Vat - Stockpots

[brandeeno]

I tested the temperature out my sink faucet this weekend, it's about 120F (49C).  I might be able to just put my pot in my sink and make cheese by filling it up!

Although, I did find my first attempt on the stove worked well... I made my own heat distributor with a few layers of wrinkled foil (the wrinkling makes sure to get some air spaces in there to allow for slow and even heat distribution. 

[Tea]

Brandeeno, if you are wanting to have a water jacket of some sort and don't have a second stockpot there are a couple of other things you could try if you want to.
On the stove you could use a roasting tray half filled with water, or you could use an electric fryingpan half filled with water.  Either of these methods will help minimise scorching the stockpot base.
Just a thought.

[wharris]

I have been using a 7 gallon pot, using a "double - boiler" method.  That is, u add hot water to a tub, and sit the stop pot in the tub.


I have used this method twice now to make 6 gallon batches. 

I am having difficulty getting the pot hot enough in time. 

Even when my water bath is 129 deg F, it takes a long time to get Cheddar up to 102 from 88. 

I actually had to cut the "cooking time" down, because my pH was dropping and the time was running out. 

So, i either need more heat, or more surface area.

Not sure what to do.

[brandeeno]

you could try boiling some water on your stove and add that to your tub for the extra heat.

[Tea]

The above is exactly what I was going to suggest.  I often replace some of the water jacket with boiled water for a quicker heating time.

[wharris]

The tinkerer in me is working overtime.  I purchased a water heater heating element. 

[wharris]

Ok,  i have fashioned a home made immersion heater.  I bought a 2000 watt 120v immersion heater from HomeDepot.  (8 dollars). Some PVC pipe, and a tube of silicone.   

I  created an immersion heater that i can just toss into a tub of water.  The ends of the heater are where the electrical connections are, are first filled with sillicon, then capped with a PVC cap. (then siliconed again.)

So far, this works great. 

[brandeeno]

can you show us some pictures!? perhaps some close up ones of where you modified things and then some of it in action

[wharris]

http://blufiles.storage.live.com/y1pmrzj_IqDAItQW71co5lI2Xo1T0tug1BrjoM455QwJil3Pv_lyJ-hELfTBAWPKHma

[wharris]

Sorry, I seem to be struggling with this interface.
Here is the device....


Here is my Stainless Steel 20qt pot.

You will note my thermometer in the bath. (That wire at the bottom, and my cheese  thermometer in the pot.

I took this rig from 60deg to 135 deg in 1.5 hours.

I was able to relatively easily control a temp change from 88F to 102F in 30 min.  That is a lot easier now. 

-Wayne.

[wharris]

What i purchased:
(1) Standard 120V (2000w) water heater element.
(1) 1" PVC Female threaded end.
(2) 1.25" PVC couplers
(1) 1" end Cap
(1) 2 ft 1.5" PVC pipe
(1) tube of silicone

I screwed the heating element into the threaded female 1" adapter.  Drilled a hole in the cap, threaded an extension cord through the hole in the cap, attached bare ends to the screws of the  heating element.

I slid the coupler over the 1" threaded female connector/heating element so that the electrial screws were now partially covered by the coupler.  I filled that void with silicone.  The screws and all bare wires were now jacketed by silicone.   I also filled the cap with silicone and slid that cap into the coupler.
Very gooey at this point. 
Then I drilled 3/4" holes in my 1.5" pipe, and cut it to length.  Added silicone to the inside of the pipe and slide the gooey heating element assembly inside the pipe. 
I let it dry overnight. 

I have since added and on/off switch.

So far it hasn't killed me, and i like both the price, and the results.

[brandeeno]

awesome. thanks for the details!

[wharris]

First batch of Cheddar:
Prep:

Cooking:

[SalMac]

Very cool! Theres a few pieces of equipment that the brewers use to raise, maintain temperature of mash and cool rapidly that is similar in principle that Ive also been looking at for more fine grained control.

Also so potentially it could be automated in some way using iButton technology etc.

Sal

[Tea]

Yes that certainly looks excellent.  Would work well in laundry tubs too  if you were requiring larger pots.
Just wondering what you have brewing in he background there?