Boiler lid clamping ideas

[Jaxom]

Try and keep this short and sweet. A long while ago i mentioned that i picked up a 30qt turkey fryer at Sam's club cheap, becuase it as dented. I also have a large stainless bowl that i wish to attach to the lid. Once i cut a portion of the lid away. Thing is I haven't figured a good way to clamp the lid down once i make a cork seal for the lid.

The edge of the pot is rolled and a cross section of the orginal lid would look like a Z it's about 1/4" wide, with a 1/4 drop then across to the other side being the bottome of the Z. I've seen various temporary methods off clamping the lid down. Everything from using bungie cords to using those office clips things.

I'm thinking of something that I could weld to the lip edge and to the pot with some type of screw down clamp. But i could use some ideas of what other people have used.

Jax

[OzarkWhiskey]

Are we clamping the lid to the pot or the bowl to the lid?

[nanosleep]

Is your stock pot heavy enough material to weld? I would probably guess that it isn't. I have used the office clip method very successfully.

[Jaxom]

Yes, the pot and bowl are thick enough to weld to, the handles on the sides of the pot are welded, as is the handle on the lid.

I'm actually welding the bowl to the lid. After I've cut away the center part of the lid, then welding the left over ring to the lip of the bowl. Basically I'm creating a larger lip to the bowl using the orginal lid. All materials are stainless.

Two idea's I've already tossed around is either using L type brackets where one is formed and welded to the lip and bowl with enough over hanging is that a wing bolt can be slipped through a whole drilled in the end. A second L bracket would then be welded to the side of the pot with a nut welded to the under side of this bracket.

The other option is to make some sort of wedges along the sides, simlar to a pressure cooker has and then weld extra handles to the bowl. Drop the bowl down ontop give it a 1/4 turn twist and have everything locked down nice and tight.

I'm gonna be picky this, because the pot, the bowl, the burner stand are all stainless. I'd like to continue the theme make a nice piece of "functioning artwork", to the point of making a stainless jacket to hold the insulation around the copper column.

Jax

p.s. I've got permission from my instructor to work on this in my welding class!!!

[dixiedrifter]

I used GE type II silicone sealant for my turkey fryer pot still. That lid won't come off for love nor money, lol.

To attach the column, I drilled a hole in the lid using a bi-metal hole saw and used a bulkhead fitting from tractor supply company.

Just make sure you put the bulkhead fitting in BEFORE you seal the lid.

This is far from ideal and has a few downsides mainly impurities from the silicone and rubber-sealing ring, but it works like a charm in a pinch.

[junkyard dawg]

Dixie...

come on now... you know thats a bad idea but you still tell others its a good way to do it in a pinch?

I would try to fabricate something like the lid on a pressure cooker

http://www.pressurecooker-outlet.com/americancans.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

the screw portion is hinged on the bottom and swings up into a groove that extends past the top of the lid. You can then tighten it down as much as you want. Welding it up and avoiding heat distortion is gonna be a big problem tho.

Even better, I'd save that nice pot for mashing and get a keg.

[Uncle Remus]

Yup...another one for Tater to add to his list.

[jmc91199]

My little pot still is a 16qt ss pot with a hole in the lid and a ss bowl on top of that and my column and condensor attached to the bowl. the only thing keeping this all together is bungee cords. I don't use anything else to seal it up. I've never had vapor leaks. Works great. Little trashy maybe but I likes my stills like I likes my women.

[LONEEAGLE155]

Just keep the turkey fyer as is just use the burner fried turkey is great if you are working on this in class then you must be in some sorta school throw a kegger and eat the deposit (mine was 12 bucks) and keep the keg
JD

[Jaxom]

Ugh! Power's been out for 3 days here! Horrible storms! Anways, for the record, I do have a keg! But, since I live in one "dem yankee" states where it get's cold half the year, figure I could use this pot and for making rum and experiementing with. In doors, using electric heat. Even got a rig for temp control using a pid and a relay.

Anyways, i'll talk to the class instructor, mebbe he's got some ideas.


jaxx