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SHROOMSISAY01
Mr. Shrooms



Registered: 01/22/17
Posts: 3,849
Loc: Virginia, USA
Last seen: 2 days, 12 hours
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Re: Plastic barrel steamer [Re: QM33]
#27292281 - 05/03/21 03:25 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
QM33 said: Haha., painting the drum in silicone? For what? I like the idea of mixing silicone with thinners, that would be some cool paint haha!
The same reason people buy stainless steel so it does not rust. I actually bought gaco 100% silicone roof to paint my drum with but I was able to get it for $30 a gallon. Or an easier way to put it is as deadmandave said rust prevention.
Edited by SHROOMSISAY01 (05/03/21 03:34 PM)
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Stromrider
This must be the place



Registered: 06/02/13
Posts: 7,325
Loc: Dept of know what I'm say...
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I went to Atlanta to meet up an old shroomery friend last week and bought a 130 gallon bubba barrel off of him. He had bought 2 a couple of years ago and only ever used 1. Its super nice and top notch quality but I just can't see paying 4 grand for a new one. Glad to have it though. I can get 110 5# blocks in it. Loading and unloading the bottom couple of layers would be impossible for short people with short arms. I have to stand on a 8 inch high platform I made and it's all I got to reach the bottom and I'm 6'2" with long arms.
So hopefully no more worries about steamers for a while. Just going to continue to sit around and dream of building a 4000 Sq ft facility with a quarter million dollar retort built into the wall of my lab
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TravelAgency
The ongoing "wow"


Registered: 12/25/10
Posts: 4,431
Last seen: 11 months, 21 days
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Re: Plastic barrel steamer [Re: Stromrider]
#27301066 - 05/09/21 04:02 AM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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Yeah I wouldn't go the plastic route. Just asking for problems. Even my 55gal steel drum ended up rusting out after I gifted it to a talented up and coming mycologist. Felt bad about that. Glad to hear you got a badass Bubba! Those things are dope but super pricey. I'm about to build a trough steamer as soon as I move. Already got all the parts necessary. Gonna about triple what I could fit in my 55gal SS without extra elements necessary. I'll make a post about it when I do. Total cost wasn't bad either just about $50 more than the 55gal and I'm reusing the element wiring and floater valve. Still not totally sure how I'm gonna go about the false bottom but thinking grill, um, grills cut to shape.
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seagu

Registered: 03/03/18
Posts: 952
Last seen: 8 days, 3 hours
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how close did you put the element to the barrel? HDPE is rating to be able to sustain 230F without losing shape. But sticking the element too close to the plastic can easily mess with things. Sounds as if since you were running 42 bags you left little amount of water for a plastic barrel. and is so far what I have experienced But I think I do 32 bags max and have more water in the bottom and the element isn't close to the bottom or any of the plastic. I angle it slightly upwards. But I don't run 3 cycles in a week either. Max 2 Cycles because of allowing normal cooling instead of rushed.
-------------------- Plan to win or you are planning for failure. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do it. Just figure out the solution. Even if that means banging your head on a wall until the solution oozes out of you.
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deadmandave
Slime


Registered: 02/16/10
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Re: Plastic barrel steamer [Re: seagu]
#27303539 - 05/10/21 09:02 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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Nice seagu, I was hoping you'd share your opinion here. How far off the bottom is your element and his much water do you think it takes to cover it?
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seagu

Registered: 03/03/18
Posts: 952
Last seen: 8 days, 3 hours
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Quote:
deadmandave said: Nice seagu, I was hoping you'd share your opinion here. How far off the bottom is your element and his much water do you think it takes to cover it?
Mine is 3 1/2"-4" from the bottom. Though it looks more than it sounds. About right in the middle of 2 8" tall cement blocks. I try and keep the water a few inches off the element. So that there is plenty of water. Though last run it was 1 inch. But to me keeping more water in during the run is best. Since it's plastic.
I am not using 220V.. only 120V. I haven't tried the 220V yet. Also, maybe my barrel is thicker? Not sure if there are big thickness variables from manufacturer to manufacturer and colors even?
And I do let it cool down at least 2 days minimum. The way I see it with plastic barrels.. if I need more space.. they are cheap I'll just build more..
-------------------- Plan to win or you are planning for failure. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do it. Just figure out the solution. Even if that means banging your head on a wall until the solution oozes out of you.
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deadmandave
Slime


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Re: Plastic barrel steamer [Re: seagu]
#27304742 - 05/11/21 06:43 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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Cool, thanks for letting us know. i'll check how high up my element is off the bottom when i unload it next. I'm also using a 120 v (1650w i think) perhaps the 220v would need even more foot room so not to heat the plastic. well anyways i like the plastic because there's no chance of rust but it would suck major balls if my drum ruptured while the water was on.
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seagu

Registered: 03/03/18
Posts: 952
Last seen: 8 days, 3 hours
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yea NP.
-------------------- Plan to win or you are planning for failure. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do it. Just figure out the solution. Even if that means banging your head on a wall until the solution oozes out of you.
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Stromrider
This must be the place



Registered: 06/02/13
Posts: 7,325
Loc: Dept of know what I'm say...
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Re: Plastic barrel steamer [Re: seagu]
#27307528 - 05/13/21 09:26 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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The element wasn't what did it in. It was where one of the 4"x4" flase bottom legs was sitting on the uneven bottom that caused the crack. It wasn't even close to the element. My element was close to the bottom. Maybe an inch off the bottom
The bubba is definitely awesome and youre right. Way too expensive. I would have never bought it had I not gotten it used. I'm about to customize it a little bit. I can get 10 layers of 11 blocks in it. Only problem is the bottom blocks are pancakes when you take them out. Makes the really hard to shake
I got my buddy cutting me a 16 gauge stainless disc for a shelf. I'm going to put some little L brackets to set it on about half way up. I'll be able to put 5 layers, add rhe shelf, and put in another 5 layers. Should solve the problem
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vsoares
Stranger
Registered: 08/29/17
Posts: 149
Last seen: 1 year, 4 months
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Re: Plastic barrel steamer [Re: seagu]
#27754717 - 04/28/22 08:38 AM (1 year, 8 months ago) |
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Hey seagu,
Is this barrel made of hdpe or pp? I thought polyurethane would not stick to any of those so i got curious. I want to build a barrel like that but rly dont know how to insulated it. I got a hdpe barrel.
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seagu

Registered: 03/03/18
Posts: 952
Last seen: 8 days, 3 hours
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Re: Plastic barrel steamer [Re: vsoares]
#27754725 - 04/28/22 08:44 AM (1 year, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
vsoares said: Hey seagu,
Is this barrel made of hdpe or pp? I thought polyurethane would not stick to any of those so i got curious. I want to build a barrel like that but rly dont know how to insulated it. I got a hdpe barrel.
HDPE and here is how I insulated it. You definitely want to insulated it somehow. I have ran it with and without insulation and there is a HUGE difference in performance.
-------------------- Plan to win or you are planning for failure. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do it. Just figure out the solution. Even if that means banging your head on a wall until the solution oozes out of you.
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seagu

Registered: 03/03/18
Posts: 952
Last seen: 8 days, 3 hours
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Re: Plastic barrel steamer [Re: vsoares]
#27754963 - 04/28/22 11:24 AM (1 year, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
vsoares said: Hey seagu,
Is this barrel made of hdpe or pp? I thought polyurethane would not stick to any of those so i got curious. I want to build a barrel like that but rly dont know how to insulated it. I got a hdpe barrel.
Oh one other thing. The foam, at least on mine, the gasket for the lid. Maybe it was the glue used for the gasket foam. Well, it would leak this brown stuff down the side. Not inside, so the steam would push it out. What I did was pull the gasket out and put a layer of silicone in its place. Now, no brown stuff steaming down the side of the barrel anymore. It was easy enough to wipe off, but still, it had to go. Oh and if you put a thick bead of silicone it will be too big to close the lid with the metal strap, so you will need to judge how thick to put it. Honestly though I put it too thick and don't even need the metal strap to close, but your mileage may vary depending on how even your bead is. Steam escapes for me though the small bung hole, in the lid, that I have loosely covered with that semi-stiff plastic you see in the pic. Loose enough to allow steam to escape so no pressure buildup but not fully open so steam is not everywhere.
-------------------- Plan to win or you are planning for failure. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do it. Just figure out the solution. Even if that means banging your head on a wall until the solution oozes out of you.
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vsoares
Stranger
Registered: 08/29/17
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Re: Plastic barrel steamer [Re: seagu]
#27755150 - 04/28/22 01:38 PM (1 year, 8 months ago) |
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So this foam you used to stick the insulation to the sides of the barrel, is that polyurethane (like "great stuff" for example)?
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seagu

Registered: 03/03/18
Posts: 952
Last seen: 8 days, 3 hours
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Re: Plastic barrel steamer [Re: vsoares]
#27755264 - 04/28/22 03:21 PM (1 year, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
vsoares said: So this foam you used to stick the insulation to the sides of the barrel, is that polyurethane (like "great stuff" for example)?
That is Great Stuff. Yes. I used 2 of the larger cans.
-------------------- Plan to win or you are planning for failure. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do it. Just figure out the solution. Even if that means banging your head on a wall until the solution oozes out of you.
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deadmandave
Slime


Registered: 02/16/10
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Re: Plastic barrel steamer [Re: seagu]
#28041195 - 11/08/22 09:21 PM (1 year, 2 months ago) |
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Well after the first post I made a plastic barrel steamer and have been playing with fire for the last 18 months but my plastic drum finally cracked!
Luckily it was after a run had just finished and my water was turned off so only a few gallons leaked onto my floor.
Should've upgraded long ago but here we are.
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Stromrider
This must be the place



Registered: 06/02/13
Posts: 7,325
Loc: Dept of know what I'm say...
Last seen: 1 day, 23 hours
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You got lucky a lot longer than me. At least it wasn't during a cycle
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seagu

Registered: 03/03/18
Posts: 952
Last seen: 8 days, 3 hours
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Re: Plastic barrel steamer [Re: Stromrider]
#28042646 - 11/09/22 07:20 PM (1 year, 2 months ago) |
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hmm I wonder if it is the barrels or plastic type you all are using. I use the white opaque type. The design look is different too. Been using mine for 10 years. Have only had to replace the element a few times. 
I never tried it in those blue nor black barrels. I have them but I use those for storing soy and HWFP.
-------------------- Plan to win or you are planning for failure. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do it. Just figure out the solution. Even if that means banging your head on a wall until the solution oozes out of you.
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deadmandave
Slime


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Re: Plastic barrel steamer [Re: seagu]
#28042771 - 11/09/22 08:29 PM (1 year, 2 months ago) |
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I was thinking about you and your white battery wondering if that does make a difference. How much weight do you usually put in yours seagu? Mine failed when I bumped it up 30 lbs to 200lbs.
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SHROOMSISAY01
Mr. Shrooms



Registered: 01/22/17
Posts: 3,849
Loc: Virginia, USA
Last seen: 2 days, 12 hours
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Blue drums are made of HDPE or high-density polyethylene. White drums are made of industrial strength high molecular weight, high-density polyethylene (HMWPE) plastic. Google is your friend!!
Edited by SHROOMSISAY01 (11/10/22 10:03 AM)
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seagu

Registered: 03/03/18
Posts: 952
Last seen: 8 days, 3 hours
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Quote:
SHROOMSISAY01 said: Blue drums are made of HDPE or high-density polyethylene. White drums are made of industrial strength high molecular weight, high-density polyethylene (HMWPE) plastic. Google is your friend!!
AHH so they are stronger.. heh.. no wonder I have zero problems. I never looked that up. But I kept on thinking that it might be the difference which is why I keep on bringing up that I use the white drums. I just look at them and they seemed thicker of sorts and of a stronger build. I was right.. Thanks Shrooms.
I didn't pay much for them either. $20 each. Like I said have had them for 10 years. Zero problems.
-------------------- Plan to win or you are planning for failure. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do it. Just figure out the solution. Even if that means banging your head on a wall until the solution oozes out of you.
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