5/8" SS washers for mashtun conversion

[sublevel007]

Question for you guys. I see all of the instructions people say to use 5/8" SS fender washers, why use the fender washer as opposed to the flat washer? Isn't the diameter of the inter hold really all that matters?

Debating if I'm going to order fenders online or decide to brave it in this blizzard to go to home depot for their crown bolt kit that has the 5/8 ss flat washers in it?

 

[big_len]

See the image below, if the washer outter diameter is too big then they may contact the mouldings on the outside of the vessel and not effectively squeeze the o-ring - the walls will just deform. There is also the possibility that the large outter diameter will contact the walls on the inside, due to the curvature, and also not squeeze the o-ring effectively. A small outter diameter washer solves both these issues in one go. It is also possible to substitute some of the washers on the outside with a section of rigid pipe as shown on the far right.

A metric M16 washer will also work perfectly, but you might have to increase the inner diamter ever so slightly.

 

[oldstyle69]

i made plastic washer out of a food grade bucket with my dremel. they work great.

 

[sublevel007]

Great thank you for the info, sorry for the delayed response. That chart is great!!!


Kevin in Cleveland, addicted to brewing