There's a hole in my boiler.

[Mantix]

Great, i finally get the still done and I have a hole in my boiler, which is a 20qt stock pot. the hole is about the size of a pin or a sewing needle. so, am i screwed or does anyone know of anyway to fix the hole short of welding it shut? (im in a college aparment and have no access to tools or equipment) could i solder it or would that melt from the electric stovetop? so what should i do?

[Godstilla]

I wouldn't bother having it welded. If it were me, I'd buy a new one.

[Ayay]

If the hole is on the bottom of the boiler, get some copper wire from electric cable about the size of your needle. Hammer (as in tapping gently) the needle through the hole, then poke the copper wire thru the hole, cut it off both sides so about 1 diameter of the wire protrudes each side, then gently hammer the copper tight into the hole like a rivet.

If the hole is near the top of the boiler then solder with a spot of lead-free tin solder and zinc chloride flux(Bakers Fluid), or cored tin solder. A big soldering iron or small gas torch will do the melting. This will probably do for the bottom of the boiler as well, worth trying and I'm sure it will do most times.

If the copper rivet turns out a bit dodgy then some tin solder on top of the rivet will be extra insurance for a cheap repair.

[Dnderhead]

solder it if you want, it wont malt as long as there is waters in it.

[Adverse Effects]

is it SS or ALI

if its ALI make the hole a touch bigger and get a small SS screw that is an overly tight fit and screw it in then file / sand the excess off

if its SS i would go with the copper wire idear

[Mantix]

Thanks guys, the hole is in the very bottom and the pot is SS. i'm gunna try the copper idea, thanks.