Bottling Tank vs Steam Kettle?

Hi All,
Wondering if anybody has ever seen or has experience converting these steam kettles into a bottling tank?
They are manufactured by Vulcan Hart Mfg. Co Louisville, KY see link below:

http://www.genemco.com/catalog/SPPP6...etedkettle.pdf

I recently purchased 2 of these tanks except I believe mine are older 30 gallon models and do not have any heater attachment but they do have water pipe with fittings coming out of the bottom and are definitely a jacketed tank.
I was told they were used with steam for heating soup in a commercial school kitchen.
I plan on running hot water into them with a hot water heater type set up and attaching a SS honey bottling valve in place of the large valve that is already on them (I will try to post pics later). But have concern about the existing valve has 4 large bolts that I believe holds the 2 tanks together and by removing them would cause the honey and water to leak out? (valve and bolts are the same as the older bulk milk tanks) :s

Yes the valve are the same as older milk tanks. The inner and outer shells are separate and not held together by the bolts, that is just a stronger part to attach the valve too. We have some older tanks like this at work but electric.

What is wrong with the valve that is on it?

Doesn't fill small containers very well (ie, 12 oz bears, 2 oz bears, 1&2 lb squeeze containers)
Will fill a 5 gal bucket in minutes though but that is not what I use a bottling tank for.
Check out the SS bottling valves on Maxant and Mann Lake bottling tanks and you will see the size that I would like to convert the steam kettles to or at least one of them.



See link below for pic of steam kettle:
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0cac0b61.jpg

http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/...psd596036a.jpg

http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4b98468f.jpg

I would put a valve on the spout just after the big valve that you can remove for reduced flows. It will be real handy having the big valve for cleaning. It could be as simple as a cork and a tube to a honey gate.

There is no spout after valve, see pics of mine that I posted in my reply.
Other link was to a random google search of steam tanks!

Something mates up to that valve. All I am saying is don't get rid of the valve that might be worth 900 to replace. Add what ever valve you want without buggering up what is standard for that vessel.

So I just got a Maxant Bottling tank for Christmas and it works like a rock star. I am so so happy with it. probably cost more then your set up but, after 10 minutes of setup I was up and running.

17.25" Outer Diameter x 24" Outer Height
15.25" Inner Diameter x 21" Inner Height
$999.00
http://www.maxantindustries.com/bottling.html

EastSide: How many gallon is that Maxant?

I will not even tell you how much I have in these or you would be flopping in your beeyard in dis-beelief! ;)
I do know how much the steam kettles are worth if you buy a new one on the internet! :eek: :eek:

I see it is 16 gal. as I checked the Maxant link you posted!
I have been throwing around the idea of getting a Maxant but then these 2 steam kettles came up in a deal and I couldn't resist, also they are 30 gallons each and have a tapered/slanted bottom toward the valve. That really sold me on them!

Did you see the slug in the bottom of the plastic bucket? Maxant might have the right idea not having the outlet right on the bottom of the tank.

Just saying.

Anybody know how fast you can heat the fifteen gallons of honey if it were at 60F degrees? That might limit your filling capacity.

Ace I can turn it on in the morning and be bottling honey shortly after lunch. It does not take near as long as I thought it might. This is the first year I have had to try and bottle cold honey so the bottling tank has been a real good investment. Maxant's tank is a very well made product.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Acebird

Did you see the slug in the bottom of the plastic bucket? Maxant might have the right idea not having the outlet right on the bottom of the tank.

Just saying.

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The outlet is at the bottom of the tank. Im not sure I understand what you are referring to?

http://www.maxantindustries.com/bottling.html

It appears to me that the outlet is at least two inches above the bottom of the tank.

Water jacketed my friend.

MAXANT: Ace confused me as well, especially the slug and bucket comment????

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MAXANT

Water jacketed my friend.

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The bottom is jacketed too? How do you control the flow of the hot fluid underneath? Most jacketed vessels I have used are only on the side and then there is an agitator in the center that scrapes the sides.

Nobody see the sludge, dark brown substance in the bottom of the buckets?

Ace I can't even find any pics of buckets posted??? Really confused on the sludge you are talking about??...Please clarify and I might be able to answer your question if it is in the pics I posted?

Interesting, the video is gone. Did a post get deleted?

Not sure Ace?? I didn't even see a video posted on this thread!?