Mounting a heating element...

[jiggs_casey]

There are a lot of posts on the subject but I think I'm looking for the wrong thing.

I have a heating element I want to mount in my brew kettle. It's a 'screw-in' type and the threads are 1 1/4" in diameter. I am looking to find something to screw this into. I have searched on '1.25" bulkhead and 1.25" stainless steel nut' and I'm not finding what I'm looking for.

If anybody has any ideas or links to do this 'weldless', it would be greatly appreciated...

 

[samc]

http://www.bargainfittings.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=36_38

1" locknut / o-ring combo

 

[jiggs_casey]

http://www.bargainfittings.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=36_38

1" locknut / o-ring combo

Yeah, I saw that earlier... The diameter of threads on the heating element I have are 1.25".

Should I just go get a different element?

 

[ReverendBeer]

Yeah, I saw that earlier... The diameter of threads on the heating element I have are 1.25".

A bit pricey, but...

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/SHARON-PIPING-Locknut-1LUL3


(edit)
...and, yes, this is my first post in five years of membership.

 

[mattd2]

Also I would recomend you check what thread it is, most of the 1" seem to be NPT (I think) and the 1 1/4" that I've seen are BSP. Just so you don't buy the wrong back nut (the name for what I was quoted for). Good luck.

 

[P-J]

1" pipe thread actually measures larger if you are using a ruler to determine its size.
US made threaded elements are 1" NPS (National Pipe Straight) threads.

 

[ChuckO]

To get it exact, American National Standard Straight Pipe Threads (NPSM) are for mechanical joints. The thread on a water heater element is a 1" NPSM thread as it is a mechanical joint because the sealing is done with the washer. The dimensions are:

Nominal 1"
Threads per inch 11 1/2
Major diameter 1.293 max, 1.281 min.

This per Machinery's Handbook 23rd Edition

Therefore the 1" nut from BargainFittings works well.

 

[SporkD2]

The heating element that works with the bargain fittings oring is around ~22$.

 

[passedpawn]

Yeah, I saw that earlier... The diameter of threads on the heating element I have are 1.25".

Should I just go get a different element?

No. That locknut will work with your element. Trust me.

 

[Brewing Clamper]

...and, yes, this is my first post in five years of membership.

You don't talk much, do you?

 

[jiggs_casey]

Sweet! Thanks for the replies! :rockin:

 

[brewingmeister]

I've been having the same problem. The element I have measures over an inch across and I have been holding off ordering because I wasn't sure which bushing to order.

Just making sure, every element out there will fit a 1" bushing or nut?

-cheers

 

[jiggs_casey]

No. That locknut will work with your element. Trust me.

I trusted, I ordered, and they arrived today. They fit perfectly...

Danke! :rockin:

 

[conpewter]

Wonder how strong/waterproof it would be to solder the nut onto the keg... I don't have anyone to weld it.

 

[jiggs_casey]

The link states you should be able to hand tighten them to get a decent seal. I'm drilling the holes and testing for leaks on saturday. I'll post the results...

 

[bbognerks]

Wonder how strong/waterproof it would be to solder the nut onto the keg... I don't have anyone to weld it.

That's exactly what a lot of people do. Check out the soldering stainless sticky. I posted my results in there with others.