Immersion heater element seal

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floydmeddler
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Immersion heater element seal

Post by floydmeddler » Wed Oct 25, 2017 1:58 pm

Hi folks,

I'm currently building an all in one system and have realised that the 3kw immersion heating element (from screwfix) won't fit snug.

Here's the element:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/tesla-titani ... t-11/56481

I'm thinking about buying this silicone sheet and cutting out a ring to fit

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SILICONE-RUBB ... Rj3qa7UnnQ

Would this do the trick? Alternatively, is there something more readily available out there? I'm all about saving time... kid... job... you know the deal...

Cheers!
Floyd

Fil
Telling imaginary friend stories
Posts: 5229
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2011 1:49 pm
Location: Cowley, Oxford

Re: Immersion heater element seal

Post by Fil » Thu Oct 26, 2017 7:41 pm

cut a card template, trim about a mm from the inner diameter to slightly widen it then wrap a couple of rolls of ptfe tape round n round the rim looping through the 'eye' overlapping just on the last wrap, after a few rounds the ptfe will appear to cushion out some, - all good.. keep going until the tape has built up to make up the mm or so you trimmed off the inner circle and its a snug fit round the male thread..

Then fit, the cushioned out tape will compress into a semi rigid ptfe seal both food and heat safe sealing in the card core, its a trick i pinched from US distillers who call it the 'everlasting gasket' i have used the technique to make 2" triclamp seals with great success, and with a M20 SS washers for a SS and ptfe only bulkhead seal.

If #1 fails , add another roll of PTFE, for the 2" (64mm od) seals 1 whole roll(@50p) is par for the course..

the problem you are probably facing is the pot curvature and the larger element exagerates the problem, a dead blow hammer and a solid flat surface might be an option to help create a flatter seal circumstance?
ist update for months n months..
Fermnting: not a lot..
Conditioning: nowt
Maturing: Challenger smash, and a kit lager
Drinking: dry one minikeg left in the store
Coming Soon Lots planned for the near future nowt for the immediate :(

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floydmeddler
Telling everyone Your My Best Mate
Posts: 4160
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:37 pm
Location: Irish man living in Brighton

Re: Immersion heater element seal

Post by floydmeddler » Fri Oct 27, 2017 9:23 pm

Cheers Fil. That's a clever little trick.

Luckily I managed to secure it with a s*it load of brute force. The pot is aluminium so it was able to bend into shape.

:-)

Fil
Telling imaginary friend stories
Posts: 5229
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2011 1:49 pm
Location: Cowley, Oxford

Re: Immersion heater element seal

Post by Fil » Mon Oct 30, 2017 9:05 pm

Result.. hope your snapping pics of the build with the aim to doing a wee write up for us brew porn junkies ;)
ist update for months n months..
Fermnting: not a lot..
Conditioning: nowt
Maturing: Challenger smash, and a kit lager
Drinking: dry one minikeg left in the store
Coming Soon Lots planned for the near future nowt for the immediate :(

User avatar
floydmeddler
Telling everyone Your My Best Mate
Posts: 4160
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:37 pm
Location: Irish man living in Brighton

Re: Immersion heater element seal

Post by floydmeddler » Thu Nov 02, 2017 10:18 pm

I will do Fil. It's gonny take a while though as I rarely get a min these days.

Will get a thread going when I'm underway properly. :-)

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