H&G 10 gallon bucket for boiler

[jonny8ball]

Hi there i have orderd one of these 10 gallon buckets from Hop & Grape web site and im putting the 2 kettle elements in it and tap,it`s going to be used 4 my first all grain brew Yahooooo

Q1--how they perform under the 90 min boil

Q2--was the plastic good enough and does it keep the shape,no warping,another word`s is it safe to use it as a homemade boiler,as they state that its not recomended to use as a homemade boiler

cheers lads

[OldSpeckledBadger]

I believe the material in the bucket has recently changed so that they're now no longer suitable as a boiler.

[jonny8ball]

hi all done now just for the test ill be heating 4 gallons water see if it up for the task fingers cross`t,,,,

Also at the bottom of the bucket (outside,underneath of the bucket) there is a grade number which i think is the thickness of plastic the bucket is made of,,mine says
"EC-60000" ,,,,,,Could you buy any chance see what grade number your bucket has,,See if it`s the same cheers

The bucket grade number:
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jonny10ba ... 2563261138

Elements:drilled with 38mm hole cutter: trying to find a bit of 15mm copper to make a hop strainer.
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jonny10ba ... 2116127442

The power cover:
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jonny10ba ... 0697691730

Tap
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/jonny10ba ... 5094916850

[wetdog]

I have one of the 'proper' boiler buckets from hop & grape and underneath mine too says EC-60000 but badger is quite correct, hop & grape are only using the 'proper' buckets for their own ready assembled boilers and are not selling them unaltered unless things have changed since I called them a couple of weeks back.
I don't know if the EC-60000 has anything to do with the ability of the bucket to be used as a boiler. I measured mine and it is 3mm thick if that helps

[jonny8ball]

cheers for the reply

i have found out more about these buckets,and my bucket is also 3mm thick hmmmm,there is a site stamped on the bottom of the bucket were they get them from

http://www.hk-plastics.nl/GB/ec_premium.php

if you look and find EC-60000 its there biggest (6o litres,10 GALLON) bucket they do so they must be the same,so H&G`s quote is miss leading:::--Please note; we do not consider these suitable for converting in to boilers.

[jonny8ball]

Polypropylene has a melting point of ~160°C (320°F) This is what the buckets r made of

[SMASH3R]

I have just bought one of these EC-60000 buckets too. If I measure the thickness of the bucket around the lip at the top of the rim, it is just over 3mm thick. However, I measured the thickness of the 38mm plastic disc I cut for fitting an element and this is only 2.30mm wall thickness.

I have no other buckets to compare against, and I don't know where the previous posters took thickness measurements.
I will persevere. Thankfully I will be doing the boiling in an open-doored garage, so I will make sure I take appropriate precautions should the bucket 'fail' during boiling.

If someone who has the H&G supplied boiler is prepared to take an element out and confirm the wall thickness, this would be much appreciated.

[jimw86]

I tried the other day with one of these. They DO NOT WORK!

[Horatio]

I have the H&G 10 gallon plastic boiler. I took the element out and measured the wall thickness with a micrometer; 3mm exactly at the bottom where the element sits.

If enough people want these would it be worth contacting the manufacturer (HK Plastics?) and asking for a minimum order quantity and price? Just a thought.

[wetdog]

my 3mm measurement was also taken with a micrometer from the hole I drilled for the element.
If these new buckets don't work as boilers then they must be really w@nk as there's a chap on here who made a boiler from a youngs FV and it stood up to a full boil...

[adeybambam]

Tried mine out for the first time yesterday - made using one of the H & G fermenters and two tesco value kettle elements. Worked fine. It was a ten gallon boil, no leaks and the walls held up well.

[SMASH3R]

Tried mine out for the first time yesterday - made using one of the H & G fermenters and two tesco value kettle elements. Worked fine. It was a ten gallon boil, no leaks and the walls held up well.

Hey adeybambam, did you happened to measure the wall thickness of you bucket by any chance?
If you are able to, let us know - that would be great.

Cheers

[adeybambam]

I seem to recall that when I drilled the whole for the element I took a rough measurement and it was about 3mm - although it was a rough measurement so it is feasible it could have been a bit less. Don't get me wrong; when I did the test boil the walls certainly became more flexible but I had no fears that they would fail or anything like that. I wouldn't fancy moving the boiler around with 10 gallons of boiling water in, but that is the same no matter what boiler you are using.

[jonny8ball]

I tried the other day with one of these. They DO NOT WORK!

YES THEY DO WORK;;;;;;iv done 5 brews and its mint

[jonny8ball]

Dont worry about it,if it 2mm or more thick then it will be fine