I bought a 4 stockpot set from Ollies, it came with 8, 12, 16 and 20 qt stainless stockpots and lids. I think it was $29. For the canner- I put the 12 qt inside the 20 qt, , marked, measured and drilled a 5/8 hole through both- pilot hole then step bit. I used a 1/2" bulkhead fitting from brewers supply. It is a threaded nipple about 3 1/2" long, $10. I bought a few extra nuts, washers and silicone gaskets. The hard part was puttin the extra silicone gasket and nut in between the outside( 20 qt) and inside( 12 qt) wall. Under the 12 qt are 3 end caps for 1" copper pipe. I cut notches in the sides of each with a grinder so they wouldn't trap steam and explode. Then I put a 1/2" SS ball valve- butter fly or gate valve would probably be better fr bottling, but mine works. I fill the space between the pots about half full of water and set it on the burner- run the water up to 190-205 F. I've been using this for 3 years, holds 3 gallons. I have about $60 in it. The only thing I need to fix is when I have more water than syrup the inner pot wants to float- I keep meaning to put some some stainless screws around the top to hold the pan down.
The 2 leftover stockpots- I used them as well. I took the handle off the 16qt lid, set the 8 qt pot on top of it and traced it with a scribe, cut it out so the 8 qt pot sits inside the 16 qt lid. I cut the bottom out of the 8 qt pot. Set the 8 qt pot and 16 qt lid on top of the 16 qt pot ad this is my filtering rig- I put my cone filter and prefilters in the 8 qt set it on a bucket next to my draw off valve and draw off into it. It works pretty good as far as cone filters go- this year after running 450 taps through the RO, and evaporating off an 18"x72" franken rig, I've learned the limitations of cone filtering. A filter press is on the list for next year.
Bottom line, you can make a canner without welding if you put your mind to it.
Ben
'12 15 jugs - Steam pans
'17 125 3/16 - 18" x 72" drop flue on homemade arch
'18 240 3/16 - Deer Run 125
'19 450 3/16 - Converted RO to electric/added a membrane
'20 600 3/16 - Maple Pro 2x6 Raised Flue, added AOF/AUF
'21 570 3/16 - Built steam hood, Smoky Lake filter press
'22 800 3/16 - Upgraded RO to 4 4x40
'23 500 3/16 - Re-plumbed RO, new "Guzzler"
'24 500 3/16 - Steam Away, DIY 8x40 RO