If you’ve got a big lid on your boiler or thumper, how are y

Post by **raketemensch** » Tue Apr 24, 2018 7:04 pm

I am seriously considering building out a thumper,mainly to get away from squeezing grains. So ideally the keg would have a pretty big opening for dumping the sludge...

I’ve not made flour paste for years now, and don’t want to start up again.

I’ve got a good metal worker who could handle cutting whatever I need, I’m also considering doing a 6” ferrule, or even just picking up an 8-gallon milk can boiler.

What’s working well for you?

Post by **shadylane** » Tue Apr 24, 2018 7:31 pm

A 6” ferrule works good
Using a water sealed lid also works but can't hold back very much pressure

ShineRunner · Post by **ShineRunner** » Wed Apr 25, 2018 4:57 am

I flipped my keg over and use the 2” port for a drain. I use a butterfly valve on that. It will occasionally clog on draining (after steam stripping goopy corn), so I have a poker stick (dowel) to stir it and break up clogs.

I put a 4” triclamp on the top and use a 4-2” reducer. In retrospect, I would go 6” as I can barely fit my arm in the 4” and have fairly small arms.

Shine0n · Post by **Shine0n** » Wed Apr 25, 2018 5:53 am

Got me thinking more about a large opening for mine. That bastard is heavy by the end of a run and tipping is getting old.
Shady, what do you use to seal the copper to the ferrule? I like that idea

Post by **shadylane** » Wed Apr 25, 2018 6:32 am

Shine0n wrote:Shady, what do you use to seal the copper to the ferrule? I like that idea

A tri-clamp seal

Post by **Bushman** » Wed Apr 25, 2018 7:17 am

I have a large opening on my essential oil still made from an antique milk can. I made the following gasket and it works great.
viewtopic.php?t=24199

Kareltje · Post by **Kareltje** » Wed Apr 25, 2018 3:29 pm

I also have a large opening on my thumper and use a large funnel to fill it.
I have a lid to screw tight on the opening with a one-hole-thumper-throughput.

Post by **raketemensch** » Wed Apr 25, 2018 6:29 pm

Thanks guys, I think I’ll go the 6” ferrule route, assuming I can find one... eBay was elusive last night, I’ll dig around some more.

Now I’m wondering if I could re-use the material cut from the keg for the 6” ferrule to build a cap for it, using the existing 2” regular keg ferrule, plus a second one welded to the side. Having full 2” tubing in and out would be sweet, I think.

Post by **bronctoad** » Wed Apr 25, 2018 7:24 pm

I can't find my link

but the 6" ferule, 6x3 or 2" reducer and clamp from glacier tanks is "top shelf"

as I've read here several times buy once cry once

just tried to find any link to where I got my parts and only came up with home despot links.
sorry for wild goose chase

Post by **raketemensch** » Thu Apr 26, 2018 2:31 pm

No worries, I ended up on their site last night because they carry 6” PTFE gaskets.

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