My Fortune for One 5/8" Stainless Steel Fender Washer!

[malt_shovel]

How's about getting some silicone ovenware containers and chopping them into as many washers as you can for less than a buck all up? Its FDA approved and will look after all your hot brew work for many many sessions.

 

[Homercidal]

How's about getting some silicone ovenware containers and chopping them into as many washers as you can for less than a buck all up? Its FDA approved and will look after all your hot brew work for many many sessions.

They need the hard washer to create a backing plate. The rubber/silicone washer goes behind that.

I bought a few big SS washers from Lowes and took them to work and drilled the inner hole for FREE on the lathe.

Maybe I should buy a bunch more and sell them here for profit!

 

[willynilly]

Would this work?? They are $1 each

http://www.mcmaster.com/#fender-washers-and-stainless-steel-washers/=6bvlo3

 

[masonsjax]

I used zinc. The washer turned glossy dark grey after my first hot water leak test and stayed that way ever since. It's not rusted or flaking or anything. Seems fine to me. *shrug*

 

[Hophunter]

Just built my tun this past weekend and was unable to find a SS washer. I ended up buying a thick (1/16"?? thinnest I couldn't bend with my fingers) rigid nylon washer at Sears . It worked fine for my first AG. Hope this helps anyone in the future.

 

[brewagentjay]

Couldn't find a 5/8's SS either. I purchases 5/8's Rubber washers thich ones. Then bought a 3/4 SS washer which you can get at Lowes or Homedepot. Worked fine. Just like to find a 5/8's SS sometime.

 

[snevey]

Here is an interesting question/idea... Instead of a 3/8" ball valve, I noticed the hole in the cooler wall could accomodate a little larger ball valve, such as a 1/2" ball valve. Has anyone ever tried using a bigger copper coupler/nipple, ball valve, and bard adapters?

The reason I suggest this is because I believe Lowe's has 3/4" SS washers readily available. A 3/4" washer MAY fit over a 1/2" ball valve assembly/brass coupler/nipple.

 

[FlyGuy]

Here is an interesting question/idea... Instead of a 3/8" ball valve, I noticed the hole in the cooler wall could accomodate a little larger ball valve, such as a 1/2" ball valve. Has anyone ever tried using a bigger copper coupler/nipple, ball valve, and bard adapters?

Yes, you can definitely use a larger diameter fitting. I have 1/2" fittings on my HLT now. The only difficulty for me was that with my 10 gal Rubbermaid (round) cooler, the original seal is too small for 1/2" nipples. I had to use a silicone 0-ring instead. It sealed fine, but it is definitely not as substantial a seal as the original rubber seal that came with the cooler.

 

[steinsato]

I'm sure this has been listed before but I got 10 stainless washers from Fastenal for about $4.

 

[JimE]

Yes, you can definitely use a larger diameter fitting. I have 1/2" fittings on my HLT now. The only difficulty for me was that with my 10 gal Rubbermaid (round) cooler, the original seal is too small for 1/2" nipples. I had to use a silicone 0-ring instead. It sealed fine, but it is definitely not as substantial a seal as the original rubber seal that came with the cooler.

What size o-ring and what size washers did you use with the 1/2" nipple in your Rubbermaid MLT?

 

[FlyGuy]

What size o-ring and what size washers did you use with the 1/2" nipple in your Rubbermaid MLT?

I used the original rubber seal and 3/8" fittings in my MLT, as per my MLT build (see my signature for the link).

For the HLT I used 3/4" washer (IIRC) from McMaster-Carr and an o-ring from my LHBS that was designed to fit a 1/2" nipple (sorry, I don't know the actual size).

FWIW, the 3/8" fittings work better in the mash tun because the seal is so strong and the fittings are so tight. Also, in a mash tun there isn't a great advantage to having 1/2" fittings because you don't need to drain it quickly (even for batch sparging). I do like the 1/2" fittings in my HLT, however, because I do want to move water out of it as quickly as possible, and I am never inside stirring (like I am with the MLT) so there is no risk of knocking the fittings loose. Just my $.02.

 

[JimE]

Thanks, FlyGuy. I used your instructions for my MLT a couple of months ago. It works great.

 

[hungrymonkey]

anyone take a 1/2" SS washer and drill it out to 5/8"?

Bought a few today. Figure I would see if it worked.
Seems like the washers are used to fill the gaps between the fittings.

 

[JimE]

anyone take a 1/2" SS washer and drill it out to 5/8"?

Bought a few today. Figure I would see if it worked.
Seems like the washers are used to fill the gaps between the fittings.

I'm sure you could do that. I get my washers from to places. Fastenal has 5/8" SS washers that are good quality and sturdy. These work well for putting a valve through straight or larger radius curved cooler walls, such as a rectangular or 10 gallon beverage cooler, respectively. On a smaller radius curved beverage cooler, such as a 5 gallon size, I used the 5/8" SS washers from Ace Hardware. The Ace Hardware 5/8" SS washers are thinner. I use two where I would have used one of the Fastenal ones. The benefit is that the thinner washers will bend to fit the tighter curve of the 5 gallon beverage coolers.

These SS washers serve 3 purposes

1. Ensures that the wort does not contact corrosive metal
2. Provides a secure bulkhead so that the vavle-nipple-barb assembly does not wiggle all around when you operate the valve
3. Fills out the gaps between the fittings, which really just makes up for the nipple being a little longer then needed

Hope this helps! Brew on:rockin:

 

[Monty420th]

would 16mm SS work in place of the 5/8" SS fender washers?

thanks

 

[gmsteve512]

Just purchsed online at www.greenboatstuff.com

 

[johndeere]

Wow, I'm really appreciating all the great word of mouth for Fastenal, my employer. Too bad none of you live near me or else I would've really hooked you up. We break packs and I probably would've floated you a discount. You can always place orders online and pick them up at your local store. If you live in or near a decent sized city, there should be a local store.

 

[AdamCanFly]

I've never heard of Fastenal, but I just found out that I have one right down the street!

 

[steinsato]

I'd never heard of it either, and after a week of searching for these damn washers I found a fastenal 5 blocks from my house. I just went and a bought a 10 pack of them.

 

[Homercidal]

We buy from Fastenal I think. I should see if we have a catalog.

 

[Billy]

Just a quick note for all of you out there. I made another one of these today but like many of you had issues with finding the washers. I ended up changing to a 1/4" ball valve which let me drop down to 1/2 inch washers instead of the 5/8. I'm thinking this probably won't affect my drain speed as the inside is the same diameter as the 3/8" barb coming off the end, it's just putting the choke point a little farther back in the line. Will report tomorrow after making my Hobgoblin clone.

 

[thunder001]

I have 5/8 stainless washer if you need them. Just let me know if you would like some and I will sell them to you for $1.00 each.

 

[rcrabb22]

If you have an Ace Hardware close, they too have specialty fasteners/parts in drawers and should have SS fender washers. Our local Menards has the same set of specialty drawers as well and that is where I found mine locally. Brass would be the next best alternative doing the 15 min soak in 2/1 ratio of vinegar to peroxide to wash away the *tiny* amount of surface lead

 

[dogtailale]

This is what I did in that case.
First I got out of my stuck on stupid box.
What else can I use.
Stepped back looked at what I was working with, A plastic cooler.
Went home drilled a 5/8 hole in a old 5gl bucket and cut&trimmed my washer around that hole.

80% of the five gallon buckets are no2 food grade. Paint, cat litter, laundry soap, on&on, before I forget plastic milk, juice, gatoraid caps also.

 

[hungrymonkey]

Found Some today!

Anyone in the Eugene or springfield Oregon area. I know where you can get some.

 

[SCHombrew]

My brother used a drill press to widen a .5 in to 5/8. Kinda a pita but if you've got the tools it could save you some trouble. Also the large rubber rings on plastic bottle bucket spigots work great to tighten up the inner seal on a cooler style tun.

 

[hungrymonkey]

My brother used a drill press to widen a .5 in to 5/8. Kinda a pita but if you've got the tools it could save you some trouble. Also the large rubber rings on plastic bottle bucket spigots work great to tighten up the inner seal on a cooler style tun.

I looked into using a 1/2 and drilling it to 5/8th.
Except the cost of a 5/8ths drill bit is around $30 at all the local stores. The 1/2 is only ten bucks.

 

[phecke]

This may have been mentioned before in this thread but I'm too lazy to look. I got my 5/8" SS washers from Home Depot. They have a product near the hardware called "Create-a-Bolt". All it is some washers and nuts that you pair with threaded rod that they sell. They have a package of SS 5/8" nuts and washers that you can buy and it's less than $5. Probably your best bet considering Home Depot is everywhere.

 

[humann_brewing]

I got some at home depot, but had to buy them in a pack of other SS nuts and bolts

 

[hungrymonkey]

This may have been mentioned before in this thread but I'm too lazy to look. I got my 5/8" SS washers from Home Depot. They have a product near the hardware called "Create-a-Bolt". All it is some washers and nuts that you pair with threaded rod that they sell. They have a package of SS 5/8" nuts and washers that you can buy and it's less than $5. Probably your best bet considering Home Depot is everywhere.

Its been mentioned.

but they are hit or miss for availability.