Oh YA, Ripper, There's a reason NO-ONE uses those metel valve stems anymore. They have been known to shot out under pressure. That's why valve stems are all rubber cased these days. The rubber ones stay in place.
I think your the one trying to kill someone.

------------------
"I think of myself as an intelligent, sensitive human being with the soul of a clown which always forces me to blow it at the most important moments." J.M.

Psychogenic Spores:

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Atlantis/3256/Spores.htm

I would advise against removing the emergency pressure releif valve. It is true that removing will most likely never result in a problem, but god help you if threre is ever a need for it and your've removed it.

If you really want a pressure guage (it would be kinda neat) just drill another hole in the lid and install a rugular pressure guage.

Peace and safety
/Gadget

If I were you guys. I wouldn't do JACK SHIT
to my pressure cooker. Here is why.

1. If you fuck with your cooker and it explodes, do you think any company is going to care that you got killed by the exploding lid?

2. The safety is there for a reason like other people have said.

3. Drilling is not a good idea either because last time I checked drill bits heat the fuck out metal and by perforating it you will cause heat distortions in the lid. This make the spot you drilled the weakest point on the lid. Add pressure and you get a very bad idea.

And finally, I don't know what you guys are all concerned about. Normal cookers cook at 15PSI with a normal stop cock. Any sterlization process works at guess what, 15PSI. Just do what DinoMyc said and buy a good one!

Ripper - Those metal stems are shit, I know this because I have 2 friends who work in tires. A rubber valve stem, that is installed right, will not move. That why it's rubber valve stems that are installed on large equipment(dump trucks, loader, shidders, etc.)Tires of Equipment like that takes a lot of punishment at high PSI, much more then you could ever do with a air cannon. Why don't you ask your buddy at the tire shop.
dirtydog - Think about what your saying.Pressure cookers get hot when you use them. The metal is ment for heat. There allready 2 hole drilled in the lid. One for the pressure main hole, another for the the safty valve. How do think they put these holes in there - A DRILL. Adding bit of water to the drill area(while drilling) causes no heat at all. But, a drilling a hole with out water doesn't cause much heat. Much less heat then when you use the p-cooker
Normal cooker don't cook a 15 psi. They range anywhere between 8-15 Psi. I've used many over the years. That's why people like gauges on there cookers. You can't get a good strilization time if you don't know your pressure

------------------
"I think of myself as an intelligent, sensitive human being with the soul of a clown which always forces me to blow it at the most important moments." J.M.

Psychogenic Spores:

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Atlantis/3256/Spores.htm

[This message has been edited by Psychonaut (edited January 27, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by sean123 (edited January 27, 2000).]