Water jacketed bottling tank maintenance

[Broke-T]

I just purchased two used 25 gal Maxant bottling tanks. When I dumped the water out it was pretty nasty. Do ya'll add anything to the water in the jacket to keep down slime? Do ya'll ever change out the water?

thanks, Johnny

[wildbranch2007]

funny I was just thinking about that the other day when I was putting honey in to be bottled. I emptied mine out 8 years ago and it was fine. I'm going to put a bit of clorox in mine and see what happens.

[My-smokepole]

I have thought about putting a air stone from a fish tank in mine.
David

[Broke-T]

I also got a Maxant chain uncapper. It has a cpl bad bearings. After searching old post I see this one doesn't have the bearings with slotted bases. I plan to order 4 new bearing. Can you think of anything else it might need.

Johnny

[Robin G Bedard]

something you may want to try is remove the chains and use stainlees steel screen, I simply fold mine over the bars that held the chains, after uncapping,, just remove the screen,,no tools and wash time is a breeze

[Sharpbees]

I'm going to put a bit of clorox in mine and see what happens.

Clorox will react with stainless steel. It will eventually corrode the stainless.

[The Honey Householder]

Johnny, Both are 220 elements, but some seasons the tanks run around the clock for days.

[sqkcrk]

I have never drained the water out of my two. I just add tap water when necassary. I must not run mine as much as HHLDR does or at as high a heat. I have never replaced an element. Been using mine almost every week for 20 years.

[Wilsonvillebeekeeper]

Clorox will react with stainless steel. It will eventually corrode the stainless.

We had an employee leave a clorox and water solution in 4 stainless steel tea urns over the weekend and the solution ate through all 4 by Monday moring.
When we clean our steamer boiler we alway flush the chemicals back out.

Good luck,

Robert

[The Honey Householder]

Mark, It probably doesn't help if you over fill the tank and the honey goes in the fill spout. I think my newer tank is 22 years old.
I have one of my Dad's tanks that we used to melt up over 11 tons of beeswax in 2012. Used that same tank the last two months to heat 18 tons of syrup for spraying into frames for 2013 new hives. Just finished processing 2 1/2 tons of honey today to ship out next week. Start melting wax again next week.

Really if the tanks aren't heating something, your not making money with them.

I don't know if Maxant would recommend this for there tanks, but I'm looking to add a second 220 element to my main tank to get more output.

[danno]

Fill your bottling tank with veg oil instead of water or RV antifreeze. It lasts forever and is obviously food grade

[sqkcrk]

And when it goes rancid? What then? Maybe you forgot the smily face? I believe they were designed w/ water in mind. That's why they are called Water Jacketed Bottling Tanks. Vegetable Oil? No tanks. :0

[EastSideBuzz]

And you can have french fries any time you want with it.

[My-smokepole]

I will see maxant tomorrow and ask them or call me you should have my number
David veith
David enterprises

[MAXANT]

Distilled water is fine to use
The pillow blocks are now standard with slots. Many years ago
They were not.

[beesohappy]

I only use filtered water. I've also heard of people using antifreeze and water mix.

[Roland]

I would not use Ethylene glycol, automotive coolant, I believe it is poisonous. RV antifreeze, or Dowfrost, I believe is Propylene glycol, and not poisonous.

Crazy Roland

[beesohappy]

Good to know Roland. I was always nervous about it. I bought a used 500 pounder and it had some kind of antifreeze in it. Used it a couple times is all. I only use mine to melt down beeswax and the longer I have it on the more settlement falls to the bottom. I've had a used 100 pounder that I've only used filtered water in since I got it. Goes thru water thou and I've been tempted to use antifreeze in it. Going on 7 years for me and I haven't had to change the element yet, knock on wood.

[wildbranch2007]

I would not use Ethylene glycol, automotive coolant, I believe it is poisonous. RV antifreeze, or Dowfrost, I believe is Propylene glycol, and not poisonous.

Crazy Roland

Is it ok to use the RV antifreeze when you are applying heat?? I found some non poisonous antifreeze at HD. that is ok to use in heating systems, but it's alot more expensive than the RV antifreeze. I guess I should look at the chemical makeup and see if its the same as RV.

[Jeffzhear]

Distilled water is fine to use
The pillow blocks are now standard with slots...

Out of curiosity, what is a pillow block?