy said: Hobbyist:
So I got stuck into it today and did 2 test runs with my PC, but without the overnight cool down in between.
First run I hadn’t cleaned the seal edges and had a small but constant steam leak in one spot, with some intermittent bubbling from that spot only. I did lube the splayed edge though with olive oil and was particular about the gap and tightening it evenly. It did however hold the 17-20psi for 90mins without too much flame adjustment. I was relatively happy with that result.
Before the second run I lightly rubbed the seal splayed edges with 00 steel wool and 100% iso. I also gave it a quick rub with some 1000 grit wet and dry sandpaper and cleaned up with the iso. This time the leak was gone from that one spot and the pressure held at 18-20psi for 90mins no problem. Some very minor hissing here and there but all in all, the cleaned edges definitely made a difference for pressurisation.
Thanks for that! I've been terrified to do the same. I might give it a shot now that you say you've had good results.
How lightly are you talking when you say you you gave it a quick rub with the Steel wool and sandpaper?
Quote:
R3dstaffy said: Ok thx again, I was probably using wrong terminology, but as I noticed that when the gauge hit zero and I opened the valve on the test runs today, both times there was an obvious release of air/steam (for a good 30 seconds or more) and from that I just assumed it was the PC’s way of equalising the pressure inside/outside. Perhaps that extra pressure being released at zero, was just the inaccuracy of my gauge then? I watched a vid on AA site and they said the gauges can be plus or minus 2 psi.
I watched a vid of a guy using an AA steriliser in a lab type environment but he seems to be opening the petcock when the unit is still under pressure, then removing the contents to work with them immediately. I’m guessing he’s either doing it incorrectly or perhaps it’s because he’s not using for mycology purposes so using a different method altogether.
Was it releasing pressure out of the cooker or pulling air in to fill the vacuum?
If the guy was sterilizing tools he wouldn't necessarily have to wait till the pressure equalized after he sterilized his utensils. Since we use glass we don't want to rapidly vent pressure as it can compromise our glass vessels.
-------------------- Everything i say is completely hypothetical...
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R3dstaffy
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Registered: 01/25/20
Posts: 115
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: Hobbyist]
#26510736 - 03/01/20 03:21 AM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Hobbyist said:
Thanks for that! I've been terrified to do the same. I might give it a shot now that you say you've had good results.
How lightly are you talking when you say you you gave it a quick rub with the Steel wool and sandpaper?
I kept it really wet with iso the whole time. Enough to create a bit of a black aluminium slurry, but not hard enough to remove the factory machine corrugations that the surface of my pc has on it. Its hard to describe accurately, but I would say I rub about as hard as I would press an ink pen when writing. I was looking more to buff out and remove the scum rather than hone the surface if you get me?

Quote:
Hobbyist said:
Was it releasing pressure out of the cooker or pulling air in to fill the vacuum?
If the guy was sterilizing tools he wouldn't necessarily have to wait till the pressure equalized after he sterilized his utensils. Since we use glass we don't want to rapidly vent pressure as it can compromise our glass vessels.
Have a quick look at the link and check the 1:45min mark, he looks to be using foil covered Pyrex bottles containing liquids and some other items in there. The way he vents it at the end, with steam pissing out, I’m not sure it’s sucking much in tbh..but I’ve definitely been wrong before and this is all new to me so I really don’t know.
Edited by R3dstaffy (03/01/20 03:33 AM)
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Hobbyist
Citizen


Registered: 08/15/10
Posts: 805
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: bodhisatta]
#26510743 - 03/01/20 03:50 AM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Gotcha gotcha. I'll give it a try.
A clarification point, is that second picture how you left it, wit the small black mark still on the mating surface? I'm just curious for reference how much I ought to work to clean up.
Yeah, I didn't watch the video, I'm sorry. I generally don't click videos or links..
If it's really hemorrhaging steam like you're talking then I'm certain he's venting pressure, not filling a vacuum.
Quote:
bodhisatta said: Those melt plugs are not pure lead lol. They're manufactured to melt and burn out like a thermostat at a specific temperature less than that of molten lead.
Thanks Bod, it's good to know those are a lead alloy. Makes sense.
-------------------- Everything i say is completely hypothetical...
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R3dstaffy
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Registered: 01/25/20
Posts: 115
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: Hobbyist]
#26510768 - 03/01/20 04:40 AM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Hobbyist said: Gotcha gotcha. I'll give it a try.
A clarification point, is that second picture how you left it, wit the small black mark still on the mating surface? I'm just curious for reference how much I ought to work to clean up.
Yeah, I didn't watch the video, I'm sorry. I generally don't click videos or links..
If it's really hemorrhaging steam like you're talking then I'm certain he's venting pressure, not filling a vacuum.
Yes the shiny pic is taken with the light switched off, so it’s a slightly better quality pic sorry, but yes that’s how I left it. The black spot is located roughly where the PC was leaking from so I photographed it before and after, but it is not on the splayed seal surface. It’s a small dent where something has bashed the inside face, but thankfully not on the seal mating surface so I left it like that. I rubbed it a bit but that’s as much as I gave it. I did both seal surfaces the same way, same pressure and duration.
Yes in the vid he literally flips the petcock up with a long stick from 3 ft away whilst it’s under full pressure. Seems like a strange way to operate it, but it doesn’t appear to be his first rodeo. Have a quick look if you get time, I’d be interested to hear your thoughts 😄
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Kimble
Idiot

Registered: 03/08/18
Posts: 508
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: R3dstaffy]
#26520433 - 03/06/20 11:09 AM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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What are y'all doing for gauges? I don't want to damage the stock one for lazyness sake. It was mentioned earlier in the thread that oil filled gauges don't work great for this purpose.
I found a 30hg/30psi gauge but it was only rated to 60C. Something of reasonable quality would be nice.
Edited by Kimble (03/07/20 02:17 PM)
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R3dstaffy
💤



Registered: 01/25/20
Posts: 115
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: Kimble]
#26528397 - 03/11/20 01:18 AM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Kimble said:
 
What are y'all doing for gauges? I don't want to damage the stock one for lazyness sake...
I’m far from being an expert, but I’m not planning to change the factory gauge unless it dies because I believe it’s pretty accurate. I’m just planning to sit on 17psi minimum as I’ve read they can be + or - 2psi.
If your stock gauge works ok, can’t you just leave it as is?
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Kimble
Idiot

Registered: 03/08/18
Posts: 508
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: R3dstaffy]
#26530978 - 03/12/20 12:48 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Sure can. The only thing is because I modded the PC as per the OP, it pulls a vacuum. Which, over time can cause the gauge to give a false reading. The stock gauge I have does not go into a vacuum and has a stop for the dial at the zero position.
For the sake of curiosity and not wanting to damage the stock one, I'd like to replace it with one that can read both pressure and vacuum. Something designed for this purpose.
I spoke to a company that would make it for me but the first unit would be $400. Cheaper thereafter scaling as you would imagine.
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jbgtaa
extraterrestrial



Registered: 06/09/19
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Re: How to Safely Upgrade your All American pc to a sterilizer for under $30 [Re: Kimble]
#26531222 - 03/12/20 03:06 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Not a true member of this thread but... why not just use a presto? Don’t flame me I’m being genuine.
-------------------- If the thunder don't get ya, the lightning will. In another time's forgotten space, your eyes looked through your mother's face. Trade List Forever giving away prints. PM at anytime for a free print.
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