28 replies to this topic

[BuckarooBanzai]

Okay, for sundry reasons too many to mention (some of them actually even valid reasons) my FOAF has "broken down" and ordered an All American pressure sterilizer.

For those of you who have an AA, any advice you would impart to a new owner?

Are there any "don't twist this or it will explode" type things you would mention?

Any "if you put a little BLANK on the DOHICKEY it will last ten years longer" type suggestions?

Many thanks, dudes!!! I'm so friggin' excited!!!

[yerbaadam]

Warning label reads:
"do not use in submarines."


Sometimes the lid is really sealed on there after a run. Do not use the plastic top handle to remove the lid, as it will get you nowhere and most likely lead to unnecessary stress to you lid. Simply undo the wingnuts and gently pop the seal with a clean flathead screwdriver.


.> biG hUgs -yer FrieNd anD serVant, nAscaR denDriTE duDLey

[tricktek]

A little oil between the metal to metal seal helps prevent the lid sticking problem. I use coconut oil myself. If you are buying it brand new, the owners manual has all the necessary info, other wise call the company for a manual. PM me if you need their #. Depending on what size you get, it takes a while to heat up that heavy aluminum. Get a good head of steam going before dropping the weight or stopcock. These cooker/sterilizers get real hot so get some heavy duty gloves if you have to move it directly after a sterilization run. Gluck

[gunji]

I have the 25 quart model,

some observations, malt extract agar wil boil over and make a huge mess, and lose half of the agar as well , if you follow the advice of "let her build aa good hed of steam before you drop the stopcock , for this reason do not make agar along with sterlizeing substrate's or caseing material. for granular stuff like grain you really do need to let the unit vent for 5 or 10mi but with agar, id use a wad of poly or a filter disk on the vessel , and just close it up very soon after you get any air venting,

Vaseline works great for e, but if you let the unit cool while the stopcock is closed, the vacaum will pull that lid in tight, a flat head screwdriver works well to bust her lose.

you might be tempted to soak some wbs or other grain in the inner liner that come with the unit, if you do there is an inner channel that the vent tube slides down into, and that channel will trap bird seed then clog the vent tube, so you wont be able to vent , just be sure theres nothing in that inner channel when your done useing the liner as a soaking pan

it does get very hot and will flash burn unprotected arms

i like to take a bleach water soaked wad of poly and twist tie it around the vent before I open the stopcock after its cooled

your gonna love the unit i think

Gunji

[Odin 13]

Don't just go w/ stacking jars in neat little rows in the unit, sometimes stacking a row on its side on top of an upright row on the bottom allows more jars to be put into the unit. By doing this I can get 10 quarts a batch into my 25X. Don't tighten the wingnuts too tightly, it is better to use vaseline on the metal to metal seal about every 5 runs & tighten the wingnuts in a crosswise pattern the same way you do when putting on a tire.

[chimp]

Warning label reads:
"do not use in submarines."


Sometimes the lid is really sealed on there after a run. Do not use the plastic top handle to remove the lid, as it will get you nowhere and most likely lead to unnecessary stress to you lid. Simply undo the wingnuts and gently pop the seal with a clean flathead screwdriver.


.> biG hUgs -yer FrieNd anD serVant, nAscaR denDriTE duDLey

I wouldn't use a screwdriver. The screwdriver will scratch up your PC, even if you are careful..Use a rubber mallet and give it a good tap once or twice. on the side of the lid.that is after u release the pressure..

[Hippie3]

it's a good idea, as its' heating up, to give the weight a little nudge to make sure it's properly venting steam, i've had mine blow off a couple times

[Sky Rayven]

I alway baby sit mine. I check and double check to make sure everything is doing what it is suposed to. And like hip said I am always nudging the rocker until I am sure it is doing ok. but still I stand there and make sure everything is ok through the entire hour of cooking.

Yeah I am a little paranoid!:hippie:

Njoy the new toy:)

[Nixon]

If you can't visually keep an eye on it, get yourself a baby monitor so you can listen to it while you're doing something out of range. It seems my stove likes to turn itself up, and down! I like to multi task so a baby monitor's a good idea.

[BuckarooBanzai]

Thanks, all, for the advice!!!! Tis much appreciated.

This is a lot of friggin' money to spend on one thing that I know almost nothing about. Suggestions like these help a lot to avoid worry and pointless concern.

I had never considered the possibility of it getting "stuck" cooling with the stop cock closed. Both a hard edged rubber mallet and some high temp silicone grease will most surely be acquired.

Also plugging the stopcock hole with the polyfil/sterilant - that is a good idea.

Lots of good ideas and suggestions here, please don't be offended if I didn't mention yours specifically, I guarantee the whole thread is getting downloaded to the personal archives!

Thanks again, people, my people!!!

[sandman]

Yea once i came to my 930 after beeing away for 15 minutes and the damn puck style weight done blew off and lost all the pressure. It is a little bit different than a regular PC but after a few runs its like second nature. Definitelly use a gas range on them. The first few uses the lid will stick. Ive never greased my metal on metal contact areas or anything but after 2 uses the lid stopped sticking and it just pulls off like a normal pc.

[Sky Rayven]

BB...You have done so much for me. I only hope that I helped you out a little bit. You freakin rok my man. so....I wish you extreme luck with the new toy.

just glue your eye balls to the thing on the first go around...which I am sure you will do.

I just use olive oil on my gasket by the way. I think it is better than other types of grease becaus it is natural. just put some on there every other time or so + that will give you the chance to inspect and clean the gasket often.

c ya round

[Hippie3]

AA 's don't have gaskets

[StroFun]

great advice all around--these tips will come in handy once FOAF steps it up to AA soonly
thanks :heart:

Yeah my FOAF will enjoy this thread.:bow:

[Hippie3]

plugging the stopcock hole with the polyfil/sterilant - that is a good idea

eh, not so much-
if a jar breaks [it happens]
the steam can propel tiny bits of seed up
which can get caught in polyfil,
plug the hole, creating an over-pressure
then explode.
better to place the polyfil exterior around the weight after the flame is off
as it begins cooling, i use a rag to hold wad in place.
besides he was talking about a wad of polyfil in the neck of flask of agar,
not the stopcock.

[gunji]

Whoa, i dont mean plugging anything , that is a BAD idea, what i do is use polyfill to plug the opening of the jar im makeing agar in, and i also take some quilt makeing type poly fill , a washrag will do, and i wrap it around the stopcock on the OUTSIDE of the pressure streilizer i use a twist tie or a ruberr band to hold it in place, and THEN i open the stopcock to vent the Vacaum into the unit, when its cool!

my 1925 came with a very nice manual, so in general you could follow ther advice and be safe, just dont vent like they say when makeing agar or you lose half of it do to boil over

hope this clears up what i meant

Gunji

[BuckarooBanzai]

Do your agar jars 1/2 full and you'll have no problem.

I was talking about "i like to take a bleach water soaked wad of poly and twist tie it around the vent before I open the stopcock after its cooled"

I just meant using something to filter the air sucked in during cooling. I don't want a vacuum that requires any kind of banging/prying. That seems like a quick way to damage the unit.

I ain' t covering/plugging jack while the heat is on. No big booms for me, if they can be avoided!

[Hippie3]

best just to let it cool without interference, releasing the pressure is a good way to screw up your jars