Math is hard, I need help

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Deplorable
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Math is hard, I need help

Post by Deplorable »

I want to make a stencil with my vinyl cutter and electro etch the inisde of my boiler with gallon marks, but I need some math help from some of you smarter folks on here.
My boiler is marketed as 13 gallons.
Still.jpg
Its radius is 43.5" and the height from the flat bottom to the top of the straight walls in 19".
My math says this:

       When Tank                  Then Tank
       Depth Equals                Volume Equals
       0.00    Inches   = = =   0.00  U S gallons
       1.00    Inches   = = =   0.65219  U S gallons
       2.00    Inches   = = =   1.3044  U S gallons
       3.00    Inches   = = =   1.9566  U S gallons
       4.00    Inches   = = =   2.6088  U S gallons
       5.00    Inches   = = =   3.261  U S gallons
       6.00    Inches   = = =   3.9132  U S gallons
       7.00    Inches   = = =   4.5654  U S gallons
       8.00    Inches   = = =   5.2176  U S gallons
       9.00    Inches   = = =   5.8698  U S gallons
       10.00    Inches   = = =   6.5219  U S gallons
       11.00    Inches   = = =   7.1741  U S gallons
       12.00    Inches   = = =   7.8263  U S gallons
       13.00    Inches   = = =   8.4785  U S gallons
       14.00    Inches   = = =   9.1307  U S gallons
       15.00    Inches   = = =   9.7829  U S gallons
       16.00    Inches   = = =   10.435  U S gallons
       17.00    Inches   = = =   11.087  U S gallons
       18.00    Inches   = = =   11.74  U S gallons
       19.00    Inches   = = =   12.392  U S gallons

Is this math correct? Or did I bugger it up.
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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by Saltbush Bill »

Try this, I use it or similar for marking large ferment tanks / containers for different size washes.
https://www.calculatorsoup.com/calculat ... n/tank.php
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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by jonnys_spirit »

I’d guess that diameter is 19” and height is 43.5”. Does that change the math tho?
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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by cob »

+1 what jonnys_spirit said. you could pour in a gallon at a time and measure the levels,

you will soon come up with an inch measurement for a gallon or multiples in your cylinder.

use a wood stick an be quick you will be accurate enough. it's called "sticking the tank"
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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by Deplorable »

Saltbush Bill wrote: Tue Oct 27, 2020 4:47 pm Try this, I use it or similar for marking large ferment tanks / containers for different size washes.
https://www.calculatorsoup.com/calculat ... n/tank.php
Using that my math is sound and my gallon marks would be about 1.6 inches on center.
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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by Saltbush Bill »

Glad it was useful, Ive used it many times , I keep finding stainless vessels that can be used for storage , ferments or other distilling purposes, it makes finding the volume of most containers or marking volumes on containers simple.
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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by The Baker »

Yeah, I use the stick.

For fermenters too.

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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by zapata »

I'd at least use the stick to gauge the tank then print / etch / whatever the tank based on the stick. I love math, but why math volume instead of measuring volume? What if it's not perfectly round? Or there's a 20 ml dent on one side? Personally I'd measure the actual volume of the container if you're gonna mark it.

Get stick. Add 1 gallon. Dip stick, notch where wet. Repeat until full. Use stick until you get around to the etching.
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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by Berserk »

I think your measurements are off if your boiler is 13 gallons.

If the radius is 43.5" and the height 19" you've got yourself a ~450 gallon still. In that case the 1 gallon line will be 0.04" above the boiler bottom.

My initial thought was that it's the height that's 43.5" and the 19" actually is the diameter, but even then you get a 53 gallon boiler. If that is indeed the case the gallon line is 0.8".

If the gallon line is 1.6" above the boiler bottom in your 13 gallon boiler you've got a radius of ~6.8", and a height of 21".

Good thing that the calculator was of help to you, because I'm not sure if any of my calculations above will be. Doing calculations in freedom units is hard.

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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by Saltbush Bill »

Radius , Diameter and Circumference are all different .....be sure to enter the right values.
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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by jonnys_spirit »

If you use a gallon jug to to fill and mark the boiler where on the jug is the accurate 1g mark? Top of the lip? Shoulder?

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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by Rrmuf »

Deplorable wrote: Tue Oct 27, 2020 4:38 pm I want to make a stencil with my vinyl cutter and electro etch the inisde of my boiler with gallon marks, but I need some math help from some of you smarter folks on here.
My boiler is marketed as 13 gallons.
Still.jpg

Its radius is 43.5" and the height from the flat bottom to the top of the straight walls in 19".
My math says this:

       When Tank                  Then Tank
       Depth Equals                Volume Equals
       0.00    Inches   = = =   0.00  U S gallons
       1.00    Inches   = = =   0.65219  U S gallons
       2.00    Inches   = = =   1.3044  U S gallons
       3.00    Inches   = = =   1.9566  U S gallons
       4.00    Inches   = = =   2.6088  U S gallons
       5.00    Inches   = = =   3.261  U S gallons
       6.00    Inches   = = =   3.9132  U S gallons
       7.00    Inches   = = =   4.5654  U S gallons
       8.00    Inches   = = =   5.2176  U S gallons
       9.00    Inches   = = =   5.8698  U S gallons
       10.00    Inches   = = =   6.5219  U S gallons
       11.00    Inches   = = =   7.1741  U S gallons
       12.00    Inches   = = =   7.8263  U S gallons
       13.00    Inches   = = =   8.4785  U S gallons
       14.00    Inches   = = =   9.1307  U S gallons
       15.00    Inches   = = =   9.7829  U S gallons
       16.00    Inches   = = =   10.435  U S gallons
       17.00    Inches   = = =   11.087  U S gallons
       18.00    Inches   = = =   11.74  U S gallons
       19.00    Inches   = = =   12.392  U S gallons

Is this math correct? Or did I bugger it up.
Dude, Screw the math: Start with empty boiler. Measure out 1 US Gallon, add to boiler and make the mark. Repeat until you are done.
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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by still_stirrin »

43.5 inches must be the circumference, not the “radius” as you’ve said.

A 43.5” circumference is a (C = pi x D) —> D = 43.5 / pi = 13.846 inch diameter. (hint, “pi” is 3.1415926....)

A cylinder’s volume is the area of the tank’s diameter (A = pi x D x D / 4) times the height (H).

So, the volume of your tank at 10” deep is V = A x H = (pi x 13.846 x 13.846 / 4) x 10 = 1505.7 cubic inches.

And 1 gallon is 231 cubic inches. So, at 10” depth, the tank is 1505.7 / 231 = 6.518 gallons, which confirms your initial calculations.

I’ve given you the formulas and an example, hopefully to help you understand the math.
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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by Durhommer »

Nice boiler
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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by LWTCS »

I'm with cob. I'd "stick" it a gallon at a time. At least to get past the bottom.
Can use the lid as your bench mark.

Do it 8.35 lbs at a time.
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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by Yummyrum »

LWTCS wrote: Wed Oct 28, 2020 3:38 am
Do it 8.35 lbs at a time.
Smart man Larry :thumbup: love it . :D

I’ve always poured in a Litre at a time and marked it . ....but...
Sticking it on the scales and adding a kg of water ( @20°C ) at a time makes a lot if sense . :thumbup: ... no incremental errors . :eugeek:
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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by LWTCS »

Yummyrum wrote: Wed Oct 28, 2020 4:14 am
LWTCS wrote: Wed Oct 28, 2020 3:38 am
Do it 8.35 lbs at a time.
Smart man Larry :thumbup: love it . :D

I’ve always poured in a Litre at a time and marked it . ....but...
Sticking it on the scales and adding a kg of water ( @20°C ) at a time makes a lot if sense . :thumbup: ... no incremental errors . :eugeek:
Many distilleries that dont have whoopdeedoo flow metering do liquid transfer according to weight.
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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by Bushman »

Saltbush Bill wrote: Tue Oct 27, 2020 4:47 pm Try this, I use it or similar for marking large ferment tanks / containers for different size washes.
https://www.calculatorsoup.com/calculat ... n/tank.php
Make sure when you open the link you change from horizontal to vertical when doing the calculations with this link.
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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by Oldvine Zin »

Deplorable wrote: Tue Oct 27, 2020 4:38 pm I want to make a stencil with my vinyl cutter and electro etch the inisde of my boiler with gallon marks, but I need some math help from some of you smarter folks on here.
My boiler is marketed as 13 gallons.
Still.jpg

Its radius is 43.5" and the height from the flat bottom to the top of the straight walls in 19".
My math says this:

       When Tank                  Then Tank
       Depth Equals                Volume Equals
       0.00    Inches   = = =   0.00  U S gallons
       1.00    Inches   = = =   0.65219  U S gallons
       2.00    Inches   = = =   1.3044  U S gallons
       3.00    Inches   = = =   1.9566  U S gallons
       4.00    Inches   = = =   2.6088  U S gallons
       5.00    Inches   = = =   3.261  U S gallons
       6.00    Inches   = = =   3.9132  U S gallons
       7.00    Inches   = = =   4.5654  U S gallons
       8.00    Inches   = = =   5.2176  U S gallons
       9.00    Inches   = = =   5.8698  U S gallons
       10.00    Inches   = = =   6.5219  U S gallons
       11.00    Inches   = = =   7.1741  U S gallons
       12.00    Inches   = = =   7.8263  U S gallons
       13.00    Inches   = = =   8.4785  U S gallons
       14.00    Inches   = = =   9.1307  U S gallons
       15.00    Inches   = = =   9.7829  U S gallons
       16.00    Inches   = = =   10.435  U S gallons
       17.00    Inches   = = =   11.087  U S gallons
       18.00    Inches   = = =   11.74  U S gallons
       19.00    Inches   = = =   12.392  U S gallons

Is this math correct? Or did I bugger it up.
But why??

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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by The Baker »

I still like the graduated stick.

Graduated using a measured jug.

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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by Deplorable »

Well, currently I fill my boiler with measured amounts of water to heat for mashing. Filling from the hose to a line in the boiler is easier than filling a vessel of known capacity and dumping it in and repeating. It also comes in handy if you're pumping from the fermenter into the boiler to know how nuch you've taken, and whats left.
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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by The Baker »

Yep.
My graduated stick IS the 'line in the fermenter/ boiler/ whatever.'
A 'dedicated' stick for the vessel.

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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by Deplorable »

I reckon a stick is fine if you cant see the sides of your boiler through the top opening. But why hold on to a dedicated stick when you can apply permanent marking to the vessel and be done with it? I tend to misplace things. I cant misplace graduated lines.
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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by GabrielLeo »

Deplorable wrote: Tue Oct 27, 2020 4:38 pm I want to make a stencil with my top vinyl cutters and electro etch the inisde of my boiler with gallon marks, but I need some math help from some of you smarter folks on here.
My boiler is marketed as 13 gallons.
Still.jpg

Its radius is 43.5" and the height from the flat bottom to the top of the straight walls in 19".
My math says this:

       When Tank                  Then Tank
       Depth Equals                Volume Equals
       0.00    Inches   = = =   0.00  U S gallons
       1.00    Inches   = = =   0.65219  U S gallons
       2.00    Inches   = = =   1.3044  U S gallons
       3.00    Inches   = = =   1.9566  U S gallons
       4.00    Inches   = = =   2.6088  U S gallons
       5.00    Inches   = = =   3.261  U S gallons
       6.00    Inches   = = =   3.9132  U S gallons
       7.00    Inches   = = =   4.5654  U S gallons
       8.00    Inches   = = =   5.2176  U S gallons
       9.00    Inches   = = =   5.8698  U S gallons
       10.00    Inches   = = =   6.5219  U S gallons
       11.00    Inches   = = =   7.1741  U S gallons
       12.00    Inches   = = =   7.8263  U S gallons
       13.00    Inches   = = =   8.4785  U S gallons
       14.00    Inches   = = =   9.1307  U S gallons
       15.00    Inches   = = =   9.7829  U S gallons
       16.00    Inches   = = =   10.435  U S gallons
       17.00    Inches   = = =   11.087  U S gallons
       18.00    Inches   = = =   11.74  U S gallons
       19.00    Inches   = = =   12.392  U S gallons

Is this math correct? Or did I bugger it up.
I've heard good things about the cricut too, i think they're pretty similar machines in terms of cost and capabilities so just check out YouTube reviews, there are tons of head to head comps there and see what works for you. I think both are restricted to 12" widths but the cricut is limited to 24" length where as i think the silhouette can do significantly longer IIRC
Last edited by GabrielLeo on Wed Nov 04, 2020 6:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Math is hard, I need help

Post by Deplorable »

I have a silhouette and a large format 30 inch vinyl plotter.
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