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Thread: Aluminum wash tank?

  1. #1
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    Default Aluminum wash tank?

    Would ro soap react in a bad way with an aluminum turkey fryer used as a wash tank? Per Leader's instructions, I converted a plastic 5 gallon bucket to a wash tank. I am not happy with that setup because I cant get the bulkhead fitting to seal in the bottom without the plastic cracking. My next step would probably be to purchase a wash tank from Ray Gingerich. Dr Tim any thoughts on this?
    1000 taps on vac down to 100+ buckets 99% sugars
    2x5 SL Hi-Output Raised Flue Corsair evaporator
    SL Short bank press with CDL diaphragm pump
    Leader Micro 1 RO for 2024
    Constantly changing
    2010:36 gal 2011:126 gal 2012:81 gal 2013:248 gal 2014: 329.5 gal 2015:305 gal 2016:316 gal 2017:258 gal 2018:147 gal 2019:91 gal 2020:30 gal 2021:30 gal 2023:50 gal Total since 2010: 2047.5 gal
    Tapping the same trees my great, great and great grandfathers tapped.

  2. #2
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    I have the mico ro 2 and used a 5 gallon pail and the bulkhead fitting worked fine. I put a little fda food grease on the rubber seal .
    Brian
    Velvet Hollow Sugarworks
    Greenwood, Maine
    900 taps
    CDL 2X6, leader RO

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    UVM Proctor Maple Research Center, Underhill Ctr, VT
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by heus View Post
    Would ro soap react in a bad way with an aluminum turkey fryer used as a wash tank?
    Very bad idea. Aluminum and lye (RO soap) are not compatible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GESJ2YUWRx8

    Aluminum and strong acids, while not quite as bad, are also not a great idea. Even many acidic foods/beverages are packed in non-aluminum or coated-aluminum containers to prevent eating away the metal.
    Last edited by DrTimPerkins; 03-19-2019 at 08:19 AM.
    Dr. Tim Perkins
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
    http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
    https://mapleresearch.org
    Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu

  4. #4
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    Default

    Dr Tim that's what I figured. I already left a message with Ray. Thanks.
    Western mainer after already having two ro's with dedicated wash tanks I just feel the 5 gallon pail idea is kind of weird I guess.
    1000 taps on vac down to 100+ buckets 99% sugars
    2x5 SL Hi-Output Raised Flue Corsair evaporator
    SL Short bank press with CDL diaphragm pump
    Leader Micro 1 RO for 2024
    Constantly changing
    2010:36 gal 2011:126 gal 2012:81 gal 2013:248 gal 2014: 329.5 gal 2015:305 gal 2016:316 gal 2017:258 gal 2018:147 gal 2019:91 gal 2020:30 gal 2021:30 gal 2023:50 gal Total since 2010: 2047.5 gal
    Tapping the same trees my great, great and great grandfathers tapped.

  5. #5
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    Greenwood, Maine
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    Works very well for me, does a good job.
    Brian
    Velvet Hollow Sugarworks
    Greenwood, Maine
    900 taps
    CDL 2X6, leader RO

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Barnet, VT
    Posts
    2,580

    Default

    My wash tank is the bottom half of a plastic 55 gallon drum. Much thicker than a bucket.
    William
    950 taps
    3 X 12 Thor pans on a Brian Arch
    CDL 600 expandable

  7. #7
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    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
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    If the bucket idea is failing it is likely how you are doing it. How do you cut the hole, and is it a good fit for the bulkhead fitting? Are you making the hole in a spot where the thickness is uniform? Sometimes people over tighten a bulkhead fitting and that can tend to push the gasket outward which causes a leak. While one of Ray's tanks will be nicer, try again with another food grade bucket to use until Ray's tank arrives.
    Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
    Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
    Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
    After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.

  8. #8
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    Ashtabula County, Ohio
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    I was able to get a used welded wash tank from Ray last week. I put a thermometer in the side. It works great.20190331_125128.jpg
    1000 taps on vac down to 100+ buckets 99% sugars
    2x5 SL Hi-Output Raised Flue Corsair evaporator
    SL Short bank press with CDL diaphragm pump
    Leader Micro 1 RO for 2024
    Constantly changing
    2010:36 gal 2011:126 gal 2012:81 gal 2013:248 gal 2014: 329.5 gal 2015:305 gal 2016:316 gal 2017:258 gal 2018:147 gal 2019:91 gal 2020:30 gal 2021:30 gal 2023:50 gal Total since 2010: 2047.5 gal
    Tapping the same trees my great, great and great grandfathers tapped.

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