Building a boiler out of a sand filter

[shadylane]

A while back I bought a really big stainless steel sand filter at a junk store. From the measurements it would appear to be 15-16 gallons, kinda hard to say since the sides aren't straight and the ends are rounded. Didn't know what I was going to make out of it but figured it would be good for something. Anyway, decided it would make a good boiler, so I ordered the SS fittings for the project, so here it goes.
The filter was made in two pieces with a clamp, that way it could be taken apart to renew the sand. I didn't get the clamp that went with it. But that don't matter, since I'll be throwing way the rubber seal and welding the two half's together.
Figure on having a 2" gate valve for a drain, 3" ferrel on top for the vapor outlet, a 4" ferrel for the fill port and weld on two 1" NPS nuts for the heaters. I'll have to figure out a three legged stand for the boiler that's tall enough so I can drain it into a 5 gallon bucket, so I can use the boiler for heating water for mashing. Kinda figure to go slower than normal on this project since it's a case of wanting it but not needing it.
But it will still be crude by the standards of some of the builders here.