Carter,
I'm mentally tinkering with my stockpot.
As you know, I suspend my stockpot above my water bath because I like the ability to raise and lower the milk into the bath as temperature dictates.
I would like to continue this practice as i move from a 5 gallon stockpot to a 25gal pot. The problem is that I have no faith in the structural ability of those handles on the 100 qt stockpot to support the weight of a full pot. Actually, I called the manufacturer and they do not recommend picking up a full pot with the handles...
To that end, I am trying to think of ways to raise and lower this larger pot like i do my 5 gal pot. Up to this point in my thoughts, I've envisioned a metal grate that the pot would sit on. That, I am pretty confident I could raise and lower.
But lately, the thought of welding a SS anchor to the side of the pot has crept into my head. I was thinking of welding an Archer point to which I can link some SS chain and up to a cross bar and ultimately to my block and tackle.
So, I need you thoughts on the structural capability of welding something like this:
to the side of the pot, and chaining it up. is this possible? Viable?
A while back you rendered some solid advice on the steam thing,
And since this is at least 2 zipcodes away from my comfort zone, I could really use a dose of reality.
Here are the two options that i am thinking of. Each view is one side of the pot.