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MWMushKing
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Registered: 11/10/16
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55 gallon drum as pressure cooker
#23841625 - 11/17/16 12:39 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Question. Can I use a 55 gallon drum to steralize bird seed and sawdust if it only hold Trev pounds of pressure? Could I just cook a longer amount of time and still steralize? Please help!!
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Thewhiteandblack
Gargamel



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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: MWMushKing]
#23841659 - 11/17/16 12:49 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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well that sounds real fucking safe
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MWMushKing
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It isn't unsafe. It only holds ten pounds safely. Any more would push it to unsafe handling. Thank you.
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MWMushKing
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: MWMushKing]
#23841737 - 11/17/16 01:18 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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The question then is Can I steralize bird seed at ten pounds of pressure for a crush amount of time?
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Morel Guy
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: MWMushKing]
#23841805 - 11/17/16 01:40 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Please don't say you are going to weld the drum shut.
It's going to be contaminated anyhow, unless you have a huge f'n flow hood.
People pasteurize in drums. Is this what you are thinking?
-------------------- "in sterquiliniis invenitur in stercore invenitur" In filth it will be found in dung it will be found
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krypto2000
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: Morel Guy] 1
#23841988 - 11/17/16 02:30 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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If the question is, "Can I sterilize grain at 10psi" the answer is yes, you absolutely can. You can sterilize grains at atmospheric pressure, it's just a question of how long it will take.
Now if the question is 'Can I sterilize grains in this 55 gallon drum, and do it safely' we don't know. The fact that you're asking the question at all makes me think you are absolutely not capable of doing it however. I mean there are a lot of hurdles to sterilize a few quarts of grain in a commercial pressure cooker and yet you're planning to sterilize upwards of 55 gallons of spawn, start a HUGE grow, and yet don't even seem to understand the basic principles of sterilization and by extension I have to assume mycology. This is like someone posting on a sports car forum, "Is stainless steel a suitable material for building an interstellar craft?"
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Th3Issu3
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: krypto2000]
#23843481 - 11/17/16 09:09 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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You're insane bro!
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Gr0wer
always improving



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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: Th3Issu3]
#23843867 - 11/18/16 12:03 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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You would want a SS or thick wall steel drum. I would play it safe and try 5 psi first, make sure you have at least 2 pressure reliefs in case one sticks. I'm considering using it on my new SS drums, especially for spawn where the extra temp will help.
My article on bulk steamers https://www.shroomery.org/13593/Bulk-Steamer-Designs
my 55 gal steamer ( now assembled just don't have pics on hand)

my old plastic open top steamer
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TheMadHatter420
Trusted Farmer


Registered: 10/12/16
Posts: 12,941
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: Th3Issu3]
#23843869 - 11/18/16 12:04 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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-------------------- JOIN THE POW WOW
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anthiawe
friendly stranger


Registered: 05/18/16
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you can do it. its exactly what I use to sterilize my sawdust blocks. I have a turkey fryer hooked up to propane. I have some 2x4s at the bottom with water and i can stack 40 - 45 5lb blocks inside. The lid get put on with a bolt to tighten it. The turkey fryer goes on full blast until steam forces out the sides of the lid, then I turn it down to maintain the pressure...dont leave when its on full blast or the lid will blow off. each load is in for three hours, although 2 hours has worked successfully which i will try again soon. This method is done by large scale growers all over Ghana, where i used to live and where i learned how to grow mushrooms. Its cheap, efficient, and it works. I also added cinder blocks to help hold the barrel in place when its on the fryer.
I'm not sure why you would only put 10 lbs in there? and its only unsafe if you walk away from it on full blast. Never had any problems with it.
-------------------- TEK compendium
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krypto2000
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: anthiawe]
#23844279 - 11/18/16 06:40 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Wait, he's only putting 10 lbs in there? Why not just use a regular pressure cooker?
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drake89
Mushroom Magnate



Registered: 06/26/11
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: krypto2000]
#23845280 - 11/18/16 01:43 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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here is my old steam setup, i used 100 gal for the sub and 55 gal drum as the boiler. they would hold a seal on cool down and even had bags stay clean for 3 weeks one time when I went on vacation! That said, I never had much luck with consistent grain spawn in them. i only went to 4 psi in these babies. that's still over a ton of force on the big lids...

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Gr0wer
always improving



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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: drake89]
#23856085 - 11/22/16 12:26 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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I feel like 15 gal sanke kegs is all you really needed for boilers, how much evaporation were you seeing?
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drake89
Mushroom Magnate



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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: Gr0wer]
#23856493 - 11/22/16 08:25 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Gr0wer said: I feel like 15 gal sanke kegs is all you really needed for boilers, how much evaporation were you seeing?
i probably tried to keep about 15 gal in the boilers. only ever had to fill them up once a week or two. and then only to the first ring. they are sealed after a 3 hour warm up.
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insaecula
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: drake89]
#23870233 - 11/26/16 07:33 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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he'll, if u fill a 55 full of water at 8lbs / gallon it probably exceeds 10psi.... I mean thats roughly 440lbs in a container that is roughly 8 cubic ft, not sure what exact figures are but I'm sure from that that it'd hold at least 10 psi
-------------------- on the plains of destination lie the blackened bones of countless millions who, at the dawn of victory sat down to rest and resting died
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drake89
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: insaecula]
#23871545 - 11/27/16 10:14 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
insaecula said: he'll, if u fill a 55 full of water at 8lbs / gallon it probably exceeds 10psi.... I mean thats roughly 440lbs in a container that is roughly 8 cubic ft, not sure what exact figures are but I'm sure from that that it'd hold at least 10 psi
I mean you're sure no math wizard since it works out to roughly 1psi...
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Quadman
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: drake89]
#23871914 - 11/27/16 12:29 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Rounded off for easy figuring , every foot of water is equal to 1\2 psi. If you have a drum 3' tall full of water you get approx 1.5 psi at the bottom of the drum.
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insaecula
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: Quadman]
#23872083 - 11/27/16 01:34 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
drake89 said:
Quote:
insaecula said: he'll, if u fill a 55 full of water at 8lbs / gallon it probably exceeds 10psi.... I mean thats roughly 440lbs in a container that is roughly 8 cubic ft, not sure what exact figures are but I'm sure from that that it'd hold at least 10 psi
I mean you're sure no math wizard since it works out to roughly 1psi...
yeh, my math isn't the best after drinking a 1/5 of jack... regardless, 10 psi isn't shit . the radiator in your car will usually hold 15 before it pops the cap for the overflow which means a flimsy radiator hose will exceed that pressure. I'd bet a 55 is a little stronger than a radiator hose... also consider they don't just store filled 55's in a single layer do they? nope, they stack those things. now stacking may not increase the liquids pressure on the drum but if they are stacked even 3 high the bottom drum is supporting almost 1000 lbs on top of itself and has over 1200 lbs on the floor. yeh, I think that tin can could handle a measly 10 psi of steam. but I'd say it should have a safety blow off valve to dump pressure should it get away from you
-------------------- on the plains of destination lie the blackened bones of countless millions who, at the dawn of victory sat down to rest and resting died
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Quadman
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: insaecula]
#23872369 - 11/27/16 03:07 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Your right stacking has nothing to do with psi. It also tells you nothing about a container being pressure safe.
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drake89
Mushroom Magnate



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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: Quadman]
#23872516 - 11/27/16 03:45 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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At 10 psi the lid has about 4400 pounds behind it. I ain't standing anywhere near that. When I ran my barrels at 4 psi they popped put about a half inch on both ends. I ran them 5 nights a week for 2 years and they managed to hold.
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Greg
always learning




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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: drake89]
#23872723 - 11/27/16 04:46 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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 Yeah fuck that, I'm building one and only going to be running it at 2 PSIG.
According to this article: http://sti.srs.gov/fulltext/SRNS-MS-2009-00152.pdf A lid failure at 10 PSI (3801 pound-force on the inside of the lid according to the article but more according to my math), can cause the lid to shoot 15 feet directly upward.
You don't want to be in front of that...
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Gr0wer
always improving



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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: Greg]
#23873679 - 11/27/16 10:26 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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just run it at atmospheric, Its way safer and you don't need a leak proof vessel.
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poofterFroth
Feel Like A Stranger



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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: drake89]
#23875362 - 11/28/16 02:38 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
drake89 said: I ran them 5 nights a week for 2 years and they managed to hold.
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insaecula
Stranger

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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: poofterFroth] 1
#23876209 - 11/28/16 07:30 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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-------------------- on the plains of destination lie the blackened bones of countless millions who, at the dawn of victory sat down to rest and resting died
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waleedss
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: insaecula]
#23876726 - 11/28/16 10:32 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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From my experience you can go up to 5 psi from my experience. you have to consider more than one safety valve. This is great article about sterilization and pressure lower than 15 psi: http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/ai407e/ai407e22.htm
Edited by waleedss (11/28/16 10:33 PM)
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ballsalsa
Universally Loathed and Reviled



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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: MWMushKing]
#23876788 - 11/28/16 11:04 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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use an old 50 or 75 gallon water heater tank. replace the existing temperature and pressure relief valve and also replace the outlet nipple with another T&P. Water heaters are rated for 150psi.
--------------------
Like cannabis topics? Read my cannabis blog here
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waleedss
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: ballsalsa]
#23877598 - 11/29/16 08:54 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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how to open and close?
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waleedss
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: waleedss]
#23879318 - 11/29/16 06:47 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Interesting reading PRESSURIZED DRUMS, WHAT EVERY HANDLER SHOULD KNOW http://www.eetcorp.com/products/press_drum.pdf
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insaecula
Stranger

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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: ballsalsa]
#23879586 - 11/29/16 07:51 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
ballsalsa said: use an old 50 or 75 gallon water heater tank. replace the existing temperature and pressure relief valve and also replace the outlet nipple with another T&P. Water heaters are rated for 150psi.
now that there is some good thinkin
-------------------- on the plains of destination lie the blackened bones of countless millions who, at the dawn of victory sat down to rest and resting died
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drake89
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: ballsalsa]
#23879878 - 11/29/16 09:08 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
ballsalsa said: use an old 50 or 75 gallon water heater tank. replace the existing temperature and pressure relief valve and also replace the outlet nipple with another T&P. Water heaters are rated for 150psi.
they also have an inner and outer shell, with insulation in between, and no lid.
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ballsalsa
Universally Loathed and Reviled



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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: drake89]
#23880026 - 11/29/16 09:43 PM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
drake89 said:
Quote:
ballsalsa said: use an old 50 or 75 gallon water heater tank. replace the existing temperature and pressure relief valve and also replace the outlet nipple with another T&P. Water heaters are rated for 150psi.
they also have an inner and outer shell, with insulation in between, and no lid.
well, the outer shell is just sheet metal. you could disassemble the hard way, or just cut it off with a sawzall or an angle grinder. Insulation comes off easy and youre down to the cast iron tank. An angle grinder should make short work of your access hatch. you will need a second old tank to cut a slightly bigger version of your access hatch. Drill out holes for hardened carriage bolts 3/8 are probably fine, but i would still go 1/2 on the bolts. Maybe 8 bolts evenly spaced, maybe 10 or 12 depending on how big the hatch is. Rubber washers on the inside, wingnuts and lock washers on the outside. RTV silicone like you get at the auto parts store to make the seal. blob in on thick and tighten the nuts down hard. you might have to make a new gasket every time, but the shit is only a few bucks per tube anyhow. should work. don't stand in front of the hatch on the first run through though. I dunno, that's just off the top of my head. it would be better if there were an easy way to make the top the access hatch without any welding.
--------------------
Like cannabis topics? Read my cannabis blog here
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mycoOrganics
Apprentice


Registered: 11/30/16
Posts: 13
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: MWMushKing]
#23880751 - 11/30/16 06:14 AM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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This is a couple year old RR thread that may be good to review if your taking on this task. Not sure about your access to a welder though....
https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/12068373/fpart/1/vc/1
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Gr0wer
always improving



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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: mycoOrganics]
#23885981 - 12/01/16 09:42 PM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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Ehh those horizontal drums are super over complicated and low capacity vs vertical drums with bags just stacked on top of eachother. A 55 gal drum with float and element, diy steam generator or a sauna steamer fits 2x as much substrate in a single drum vs what a 3 drum "double barrel" system would fit. And you can buy weldless fittings from brewhardware.com and not need access to a welder.
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drake89
Mushroom Magnate



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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: Gr0wer]
#23886160 - 12/01/16 10:50 PM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Gr0wer said: Ehh those horizontal drums are super over complicated and low capacity vs vertical drums with bags just stacked on top of eachother. A 55 gal drum with float and element, diy steam generator or a sauna steamer fits 2x as much substrate in a single drum vs what a 3 drum "double barrel" system would fit. And you can buy weldless fittings from brewhardware.com and not need access to a welder.
I am quite pleased with the half inch stainless bulkhead fittings. I wish they'd make a 1" version.
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Gr0wer
always improving



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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: drake89]
#23886206 - 12/01/16 11:10 PM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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Yea they are one of the few companies that get custom machined fittings for bulkhead fittings instead of ghetto rigging random hardware. I have there fittings on two of my brew kettles for 2 years now with no leaks or issues. My 85 gal drum will get weldless fittings.
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MWMushKing
Stranger
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: krypto2000]
#23892869 - 12/04/16 04:24 AM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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Thank you. FYI not only using ten pounds of seed or sub, 10psi in it safely is all. Thank you though, for answering the question and not responding like the one jerk did. Much appreciated. Keep growing.
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MWMushKing
Stranger
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: waleedss]
#23892872 - 12/04/16 04:29 AM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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Hell yeah. Thank you. How do I make a lid though? Any thoughts on getting bags in and out. I don't have a torch or welder.
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Thekhatinthehat
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: MWMushKing]
#23959115 - 12/26/16 07:42 PM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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Only one way to find out
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Gr0wer
always improving



Registered: 09/16/03
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: MWMushKing]
#23959858 - 12/27/16 06:37 AM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
MWMushKing said: Hell yeah. Thank you. How do I make a lid though? Any thoughts on getting bags in and out. I don't have a torch or welder.
Just get an open top drum with lid. then the weldless fittings from a brew harware. all you need is a drill.
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ozzinated
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: Gr0wer]
#23960643 - 12/27/16 02:09 PM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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Gr0wer
always improving



Registered: 09/16/03
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Re: 55 gallon drum as pressure cooker [Re: ozzinated]
#23960776 - 12/27/16 03:12 PM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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sorry, who is that directed to?
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